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bobandlucy

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  1. bobandlucy
    Installed one of the lower counters at the stern. I had to cut this piece from stock as the supplied pieces were not long enough (due to my extending the knuckles, probably). I think I may have made a mistake in extending the knuckles. I am not left with as much of a gap between the knuckles and the lower counter as is shown in the manual. However, by laying some planking material across bulkheads 14/15 and down to meet the lower counter, it looks like it will work without distortion of the planks. If there is a problem, it might be cured with a slight adjustment of the angle on the knuckles, and possibly a little shim towards bulkhead 15. At least, that's my hope. The intersection of the upper and lower counters finished pretty well and the subtle change in angle is pleasing. This is turning out to be a challenging model, as promised. I am settling into it and finding relaxation in a very slow pace.
  2. bobandlucy
    Thanks, David. I am enjoying it! bob
  3. bobandlucy
    I'm finding out through experience what an "advanced" level model entails. . . Added the bulwarks. About halfway through adding the inner reinforcement pieces. The upper counter at the stern gave me problems. The first three attempts failed using the suggested hot water soaking with the inner surface painted with dilute glue. It all looked good but buckled during drying. Pics of two of the failed parts: Duplicate parts are provided, but I had to cut more before I installed them dry. That seemed to work. I then painted them on the inside surfaces with dilute glue. I used the failed upper counter pieces to make the inner reinforcing, but did not notice that the sheet containing the reinforcement pieces are thicker than the counter pieces. I'll have to correct that somehow down the road. The difference is exactly the thickness of a paper index card, so maybe gluing that on will be the fix.
  4. bobandlucy
    Nice! Good job.
  5. bobandlucy
    By far the best rendition of this model I have seen!
  6. bobandlucy
    I had forgotten how soft and fragile basswood is, even when quite thick! After I heard the sound of a break, I was reminded and became more conscious of my movements and forces applied. Shaped and installed the inner stem and stern post. These pieces were missing the bevel lines. The stern post is the most challenging to shape (tapered to the outside edges), I took my time and I think it turned out well. Next, I added the inner keel pieces. These fill the gap between the bottom of the bulkheads and the spine. The material supplied was not of the correct thickness, but fortunately, I had some walnut of the correct dimensions that made up the difference. The final step before fairing is to add the stern knuckle and bulwark extension reinforcement parts. The knuckles were short in length, by approximately the thickness, so I added to them using scrap from the carrier sheet.
  7. bobandlucy
    Hello Cleat. I just finished this model. I planked the decks before gluing down per the instructions, but I'm not sure if you have the same version of the kit, as you mention laser-cut planks. Mine were basswood strips. Does your kit have these and walnut planks for the hull?
  8. bobandlucy
    Thanks for the nice comments!
  9. bobandlucy
    Bulkheads installed. A little tweaking here and there. I took my time, and it all looks square and good to me. This is going to be another big girl!
  10. bobandlucy
    Received the parts from Hong Kong and finished the model. I am mostly pleased with the results.
  11. bobandlucy
    What a beautiful model!
  12. bobandlucy
    Waiting on parts for the King of the Mississippi. When they arrive it will be a day or two to finish that project. In the meantime, I cleaned the workspace, flipped the cutting mat (over the course of 4 models I made a mess of it), and am starting Harriet Lane. I began by dry-fitting the Parts A, B & C to the central spine, using the bulkheads recommended in the manual to ensure they are square. There is a problem with Part C and bulkhead 3, shown below. The tab on Part C interferes with the bulkhead. In addition, the location of the slot on Bulkhead 3 leaves the part overhanging the top of the spine, and short at the bottom. The error looks to be just about the width of the slot. The fix will be removing material as shown below. I'll use scrap on both sides of the bulkhead to close the gap created by enlarging the slot, rather than trying to infill. This is a kit newly in production. I'm sure there will be a few more little things needing adjustment. Onward!
  13. bobandlucy
    Looks good, Dan! I think you are closer to the marks than I was. You have the right attitude and I'm sure this will turn out great. BTW, I am a believer in overnight drying of wet-bent planks. Patience pays off!
  14. bobandlucy
    Working on the hog chains and supports. Couldn't resist adding some people to the upper stern area. Getting close to finishing now. Still have to shape the bow-end masts. . . I've been avoiding that. I've found that shaping is much easier/accurate starting with square wood as was done with Model Expo's Pram and Lobster Smack, rather than with the round dowel supplied with this kit. The pennant mast already installed is a bit wavy, not the smoothest taper. I'll see if I can do better with the remaining two. It's probably just a matter of going a bit slower and using more measuring points along the length of the mast.
