Craigie65

Brian confession time - I was trying to use a quote from Andy who posted the link - sorry Andy! Norman Alclad have their own black primer which sprays beautifully, dries fast and as Andy points out - nice and shiny Mind you I have never tried it on wood - might need a coat of another paint to seal?

Thanks Joe for the kind comments Just doing the spirketting just now. Busy 5 weeks coming up at work including a fair bit of time away from home. So output is going to slow down for a bit. Thank goodness for a winter break in my sport which means I might get Saturday back, unless the Admiral mentions those dreaded words - "Christmas shopping"

Hi Timmo, Just putting in the spirketting at the moment and thinking ahead to the hawse holes. The instructions would seem to have you drill them late on in the process yet there is a picture of the forecastle sans deck that clearly has the hawse holes drilled out. I don't know if you have reached that stage but would be interested in your thoughts. In the meantime I am going to look at the plans to see if there is a hidden tip there.

Lucky you To be honest I was way too sore after playing two games of hockey yesterday. So after a soak in the tub I snoozed on the couch will try to move my Granado forward today

Actually, I remembered this stuff: http://alclad2.com/ Bar none, the best metal finish on the market. Provided you follow the instructions explicitly! I have only used the aluminium versions of Alclad2 on model aircraft. You really do get a very realistic metal finish. I would hope that their gold also works. One disadvantage is that it needs to be sprayed. Lots of masking! Second disadvantage is that metal paints tend to show up every imperfection if the surface is large; although I imagine that should not be a problem for you Casey? Brian I like the idea of gold leaf - Is it expensive?

Goes without saying that a black undercoat will help the gold shine. Vallejo has some excellent metallics but they need thinning.

Thanks Richard. I think a bit more light is needed for the pictures. Also having to compress each photo to post doesn't help

Okay part two - During Strictly Start of the second planking. I wanted to try to use some of the techniques that I picked up on the forum. Some success but I struggle to vision the layout of all the planks and drop planks. I think I was trying to look too far ahead: but I have a better picture in my head for the next build - whatever that may be? And that is the first planking below the wale After this shot I used a bit of dark filler and after a sand down it looks okay - to be honest it will disappear under a coat of white paint. And the inner gunport patterns and planking above the wale all done. I have lined the ports without lids and will be lining the ports with lids shortly. The sweep ports need a bit of work to get the right size. Of course I could not resist to see how the forecastle would look The camber does not look right at all so a bit of sanding is needed - later!

Thanks Richard I will post more tonight if I can avoid the X Factor

Casey, Lucky you. I have to put up with the X Factor. I wonder if I can sneak off and do some sanding...........

Hi, Been meaning to do this for ages Kit was a family birthday present and arrived late July minus the bulkheads but with 2 keels. a quick email exchange and a call or 2 to JoTiKa and they arrived in August. My first kit was HMS President by Sergal - I could not believe the difference in quality Here is the first of my pictures -playing hockey today so will post some more later today or on Sunday First planking done, gun port patterns and the wale. Bow with water line marked. The blue thing is a wine cooler that I use to soak my wood. Unfortunately I dropped it when emptying it - so new wine cooler on the shopping list for Christmas. And to complete the set the stern While I was waiting on glue drying i had pressed ahead with the mortar housings. These were great fun and little kits in their own right. These pics don't show the ring bolts very well but I experimented making my own by winding wire around an PE tool that i have. At this scale there was not much difference in quality so for the sake of saving some time I used the method in the instruction. Also I had read of the mixed results members have had with chemical blackening - so I decided primer and pain was the way to go. Admittedly the ring bolts need a touch up here and there but I am happy. And the last one for now all the components that make up each housing TTFN

Mobbsie, Is there a fishing contest on the go? Hope I'm not the bait Right off to do some gun port linings. Maybe actually start the build log this weekend - if my son has not nabbed the laptop again

That's the spirit Julian. I know what you mean about Timmo's work it is truely first rate. The art work on the bulkhead is fantastic and he makes it look so easy......

Casey, Needle craft 101 for you! I'm sure there must be a "how to...." In the resource section of the forum. After all there seems to be a thread on most topics

Julian There is a great post by Dan Vadas on fixing boo boos. If find it comforting that even the best of the best make mistakes like us mere mortals! One thing I have learned is that there is no deadline to meet - take your time and do the best you can. Keep posting!

Pinned to the wall. Although if I make to many more pin holes I am going to be made to redecorate by my Admiral

Happy Birthday.

Thanks Popeye. Yes you have me hooked! I can't wait to see what they look like

Hey Popeye I hope your cold gets better - Whisky (scotch) and honey Now for the daft laddie question.... What is it your are building? I guess I mean what is the theme bit about? A truely confused Scot *-)

I think the phrase "you know it's there" comes to mind for the lower gun deck. At least you can see it through the gun ports. I once spent months loading a B-17 with a ton of etched detail never to be seen again once it was closed up. Thank goodness I took some pictures This is a wonderful log - I built this kit in the 80's - before the internet and this great forum - but not to this level of super detail. Straight out of the box as they say I think I'll keep watching this one

With a name like this I should pull up a chair - haggis anyone? Does this kit come with sails? Whilst I have not been a member for very long I have not seen many vessels with sails. The ones I have seen tend to be furled. Presumably difficult to get them to hang right? Good luck

Paul I have PM'd my email address to you. Hear from you soon

Oooo I love the laser gadget. I used a Heath Robinson contraption to mark the water line for my Granado as I am too mean to spend money on a tool that is used so infrequently. I guess that just reinforces the Scottish stereotype

Jim Now we are in total agreement My Tirpitz would look strange festooned in rat lines, shrouds and braces