GGibson

Ahhh, yes. I have the Keel Klamper! Has worked pretty well for me when needed! I also have this foam thing that my Bluenose is currently sitting in. I like it because of its short height. With the Keel Klamper, the ship sits higher than I like for some things, especially when working on the deck. Your planking will work itself out. Sanding will do wonders and, once painted, the casual observer won't know how many planks you placed...

So far, your planking looks superb, Major! What kind of vise are you getting? Will definitely make the job easier, though.

It all looks really good, Tim! May need to look into that MicroMark resistance soldering unit, as my soldering attempts on previous builds was... not hot! <shrug> Your bowspirit looks nice, too. Have been working on the top rails and determining how to fit the bowspirit on my Bluenose, as well, while I wait on the nameplate and scroll work completion. Keep on forward!

Lined up nicely, Major! 👍

Hey Tim - Thanks for the response. I won't totally give up on the airbrush. I was thinking the airbrush method may be better than hand brushing when it comes to painting the various cast metal pieces. We'll see how that plays out when we get to that point. Regarding the scroll work and lettering, yes, I was also planning on printing to decal paper. I have the Sunnyscopa Laser Waterslide Decal Paper, which I hope works out well. Once the granddaughter is able to help me with the Photoshop formatting, I'll see how that works out. Thanks again for looking in...

Well, it's been a "month of Sundays" since I have posted a progress update on my Bluenose, so... here I am. I had a busy April-July traveling with my recently-retired wife, with several trips to Florida to see family, a trip to Nashville, and several trips to Iowa, including one for my 50-year high school reunion! So, during that time, the shipyard was severely neglected! In fact, I even moved the shipyard to another part of the house, as well. With all that, I was also really nervous about the hull painting process. I was really wanting to learn how to use an airbrush for all of the hull/bulwark priming and painting. So, some time was spent with that learning curve, as well. You'll soon find out how THAT process went... <shrug> First step was to tape off all of the deck, in order to protect it from the paint. As others have done, I used some narrower 6mm & 10mm Tamiya masking tape along the stanchions, and some wider 24mm Frogtape as filler in the middle open area to cover the entire deck, leaving the areas between the stanchions open for they grey primer. I also taped the top of the waist board and tops of the stanchions and, using an Exacto blade, cut the tape to expose the bulwark sides. A bit time-consuming, but read where that should help when gluing the rail on top. Then, using a Badger Patriot 105 airbrush, I successfully sprayed some gray Stynylrez primer on the hull exterior and the inner bulwarks. I made several passes of primer, sanding using 320 grit and then 400 grit sandpaper in between coats. As someone else commented in their build log, the primer really accentuates the flaws in the hull, so I ultimately used some Tamiya white putty to spot-fill those areas, getting as smooth of finish as I could. Still a few blemishes, but I'll move on. Time to actually get some paint on the hull! In reading other build logs and their hull painting steps, it appeared the right sequence was to get the white on the waterline (also paint the inner bulwarks while I had the white paint out), then red on the lower hull, the narrow yellow stripe just above the scuppers, then black above the waterline. Long story short, I did not have success in using the airbrush attempting to spray the white waterline. I was using the Vallejo Air paint, and got it to a "2% milk" viscosity, but it was way too runny. I then had some issues with clogging, so decided to just go back to old-school brushing. I thought I had done enough practice spraying to be comfortable, but.... not so much. I'll work on practicing with the airbrush another time. Painted the white waterline wide enough to allow for some adjustments when actually placing the waterline mark. I used my "helping hands" tool and a sharp #2 pencil to show the waterline. Used the Tamiya masking tape to protect the white above the waterline mark, and gave the lower hull about 5 coats of Winsor & Newton Galleria Acrylic Red Ochre, sanding with 400 grit, up to 800 grit sandpaper in between. I then lined up the yellow line along a cove above the scuppers. I wasn't really pleased with the Liquitex yellow color I had, so switched to a simpler Apple Barrel Acrylic Matte yellow. Again, not concerned about the width, as I will narrow it to the proper width when I paint the black above and below the yellow. I used the points of a compass to properly and accurately measure and mark the width of the waterline so I could tape the line and paint the upper hull black. I did estentially the same thing for the yellow line, as well. After 4 coats of the Liquitex Acrylic Mars Black (again sanding between coats with 400 grit & 800 grit), the hull looked pretty well overall. Glad to get this painting done! Doing some research on other build logs to determine if doing some poly coating (either polycrylic or wipe-on polyurethane) on the hull and/or the deck would be good. Appreciate any advice on that. I have been looking at what to do for the nameplates and the scroll work. I asked my daughter if she was proficient in Photoshop, in order for her to help me create the documents/files needed to print. She said a better option would be to have my 13-year-old granddaughter assist me, as she is pretty good with Photoshop. Who knew?!? So, those are my weekend plans with family! Next after that will be working on the rails, I think. Trying to get back in the shipyard more regularly now that my spring/summer travels have ended. Appreciate the comments on what I need to do better!