  15. bobandlucy
    Bob, thank you. I did trim the ornamental crossbeam, as I saw the interference. The slant is in the forward direction. Today I added the surrounds for the kitchen stacks and steam stacks, and some of the third deck railing. I am really happy with this area, and I think it is where I would be hanging out if onboard, watching the shore slip by while sipping a bourbon whisky and listening to the sound of the paddlewheel slapping the water.
  16. bobandlucy
    I'm feeling a little ashamed about my rant posted above. Upon reflection, and review of past logs, it seems unlikely that I would be the only one experiencing a shortage of the PE railing material. Maybe I did something strange with it. The wood shortage was definitely there, and was significant, so maybe I jumped to conclusions. One thing I have confirmed through reviewing other logs- the locating tabs for the staterooms and the pilot house deck were left incorrect for a period of years and led to more than one builder installing the staterooms backwards, and offsetting the pennant mast away from the above deck overhang or leaving the mast out entirely. Moving on, I began placing the chimneys, pennant mast, kitchen stacks, and third deck railings. Although I checked as I went along, one of the chimneys is out of plumb. I'm not sure if I'm going to correct this, as it would lead to significant rework and I'm not positive that anyone but we here would notice. Once again I've got to remind myself that I'm doing this for fun and to learn. The next will be better, I'm sure.
  17. bobandlucy
    Thanks, Bob- there are too many pieces missing, but I do appreciate the offer! AL did respond promptly. They are charging me due to lack of receipt, but that's OK. The shipment originates in Hong Kong. I imagine that with our current "supply chain" problems that this may take a while. But at least I know the direction I'm heading, so can keep up the progress. Maybe AL's new owners are attempting to right their ship. Hope that effort extends to QA process as well.
  18. bobandlucy
    I need to vent. Having finished the railings on the second deck, I counted the number of PE brass railings that would be required to complete the third deck. The kit is again way short, by at least 10 pieces. I sent in AL's form from their clunky website. They require a sales receipt, which I do not have (lesson for future). We'll see what happens. I'd pay if it can be shipped quickly. I have scrapped none of the supplied PE parts. Of course my brain immediately started processing the available alternates. So far they are: 1. Bow and stern with PE railings and wooden railings similar to first deck along the sides. I have the wood (which was also short), which I had ordered from another vendor. 2. Bow and stern with PE railings and wooden railings alternating with PE railings along the sides (if indeed I have enough PE). 3. Entire third deck with wooden railings. I don't resent having to deal with "problems," but material shortages of the extent present in my kit are another matter. I am happy with the model, but the kit itself has been a disappointment. I'd have a hard time opening my wallet for another Artisania Latina kit, for sure. Venting concluded.
  19. bobandlucy
    Looks very good to me, Gary!
  20. bobandlucy
    Thanks, Bob and Eric. Bob, what you're seeing at the base of the stairway railings is just a piece of wood I've been using as a spacer between the decks and the bottom rails, it just happened to be laying on the deck in front of the railings.
  21. bobandlucy
    Finished off the second deck railings. More passengers showing up. Despite its flaws (some mine, some the models'), I am getting a lot of enjoyment from the building.
  22. bobandlucy
    Very nice Eric. I'm sure your father will be thrilled!
  23. bobandlucy
    The pic in the post above shows where I ran out of wood for columns, posts, and railings. This is a significant shortage. I set out to do the brass wire railings for the staircases. The wire comes coiled and must be straightened. My first attempt at straightening by hand was a disaster. Ordered a tool which arrived today. It works, but from my reading the 1 mm wire used is at the top of its capacity. It came out better, but still with significant curvature. I read online about using a vise and nylon-tipped pliers, both of which I had, and that worked well. Pics include my first botched attempt (by hand) and four pieces which I installed. This was a good learning experience, in that I can see clearly how both uneven surface and marring can detract from the final product. I really should already know this, as I used to work in a metal shop as a parts finisher ("burr boy"), but that was a very long time ago.
  24. bobandlucy
    How nice of you, Bob. I'll let you know. This may well end up lost amongst all the other details. . . This is a fun build. I will be careful around the stable, though. Horses are unpredictable!
  25. bobandlucy
    Still waiting on wood to finish the stairways (I did find enough to do the ones already built). I've also run out of wood in two other sizes, and have ordered those also. I did not scrap much wood at all, and consider this a shortcoming of the kit. Today I did the bow-end railings for the stateroom/ventilation deck. I really messed it up, in that I used 3x3 mm material for the top rail in four places. I don't know what I was thinking (I was not thinking), but at least I did the same on both sides! I then added the pre-cut 1.5x3 mm curved top rails on either side of the steps. Was thinking of re-doing all this, and then decided it did not look bad as is. I think I'll do it the same way on the aft end of the deck and it will look like it was designed this way. The other of today's mess-ups was not noticing that the photo-etch white railing next to the window (near side in photo) is not vertical. I do intend to fix this if I have a decent piece of the P.E. left after completing the rest of the railings.

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