Jim Lad

Nice going, Piet!  Just watch out that your submarine doesn't bite you again.

John

Thank you, Pete!

John

Well, it's a bit of a rough stone at the moment, Michael, but hopefully she'll polish up ok!

John

Wondered what you kept in the card file, Michael!

John

Yes, Andy.  To those of us who don't live around the Great Lakes of North America, the world of the lakers is an almost unknown mystery.

Nice job on the bulwarks, by the way.

John

Thanks, Russ.  Things should become more apparent as she progresses.

John

Follow the advice of the notice on the 'Vampire's' bridge, Steve - "Look astern before you turn".

John

Yep!  Coming along nicely in spite of your problems, Popeye!

John

Another small update.

Yesterday I was able to get the planking rabbet cut on both sides plus some shallow grooves forward to locate the cant frames.  Unfortunately our friendly electrician at the museum has done so well in providing extra lighting at the model makers desk that I found it impossible to get good shadow across the model to show up the rabbet line properly, but you can see it at the stern if you look for it.

I really must try and find some additional time for the Pritt or it will take the next decade to get anywhere.

John

Looking 'fest cless', Michael!

John

Looks like you're having fun, Ollie.  Don't try and rush it.

John

Coming along nicely. Andy.

It's funny you should comment on resin kits being 'notoriously imprecise', as I've always imagined just the opposite.

John

She's really showing off her lines now , Ed - beautiful.

John

Yes, much better definition,Danny.

John

Good lesson learned, but they'll be fine, Popeye!

John

It's great to see an update on your 'Orca', Neal.

John

Eye bolts up to your usual standard I see, Michael!

John

Tom,

We're talking about a cutter built in and used for work in tropical waters!  Coppering was very common in small craft used in northern Australian waters - even a lot of the pearling luggers were coppered.

John

Some great lessons in rigging there, Gil!

John

Thanks, Andy!  I've always unloaded ore and coal with grabs, that's why I asked.

Kojm

A delightful figurehead, Sherry.  Have you done much carving before?

I'd go with the others and say just use whatever finish you're already using.  You might like to try your finish first on a scrap of the same wood just to be sure that you like the result.

John

Thanks for that, Andy.  These ships are very different to the ones I'm used to.

Although loading would be easy, didn't the very narrow hatches impede discharge?

John

Per,

Following the hull lines is the way in which hull planking is laid in real ships, but you'll find that you'll probably need some fairly wide pieces on some parts of the hull, especially at the stern, as the plank width will vary quite a bit.  It will also be difficult to lay strips the full length of the hull doing this - remember that on real ships the planks were only 20 to 30 feet long.

John

Very well done, Ilhan.  She's a real credit to you - a beautifully constructed model.

John

Were such narrow hatches usual on these ships, Andy?

John