jct

Nicely done!

Looking good Denis

Looking good Denis

Looking good Denis

Hello again,
Another update...the final one as the Picket is complete. After I got he spar mounted and rigged I was looking at the boat and it looked to me like something was missing...so I decided to make some detail items that would have been aboard.
 
With the open coal bins the most natural would be a shovel, so I cut a small piece of card and soaked it in diluted white glue it was then pressed on the end of a round toothpick to get the shaping started, when it dried it was moistened and folded to the final shape.
 
I also thought it would be appropriate to add a few thing the howitzer would require...so I scratched a worm and sponge/rammer. These started as sections of round toothpick glued up to the correct length and then adding the details, the sponge is a small piece of natural sponge trimmed and glued on, the ram end is wraps of tape. The worm is a spiral of wire. All were then painted and weathered.
 
I also added an ensign staff and flag, the flag was found on line and printed it was shaped while the glue was still wet, so it looks like there is a breeze.
 
The rigging was done per the plans with the exception of the torpedo staff forward mounting ring, this I ran up through the block on the hoisting mast, I saw this configuration in an on-line article about spar torpedoes.
 
Well that's about it, I want to thank you all for following along and lending support and encouragement. Thanks as well for all the kind comments and likes, much appreciated. Pics follow:
A few tools for the crew



loaded aboard

Gun details

some rigging


bow shots

views amidships


 
 

Hello everyone...finally got back to the Picket after the holiday week end...got the foredeck sanded down and refinished...there is the slightest difference in the finished shade...is what it is!
 
From there the howitzer was remounted, fit much better this time around.
 
The torpedo was mounted to the spar with CA and then sanded down and painted again.
 
There were only two rigging blocks included with the kit and I figured I needed a minimum of 6, when I could find none the correct size in my spares box I thought I would try my hand at making some.
 
The blocks started as a length of walnut the correct width and thickness, the center was scribed to make filing the stropping grove easier, once that was complete the length was flipped 90 degrees and holes drilled. They were then cut apart for sanding and shaping. The result is passable and will allow me to rig the gun sled.
 
The hook eyes for the stack were installed and the stays rigged to the stack and the spar mounted to the holders...still needs to be rigged
 
That's it for now thx for looking in. Pics follow:

Hello all,
Yet another small update...got the parts for the spar mount assembled and mounted, and tapered and finished the mast.
 
When I was mounting the howitzer carriage I noticed that all of the pre-cut holes were the exact size of the tubing that the locking pins were made of. This caused a bit of a problem when trying to insert the pins, they simply would not go without a lot of force and by the time they were where they were supposed to be the finish have taken a real beating!
 
So I figured to fix the issue it would be a simple matter of enlarging the holes...well a file would not fit because of the deck...so I resorted to the drill...bad chose! When I had installed the mounting blocks I pined them to the deck...the first two drilled out nicely, but the third broke loose and pivoted around with the drill bit, scoring a deep circle in my deck...the air was blue!!!
 
To those of you who plan to build this kit I would strongly suggest enlarging all the hole prior to assembly.
 
Luckily,back in the early part of the build when I was making the decking, I make extra. The old decking was pealed off and the damaged pieces used to scribe the shape one the new planks. Once complete these were glued down. You can see the difference in height compared to the finished planks.
 
This will sit for a few days before sanding the new planks down to their finished thickness and the fore deck is refinished. I'll surface sand back to the mid point of the deck to feather in the finish...as always thanks for your time and attention...Pics follow

the blackened mounts
 

 

disaster!!!



New deck

 

THX for the likes...
worked on the swivel guns
started with some rolled paper...added some pva to hold the tube together and added bent wire to represent the stock

tied on some light line to represent the strengthening rings and added them to the prepared stanchions 

and added paint

stanchions need painted...not yet sure what color though

Chassis's Got Wheels
 
This pretty much wraps up the chassis work. Still have some plumbing to do, but waiting for a wired magneto that's coming in on Monday.
Next, I'll start the body, paint, and decal work. Still have my fingers crossed on those decals. We shall soon see if the dead (decals) has been brought back to life. Rise Lazarus, rise. 
 

...a pre afternoon salute to you folks!   hello Dave  good you popped in    hello as well Michael.........yea,  you were a missing link for a spell,  but good to see you checked in....hope nothing serious with Judy.  I saw you log........loved it.....such a cool layout    .....and I have no doubt that you could build one too...you metal abilities are extraordinary!
 
so.....OK.....I'll try and get some reddish tint in the gravel.   spent the morning masking up all the ties.......what a pain in the tookus!  good thing I'm going to do quite a bit of dry brushing.......it won't look so sloppy    I was trying to recall some of the movies that had trains in them......couldn't remember how the counter weights were painted

Finally got a connection...promised pics
Chain plates



 
mast cheeks

mast tops

and booms

Finally got a connection...promised pics
Chain plates



 
mast cheeks

mast tops

and booms

Finally got a connection...promised pics
Chain plates



 
mast cheeks

mast tops

and booms

Finally got a connection...promised pics
Chain plates



 
mast cheeks

mast tops

and booms

Got all the mast and booms tapered, mast tops squared, chain plates are made and mounted... sorry can’t post pics... no internet at all this week.  Hopefully latter, and as always thx for the likes

Got all the mast and booms tapered, mast tops squared, chain plates are made and mounted... sorry can’t post pics... no internet at all this week.  Hopefully latter, and as always thx for the likes

THX Lou...gonna start on the masts and booms

Thanks for the likes
last post of the week...finished most of the major deck furniture and got it all placed and pined down
made pumps and the CN

and placed all but the guns...they are just set in place for now

 

Still working on the little things
the belfry
set of steps
wow fuzzy...
guns
new front placement
question...anyone know where the anchor lines would run coming off the windless...wondering if that's what the forward hatches are for??

THX for the likes...still fiddling with lil bits...made the ships bell, chucked a piece of styrene sprue in the drill and shaped with files
 
drill and attached to a pin, ready for the belfry, course it needs painted but that will have to wait...got none of my enamels with me, roughing it  

THX Lou...gonna start on the masts and booms

THX Phil

Thanks for the likes
last post of the week...finished most of the major deck furniture and got it all placed and pined down
made pumps and the CN

and placed all but the guns...they are just set in place for now

 

Really starting to fill out jc.
Looking forward to next week.

Thanks for the likes
last post of the week...finished most of the major deck furniture and got it all placed and pined down
made pumps and the CN

and placed all but the guns...they are just set in place for now