shipman

The finest build of this kit I've seen, congratulations. I've had the privilege of seeing/hearing 2 originals and an equally rare replica. They don't make 'em like that anymore.

My many years admiring aircraft have taught me they have no discernible panel lines (as depicted on nearly all kits), only subtle contrast from one panel to another.

I must say, not only is your build top notch; so is your excellent photography.

A big fave of mine; what a machine the 'Frightning' was. One of Airfix's first 'modern' kits and a good one.

Looks like a real Honda....you are making a good job of it. (that steering damper needs attention)

Thanks for sharing your progress, building this impressive kit of a fabulous motorcycle. I do wish Tamiya would introduce a kit of my favourite, the Phil Read MV Agusta 500-4 from the mid 70's. In my opinion, that was the apex of the basically 'traditional' 4 stroke racing motorcycle.

ARGH! WONKY rigols! How come I ever missed your previous excellent build. No doubt this rendition will blow my socks off! Glued to my screen for this one.

Ab, your images are PNG files one minute, then jpeg's. Would it be possible to make them all jpegs, please (it makes life easier for me, at least). Thank you. Love your card methods. Ab, you say all your photo's are taken or downloaded in the same way. The 3 images in your post #50 are PNG files, yet the single image in post #53 is a jpeg. How did that happen?

I've been pondering upon your bulwarks for a while, thinking there's something odd about the horizontal timbers on the inboard side. Surely there should be vertical ships timbers regularly spaced instead. I have no direct evidence, but there would be no structural reason to line over these, as you depict?

I just love these small boat builds and this is another winner. Well done.

Shame you're so far away.....I have 3 in my stash.

This is a very old kit; over the years I've seen several built to very high standards. Being an elderly Yorkshireman, I have vivid memories of this type in the East Yorkshire ports such as Hull and Grimsby. Over the years as the fishing industry declined one saw how the maintenance basically stopped. The most remarkable example I recall was moored at Bridlington sometime in the late 1970's. I've never seen a more neglected example. The entire vessel was orange with rust, yet it was still in use, evidenced by the nets hanging to dry and the deck machinery was at least lubricated and operative. Haven't seen one in decades, but in their day were regarded as the finest sea boats. Actually the last I saw was in Goa, India taking day-trip tourists along the coast.

A thin smooth, calendered stock is called 'Bank' paper, made largely from linen and originally specified for bank notes.

I've always wondered where items such as this fish davit are stored? Not a small or light thing to hide. When needed many such things must be quickly recovered from storage, used, then whisked away again.

Thank you for your input, my friends. Some of you may be aware I'm still in hospital since losing a leg at the end of November. The big issue now is getting home to a house unprepared for the paraphernalia required to accommodate a wheelchair user. Part of my problem is the result of collection hoarding (massive book collection, massive heavyweight coin collection, massive stash of mostly plastic aircraft/ship kits, a recent developing cycle collection....among other things). Now there's no room for me! Eventually I hope these issues will be resolved and I have a little corner to park my bum! I was waiting on delivery of 6 'Falconet' oared boat kits before the accident and can't wait to get started on them. My questions relating to longboat strake planking are to help a keen modeller friend who had a handsome Christmas gift of the Artisania Latina 'Endeavour' longboat kit. I suspect what appeals to him is a model which displays the charm of exposed wooden planking. My investigations reveal that kit has totally inadequate plank stock to make a fair representation of such details. Which means replacing the kit planking completely. No doubt most of the kit can be improved, given some research, but the kit at least has the bones to proceed and make a fair resemblance of such a craft, remembering all the bones were FREE! So, watch this space for my own build logs of the Falconet boats and news of my new life/adventure as an amputee! EDIT 6/2/2025 Just to assure; the reason I was trying to find the number of strakes for a longboat (or any other small boat) would be to give points of references to allow the spilling of each plank to the form of a hull. Spilling rarely provides a plank with parallel sides, so asking for a plank width is irrelevant. I've no personal experience of this, but the first 'keel' or 'Garboard' can be a mystery, due to its top edge having so much influence on subsequent plank profiles. I believe this is where a plank 'fan' become essential. It doesn't matter if the project is scratch built or a kit, both can have their planks 'set' once the 'lines' or 'form' of the hull is established.