popeye the sailor

she's looking good Jesse........

thanks Michael I posted the A.G., the Phylly C and the Denny-zen on my face book the other day........don't know why I did, I hardly go there I was looking at the dates......do you realize that I didn't finish any boats in 2014. that was my hiatus.......the whole summer was out the window. after finally getting a little done on the Holiday Harbor builds, I gave in and built the A.G. best idea I ever had........the tangent I went off on, really got me going! thank you for the kind comment......it proved to me, that every thought I had about that hull...was spot on! thanks Piet......bring all you can...I'll help you drink it hee...he.....the Bat Boat {what the hell did I get myself into}! I gotta get some wood before I can start.......I'll look at some pictures, but if I need to, I probably can get away with using the templates for the lobster boat.....give it a bit of a twist if I get a start, I'll post it in the Titanic build....so you'll know where to look

awesome Daniel.........so much imagination in such a small space!

I'll see what can be done I need wood

it's funny Jack.......a friend of mine has a huge surplus of armor kits. I asked him if he had any half tracks. this hull is pre painted Scott....I wish they didn't. I need to clean up some imperfections, and the parts I need to add, are another color. I do mix paints, but with all the off - shade colors that are out there today, why bother. I'll just make the repairs and assemblies, and repaint it. glad to have you follow along. I haven't built an Academy kit either Keith.......I guess we'll both find out I'm humbled to see so many here to watch this build. you are all so very welcome to attend I hope I can make it interesting for you all!

I know what your saying Greg........I'm finding it odd not to think of the next thing to do to her. it's funny like that........you build a kit...and yea, you have fun doing it. you plan.......and think.......and think some more.......soon to be done.....it's a nice looking build. I can't describe how fluid this build was....the only thing I really really had to worry about, was staying in scale. I hope I did that well........I think I did I do have a few other builds in mind.......there's the S.S. Olive Oyl, the Orca {from Jaws}, and the Bat Boat. {I added it Patrick, it's official } you just never know what will land on my table thank you Sjors.........your enthusiasm knocked me clean out of my chair! glad you liked the end result

those pictures really puts that engine into perspective...........really small! I wish you well with preparations for the move.....definitely an understandable reason for your hiatus. I hope everything goes smoothly

it not about speed Bob........ take it from me.......I'm a recovering slump-a-holic I didn't do much the whole summer last year! I'm sure that one day your going to think of something..........it's going to light those rockets of yours..........and look out!

i figured the fancy stem was for the bow........see what I get for thinking

george.....there is a model like that on you tube. I also have many videos of the events that lead up to the sinking.

awwww shucks Bob........I was kinda leaning toward a walking dead theme......nawwwww! just pull'in your leg it will be a straight shooter for sure. I will tweak it a little thanks for joining in! thanks George, Augie, Ed, and Urmilla...glad to have you all on board! I don't know what he meant Mark......perhaps a passenger liner is off my beaten path not sure what you'll learn Marty, but I'll try and make it interesting so far, I haven't found any aftermarket parts for this kit Ben. no problems though.......gonna be mostly out of the box anyway. glad to have you looking in! thanks to everyone that hit the like button. wish I had more of an update, but with all the interruptions, I've only been able to dry fit a couple parts. I hope to be able to do at least a little by this evening

that's the bow of the boat.......isn't it? looks really cool actually, it looks like a leeboard.

sounds like they cheaped out on this kit..........on lesser value kits , they supplied clear cello that had the window detail already on it. I do notice though that the stern facia has the pane dividers in the windows......a saving grace? too bad you have to do the blanks.......I have the 1:100 Gothenborg. with that kit, I retooled the stern section, so there is a room under the deck and you can see through the windows. this one has the clear cello that I spoke of. hated to let that bit of detail go to waste. looking very good so far.....your doing a great job!

she's looking great Jerry! I notice a rise in the bulwark at the port bow.......is that to be used for something?

