popeye the sailor

I got a bit of insomnia last night.......the admiral and I are trying to cut down....to eventually quit smoking. so I messed around some more at the table. the crane bases were touched a bit more and set aside to dry I added the rest of the hold covers to the bow and stern the boat deck has no tab slots, nor the structures have tabs......I'm not liking this. I was getting used to no glue marks to touch up. the forward structure was cemented in place. there are 11 stair cases that need to be assembled. they will be cleaned up and painted later, once they dry. the starboard side chain was cemented in place......the port side will be done once this has had time to dry. I am still curious how these decks will assemble....especially without making a mess. I'll try and show you how they stack up.

thanks John.....she's coming along better....found it a little hard to get back into the plastic mode. so true Nenad.......our interests evolve and ever change as we grow older. sadly we must flow with the change. it has been said that the modeler rebuts these changes, by trying to dwell in the past.....but it's not true. we merely want to preserve and protect all that was once beautiful, in a time that technology wants to confuse and destroy. ........to keep simple, what life wants to make complicated, even though under the guise of streamlining. we have a better saying here in the states: "if it ain't broke.......DON'T fix it"

thanks for the good word gents I'm assembl'in all these little things........the hull will be coming into play in a bit. yea, I dunno George.........they must flip a coin in the R&D dept, as to what stays and what goes. got a good idea for 'em........why don't they ask a modeler! Thanks Frank.......I hope your right. the admiral's complaining about me working with plastic....I'm laughing cuz.....she got it for me she wouldn't have sunk, if they only glanced the iceberg. it was a huge tear...four or five compartments long! thanks Gary.......I use the clothes pins for pretty much the same reason. I find that this way, they have more reach. thanks Sam......I'll be honest.....I did all this after 9:00AM........ I had to have my coffee and cruller

Both sides are notched out now. the capstans are in place and the holes are drilled. I may have to enlarge them a bit more to accept the chain. some work has been done to the stern / poop deck. the double benches are in place, four more capstans, and the bollards along with some of the other detail has been painted. the same treatment has been done to the fore deck as well. I have a few other thing that I'm working on.....there are eight cranes that are to be located on these two sections. they also lack a bit of detail, that I think should be there. I'll show you those next {second enhancement}. the structure for the stern [ poop deck has been painted. it was cemented in place on the deck, the same way I did the long structure for the A deck, by cementing the tabs from underneath. the night is still young....I may do a bit more before I call it a night......I'll post it if I do

I had today off.......I was going to add electrical outlets out in the garage, but it was a really cold damp rainy day! such a good day to sit inside and play I was looking over what I had done, and I though you might like to see how these decks associate to one another. that is the bridge deck and A deck........and also a good idea how light can impact a color. really not that much space between decks either......looks like about 10/32nds. I'm only using one of my crane lights for those pictures....both, and you really go blind!. I started to play with the stern and poop deck, making the structure for it. Ben really helped me out with the anchor chain.....I knew there had to be a chain gate. the detail for this is lacking in this model......hard to imagine, with all the detail that is there. in order to enhance this aspect, I'm going to modify the capstan platform....it doesn't allow for it. there are two small tabs there, which I cut off. a small square of the platform was removed from the starboard side platform. not sure if it's doable, but I may try to make the chain gate from these two little pieces of sprue. even if I don't, it might not matter too much......some of the gate detail is missing at the front hawse holes of the guide. I will get the port side notched out and then drill a couple holes. I can touch it up then.

yes Wayne.......I know Gene's work very well. last I knew he was ill....don't know how he's doing. as a mater of fact, I'm a member of the site...haven't visited in quite a while though. he is a very accomplished modeler thanks for the good word my friend!

great job Jerry.......she sure is a sweet looking build! Hey!!!! now I know which end is the bow!!!!!

