popeye the sailor

me thinks it is you that is too kind Jerry. I didn't know you were having health issues.....I wish you the best. I hope it isn't serious and your on the road to recovery. yea.......teaching can be tough.......but I think when your admiral passes in her first 'test' , you'll be amazed with how much she's learned. I try to keep tabs, but don't always see........please let me know when you begin your next build. the early birds get the good seats

thanks Augie...you don't see the birds? yesterday, one of them tried to poke me a third nostril as for the zero gravity thing....usually ship model instructions have you running the anchor chain from one Hawse hole to the other. it's the excess chain running through the hull that is the problem maker. gravity seems to pull on the chain, sucking the chain back into the model.......my first Cutty build was notorious for this happening. when I did the second build, I thought about how to thwart it from happening again, and I came up with this solution. this can probably be done to other types of ships as well. http://seymore-thecuttysark-abuildlog.blogspot.com/2010/09/cutty-sark-windlass-modification.html thank to you also Bob and Carl for your kind word.......thanks as well to all those who hit the like button

took a bit of doing, but I got to see the newscast totally enjoyed it.........very good article! very proud of what you two accomplished

your gonna need a BIG case...........holy cow! she's a beauty Nils..........no bones about it!

thanks George....and crackers for the like mechanics in functionality....a great concept to show in a build. textures of wood and pattern is another. no matter what ship your modeling, just adding in basic detail, can really make a build come alive. there are many here, that have done just that. I could list them.........but I don't think there's enough ink in my key board

the last picture....will be the next area worked on. a hole was drilled on both sides of the fore deck reel, and thread was cemented in them. I did one side at a time. I'm taking a gamble on how the runout should look.......but I'm going to have it toward the bow side. I'm hoping it don't hit the upper frame of the trawl rig. the lengths of small dowel for the buoys were cut......there will be six of them. these are 1" beads........I'm beginning to think that they are too long. I may try to cut a small section out and make them shorter.....I'll have to see what they will look like. both sides of the fore deck reel have the thread on now looking at the picture above, you may notice the eye bolts on the stern bulwark posts. they are white, and may be hard to see. the same goes for the eye bolts on the top bar of the aft section. I removed those blocks under the gangway, and will relocate them here. the short pieces of chain that they were suspended from were too long anyway. here is the angle in which I settled on for the 'birds'. it's gonna need a wide berth........but I like it this way. the progress with the third control panel is at this stage, at the moment. almost ready for sanding....I've done some already. one of the buoy poles has a bead on it..........the first step in figuring how to assemble them. I believe them to be plastic, so making them shorter should be easier. if it doesn't work, I can get them in a shorter size........but if I can make 'em work........all the better!

more progress was made yesterday. I began by doing a bit more with the air horn.....I didn't need to do much. I hope Piet can see his contribution to the build......and I hope he like it the next step I took, was to decide how I was going to show the 'birds'. I was on the fence about it, but I did like the idea of showing them partially deployed. the rigging was terminated with them slightly off the mark. the length of chain needed for the counter weights was measured and cut on the starboard side. the port side pulley was fitted with the chain and the end was cemented in place. it will have the same runout as the other side. basically, all I did was tie a piece of string to the chain and rig it up through the eye rings on the boom. it was then threaded through the pulley at the tip. the weights will need to be made now. the fore deck reel control panel still needed to be made.......it starts the same way as the others. why I didn't make all three at the same time........it's all part of the madness, my friends! the port side counter weight chain went pretty much the same way as the other.........the thread......up and through the pulley........with a clothes pin on the end, as a counter weight for the time being not that it really matters......but I can add some slack to the chain as it sits still. to move the model at any given time, will cause it to lose it, with the weight on. but this can be easily put back, when the model is finally on the shelf. the only reason I mention it, is the plans show it in this manner. I have found this problem with other kits.......the anchor with the chain drooping out of the Hawse holes, only to be sucked in after a time by the weight of the chain within the hull. I've had this problem with rope as well..........short of cementing the chain or rope as it enters the hull....the next best thing would be zero gravity. when I did my second build of the Revell Cutty Sark, I figured a way to defeat this, and gave function to the windlass. if this is of interest.....ask me and I'll give you the link to it.

