mcb

Hello all, Thanks for the comment, Jim Lad. Thanks everyone for the likes. I have finished the derrick tower and will probably put the red paint on it today. It comprises a lot of pieces. I am happy that it actually fits around the rest of the superstructure. Starting on the boom now. Thanks for looking, mcb

Looks good to me. I think too small beats too big for this work. mcb

Hello All, Thanks for the comments Wefalck, Keith Black, Canute and Jim Lad. Thanks everyone for the likes. A short update: About halfway through cross braces for the derrick assembly. I think I have to make about seven more, then touch up /repair and hopefully paint. Thanks for looking, mcb

Hi Keith, Lula is looking good, especially with the pile driver along. Weren't you thinking of a diorama? Thanks for posting. mcb

Hi Keith, The model is looking excellent. I think it may be best with black trim as it probably should match the lettering. Otherwise, I would have liked dark green. Nice photo of Great Falls, pre traffic jams. Thanks for posting, mcb

Beautiful hull there Keith. Thanks for posting, mcb

Hello All, Thank You to Keith Black, Canute, Fried Clams and Wintergreen for your comments and thanks to all for the likes. Here is a brief report as this build moves slowly along. The rear derrick legs are built up and resting temporarily in the fixture. I will now have to build the three sets of cross braces between the front and rear legs. All these legs and cross braces are of different sizes and constructions. I hope that it will be apparent in the final product. Before long I should check clearance on the actual model, so I don't have any nasty surprises. Last night I brushed the front leg assembly knocking it over gently onto the cutting mat. One of the guide sheaves went flying to the floor, I was an hour finding it. At least I don't have to make another. Thanks for Looking in, mcb

Hello All, Thanks for the comments, Wintergreen, Keith Black, Jim Lad and Canute. Thanks everyone for the likes. I just want to put up a pic of where things are now on the forward derrick leg. I mounted the pivoting guide sheaves (3 larger and 2 smaller) high up on the derrick. I am not sure of the proper name for these, please correct me if I am wrong. I also put rivets on the gusset plates, I think they will look alright after paint, and I will be using more on the remaining parts of the derrick and boom. After viewing the latest pictures, I see more touch up, clean-up and corrections are needed. Thanks for looking, mcb

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family Keith. mcb

Hello everyone, Thanks for the comments Keith Black, Jim Lad and KeithAug. Thanks all for the likes. Just a small update here as progress continues on the forward derrick leg. First pic should show the fixtures for assembling the components for the 2 beams of the forward legs. with cross braces and gusset plates. next photos should show the assembled leg assembly with guide sheaves/rollers at the bottom and smaller guides further up on the derrick. Last pic is where I am currently. Preparing one of the 3 larger pivoting guide sheaves for the top of the derrick. There are also 2 smaller ones that must be installed just below. After this I will prime and fix blemishes, then I will probably put rivets on the gusset plates as they are quite visible in the picture that I am using for a model. Thanks for looking, mcb

Hi Keith, That looks good. Your pastels seem like the old chalks that I use, easy to adjust (until you clear coat it). This project is really moving along. Thanks for posting it, mcb

Congratulations, well done. I especially like the muted colors. Looking forward to the stern wheeler. mcb

Hello All, Thanks for the comments Jim Lad, Wefalck, Keith Black, KeithAug, and Canute. Its been quite a while. I have been busy with the usual home maintenance and have actually started to build the modules that these harbor models will occupy. I had to set aside the 'BLAIRSTOWN' for a bit as well. As I mentioned above I was not happy with the windows I installed on the pilot house and winch house. This is because they were far too thick, especially on the winch house. I think they will have to go. I have a few ideas about what to try next for them. We'll see. As far as the color of the windows Canute's reply is exactly right. I am building this model as it was in ~ 1964 when it was operated by Petterson Lighterage. Black hull and deck, red superstructure, white windows (with black trim which I probably won't be able to do) and pale blue! derrick top, stack top and mast top. I am using the cover photo of Transfer #30, as Canute says above, for 90%+ of my info for this build. I really should see if I can get permission to post that pic so that everyone can see what I am doing. I agree the white is too vibrant in my photos above I will have to tone it down on the next try. It is slightly more muted in person. Meanwhile as I stew over the windows I have started on the derrick. I took measurements from the above-mentioned pic and began on (crude) drawings. Started with the front derrick leg, building it up from styrene strips and shapes. Thanks for looking, mcb