your second planking is coming along nicely.........really smooth looking sofa table look great as well.......very nice!

browse through a few build logs and you will see some of the techniques others use. tutorials can also be found here and on the web.

thanks Dragzz appreciate the good word! thanks Greg.......kinda reminds me of the old 'outer limits' TV show intro. depending on the subject, one can go stark raving mad with adding detail and stuff. I know I could have gone further with this subject, but this is a good place to end off. she's not too plain Jane, and not over laiden with detail.....she's just right.......balanced. it's the same way I feel as I look at her.......and still amazed with how she came out.

thank you folks for the super nice comments....and as always every one who hit the like button! so many inspiring people here......it's impossible not to learn something along the way. thanks Marty.....I starting the Titanic build......and god knows what else. I'll settle into one of my other builds thanks Lawrence.......it was a good subject to work with.......it was fun to do. thanks Piet......I hope you get into another project that has a lot of metal work.......I want to learn more. I have to think outside the box......they won't let me in thanks John.....always a pleasure to have you looking in whatever happens concerning a case, I'll post it here

glad to have you looking on John! unusual is right.........I feel like an alien! can't remember when I had this much plastic on the table! I'll try and do right by it though. I did have to laugh......while I was looking it over, the admiral was sitting at her computer shaking her head. she still can't come to grips, that SHE.......the person who doesn't want me to build plastic anymore.......got me the kit. every now and then......I'll run the hull past my nose and say "ahhhhh......the sweet smell of plastic!" I hope you enjoy

WOW! you two are fast! well......welcome! no....no master.......please.......I haven't touched any REAL plastic since 2009! I've just begun to pick at it a little....already found a few areas that I can play with. so make yourselves at home and I hope I can make it interesting enough for you. I did do one more thing, beyond what I've done so far. I painted all the deck areas that will show. I used a flat deck tan for this......I'd try to texture it, but the way the bow and stern panels look, I might be too afraid to botch it up {gathering in the edges and stuff}. I'll get to do more once I get settled in

my smaller table was cleaned off........and THAT'S where it is to be assembled. I told myself that.......the main table is for the wood builds........I really need to get back into that habit. as you can see, the stand is a pillar type stand. there are recessed circles that can be drilled out in the hull bottom. one thing I might elect to do, is to attempt to light it. I have the stand and hull figured out.......it's the upper deck areas that I'll need to figure out. I'll know more as I go along. the bow and stern panels are shown here.......right side up. you can see the detail that they molded into them......it's really nice. they even embossed the names of the sections on the deck areas. it's great for knowledge, but none of this will ever be seen. still cool though. a firm rule is that paint will not adhere to chrome, so all of this will be stripped. the name plate is quite intricate.....even the pillars are in halves, and will need to be cemented together, and will leave nasty lines. stripped, I can sand them smooth and paint them. I have the Testor's gold and the Billing's gold......I'll be sure to give them a clear coat to resist finger prints. it's kinda sad actually that they painted the waterline and bottom. the two prop housings that need to be cemented on are unpainted......black colored plastic. they tell you what colors are required to mix and achieve the color, but it can be a hit or miss thing. I also have to sand and do a small repair to the bottom.......there is a visible mold line and ripped out sprue marks. I match up a color close to that and redo it.......no preblemo! I began the build, by cementing the spacer bars in place, in the hull. there are slots along each one of these to accept the port and starboard bulwarks, once the bulwark and decks are assembled. there are also a pair of bow and stern bulwarks, that will be added once those panels are in place. I am a bit concerned, since all the decks {except for the bridge deck panel} appear to be a tiny bit wider than the hull, even with the spacers installed. I hope they are right.

