-
Posts
712 -
Joined
-
Last visited
About Greg Davis

- Birthday 05/29/1959
Profile Information
-
Gender
Male
-
Location
Green Bay, WI
-
Interests
Model ships, Bicycle racing, Pomeranians, and Ballet
Recent Profile Visitors
-
cotrecerf reacted to a post in a topic: Phantom 1868 by Greg Davis - Model Shipways - 1:48 scale - New York Pilot Boat
-
cotrecerf reacted to a post in a topic: Phantom 1868 by Greg Davis - Model Shipways - 1:48 scale - New York Pilot Boat
-
hamilton reacted to a post in a topic: Phantom 1868 by Greg Davis - Model Shipways - 1:48 scale - New York Pilot Boat
-
Do it! Here's my 1:96 Phantom (2007) - safe, but not cased, on a shelf for now: The copper was not treated in any way; it is a bit darker now but still surprisingly shiny. Waterline is a little more wavy then my current iteration! I see that I used the copper tape right off the spool so the plates are 1/4" high and I did not have a separate belt for the aft portion of the hull - apparently I did not follow the Chuck Passaro Phantom Practicum very well. I still remember struggling with adding hooks to the very small blocks amongst other challenges. That kit was really was on the small side for a first build and I am glad that the larger 1:48 scale model is now available.
-
tmj reacted to a post in a topic: Phantom 1868 by Greg Davis - Model Shipways - 1:48 scale - New York Pilot Boat
-
tmj reacted to a post in a topic: Phantom 1868 by Greg Davis - Model Shipways - 1:48 scale - New York Pilot Boat
-
tmj reacted to a post in a topic: Phantom 1868 by Greg Davis - Model Shipways - 1:48 scale - New York Pilot Boat
-
hamilton reacted to a post in a topic: Phantom 1868 by Greg Davis - Model Shipways - 1:48 scale - New York Pilot Boat
-
yvesvidal reacted to a post in a topic: Phantom 1868 by Greg Davis - Model Shipways - 1:48 scale - New York Pilot Boat
-
ccoyle reacted to a post in a topic: Phantom 1868 by Greg Davis - Model Shipways - 1:48 scale - New York Pilot Boat
-
ccoyle reacted to a post in a topic: Phantom 1868 by Greg Davis - Model Shipways - 1:48 scale - New York Pilot Boat
-
Greg Davis reacted to a post in a topic: Phantom 1868 by Greg Davis - Model Shipways - 1:48 scale - New York Pilot Boat
-
I marked off the first belt with Tamiya tape and plated the first belt so that it overlapped the tape. After making sure the copper foil was burnished quite well to the hull in a way that I could easily see the tape edge, I used a new scalpel blade to cut through the foil and pealed off the tape. Ready now to start the second belt.
-
I've started to copper the hull. This is only the second hull I've tried to cover in copper foil - my 1/96 scale Phantom was the first, back in 2007. I hope it doesn't look too bad when done! So here's what I've done on day 1: Keeping the detail level - no treenails in the hull planks (nor deck), so no fasteners in the copper plates.
-
Cleaned up / milled out some wood above gamming knee and lengthening timber (4 & 5). I didn't want to accidently catch something on one of the rough edges and / or slots that were along the top. Once that was done, using a spindle sander, I did a preliminary sanding of the back edge that will match with the stem. This actually resulted in a better than expected start to the final shaping:
-
Greg Davis reacted to a post in a topic: Phantom 1868 by Greg Davis - Model Shipways - 1:48 scale - New York Pilot Boat
-
I will be doing the re-sharpening first and see how long I can make the blade last. But making my own may come into play depending on the longevity of the provided one. Currently a single replacement blade is going for $10 plus $4 shipping on Amazon. I will say the cutting station is very nice, but pricey; some would argue overpriced for what I'm using it for - and therefore I shouldn't complain about blade prices! Truthfully, I could have built a simple jig (like used for making deck planks the same length) from wood and cut the copper tape with a razor blade or hobby knife for essentially free.
-
It feels good to be back on the build, there had been a lot of days where I would come into my workroom and see the hull on the shelf and an urge to bring it down to table level would occur! But finishing the Santos-Dumont Hydroplane had preference through early / mid May because it was going to a contest. That worked out well with the model earning the Best of Show award. Of course then there was a bit of adrenaline that pushed me toward my most ambitious current project - L' Invention! The modeling there is going good but is a bit more stressful / higher stakes type of build for me. The Phantom build is more on the relaxing side! Currently it looks like I should be able to make constant progress on Phantom for the foreseeable future. How much / fast is the big question as I tend to get involved in other builds readily. Not so much that I lose interest in a ongoing build as I find other models compelling as well. I have (at least) two other models eking along - the Occre BR-18 Locomotive kit, and a scratch built half-hull model of the skip-jack Carrie Price based on the plans and instructions in the Grimwood book "American Models and How to Build Them'. Greg
-
It's been a while since I worked on this model, but today I got back at it! Cutting copper plates - several hundred so far. The Dspiae cutter does a great job, I'm just wondering how long the blade will hold up. unfortunately, The blade appears to be proprietary (and expensive). Soon I will start attaching to the hull.
-
Another day, another joint! This will sit between glass plates through the night to insure it dries flat. I can then remove some of the excess material along the curved contour of 4 and 5. The flat on the top of 4 will be cut a bit later so that it matches the top of the stem. It also looks like I can start working on the joint between what is done and the stem.
About us
Modelshipworld - Advancing Ship Modeling through Research
SSL Secured
Your security is important for us so this Website is SSL-Secured
NRG Mailing Address
Nautical Research Guild
237 South Lincoln Street
Westmont IL, 60559-1917
Model Ship World ® and the MSW logo are Registered Trademarks, and belong to the Nautical Research Guild (United States Patent and Trademark Office: No. 6,929,264 & No. 6,929,274, registered Dec. 20, 2022)
Helpful Links
About the NRG
If you enjoy building ship models that are historically accurate as well as beautiful, then The Nautical Research Guild (NRG) is just right for you.
The Guild is a non-profit educational organization whose mission is to “Advance Ship Modeling Through Research”. We provide support to our members in their efforts to raise the quality of their model ships.
The Nautical Research Guild has published our world-renowned quarterly magazine, The Nautical Research Journal, since 1955. The pages of the Journal are full of articles by accomplished ship modelers who show you how they create those exquisite details on their models, and by maritime historians who show you the correct details to build. The Journal is available in both print and digital editions. Go to the NRG web site (www.thenrg.org) to download a complimentary digital copy of the Journal. The NRG also publishes plan sets, books and compilations of back issues of the Journal and the former Ships in Scale and Model Ship Builder magazines.