Wawona59

Hi Dave, I recently joined MSW and am still kind of finding my way around. I'm so glad I cam across you build log for the Phantom. I too will be starting a build log for the Phantom as my first project on MSW. I'll be facing some of the same construction issues that you are doing. I inherited a started Phantom model several years ago. It's been sitting on a shelf in the garage for several years. When I finally opened the box, I found that the carved bulwarks had been removed down to deck level. I was planning to cut notches in the solid portion of the hull to receive individual timberheads. Lo and behold, that is the approach that you took! I'll be reading your Phantom build log more thoroughly. I also really like the joint you used to spliced the top rail. I'll be doing something similar. BTW, I'm also going to check out your Aurora Wander build. I built this kit in the late 60's or early 70's. I was displayed in my parents' living room for years. When I went away to college, my parents sold their house. The buyer liked the Wanderer model so my parents included it in the house. Nice work Dave! John Newcome, Wawona59

Thank you for the warm welcome Parick. John

Thank you for the welcome Mark. I'm still familiarizing myself with navigating the MSW site. Where do I go to start a build log? Where do I put my current and past projects in my profile? Everyone I've met online so far has been very welcoming. Really glad I joined the group. John

Hi Keith, Thank you for the YouTube video upload. After viewing it, I remembered there were many talented shipwrights at Northwest Seaport working on the vessel. I was amazed how they could bevel the replacement frames in one pass using the biggest band saw I've ever seen. thank you John Newcome, Wawona59

Hello Chris, Yes, it was very sad news when she was broken up. There were grand plans for restoring her going back as long as I can remember. Alas, Northwest Seaport didn't have the $$$ and there was little or no interest from the city of Seattle. I think the city viewed her as a safety hazard and nuisance. Fortunately, there is a set of plans and lines that were done of Wawona as part of the HAER project. When I get my ship modeling skills up to snuff, I want to use these plans as a basis. That's a ways down the road. Right now, I need to start working on my inherited MS Phantom model which has already been started and requires some fixing. I just dusted it off from my "shelf of doom". Cheers, John

Thank you Jeff for y our warm welcome. This will be fun. Since you are reasonably close to Seattle (I actually live in the Renton/Fairwood area) do you every visit the Wooden Boat museum on Lake Union? John

Thank you Keith for the welcome. I think this will be fun! John

Hello all, My name is John Newcome from Seattle, WA. I've been an avid modeler for over 50 years. My modeling interests are sailing ships and early aircraft.(1900 - 1940). My primary modeling interest is sailing ships. (if it has a mast, yard and sail, I'm in) As a kid in the early 70's I built a number of sailing ships including the Revell 1:96 Constitution, Thermopylae and Cutty Sark, the Aurora Whaling ship Wanderer. Even as a 13 year old, I tied my own ratlines and made cloth sails (not very well though). Once I made cloth sails out of a white cloth bed sheet I found in the closet. (Mom was not pleased to say the least). Several years ago, after the usual College-Career-marriage-kids experience, I returned to modeling. I've built a number of aircraft models that have been periodically displayed at the Seattle Museum of Flight. I'm now returning to my REAL modeling passion of sailing ships. One of my goals is to build a model of the Lumber Schooner Wawona (hence my username). She was a fixture on the south shore of Lake Union for decades until she was broken up a few years ago. I toured her as a kid and took my children on her when they were little. Even though I've studied sailing ships in the past and have a small library of reference materials, I'm going to start small. I'm going to build the Model Shipways Phantom that I inherited several years ago as a partially started kit. I will use Chuck Pacaro's practicum as a guide. Over the years, I've inherited other partially built ship models from deceased friends. My next project will be to finish the Corel Golden Hind model I inherited. I also inherited a wooden hull of the Model Shipways Sultana. I want to use a set of Model Shipways plans to complete the Sultana as my introduction to scratch building. Many projects and dreams ahead. I'm looking forward to participating in this forum. Thank you John Newcome, Wawona59