popeye the sailor

for the bow fife rail.......I kept it simple. it will span from railing to railing. still need to drill the holes..... I'm not sure it's good......but I caved. the aft cabin is now cemented in place. I will adjust the mizzen mast somehow. the ship's wheel and steering box is in place as well. ...and it wouldn't be fair not to show the bow. I made sure they were good pictures there's still more to go on the deck.........I painted the bilge pump and winch .....the last thing I did. today, I didn't do anything.........spent most of the day updating the Thermopylae log on Weebly, and was in and out running errands. I'm hoping to be able to sit back and play tomorrow. perhaps I can get something done on all three ship projects! thanks for look'in in!

Boy!!! didn't I leave a pile 'o puss on my desk..........huh!!! that has since been moved to one side of my desk. I had an inspection by the admiral today......she was not happy! the Wharf got a number of violations.......including the improper compilation of wood! I promised that I'd have the place ship shape in no time.......she said I had better so what did I do......I added another boat to the table! I have been doing a bit of work to the Boulogne Etaples of late, but I spent yesterday afternoon doing a little on 'ole Thermie. most of the day yesterday, I was out getting our car inspected.........nailed it!......got my sticker and I'm legal. I came home.....ate lunch.......and dove in head first! the first thing done, was to fix that stripe I painted on the rub rail. it was a bit of a process, but I think it passes muster. the railings are cemented on the aft cabin roof. it's not cemented in place yet......still not sure if it's a good idea the bow railings are cemented in place as well.......I dumped the way I was making the bow fife rail. looking at other ideas. the bollards are now in place on the deck (s)

there you go! leave your options open and use what experience you have.......it's like the old saying "use what you know". Andrea is green......it'll blend right in try wrapping sandpaper to small blocks of wood.......different sizes if you can make them, the wood backing will help with flattening and will help to knock down the bumpy look. I'm pleased to hear your developing a game plan. I'm just glad that I can help.......and not sound like a back seat driver. "I come in peace.......I mean you no harm!" you know.......white flag, and all the while, thinking that someone will write a story about me some day......>don't mind me........I'm rambling<.........jes' be'in stoopid but really......glad I can help. I'm here for the ride, so ya might as well use me although I think that you ought to buy your admiral some flowers.......she thought of the idea BTW......I should have told you the story about me build'in the back porch stairs, when we owned our own place. my admiral even chuckles when she thinks of it.........an' don't think she doesn't rub it in every time I goof up

awesome! have a good day

I admire your determination..........very glad to hear that I can put defeat out of my mind as I mentioned....I'm no expert.....but I hope the willingness to help makes up for it. the Admiralty may have a point there..........I'd keep the idea in the back of your mind. done right, resin can smooth out your hull.......sounds like you have experience with it. resourcefulness can be the mother of invention....or intervention, depending how you look at it. I did a resin coat on one of my projects, and I was very happy with the outcome. my admiral is very sage, I find.......she enjoys what I do with my projects, and I try to involve her whenever I can. she is also a good sounding board, for when I'm undecided as to which way I want to proceed with a build. it stops though, when I pull out a plastic kit...... if I get in the way.......just give me a nudge and tell me to shut up

good to see your back at the table Larry.......nice progress considering time being tight. I hope all is well, or better

she look awesome.........truly great progress! decking and paint looks great!

you could also have modified a few of the davits and rigged the sanpans to them....that would look cool.

the way you have them looks really good! it's interesting that you got so many in the kit, when at sea or in port, they would be stowed away and out of sight. they add quite a bit of demention to the model

Yea.........I can't do it no more either. I used to when I used to pull my all nighters. I did that a lot when I built the first U.S.S.United States. I had to laugh last night.......I was watching a show about fishing......he was up in Norway. the fellow he was speaking with has a sled dog team....when Gibbs heard the barking, he started barking and then was like the RCA dog! he sat right up to the TV, nose pointed to the screen...didn't move the whole time

really taking shape now Frank. interested to see how you'll do the chain plates and dead eyes......I've never done them on the ship before.

