Sea Hoss

Almost finished...a few more details completed. Coal bin filled (with crushed up asphalt), barrel and crates made and installed, coal tray, kedge anchor and coal shovel are in and lastly, gun tools made and hung on port side. Also, there are some various rope coils here and there. 

I've been watching along as you do a fantastic job! Will I ever tackle such an undertaking, I really don't know? My last build, "Syren" pushed my boundries at just over a year. But you certainly are an inspiration.

Very well planned and meticulous work Phil. You've shown me some ideas to incorporate into my next build.

Beautiful, very inspiring. Pushes me to be more attentive to the fine details...

Very cool, love early aircraft!

More progress on The Picket Boat. The model itself as instructed, is finished. I made some alterations along the way that made sense to me and due to the other featured Pickets on this site. I decided to make this one like, fresh from the ship yard. I have some other "goodies" to add for realism and visual appeal. A custom cradle was made as the one provided looked sad. The new cradle is mahogany and finished well. I will enter this one in the "finished models from kits" when all details are added.

Thanks again Jonathan, I will use these sites to wrap up the details on my little warship...

That is such great work! I wasn't sure about the lighting but it is actually spectacular. I need to find a reason and project to try that too! Awesome x 3...

Thank you Jonathan, I'll have to rethink the mast situation...

With light wood, it serves both for use as a table saw and for cutting curved shapes. The table tilts for mitering and with a fence, I can rip boards also. It comes with a mitering gauge and is pretty accurate. I am going to make a display base tonight actually with it. It is very handy... 

When I first started wooden ship models, I purchased the electric bender, works like a champ...

More work on the Picket boat. Began the spar torpedo. Now needs to be rigged. Mast is installed, have a question on it though. Does anyone know if flags can be flown on it or did it have another purpose? So now after rigging the torpedo, I think I may fabricate a display cradle, the one that comes with the kit is not to my liking. I have some nice red cedar I can use for it. Then I have some ideas for added interest/ realism that I plan on fabbing up. 

New addition to shipyard tools... 9" benchtop bandsaw. Great deal for $160.

Absolutely fantastic work!

Yes, I use a electric heated ( a soldering iron with a bulb on the tip) and wooden formers to get the strips to the approximate curve and twist needed. With practice I can now be very accurate with the thing. Soak the strips for a few minutes and go to it! Well worth the cost for the time and energy  saved. 

Amazing!

Nice start, great work shop...

Looks very good, I did the Syren also (Jan 2018-Feb 2019). I am reliving it in your Syren. She is definitely a good way to figure one's patience level and a very good learning experience! Thankfully, Chuck P. did a great service in the HUGE instruction manual...But when all is said and done, you will get a graet looking ship! I will watch your progress...

Thanks all for the "thumbs up" the order of the pics got posted backwards? Also in the intro to this post, "pillar block" should have been pillow block, don't know where that came from, out of the mechanical world for too long I guess!

More work completed, pillar block for prop shaft (inboard), Howitzer completed with block and tackles. Should be finished by next post except for some extra details...

Very nice to focus on the inner workings of the ship, it is usually mostly hidden. great vision and craftsmanship you have! Thanks for the lesson.

Just to jump in, a newly coppered bottom can be artificially "aged" to look old with the application of easy to get household chemicals. Depending on what you want, it can be sort of bronze colored or more toward a greener look.

Some good progress, boiler finished and installed, engine built and plumbed in, condenser and hot well finished and plumbed. Power plant finished and my messy "work table".

The capstan looks nice with the brass...

Ya, I guess anyone outside of the " ship modeling " world has never even heard of a Picket Boat. You are right about people not remembering the history of our servicemen, hope they're not doomed to repeat it!