I received this kit for Christmas from my admiral......she was so bummed out, that it wasn't the Billing's Titanic. I have never built an academy kit before......I was impressed with how the kit looks. there is quite a bit of detail to it, and I really like the size......the hull is 26 1/2 inches long. I have to be brief....I am to grill supper. it has been an off the wall busy day! I will start with an overall view of the parts......there are so many small parts.......I really have been away from plastic for quite a while. I had to do this on the dining room table, so there may be some bad lighting issues. the instructions don't look too bad, but since I plan to do some painting, I think it best to hold off on the rigging until the painting is done. {I'm sure they mean well} I'm not too keen on the chrome....a few of the parts pertain to the stand, but the name plaque, props, and anchors will need to be stripped. I use brake fluid for the process and a good stiff brush. there are a few water slide decals.......jury's still out on the flags.......they are peel and stick. I neglected to mention that the parts are done in colored plastic. for those who don't do much painting, this kit would be ideal........reminds me of the larger scale Revell kit from the past. here are all the white sprues. the deck parts and sprue is done in a tan color....the deck areas will need to be painted a flat tan. sorry.....I have the sprue panel upside down. there is a black sprue panel, a couple brown sprue panels, and the funnel parts are done in an orange / yellow color. there is a pack of rigging thread tucked in the sleeve of the stand base. there are plastic ratlines in the kit as well....I may do away with them, as well as throw another size rigging thread in the mix. I'm pretty sure that not all the rigging is the same size. the hull is an interesting part........the bottom paint has already been done. I'll go into it more in my next post. as the build progresses, you'll see the detail that is molded into this kit. it is a pretty nice kit......but it's going to be a nightmare to paint the detail on the bow and stern panels. personally, they might have done better to increase the part count, instead of molding the detail into these parts. that of course would alter the skill level.......and the market span as well. I just hope I haven't lost my knack in painting small detail

hello Mark! thanks for the good word. remember, I started the hobby with the Nordkap. I have a couple......well, three sailing ships in my roster, but the fishing vessel will always be a foundation for me. I like them.......there is a much more open playing field.....I can go rampant with enhancements, as long as I stay in the subject parameters. the Lobsie twin build taught me that. I think there is a beauty in all ships and boats.......especially the ones less noted. I was so amazed that this boat had so little information and pictures......but I didn't check out the Gloucester harbor where she hailed from. I relied mostly on online images and the Billing's instructions. we build what we know, my friend.......but if you ever want to try a build off your beaten path, look around....there are kit out there......Dumas has a few. I just hope the Licorne doesn't get jealous

OMG!!! thank you all for the kind comments, and to those of you who hit the like button as well. yes Augie, I am very pleased with how she came out. I will probably still look over to the table, expecting to see her, when she's off the table finally. I have been in and out for most of the day, so I haven't made much progress on anything. I do have a correction to make........I mentioned several months.......it's actually nine months. I started snapp'in pictures the first of September, 2014. during the time period, roughly 824 pictures were taken of her progress. my Word Press build log on her is the largest log I've done to date......93 entries.......94 when I add in the gallery {I hate the term 'blog'.......it sounds so........'preppie' it's amazing what an idea looks like in the flesh..........assembling the Boulogne hull, and working on the Holiday Harbor boats..... they kept me thinking about Andrea and it gave me time to think of what would need to be done to make it happen. when I finally started.....it was very hard to turn off. good question......what's next. well.....I decided to start the Academy Titanic build. nothing big at the moment.......I did a tiny bit of assembly and am currently making observations on a couple of ideas, but I'm thinking of doing a mostly 'out of the box' build. I still have some research to do as well. I'm still looking toward dwindling down my back logs......I may bounce around a couple of builds while the Titanic is going on......perhaps I'll settle in and finish another one {I hope}. got to get wood and stuff before I can go completely nuts again........got to replen the parts I stole from the other builds, so my choices are narrowed down at the moment. but I'll be back on track very soon again, I thank you for your kind comments, and following along on this crazy journey. I'm very glad you all enjoyed this tangent I went on. I know I did!

you never know Patrick...............you just never know