popeye the sailor

coming along really good! very nice detail too....hope that door opens the other way

I think I bought this one from Hobby Lobby......the kit is still available. a lot of my other kits, I get them from Old Model Kits .com. they have kits that I've never seen before.......some are pricy, but I think they cater to collectors, given the dating of some of the kits. I've seen kits I've built long ago.....a walk down memory lane

this one I got as a Christmas gift from my grand kids a few years ago. I felt that I couldn't disappoint the little guys, even though it's a snap kit http://seymoresblogs.blogspot.com/ I did more rigging than was shown in the instructions.

I like the sails........reminds me of something I tried a while ago. https://wenzelswharftips.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=35&action=edit it really is a toss up.......use the vac sails or go rouge and make cloth sails. I find the use of cloth sails to be somewhat different between plastic and wooden kits. most wooden kit are at a scale where cloth doesn't appear out of scale as much. unless the plastic model is a larger scale, the scale thickness issue with the smaller kits, is more visible. then again, I've never concerned myself with either I've got the Revell Gorch Foch, which is a skill level 5. I've also got the Monogram Bon Homme Richard and the Linberg Captain Henry Morgan...both are a skill level 3. in the hands of a beginner, I'm sure any one of these would be a very nice model.........but if one has the experience and knowledge, then the detail they possess can be brought out. it like what my bass teacher told me.......anyone can make music

thanks all.........that paint laid down really nice.........I was impressed with how the EZ air brush worked once I got it going. I still have a bottle or two of that color....a PBY comes to mind...but that is purely plutonic at the moment, since I don't have a kit. you saved the day Lou.......don't be modest. the first link you sent showed promise.......I could have done a couple other variants with the parts contained within that order........too bad it got canceled. but you didn't give up I'm glad you didn't........another hearty 'thank you'! glad you all enjoyed the project

thanks gents.......although I've yet to find one that has this paint scheme. I did see one that has red and white striped rudders, but that's more of a British trait. that's why I was just going to do a generic decal job on her. I was not really happy with the fit of the kit, but I'm not one to trash a kit for that reason. I do recall these being a decent kit.......after all, this is an older Airfix kit. when and if I do decal her, I will definitely post additional pictures. the base is small enough to allow me to add them without it making it hard to do.....but it lends enough ballast to keep her on all three wheels it was still a fun kit to build.........there are others in the series.......even a couple jet aircraft. good color for a Doolittle plane..........sad that there were none that match the description found this picture in my travels...........very cool!

not many go above a 5...... I think that it actually depends on the modeler. there is a lot to be said about determination.......if a person really puts their minds to the task, they can successfully build a model. I've built many plastic models in my day.....though I wish my skills were up there along some of the more accomplished modelers. my start into wooden ship modeling, began with an old kit of the Nordkap. it is one of Billing's expert kits and being an older kit, it wasn't laser cut. yet, with little skill dealing with wood {ships}, and the determination to build it......here it is I believe that the skill levels simply convey the degree of detail that the model possesses....a beginner might not attain the degree, but will be able to build the model. but anyone with some modeling skills, will be more successful. the other key traits are skill and experience. I have never paid much attention to skill levels.......I'm curious why your interested in them. if you really like the subject, and your determined to build it.........I want a front row seat in what your building

thanks all.......dunno OC, but I've lit only a few of my models in the past. this is the first structure model for me thanks for the heads up on the terminology Jack.......landlubber that I am thanks as well Ken, and thanks for the likes I think it will get finished this time

I didn't have enough time to post this last update on the PBJ 1J. assembly was down to the last few pieces.....the waste gunner's positions were added to the model. I probably didn't have to worry about cement clouding, since I painted the frames for the glass, but I used the window maker cement anyway. the things we do to assemble our models........straddling an empty soda box. adding the props was no different. supported by the wings....it was nose up, tail down. the wing lights, the pilot tube{located on the starboard wing}, and the nose gear door were added.......I almost forgot to finish painting the nose door. the base for the profile series B 25 was the second one I made.......this one was the first. as mentioned, I wanted to do them a little different, going with a cement looking tarmac, rather than asphalt. I also added a bit of terrain, to give it an edge line. not having grass, I went with some beach sand, small bits of underbrush, and a rock. the step stool will also be on the base......depending how the plane is positioned on it. the paint was the same..... ...flat tan, with dry brush battle ship gray and flat black, done with a small rag. there are a couple wonky photos here, but they looked good enough to use. I went with macro and flash......later to add more lighting after I saw what was going on. hard to believe that the nose used to be clear glass parts...very happy with how it came out. huge thanks to Lou for taking the time to send me those links........I'd still be waiting for that silly part to resurface thanks to you all for following along......your input and words of encouragement are always greatly appreciated!