The weathering adds realistic depth. Well done. mcb

Hi Keith, The pile driver is looking good, it won't be long now before it's done. You found a good window size for your scale. I'm a fan of Tichy windows as well. Did you say this was going to burn wood? Thanks for posting, mcb

Congratulations for completing this outstanding model. I must thank you for introducing new methods, materials and knowledge to consider in my own future efforts. She looks good in the water with figures and flag. Thanks for posting, mcb

Hi Keith, Your pile driver is coming along well. I am anticipating the next models in the series. Box car red varied widely. I would be happy with any of the above suggestions as well as what you have already painted. I think we may be giving it far more thought than those who were responsible for the original. Just be sure to weather/fade it a little since the deck and hull are weathered. As for window glazing you may be thinking of Micro Kristal Klear which should be available in any hobby shop (if you still have a local hobby shop). It looks much like Elmer's white glue as Brian mentioned above. Kristal Klear, I think may be less cloudy, but worth trying the Elmer's first if you have it. Nice looking cutter. Let us know your impressions when you get to use it. Thanks for posting, mcb

Hi Keith, Pile driver is looking good. Weathering seems to be a very subjective thing. I usually like it understated, especially in the smaller scales. On the other hand, the real pile drivers were certainly filthy, maybe I would vote that way for this one. Mostly I use weathering chalks in layers which usually can be removed without too much trouble if one gets carried away. Thanks again for posting this work, mcb

Hi Keith, Pile driver is coming along nicely. It will be finished before you know it. I do like that ferry with a chain drive paddle wheel. I don't see a boiler though. Thanks for posting, mcb

Hello Keith, This is going to be good. I was going to ask about the choice of scale, but it's been covered. I think I may have some early 1900's views of pile drivers in the glass plate images I have saved. Let me know if you would like me to send them to you. You probably don't need them; it sounds as though you can build one from memory. mcb

Hello All, Thanks Keith Black, Jim Lad, KeithAug, and Canute for the comments and thanks to everyone for the likes. Tire fenders are finished. The largest ones are castings that my N scale friend gave me, they are large, the size of tractor tires. I only used a few of those. The smaller two sizes, representing truck tires, I made from styrene tubing (4 sizes in all), one inside the other to make up the thickness. O-rings will be used, but for life rings, as I did for 'ISIS'. I think the hull is beginning to look properly dilapidated now. I also installed the windows that I built some time ago. I am not entirely happy with them. Progress reports may slow down as I most of the easy tasks are finished. Derrick, boom and railings are ahead. Thanks again for looking, mcb

Hello Everyone, Thank you Jim Lad, Keith Black, and KeithAug. And thanks everyone for the likes. I have a small update on this project. I have weathered the hull somewhat and drilled openings for steam and pump discharge and smaller holes for deck drains. Pic#1. Since I soon will have to hang fenders on the hull I had to determine a method. I have no clear pictures of 'BLAIRSTOWN' that were definitive so I chose to use vertical bars under the 'caprail' to the deck. Alternatively, there may well have been a continuous horizontal rail under the 'caprail'. I am not sure. I drilled through the 'caprail' into the deck at regular intervals all around the deck and inserted blackened, .012", phosphor-bronze wire. Arrows show these rods in Pic#2. Pic#3 is a shot of the steam derrick lighter 'CHESTER'. Some of these rods can be seen along with some other interesting details. (Photo Watson B Bunnell, Steamtown NHS, National Park Service, Glass plate photo collection). I hung the bow fender. I don't remember the correct term for it but I'm sure there is one. It is made from a piece of tack rag since its open weave resembles netting. Pic#4. The version of 'BLAIRSTOWN' I am going for is from the early 1960's so it will have old tire side fenders rather than old log fenders as on 'ISIS'. Pic#5 is a part of the old tire production line. Various sizes of styrene tubes sanded/carved slightly for an impression of texture along with a couple of castings a friend gave me. I hope I get the pictures in the correct order. Thanks for watching, mcb

Nice gaiters, that worked out well. And thanks for posting all of these interesting old photos of a seldom seen (at least for me) subject. mcb

Looks good to me. Like everyone else I would never have noticed the particular block, and then only after I had to hunt for it. You are in good shape now, if I remember correctly, you have much of the ratlines done already. Thanks for showing your work, mcb

Looks very nice in that case. mcb