Great start, Major Chaos! Looks really nice! I've had a busy spring/summer, so haven't done much on my Bluenose for a while. Am just back to it, painting the bulwarks, the hull and finishing the deck. Will be posting an update soon, but in the meantime, will be following yours, as well. Carry on!

Looks awesome, Chuck! I should probably order those blocks and deadeyes sooner than later before they all end up in boxes for the move!

It all looks great, Hamilton! Will definitely be looking back on this build log when I get to the stages you have covered. Appreciate you sharing!

Yes, just haven't updated in a while. Will catch up on log once I get the hull painted and deck sealed.

Looks great, Tim! I am at the hull painting stage on my Bluenose, as well. Hope mine comes out as sharp as yours looks! 👍

Great pictures, John! What an experience... Thanks for sharing! Hope to incorporate some of what you saw in my Bluenose (when I get that far!)

Pintiles look great now, Eric! I recall having issues fitting those darn things correctly, as well.

I got a supply of extra thin superfine 0.04 inch toothpicks that I use a LOT for different applications, especially if I want to place a tiny spot of glue... someplace I can't otherwise reach. A mini hand planer to shape masts.

Looking great, Chuck! Can't imagine how much work it takes to create such quality blocks. I have this page/thread on "notification" and will order my awesomely superior supply of blocks (and deadeyes, too?) as soon as I see your GO post. I don't need a lot of them, but will you have some 7MM triple blocks in your inventory? Thanks!

Great work on the hooks, Chuck! Nice to see you "back at it"! Keeping an eye on the blocks announcement. 👍

Looking great, Joe!

Just got an email from Model Expo today indicating Occre has released a 1:75 scale HMS Erebus. There ya go, gang!

Wow! Those look great, Chuck! I need to take an inventory of what I need for my Bluenose, but I do recall that some 9/32" (7mm) triple blocks were on the parts list, among other single & double blocks. Out of town this weekend, but will look it all up next week! Glad to see you are on the mend!

It all looks really good, Major!

Enjoy! Looks like you will do fine!

Looks really good, hamilton! And I love the hinges! I am nowhere near this point in my build, but have "looked ahead" on your build here and on others, and have wondered if one could put a small piece of plastic bag or Saran wrap on top of the black-painted opening to simulate glass. Great progress!

Thanks for your input, John! Yeah, I'm thinking I'll go with this solution, although I will make some better fitting sides than what I have shown as test demos here... I have plenty of that size wood stock. Think I'm about to the taping/masking/painting stage...

OK, so after my post earlier this evening, I shortened the length of the platform sides, as I had suggested as a possible solution. Obviously, the sides are not glued and are simply balanced under the main rail for demonstration/testing, but they appear to look ok in relation to everything around it. Thoughts from those of you more experienced? Still need to address the issue with the main rail not fitting perfectly down the sides as we continue with the main rail forward, but appears others have had similar issues. May approach the solution to this the same as @JohnU explained in his Bluenose 03/24/21 post where he cut the main rail in three pieces and filled in the gaps after properly fitting the sides. Thanks to those peeking in!

Excellent work to-date, hamilton! Appreciate your insight on what I expect on my Bluenose. Enjoy your "time off" and see you upon your return.