the plane is fully assembled now.......all it needs are decals. of course, I can't put 'er on a shelf looking like this.......now Can I? so, I made a base for it. one I made earlier looked good......different from the asphalt black ones I usually make. my attempt to make a concrete tarmac.......started of using too thin sheet wood and splitting as I scribed lines on it ....did some patch work there..... it was then painted a tan color, and then dry brushed with flat med gray......and then a flat black, using a small piece of rag. once dry, the plane was cemented on it. finished for now, but not forgotten

made a little more progress on the light house. the two smoke stacks were painted and cemented into place, as well as the light steeple roof and dome top { what else to call it..}. there is a dingy......small boat that is cradled off the side. I was looking at how it is rigged in place and didn't like it. I decided to drill three holes in the boat for eye bolts......one at the bow and two at the stern. taking some of the thin wire, I made up some eye bolts........I may make some smaller. thinking of really thin rope or truss cables......whatever for...I have just the thing....from an armature that came from the guts of a clock. the one in the living room stopped working and I bought the new mech for it { a kit}. we've had the clock since we were married....sentimental 'ole fool that I am I got carried away with two other projects, bit I managed to paint the wind director. more to add soon

congratz on a great looking model! I can see that painting greatly enhances the model....a very neat job too

WOW Paul........you did a superb job on the Cux! your choice of paint is really nice I built the Cux 87 when I first got into wooden ships......built it along side my very first one, of the Nordkap. my log is long gone.......lost in the big crash..........I don't recall if I redid it, but I'm sure pictures of the finished model is in the gallery. at the moment, I've been hang'in in the plastic forum.......wish I had seen your log sooner. I could have answered some of your questions...... glad to see someone else build this wonderful model.........it's a great kit congratz my friend!

it may not be.........think of the interior 'box' in car models. if this kit, or the one your taking the parts from was based like this, you may find that there may be some amount of 'dead space' in the chassis tub. the transplant looks good......too bad you can't keep the functionality for the turret.

superb how you made the decorations.....I've seen a couple of these models already....it so nice to see one painted I'm particularly impressed with the laser cutting......in some ship kits I've done, the laser cutting caused the plywood plys to separate. it's not a real big deal.......simply cement them back together and your back in business. char isn't much of an issue either.......some don't like it, but it can be used to one's advantage, since sanding can expose the ply layers. sometimes leaving it on there can cover so much sin nice work shaping the roof beams as well. did you curve the side edges? I ask only because one kit that I built had planking that had rounded edges along both sides of the edges. cemented together as you did would have produced scrolled sides to the beams, which would add a bit more detail. I think I still have some of those planks.......something to think about for future fabrication super job........really liking the colors.

some of the fitting kits are available.......I recall when I built an old kit of the Nordkap.......nothing was available. most Billing kit list the fittings you will need to complete the model. I was lucky....I knew a fellow that owned a Billings warehouse in Wisconsin. sadly, he closed it down a few years ago. Ages of sails bought the warehouse and now runs Billing USA. I'm happy that he kept it As Tom built it. looking at the site, I see that they list the kit for the Jylland and the Cutty Sark {though it has a different number} I'm surprised to see that they spelt the name Nordkap wrong Roger is the fellow over there at Ages of sails.......I'd call him.....he probably can help you. there is a small word of caution though.......the newer fitting kits can be different than the original fitting kits. some of the parts, that may have been wood or metal, have been replaced with plastic and like parts. I ordered a Nordkap fitting kit for the Progress, and was surprised to see the amount of substitution that was in it. sometimes E-Bay, Etsy, and the like lists them. so......if you can find an older kit, the better you will fair check for a parts list in the kits and see if you can put something together....it may save you some money.

oooooooooooo.....nice start!

yup!!! that is one sweet ride! nicely done! why do I keep envisioning Bat fins.......

