Kurt Johnson

Like I said. You can now kick my butt. The Irish phrases will really, really get me in trouble. 

You would think I would learn by now, wouldn’t you.

Kurt

Hej min van,  Couldn’t resist, my father’s father was Swedish, my father’s mother Norwegian. Everybody on my mother’s side Irish. I only know enough phrases and words in all three to get my butt kicked badly, except for all the Christmas phrases. Anyway your Cheerful is coming along nicely. I’m currently building her in Alaskan Cedar.

Adjo, 

Kurt

I have a Sherline mill that I purchased 20 years ago, not CNC. I’ve never really used  it, couldn’t find the time to learn the correct way. Now I have time, just wanted to get some use from it. Mainly joints and maybe producing gun carriages, things like that. Doubt any metal work at this point.

Kurt

don’t forget, it it’s a one man operation, and not really automated. It has an awful lot of hand labor, for just two hands. I know there are many ideas waiting in line for their turn to come about. Problem is Chuck won’t compromise on quality. So we just have to wait. Personally, I’d rather wait, then have something just cranked out. I don’t really remember any real complaints on MSW about any of his stuff. So we just have to wait and have patience.  He does from time to time take surveys on what people would like to see.

Kurt

Chris, I am aware of the restrictions involved in starting a business on your own. What I should have said was when the time arrives when it is both financially and physically feasible to pursue offering 1/48th scale figures that you do so, as there is a definite void to be filled in that area. I realize there are a great many goals to be met first that are WAY more important.

Kurt

Chris,

You have to start thinking 1/48th scale with those figures too.  You’d make a lot of people happy.

Kurt

Hope you had a pleasant vacation. It’s good to have some time away from a project. Coming back with a fresh point of view can make a major difference. Things you didn’t notice before all of a sudden become so obvious. That’s one of my problems , knowing when put things down and walk away. That seems to be an American problem, supposedly more than half of us don’t take the full amount of vacation we’re entitled too. Not sure if Canadians suffer from the same quirk, but I doubt it.

Anyway we missed the BE magic show.

Kurt

Sounds like a deal. Thanks Chuck.

Kurt

What would be the best cutters to get to make up a beginners set for a mill with regards to a ship modelers needs? Ones that would likely be most often used? 

Kurt

Quote

 

As for the Mayflower being hired by Pilgrims. I don’t think they would have approved very much of how the ship is usually thought of now.

Kurt

Figure looks great, especially for that small. That was my primary hobby years ago. The ones I painted were mostly 54mm. My Press Gang is looking forward to that 1/48 Jack Nasty Face!

Kurt

Chris, Any idea when the Alert stern frames will become available?

Kurt

Thanks Chris

Gregory,

I couldn’t figure out how to create the link.

Kurt

Check this out. A guy named Ryan McAmis from Brooklyn, NY is making a model of a gothic cathedral. It’s pretty cool. It’s at Ryanmcamis.com (naturally)

Kurt

Chris, Maybe you should have 1 or 2 other people build the kits as a trial first to see what problems arise.  You already know how you intended it to go together, it’s a little bit different when someone else attempts it. Like BE had said earlier about the stern frames, in the instructions they appear different. Two are shorter. If the builder is a real newbie, or not a member of a forum like this. It could discourage them as far as the hobby goes. Some people just cannot visualize things, although I can’t imagine someone like that lasting very long in this hobby.

Kurt

I haven’t worked on my kit in several days but that’s good to know about the stem, though not good for you. I’ll probably  preclamp my stem when I get there. I might put something in the area where an extra bulkhead should be. If you can’t get the proper shape to the hull the entire project really suffers. I know you’ll over come it.

Kurt

Chris,

Is the part going to be changed then?

Kurt

BE,

It would be interesting to know how closely plans were actually followed in those days and how much leeway the builder had in carrying out the actual construction. In the end we’ll never know. The models could have been built before the actual ship was and have quite a few differences from the real ship. What really does matter is what satisfies you.

Kurt

BE, 

Is the Admiralty plan of the Alert or the Rattlesnake? 

I trust you and I, but some of those others........

Kurt

BE,

I was thinking of maybe raising the platform deck like Roger Cole did to have the tiller come out from below it. But I’m not sure yet. I do want to move the forward hatch to starboard as he did, because it makes so much sense to be clear of the bowsprit when it’s run in. Structurally I don’t think it would matter.

Kurt

You must feel less anxious now that the platform deck is in place to support those frames.

Kurt

BE, Are those close pin clamps self made or did you purchase them?

Kurt

I just wanted to say, that I will work this out, but not here. This has nothing to do with BE’s build. I really want to see how BE puts his personal stamp on the Alert (did I say before that this is one of my favorite ships).

Kurt

I’m disappointed in this area of the kit. The angle of the outmost frames are definitely different and would require my frames to twist to just slip in. Maybe I placed bulkhead 9 in backwards? It’s not coming off at this point. I’m going to come up with some sort of work around. There’s no system foolproof enough to defeat a sufficiently great enough fool.

Kurt