Thanks - kind of you to say as much. There have been discussions (many) about the accuracy of the Vasa kits available. Corel is well entrenched at the bottom of the list as it fails in so many areas. For-all-intents-and-purposes I've pretty much had to "bash" this kit, and it still misses, compared to other kits available.... Ohhhh, I don't know about that Michael..........I think you've done just as well, as others who have tried. here's one for the 'ole back pocket..........no one will ever know exactly how she looked, it's anyone's guess, and any scholar's dream build on my friend.......she looks awesome!

your moving right along!

single serving?

compromise..........bring it to the 'idiot box' when you go. I know what you mean.......at least I have the day to play if I want. Gibbs like to get me in there to watch TV at night. it's funny....he will sit near me and give me 'lip service' .......I ask him what does he want to do, and he runs into the living room!

interesting project this is the first car kit made of wood that I've seen

reminds me of an amusing story...{true story}. I was a young lad on a farm.....my older brother and I were in charge of the barn duties. one day, my brother decided to show me how to milk the cow. any age would have been good for him to show me......he hated to do chores with the cow properly prepped { feed and all}, my initial tries were less than good..........I couldn't milk worth a damn! my brother saw where I was mess'in up........and taped up my fourth and pinkie fingers together. with the adjustment, I could milk the cow just fine. learning this was good for my brother, he got more free time to be a stupid teenager {ended up in the army, for being so 'wild'}. as for me......I'd got to the barn, prep the cow.......tape up my fingers and get 'er done. one evening, we got home late from a family gathering. in the barn, we could hear the cow bellowing out like mad! my father told me to get right to it, and milk her.....she was very stressed! I didn't have the time.......never taped up my fingers..........threw a half a bucket of grain in her trough and commenced to milking! I was doing it!!!........even without the tape, I was milking her with no trouble at all! no particular reason why I told you the story........just that we all run into moments where things look impossible. I'm sure we've all been there at one point in time.......we all know how discouraging it is too. there is a solution here somewhere....sad thing is, you haven't found it yet you will.......I'm sure of it. if your like me......and you put too much thought into it, you may get less than desirable results. it never works for me.......if I think too much on something, it never comes out right. I don't dwell on things long.......I simply...do it. 9 out of 10 times, it will come out just fine I'll run my first plank at the top of the bulwarks, and then work my way down, fitting the plank as I go. if I lay the plank and it wants to ride onto the preceding plank, I'll trim it till it fits. if it creates a gap.......fine......looks like a stealer or a plank jogging is in order. I remember what my friend Tom said to me when I first got into this hobby. I had gotten a kit of the Nordkap from a friend......the frame was partially assembled and it had been in his attic for about 30 years. he was concerned that the kit might be in such poor shape, that I would get discouraged with it, and give up on it. but I assured him that I intended on building it.........my enthusiasm level was at an all time high, and wild horses couldn't have stopped me. I probably should have mentioned something about sanding........Obetchi is a very soft wood and sand easily. an average plank is only 1.8 mm thick.....I get nervous when supplied planking is less than 1 mm. it doesn't take long before the thickness sanded away........when I sand, this is always in the back of my mind. the best way to repair something like this, is to cut back to the nearest bulkhead and patch a new one in.......of course, sanding will be needed to bring the new plank down to blend in. I also notice that there is a squarish edge where the chines are..........where the hull sides and bottom meets.........that should be rounded, following the bulkhead contour. plank tapering is important here.......taper the bow end of the plank, so it lays flat on the bulkhead. this will give you a more rounded chine {turn of the bilge} and the hull contour will look more conformed. I can suggest two options for you.......you can get some 0.5 or 1 mm planking and plank over it, or you can remove all the planking and start over. I know it sounds drastic, but making all the repairs you say your having to make, might not give you a good looking hull. planking over it, you can fill the voids with any junk wood, as long as it's the thickness of the planking you have in place already, and you won't get any dips or off contours. if you choose to remove the planking and start over, sand all the bulkheads, so they are all flush and prep the bow stem and keel. I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but these are the options. I'm not a critic........I want to see you have a good experience and a bit sad that it's not coming out the way you'd like. I wish I was close to help you more.......I know you can do it my friend chin up........let me know what you plan to do

it's a lot of tiny stuff, but considering that on most models, all this added detail is usually molded on.......it was worth any trimming and modifications you needed to do you've done a splendid job!

really nice rigging E.J. looks like the crows feet need to be adjusted at the stay. lots of food for thought there.......I'll be doing some soon enough

interesting looking figurehead you shouldn't point all those guns at people........it's not nice but they look good though! wonderful progress!

Thanks Ron......they're my favorite as well work week is done now........ gotta go get my car inspected this morning........once that's done, it's play time! thanks all for the likes as well !

splendid looking ship Hennie........very nice display

/oh Bill......I'm sure you'll get 'er fixed up paint hides a multitude of sin. chin up and keep at it

super! so glad to see an update Sam looking good. ain't much of a time line....you may need to step on it