thanks for the kind comments and the likes! I've done my best to keep with the Billing's plans, but I did change thing enough to keep away from the copyright monster. if one was to purchase this kit and build it though, I think you would be just as pleased with the outcome. George: every kit has at least a couple parts that are not used........some reveal that the kit may also build into another model that the company offers, some are simply extras. it's when you start to see big pieces laying around.......that's when you get scared! Greg: there is a beauty to these types of builds. I enjoy doing sailing ships as well, but it very hard to expand on them, as can be done with these types of vessels. the window is very narrow. with F/V builds.....quite a bit of detail can be added, even if your doing a replica build. as with any model, keeping within the subject is very important.........take it from me, I've fallen off the edge a few times {one time actually worked}. John: believe it or not, the plans do not show anything in the way of fish boxes. some of the models I've seen have what look like crates on board, rather than crab traps and such. this vessel's primary catch is swordfish, and most likely tuna as well. I have some detail ideas in mind.....haven't given much thought about boxes........I think I'll do a bit more digging Greg: what the Holiday Harbor build is about, is the replication of hulls from known kits. the hull that has become the Andrea Gail, is actually a French fishing vessel, known as the Boulogne Etaples. it another Billing's kit........it's supposed to be out of production at this point in time, but I have seen the kit still being offered on some websites. there were to be three vessels in that build, but only two turned out to have valid subjects. the A.G. was the first vessel I thought of when I built the frame and planked it..........and when I found that the hull dubbed "Larry" was the odd man out, I jumped at the opportunity.........I guess you could say 'with both feet' I really didn't need to add another build to my roster, but once I started on her, I found that I couldn't stop. usually, I'll stop at a certain point and turn to another build, just to keep the others active. I feel a bit relieved that MSW , has been kind enough to let a crazy guy like me, run rampant on their website, with all the open logs I've got in the works. I was trying to be good......my intent was to clear them up and finish them, before moving on to new ideas. this build is a good example with how that plan has been working for me Carl: thanks for posting the link........I would have done it I really appreciate it!.

glad to hear that the show was a hit! wish I could have been there!

the pin striping looks awesome Patrick! it really adds to the beauty of the hull. I'd love to see you do a larger scale of this vessel. you need not do the inner detail.......the outer detail will speak for itself! awesome job!

your idea came out in a very super way! it looks great Nenad!

I'm sure your right Patrick.......the only scratch built hull I've done so far, was the Gundalow. very interesting how I stumbled onto it's design. have a browse through that log........you'll have a nice chuckle for yourself too funny Carl! I yam wot I yam!

yesterday was a slow day for me.......had to do some running around. it was frustrating, but it was worth it! I did manage to put the sway bar on the fore side of the boom. the chain on the aft side of the boom the counter weight chain was measured and cut for the starboard side. I will assemble the port side on the control panel. to keep it from dragging on the table, I slung it over the stanchion.......it will look better once I rig it with chain. I actually, am no different than other folks.....plastic blocks in kits .........well, in some kits, they really shouldn't be there. I have a good inventory of double blocks {I think these are 5 mm}......these are all I have left. I also have a decent inventory of wood blocks too, but I save those for the ships that would suit them better. believe it or not, I should order some of the plastic single blocks, since I have run out......I have one left. I have no idea where I got the dark brown ones, but the amount I had on hand, seemed to be the exact amount I needed for this build.....talk about karma while they may not be appealing to some, they do possess some interesting detail, and work well in the more modern F/V models. it's good that there is a use for them, so I will keep mining in my most natural resource.....the model kit

you are just 'too awesome' Carl thank you very much Gerty.........nice to see you looking in thank you Mark! the construction of these vessels present quite a challenge.......very fortunate for me, I had enough dowel to do it. there are at least four different sizes of dowel in this build. a good amount of it was done from memory, from what I read or studied from the two sets of Billing's plans. it's been a great exercise though....now, if I can just learn to come up with hulls, out of thin air, like other folks do

now.......aren't you glad I sent mine to you in a PM?!?!