musing the site........and what does my wandering eyes see? ....but an absolutely delicious idea! the execution has you pulling your hair a bit, but your on the right track. I wish I knew some of what your mess'in with......I'm still at the point of using parts panels to replicate my hulls ah well, I just wanted to let you know that I think you've got a great idea.......and now that I've commented.......this will add your build to my watch list. I won't miss out on all the action! cool looking engine......I like the imagination I still harbor thoughts of an M&M racing boat {I've thought about making an engine as well}. your way ahead of me I'll have to read through all this again......perhaps I'll understand more looking forward in seeing what ideas you have in store P.S. your daughter's a cutie!

hello Brian thanks for the kind word....... 1:400 isn't too bad of a scale to work with. it still comes out to a fair size model. I do plan to light her, but the deck levels are around 10/32 or so high......gonna be a feat with the lighting I want to use. I have the basic kit from Academy.......they do have one that supplies the wood decking and P.E. I do have a build where I substituted the plastic decking with wood, but it's a larger kit. welcome to the build, feel free to follow along

I'm working on it......I'm not letting this day off go to waste!

A really cool dioramic display.....she's looking real sweet! nice work Wayne!

looking back, the funnels are made of an orange plastic. I'm sure that a light coat of a light sand color, will bring out the hue. we'll see what I come up with gents thanks for the article George......I have not seen that one the work week is done, so I hope to have an update soon.

atta boy Wayne! nice to see progress again.........and very nice progress too!

that's the spirit!!!

not really. I'm not used to seeing PVA.......you mean white glue. white glue is water based....it works best when gluing to porous surfaces. plastic is not porous....neither is P.E. brass. it may hold well at first, but after being jarred a few times, it will tend to lose it's bond. it may be better to try plastic model cement. I know you don't like using it, but the best overall would be CA. .......all you have is 2%........is that 'cuz you think I'm fat? {Napoleon Dynamite}

looking very nice Frank......the deck is really coming along! it's hard to say whether kit manufacturers maintain scale throughout the development of their kits. ...and of course, most of us aren't going to sit there with calipers and slide rules, checking each aspect or structure, to insure that they are. I guess if you really wanted to get a person down there.......just tell 'em that they're serving rum

I'll reserve that scene to something along the lines of Idle daydream, Nenad I couldn't have guessed any better Nigel.....I measured those two pieces, and they are exactly 1 inch! the railings are going to be a task.......they are in tiny sections! I guess I can feel lucky that they molded quite a bit of detail into the deck parts.........I'd need more that my optivisor to cement them in place! I'm glad you like the deck color......very glad I did the 'about face' and changed it well Ben......I thank you anyway I've seen so many pictures already. I'm not a big Titanic junkie, but I find the history and the story about her very interesting. should I ever get the chance to build a larger scale model of her......I'll be sure to look that book up! if you find any other points that might be doable, give me a holler I'll see if I can comply

super progress KP! shrouds look awesome....they really add to the overall looks!

thank you VERY much Ben! I knew there had to be a pair of chain gates somewhere! looks like I have some modifying to do. I'll see what I have in my scrap pile I really appreciate the help

thanks Augie, Mark, and George. I'm finding it quite a challenge to enhance this kit. with all challenges, there is a solution. I will try thank you! thanks Sam......Have you ever had a kit where the plastic seemed soft.....or peel off in layers when you tried to shape the parts? raw styrene is actually tough to bend......breaks before you can get any kind of bend in it. any addition to the mix will cause it to lose it's brittleness and become more flexible. for this kit, there are probably 6 to 8 molds to make all the sprue panels. I'm sure that the planning for the sprues is done by computer.....logic has nothing to do with it. in the instance of wood kits, looking at the arrangement of the parts panels in the instructions........but the actual parts panels have a different arrangement. I have seen this with Billing's kits. all I can say is........at least I have the parts thank you Ben.......I have not seen that picture. before I even got this kit, I watched just about every you tube vid on the Titanic and her sinking. that is my question.....comes through the hawse holes.....runs back along the guides, to the capstans.......but where does it go from there? I'll show you what I have to work with.....very sad. the chain supplied in the kit is two plastic parts, about an inch or so long.... I have the two outer capstans in place at the moment.....there are two smaller ones that will sit on those square platforms that the guides lead up to. if those capstans were in place, the chain would wrap around it from the inside, and out towards the bow again. I wonder if there was a sort of chain gate that they went into, leading below the foredeck we happen to have the movie.......I can't believe you said that Nenad.........ignore all that gooey, kissy face stuff! why...... it's the spice! there has been some debate though about how the ship was 'on set'.....mostly concerning color, believe it or not! even historians and experts have been baffled as to what the correct colors were...."White Star Buff" is the most controversial color. I appreciate the help Ben....if you do come across some pictures, I'd love to see them. as for you Nenad........I have Monday and the rest of the week off, this coming week. we'll set our watches, make some popcorn.......and watch the movie together. first one that cries........buys lunch! is that a deal? I didn't get anything done today.....got tied up with 'home work'. I'm going to go review some you tube vids. I'll have an update soon. thanks for the kind words and to those who looked in

