popeye the sailor

thanks Piet........yea, I'm making some headway.....now to get back to the build. I got side tracked yesterday......it was a nice day. not that I had yard work to do, but the fact that I had to replace the entire exhaust system in the car. I could have gotten away with just replacing the resonator pipe and muffler, had someone not cut off the flanges and welded the pipe to the front pipe {a repair before we bought the car}. just as well, because I had already replaced the flex part of the front pipe about a year ago, and it had developed a leak...it too was beginning to break again. the weather was forecasted to be rainy all week....but yesterday was dry and in the 50's. so, being a good day, I ran the car up on the ramps, jacked up the rear to get it off the ground, and did the whole job. I had the nose of the car in the garage, and the rest of it outside, cuz I don't have a lot of room. I had called my brother about it, since he has a lift, but he had a tough job going on at the moment and he was in a foul mood. AWWWW, what the heck......I'm used to doing things like this. I do my own work. I shake my head sometimes.......all through my younger days, I used to get stopped, because I was runn'in a cherry bomb, or some other enhanced exhaust system....and today, you hear these kids scream'in by the house with exhaust systems that make you think they're runn'in off the manifolds! enough rant this morning, I took a review through all the build logs I've written on Word Press.......I am so astounded with how many there are! I have Wenzel's Wharf and 11 different drydocks........and then add the ones I have on Blogger. glad I like to write, all I gotta say

when I build mine ....that's what I meant. I saw your new project......a very original project indeed.

splendid job Mike! I would have voted for the half covered too.......sorry I lost track of the log I did something different in regards to the covering too. I built the Guillow's Spitfire MK1 a while back. I knew that the smell of dope would send the admiral into a tizzie, so I used a less oderfull approach. a must is a good atomizer bottle. after tussuing the model {I do it apart} I spray it with a watery mix of white glue.....a couple of times, allowing it to dry each time. it will shrink up just as well, as good as dope does. with a real soft wide brush, paint on another coat of thicker diluted white glue. when that's dry......airbrush the paint.....I use flat enamels. for the prep work on the frames and wings, I use lacquer.....doesn't matter what sheen, it's gonna soak into the wood anyway. the finish comes out just as good. I haven't flown it yet.......my track record for rounded fuselages is not that good. the best flight I ever got was from a Fokker D VIII seriously nice work on your Fokker though.....really like the markings don't think I'd have the patience for one like yours. congratz on a beautiful model

pinnacle looks like a model in itself! awesome progress Nils.....looking super

that bit of rigging is just way too cool Frank! neat way to make metal cleats too. very nice progress

good.......so I have a log to follow he's not answering Jack....guess he ran out to get the kit

glad you like the pen......Danny and John {moderators} get the kudos though. the best tip I ever got perhaps you might benefit looking at some of the admiralty builds {like Danny's}......you can see the way they framed in the lower decks. then you can plank them over, leaving some areas unplanked, so it can be seen. outer planking looks great

feel free browsing through pictures is a good way to get ideas. you did a great job on your Norden....can't think of any other boat I'd want to be docked next to in the gallery I have no doubt that your next fishing vessel will be even better!

looks amazing Danny! very nice progress

thanks for the good word on the stairs......trying not to let ya'll down I need to build a shelf for the Norden........darn thing is sitting on the table at the moment.........needed better light for it's photo shoot. I'll figure something out I have to find some of those figures Nils......I'm still looking thanks! I thought about that Mike......I have some fine mesh.....or I can even use the tinted cello I'm using for the windows. it would have been good if the Model Shipways grating worked out.....smaller mesh...I wouldn't have to worry about being able to look into it. I'm sure I can block it out with something....thanks for the offer jee Sam.........hmmmmmmmm, could be a way to get a leg up in that line of work if my current job does a nose dive, I'll let ya know

I've heard of folks doing this........likely this is the reason why. good save

thanks John....we'll be side by side in the gallery thanks for the inspiration

looks really nice

really nice job with fitting out the deck.......it's one of my more enjoyable parts of any build

a huge thanks for all the kind comments and the likes I'm sure I missed a couple of things, but I feel that I did succeed in trying to put some functionality into the model. I had a good time finding out how things worked.........thanks to those who helped out with that. it also helps to be in the company of so many like minded folks. I learn something new every day

look'in good Doug.......what type of wood is the second planking?