she used to threaten me with the messy tables.........but she has come to the fact that it's the method of my madness

my tables are in the computer room.......the admiral has her desk in the corner.....and I pretty much have the rest of the room. she is disabled with back and shoulder problems, but she is not confined {I try like hell to keep her that way}. I would like to have a separate room, and keep the dust away from the electronics, but she won't have any of it.......says she won't see me as much. this is most likely true, with the way I model, but I like it as well. I have someone to talk to, and bounce my ideas off of. as for the dust.......it the really fine stuff......I do the major sanding out on the porch. yesterday, for fun, I wrote 'Popeye' on the monitor shelf on my desk........still waiting fro her to notice. yea....I know.....time for the total cleaning of my desk

I respect your comment Crackers...I can't guarantee.....but I will certainly keep it in mind. still can't wrap my head around it though.......a guy like me having a model in a museum. I'm not an expert or a shipwright. I do thank you for the humbling comment Wayne and George: thanks Wayne for the kind word those guys came to me like that! been very hard to put some meat on them bones. all I can do is keep them from thinking about existential thoughts.......{ Divinity series running gag} thanks Carl: of late.......we've spent more time taking Gibbs out to the field, than anything else the admiral has been lax....I have come to know the phrase "when you least expect it" .... contrast will come soon.....not sure what kind of detail I will add, but it will be colorful

I hear your plea Patrick.......I will try perhaps I had better pull the trigger on a case....... huh. I'm glad there isn't a punishment for cruelty to a model...I'd have three counts against me I'll see what I can do. {I'll even post a picture when I do } thanks Greg.......really appreciate it!

thanks again for your kind comments and likes. yepper! quite a lot done yesterday....but still more to go. thanks George......nope! jes' me..........and of course Chester and his small band of saw-bones {jes' thought I'd make you laugh} hey Matti.........nice of you to look in many reasons why I chose to do this one......the construction for one thing I've had this one on my mind though for quite a while.........feels good to finally have her on the table. I do have a few sailing ships on the roster......perhaps I'll see you there thanks for looking in my friend

congrats to you Jerry...........sadly, you and J left me in the dust at least I can take solace in the fact that when I pick back up on the Half Moon, I'll have plenty of completed logs to browse through. you did a super fine job on her.....very glad to have followed your log! Denis >Popeye<

I built my Cutty {the second one} before I got into wooden ships. if I knew then what I know now, I might not have used the plastic ones. I still have the United States.......perhaps I can find redemption. your doing alright......there should be four jib sails though...perhaps a spacing issue? well....no matter! you build her as you see her..well, blows me down! maybe that's how she beat the Cutty........snuck a jib on her when she wasn't looking

very nice texture...like it even better

Gibbs {our American Eskimo} is my lil' buddy {should have named him Gilligan} he hangs around me as well, even choosing to lay under my desk while I'm at the computer. I gotten to the point where I have to look before I move my feet! feel bad when I don't you've got amazing luck Danny

turning the model around, the rigging was redone, and went even beyond that! the bracket and eye bolt was installed. after given time to dry, the rigging was brought back into the picture. the sway bar bracket was added and painted. the sway bar was added in this picture........but the aft sway bar {chain} was added as well. notice how it hangs limp, as the boom is in the retracted stage. when fully deployed, this slack goes away and becomes a ridged counter for sway. this 'bar' is a good example of the radius that the boom has in it's travel.......at this point, the forward sway bar does most of the work. the hull fitting the boom fitting the counter weight chain 'eye' brackets were added. the path the chain will be routed can also be seen here. I used a long pin to stake the chain on the pulley, on the control panel, and cemented in place. the runout was set up the same as the boom rigging......from the deck side. the spotlights were ready to go, and they were cemented in place on the aft top bar. the last thing I did.....was a spur of the moment thing. that air horn, visibly seen after I had made it, was making me crazy. I don't want to let you down Piet.......I hope you can see this from where you are, but I refined it as promised. I still have a bit more painting to go on it......undecided to leave parts brass, or paint them copper. but, it will be trimmed and placed on the roof. even though it's not in the Billing's plans, it's a great idea.....too great an idea to pass up. thank you Piet for your suggestion