beautiful work Daniel! a dioramic masterpiece!

as long as you have a plan.......I'll wait and look forward in seeing the results carry on OC!

the outside world does take it's toll. doesn't it. not to worry my friend...it will always be here when you get back. I have found that the kit color scheme isn't totally correct. this kit has some really nice detail.........with the trove of information out there, I see no reason not to define the colors for the next person who builds this kit. although just a tad smaller, I'm sure that the Revell kit would benefit from this as well. I still wish that some of the molded detail {bollards, hold walls, etc.} wasn't molded onto the parts. it would be easier to do texture work to the decks...with the way they are molded, I'd be concerned with creating paint piling in the corners and such. thanks for the good word, my friend

ohhhhh wait.....what about those chrome parts I've been soaking? well.....I checked them, and they look ready. so, I brought them all to the kitchen counter and set up the plastic bags again. pulling them out one by one and scrubbing them with the stiff brush, they cleaned off well enough to be thrown in the tub of soapy water. when I was done, everything was triple bagged and thrown in the trash. the parts are tiny......I used a strainer to rinse them off after washing. when they were dried off.....this is what they look like now. I used a dime for reference. the A deck when I turned it over......... some assembly was done to the fore deck......four of the capstans and two of the hold covers. I'm kinda miffed about the hold covers. clear parts are nothing but pure styrene......the hardness hasn't been compromised by the addition of color pigment or additives. even though I took care to get them off the sprue, marks can still be seen. ...and of course, the A deck with all the clamps off of it there are some small part to go on there yet........then I can get going on the boat deck. I will continue with the fore deck, and begin work on the stern. the fore deck has two lengths of chain {plastic} that needs to go on there........I want to sub in a couple pieces of actual chain. I have been looking for a good picture of the chain routing.........if anyone has one, I'd be pleased to see it.......can't find one out there, anywhere! {so far....anyway}

so......as far as the railings are concerned, they have been set aside for the moment. I had to fix a couple repairs while cutting out the rungs, and I want them to dry totally before I start fidgeting with them again. I went back to the bridge deck and added a couple more parts....some benches and a pair of vents. the fore deck and the stern section were repainted. the sand color that didn't come off did make these parts look a tiny bit darker, but it's OK........these decks were planked with pitch pine and will appear darker anyway. I was looking for the hold covers for the foredeck........I found them in the last place I would expect to look. they were on the clear plastic sprue! this is a bit strange, since they are to be painted flat white. what a waste! I already painted them here. I painted the inner structure areas on the boat deck......let these dry. ...and I began to assembly the cranes. note that I painted the inner wall structure on the front section of the boat deck.........I did the same thing with the A deck, which has three of them. not that anyone will ever truly see through the windows, I painted these areas.....I went darker with this deck. I want to put all these decks together, to see if the stairways need to be done. I'm thinking no.......but I will if I need to.....not a problem. the outer wall structure has been painted flat white. it was clamped in place and all the tabs were fitted in their slots. I dabbed these slots from underneath with cement.......makes for a much neater job.