looking forward to your return

....more on my unconventional way to make spiral stair cases. the top step I added wasn't the best thing to do.......I ended cutting off most of it. having the step level with the second level, pushed the stair case away from the post. tough to get a step up in this hobby.......I'll never get a raise this way .....just thought I'd pun it up a little*** I have a gap at the bottom........do I dare?!?!?! why not! there's nothing like a happy landing while I play with this, I'll show you something else......the hinges for the first level doors seems to be an oddity too. I've seen them done in different ways......here's what I've derived from them. the way that they are made, suggests that they be folded over......the center part is to be wrapped around whatever is to be used as a hinge pin. this makes the hinges double thick, something I think is kinda weird. I first thought about folding them over, and then snip off the double part, making the hinge thin and not as bulky. it can be seen how the center part is thinned down......the holes are supposed to match the opposite part. I stuck a piece of that steel rod in my vise, in order to accomplish the bending process. but beware.........if you let go at an inopportune time, the part gets catapulted into god knows where! gentle pressure.....this way, it falls to the floor {this is the road I took}. just as much as a paint to locate them, even though I pushed the mat under the table {it suppresses bounce}. at this point, they are crimped with the needle nose pliers. the first couple, the holes didn't line up........this was corrected by inserting a pin through the outer holes, acting as a guide. it didn't take long to bend them all......I found that I have two extra pieces......not a boon bonanza, but if one is messed up, there is a replacement. see what I mean by them looking thick this would have been the best time to trim them, but I started to assemble them before I realized it. maybe later. this is what they will look like.......I will use CA when I get them set up. I'll chase out the holes with a drill....then drill them again when they are in place on the model. the brads are 10 mm, I'm guessing.........I should use the ones I got from Billing's {they might be a tad thicker}. I'll use 7 mm when I fill the holes. I also began plotting what to do about the metal doors and windows for the second level.......gonna scratch the doors from wood, and make frames for the windows. the first holes to fill on the second level will be gratings {on both sides}. assembling the supplied grating from the kit is a no go......the darn thing looks too big. holy visibility batman! yea.....not my cup of sassafras tea. I got out the grating kit I got from model shipways........had this darn thing for a while now.....I'll never order from the place I got it from again! >thump!< bad customer service.........>thump!<.....bad!.....BAD!!!.....>thump!<.....>thump!< it would have been a good fit.......except that there wasn't enough to make both of them I then though of the grate material I made for the United States build {look into that build to see how I made them......insanity at it's best}. "there, there....little fella.......I don't like to use helmets either ." so..........after cutting one of them to size {since I didn't have the sense to snap a picture of them}, it was fitted into position. now.....I need to make a frame for it. rather than muck it up by combining stain and paint....I'll just use paint. .......once I trim it up, of course then I can make the other side. I also set up another bow fender in the CORRECT template, {this time}......I'll do the trim and fit today. the last thing I did in this session, was to add the outer railing to the stairs I was working on. I figured it might safeguard the spindles from breakage.......still gotta cement one of them back on. I left it off for fitting purposes. with a little sanding, it doesn't look half bad. staining is out due to glue blotches.........still gonna be a pain to paint.

