popeye the sailor

is the bow, keel, and stern post thicker than the center spine? if so, you may not need to much more than a slight bevel on both sides, along the edge of the center spine. the rabbit is nothing more that an indention in the keel, so the planking will have a place to fit into, to give it a seamless appearance. it will help at the bow, giving the plank a slot to be inserted in. it will help the garboard plank along the keel......no gap. it will help in terminating the plank at the stern....you won't end up with a thick stern contour. I've haven't done it much.....most of the kits I've done supplied addition parts to be located at the bow and stern. they act as bumper stops for the planking, giving an additional surface to adhere it to. what I do for the garboard plank, is bevel the edge that is going to butt up to the keel, which works equally as well. for the first planking it won't matter as much. the main objective is to get the contour of the hull as good as you can. sanding and filling {if necessary} will refine it to receive the second planking. you can go full strip or what would be called scale planking. there is a formula for the scale which your model is based, but I'm not too good with it, so I cut my planks to fit two or three bulkheads. tapering is easier, since you'd be dealing with a much shorter length of planking...easier to fit. I've only second planked one ship.....most of the other models I've done were painted over anyway.....it would have been a waste of good planking. the preferred method for second planking is scale planking. someone with more knowledge of it can tell you more

sweet looking ship.......your carving skills are amazing too very well done!

with some kits, it's almost impossible to follow that first strake rule. I always start mine by following along the tops of the bulkheads, and proceed downward. for this one though, I would plot the first strake at the top, until you get to the higher bulkheads towards the stern. at that point, let the plank guide you where it wants to fall, and go down from there. the upper part can be done later. the half Moon and the Mayflower are other examples, where this method works well. does this model have the ply panels for the upper part? you could even start with those, and they will mark the line for you

that's a much better picture that the other link showed really neat!

thanks Nils! that is......if I don't fall asleep at the helm!

sorry on the late reply folks......I was here the other night, but I should know better. I fell asleep at the computer and knocked out my browser when I do that, my hand is usually on the mouse.......subliminally clicking in lala land. I'm usually pretty tired when I get out of work. As said.......I should know better. I started to do the hull painting......should have something pretty soon thanks Pat......I should do a tanker.....or a ship like Andy's doing. then I can probably use most of it up it won't be orange anyway.....the admiral won. no Glenn, I'm an enamel man......I don't use acrylics {not that I don't like them, I have never used them}. one of these days, I do plan on doing an S.S. Olive Oyl, but I want to find figures first, so I can evaluate the scale OC.......I'll PM you with pictures so I don't scare the natives

I would think that the doors are all the same......only doors that are different size might look a little different. the biggest thing to look out for, would be the way they open in different situations....you don't want to use a left hand door in a right hand situation nice progress with the added detail......odd looking launchers.

very nice job on the hammocks........looks really sweet!

that's a neat looking stand very nice paint work.......looking super!

most laser cut rails don't fit right anyway nicely done!

I get really thin wire like that from appliance cord....never though of using it for that Bob.......great idea well done on the rigging!

I wonder if there is some correlation between the misalignment of the dowel and the structure. your really giving me the itch to pull mine out of the box and do some research into it that's a dry fit on a large scale.......it's a good way to think ahead. I wonder how this model would look if you subbed the stairs with an elevator? apparently there's a problem with the incline of the stairs......plenty of time to figure a course of action.

Impressive job Greg......I think this one is more involved than the IJN Ise........between the paint work and etch ! so much added detail........yepper! you rank right up there with the best of 'em

very happy to catch your build log! usually I don't find it till I smell sawdust looks like a really nice kit....don't think I've ever dealt with MDF.....gotta sand better that plywood and you won't have to worry about ply separation {I've had my share of that}. looking forward in seeing you progress

looks very good Doug.......you've done some amazing things with this old kit

hee....hee...hee.......I got the admiral scrambl'in 'round right now she got me this same kit for Christmas.......except mine is dated 2015. she noticed that your box isn't the same as my box......and set the stones to rolling another fellow just finished his.....he had a few issues that you might want to be aware of. I'm keeping his log in mind for the day I start mine: Look for Vossy's "riverboat" log too.......he's putting people on his and posted a link as to where he got them. they are not riverboat figures though....you may want to look into getting some that are more correct for the subject. I'll pull up a chair and look on.......perhaps you'll have some additional ideas {or maybe spark a few of my own }.

the upper paint color.......I plan on using olive drab for the bottom. I'll find a use for all that orange sooner or later I just finished a project that I could do a log on......but don't dare. it's just too outrageous and odd. the admiral seem to get a kick out of it, but wouldn't come near, 'cuz it's plastic

Danny brought out his trained spiders! had to have been tedious very nicely done....so cool!