you got that right Ron........I regret not following my hunches instructions are like the internet.......it's always right.........isn't it?!?!?!? but what the hey........it all came out right in the end. more to come.........thanks for look'in in

it isn't set up like that.........the brass tube only covers the plastic tube and doesn't enter the floor or base. nice thought though it's basically a support for when the deck was put on for the center. it took a little bit of do'in, but the ID of the plastic tube is now much larger.....large enough to pass the wires through. the wires, when I knew I had enough sticking out inside, it was twisted and flattened to fit in the groove. it was then covered with duct tape. I'll add another small piece to the edge later. it kind of gives you a sense of how thick the wires are.......the rest of the wires for this are much smaller the transformer is small......the size of a charging unit........I've got some of the older ones.....they are much larger {don't know why I still hang on to them........oh yea.......'cuz I'm a pack rat!} so the circuit board was connected to the wires.......soldered......and then shrink wrapped now that the plastic tube is gone, I need to fit a holder in the roof for the light.......a smaller brass tube did the trick here this brass tube would have been large enough for the transformer wires. you can see how much room these wires have. for excess sake, these wires were shortened so they wouldn't bee seen in the windows. I did have to drill the hole in the light steeple a tiny bit larger and left enough so the light is level with the glass. I was going to paint the tube that stuck out, but I got stupid and glued the glass dome on it. I haven't glued the roof on......if I had thought of it....I could have soldered plugs on the ends, in the event that I need to open it up.......I still can really. I haven't glued the roof on. I tried to take a video with the camera......but it's poor quality.......shaky and blurry in part of it. I'll try to get a good one so you can see the light working. for now, here are a couple to suffice yes Lou......the Krabbenkutter is still on the table......still need to add the boom vangs {I have part of them rigged.....does that count?} the U.S.S. Arizona is still on the table too.......these are my next projects to finish. got to get this table cleared......

as I built the base for the lighthouse.......I had this feeling. it showed it's head today..........routing the wires up the center tube will be impossible, due to the ID being too small. back when I built it, I should have gone all the way with the brass tube I added. it made me wish I had a drill bit that would go the entire length, although in order to locate the circuit board inside the house, I would have to cut some of the tube off after it passed through the floor. the tube was cut off flush with the floor as a first step. I do have drill bits, that if I drill from the floor and from the base, I should be able to hone out the length between the floor and the base. I had to go through a couple different sizes, but I was able to hone the tube out enough to rune the wires up the tube. the wires running from the circuit board are smaller, but the wires from the transformer itself are are a bit larger, and those are the ones that need to be threaded through the tube......they are the reason why I made the groove from the tube, to the outer edge of the base. I'll have more on this later.......I'm toying with it as we speak the admiral wants to go out....got to get Gibbs some food. I hold little hope for anything else......

....would have saved me a lot of extra work ........although this particular model wasn't intended to be a PBJ. there are only a few parts left to add to the model........should be finished soon

chances are your going to repaint it......if the roof is not cemented on in any way. here's something you can try........ lay the desired side flat on a soft surface, and poke it with a suitable {rod like} tool, the size you'd like the hole to be. it will create a jagged broken area.......you will likely need to remove some of the broken stuff. cement in some framework under the roof, breaking that as well......if need be. do not remove the broken stuff......now paint in the desired colors. I know it sounds archaic.....careless actually, but then again, so are cannon balls this is a situation where imagination plays a huge part of what you want to see and convey. I've heard of folks taking a nicely built plane, and actually shooting it with bird shot, to simulate bullet holes there is some crazy stuff out there.....all in the name of art

the last order I placed in China got canceled due to Covid........

the weighted tires came with the kit........some do, and some others, aftermarket can supply them. in early times { back in my younger days}, heating the tires and pressing them on the table usually works. one does need to be careful not to heat them too much........a hot plate {or knife} can be used, but sometimes it don't look the part. failure meant that the gears would be up and a stand would be used {I always had an 'out'} that might work OC.....but you want the tire to balloon outward, where the rubber meets the tarmac. yea......the fuel ports looked like there was a bubble under them...very unappealing 💩 we had an overnight snow storm........all around us saw anywhere from 12 to 17 inches of snow. here in Manchester........8 inches I was so disappointed..........I wanted a bleed'in storm.........not a squall! I even took the day off for it.......... this storm played hell in the mid west.....I hope all in it's path faired well.