kind of a tough question........do you have a kit preference? I'm a confirmed Billing's fan......I think the kit itself would be very nice, as I've found all their kits....but the instruction are a bit vague. having built so many of their kits, I've gotten used to deciphering them. the wood is usually pretty good, and likely comes with a roll of cloth to make the sails. not having bought the kit, I really can't give a good description of the contents. I have the A.L. kit of the Marie Jeanne.....one big plus I saw right away, is that the sails are pre-assembled. the instructions are colorful....they have a booklet, a written text set of instructions, and a large diagram sheet {or sheets}. I haven't taken them out of their sleeve yet {usually, I already have looked at them.} here is a small look see the finished model measures {in inches}: 22" long, 19 1/2" tall, and 6 1/4" wide. the instruction bundle. how it is packed......plastic sealed with a cardboard backing, in an effort to prevent warpage. the fittings.....not keen on the metal boat, but I'll cross that road when I get to it. the sails are pre-made......not sure if they are prepped in other ways......color and such, but they are set up with bolt ropes, pleated and sewn along the edges. the wood parts.....I haven't read the particulars, but it looks like basswood and plywood framing. the wood strips may be Sapeli, Lime, walnut, and perhaps Beech. I wish I had the Billing's kit as well.......seems bias to only show one kit. Billing would likely offer the same in regards to the framing, but for the wood strip, they may offer Obechi, Basswood, Annegre, and mahogany. this doesn't knock down the quality.......pre-staining is a good option here, and if you like to paint, exotic woods might not be a good choice {I know I wouldn't paint over these woods}. as with most kits, the use of plastic and metal parts is common in these kits. folks will sometimes replace these parts with similar parts that fit the model better. the ship's boat is a good example......there are plenty of places where a wooden replacement can be purchased. having taken a quick look at the fittings... there are a few thing I will be replacing. if this was the Billing's kit, I would likely see some things in it to replace as well. I'm willing to say that these are both nice kits...I'm sure that each will present their own challenges. whichever you decide to pull the trigger on, I hope you'll do a build log.......I would find it interesting to see....especially if you chose the Billing's kit. one kit may include detail that the other kit does not.......it makes a model more interesting when combining different aspects hope this helps you out......it's a tough decision

I finally got a chance to do the finish pictures on this model. the light on the main table isn't good enough.......I really need to set up a better lighting system. there basically isn't much more to add to the log, except that it was a fun build, and that the kit holds many opportunities to enhance the finished model. it was also very interesting to delve into the background of the coaster........I'm still not totally in the know, but it was neat to find out how the equipment worked. I did get to add somewhat of a sort table......but room on deck was getting tight and I didn't get to add the net un-raveller. I'm sure there was more that could be added; perhaps one day, I might clone one more hull from the Mary Ann templates, and semi-scratch another of these vessels. with a bit more consideration of the deck layout, I think more can be done. thanks to all of you who followed along, and liked this project....I appreciated all the kind comments and suggestions. there are a few other pictures........they can be seen in the gallery. thanks again for look'in in!

thanks OC.......I might have made some headway. doing it this way though, the railing posts are taking a beating...but I suppose if I were to paint them brown, they won't be too noticeable more soon if it pans out

I looked up other logs for this model, and I came up with several others. each one had their take on the stairs......not the fun part of the model. I decided to take a different approach, which as I'm proceeding, might not have been a wise choice. I had assembled one already with the post, and it came out uneven.....part of what prompted me to try making straight stair flights. taking them back out, the posts were removed and cleaned up, later to be cemented on the model, to insure that they would be straight, the one that I removed the post from was sanded around the outer spiral, and I added another step to the top, seeing that the spiral itself wasn't achieving the 90 degrees it required to make the span the the second level. I noted that it wasn't a straight ascension either....I'll have to work on it. as for the other flight of stairs, I had to take it apart, which ended up badly for the parts..........everything from splintered cuts to the uneven. they will need to be sanded and corrected, in order to salvage them. instead of making new pieces, they were sanded down in thickness, and cemented on a small piece of 1/32 flat stock to make up for it. it was compared to one I did earlier to check the thickness. the end result is that I now have a left and a right flight of stairs. the next task will be to get them to fit. I haven't done them yet, but another thing that I find odd are the hinges for the doors on the first level. the way they are shaped, suggests that they need to be bent around a brass rod, to create the hinge pin eyelet. but in doing this, it creates a double thick hinge....not good in my opinion. when I create them, I will post a picture or two to show you what I mean.

we're gett'in pummeled by rain and freezing rain.....got an inch of this nasty precip. all part of what's going across the country of late to think....I took two days from work for this! are those dead eyes adjustable? think of the holes as a triangle.......two holes at the top, one on the bottom. nice adjustment to the guns....set her up the way you want to

the inner bulwarks look super Bob........very clean and neat I notice that your hull planking and the bulwark strip weren't the same thickness. you could plank the bulwarks with 1 mm and the hull with .5 mm to even it out. it would also thicken the bulwarks. I've encountered this in the past......usually sanding the line flush with a lot of elbow grease. this may take a lot of extra work out of the equation. I'm sure you have a plan for this, but I thought I'd throw it out there, in case it's something you might not have considered.

I thin your decks look fine...the set up looks great! gonna be a sweet looking dio!