I gotta start mess'in with my logs in this forum.......then maybe I can get in here more often. it's always nice to see an update on this fine ship.......even snuck some deck work on there she's look'in my-t fine! tough dilemma.......there's been a few time where I said the heck with stuff, because it won't be seen. I guess it would depend on what you'll need to do when it's time to deck those areas over. sure.......don't go nutz with the cannons.......just where your certain they will be seen........but if your going to have the deck beams with the knees and all that, you may have to do the complete job, so everything will fit. I'm sure you'll do what's needed

the rabbits look good.......it was worth all you had to do to get there the extra keel blank is a good thing. as for which to do this week end.....if it's winter and your boat is as far as going to work, it might be nice to close yourself up in a nice warm shop and enjoy life always good to see more updates

wow Jim.......I can imagine that the other shrouds will be just as labor intensive. I don't blame you .......anyone who has attempted shrouds that large, don't either, I would say. wonderful job though......I hope mine come out as well, when I get to them. running rigging can be quite a balancing act.......that's why I came to a formula.......finding the true 'zero' tension and staying within this tolerance. it's not like the thread runs free in the blocks either. once tension is applied, the blocks tend to hold the tension, until you manually adjust them.......it can be frustrating. here is how I found 'zero': {you may have to do this with all different types of thread, so you'll know with that particular type} hold a piece of the thread in your fingers......pull outward as tight as will allow. release the tension slowly and watch the string as it relaxes. do this as many time as needed.....watch the string.....you will see the point where the string will begin to go slack. the point before it begins to go slack, is zero. the more you do this, you'll be better able to hone in on the exact point where zero is. this has helped me a lot with plastic kits......the yards bend very easy......but too much tension will also cause wood to bow as well. I know it sounds crazy........but give it a try. it may help in some cases BTW.......you've made quite a bit of progress. you might not think so, but I think your humm'in right along!

as Steve Martin says........those French have a word for everything! I have some plans in Italian and {I think} Dutch......getting translations can be tricky .....I completely sympathize. when it comes to sailing vessels, terminology isn't my strong point...but it's fun to guess. your progressing quite well in spite of all that, so it must not be hindering you too much. your reaching your goal.......that's all that counts

this is my main hobby now.........I need to get my butt practicing the bass again though. I still write my build logs on Word Press, Blogger, and Weebly, but I don't write as much as I used to.......haven't written a decent poem in a while either. I visit my friends here regularly I did get a little bit done yesterday.........the scuppers thought I had forgot about them.........huh!?!?!?!!? one side came out uneven with the rub rail......I fixed it as best I could. I might have one of them a teeny bit off from the others.......I may fix it........I may not......depends on what the fix curtails. after all...it is a work boat it took the morning to cut them out and sand to shape. I took one picture, fresh in the paint booth, after touching up the scuppers, rub rails, and rudder. I haven't touched up the other side yet, nor the margins inside. I figure I can do all that, once I get the hull paint on.......I'm leaving the scuppers masked over till I do. later, I brought the hull back to the table, after the other side had dried enough. this is the good side....here is the bad side {what I consider, anyway } I did some work to the structures while all this was going on. I drilled out the holes for the winch on the pilot house base, but for some obscene reason, the plywood plys that make up these parts began to split apart and break {my guess is weakened by the laser cutting}. I pieces them back together and will redrill the holes....but I really don't think it's a good idea to try and go for the 2 mm brass rod. I will look at some other way to accomplish the assembly.......I want to do something with it anyway.....I don't like the drum. sad........orange is out.......I keep mentioning it......and the admiral's face shrivels up like a prune! I hate prunes I mentioned Hunter Green.......I won't tell you what she said about that....this is a family show .......I guess Brunswick Green is out too she wants kind of a sea blue........I have some Duck Egg Blue, but it's a Billing paint......might not fair well with the air brush......I'll look into it more.

these parts are small to begin with.........what you've done is amazing! superb job in every way! I hope your taking breaks to keep from getting eye strain.

totally understandable about the summer months........most folks do more of their modeling during the winter months. this is a hobby........chores and life thing need to be addressed first. me...I tend to model year round, but I have my to do lists too you will get to try your hand at scratch building......you can bet on it. but you'll get more satisfaction from it......and you'll enjoy it more. it's kinda like the Karate kid.......Miagi....."think tree" I see your looking in on probablynots {Brian} build log.....good ! there are a couple of other, I think. looking forward in seeing the start of your new log.........no shelving this time note to self.....commitment.......desire.......determination......and research.