popeye the sailor

sweet looking from here Piet! I mentioned the grain, because in the vertical direction, it's more flexible and you'd get a better curve with the rounded areas with the steps........how would it work out if you were to make slots and push them through from the inside? are there any structure where it would interfere? I would suggest doll house hinges.......but I think they would be too big. wish I could help you with that. Happy Holidays!

I just hope I can plank these better than I did the Boulogne :D a lot less sanding that -a - way! thanks for looking in Sjors

what is that.........a patch in the floor! tax payers good money to have their buildings built........and look what they get :D :D

that scheme is going to look very nice! Happy Holidays!

you and yours as well, my friend...........have you finished your Dragen?

a merry Christmas to you and yours as well....I miss you and your beautiful work!

those have to be some really deep slots, to be a single piece part........usually, it's split in two. are you going to plank it after it's cemented in place? it would be a good way to hide the slots.......by planking them over.

thanks Augie........actually I miscalculated........I have four of these hulls to sand! I did a little on the Boulogne while I had it out. I'm going to need to get a couple more tubes of filler. I use the Elmer's wood filler - natural. it's water based and I thin it down a bit more, so I can apply it thinly...........most of it gets sanded off anyway. thanks for the good word!

that's got to be like 1/64........is that like a plywood? looks great Tim....very well done Happy Holidays!

me too! I have enjoyed rigging plastic builds.........but this being my first major wood kit.......it's kick'in my butt! I am enjoying it though, but it will be a while though, before I can call it finished. my main goal is still to put as much as I can into her......even though she is a smaller scale, than other folks are building these at. I still have a desire to attempt a larger scale build of her. one of these days...if I can get out from under all these builds. that the beauty of this hobby.....there are so many ships that deserve to be modeled, I'm like a kid in a candy store. that's probably why I watch so many builds......so many talented modelers here thanks for the thought Shawn........I appreciate your following along

I was going to keep the planking pictures to a minimum....................but I have these and I might as well post them. to give you all a good idea of the surface area.....the hull {give or take} is around 560 mm. the bulwarks are done with four rows of 1.8 x 8 x 720 mm. this brings them down to the deck line. from there, it continues with another four rows of 1.8 x 7 x 550 mm. these rows will have butt staggers. as this brings the planking closer to the curvature of the hull, it will continue with 1.8 x 7 x 720 mm. since it is close to the curve, there will be no butt staggering. this will aide in a clean contour to the hull. so far, there are four on the hull frame dubbed Larry. please pardon the pictures......I did some with no light, but you'll be able to tell where the different rows start and end. then comes the 1.8 x 7 x 720 mm....I only have one more row on the starboard side, to equal the four rows. it will take a few more rows to negotiate the curvature completely. I seemed to have enough of a pause between the plank rows........I brought the frame dubbed Curly out on the table, and started the second set of rows. with this done, I may even bring the frame dubbed Moe on the table as well. it will be interesting with this one......it is completely done in the normal plywood. sticking pins in the oak plywood isn't too bad, but I'm still bending them under pressure. I do not want to use brads......I'd be too tempted to pull them out. I am finding that the planking is not equal in thickness........you probably can see that I have sanded the planked part. having to do three hulls is going to be a huge task........this will make it just a bit easier. where it meets at the bow, the stem will be contoured to match, and then rounded off. I hope to have another update soon. Happy Holidays to one and all!

that's scratch building for ya Bob.........gotta be some tweaking here and there. still....you worked it through like a trooper! one of the most important assets, is the ability to roll over problems like a tank! there's no stopping you now Happy holidays BOB! enjoy!

you'll have to pardon Augie, Frank........he doesn't understand how hard it is to paint all those coconuts different colors....let alone the tinsel

you sure have me fooled then......you sure know how to clean it up. the worse I ever got in a kit, was for the AmericA build........the stuff looked like it was cut with a dull blade :D I guess we both know how to whip wood into shape!

your planking is quite beautiful Augie..........good quality wood! I envy you for such an enormous build.......it must be a joy to work on

that's some sweet looking planking Larry! no matter what side it is, it's definitely a big step! really looks as though you've put some thought into it

thanks Larry....I hope to have an update on her soon. planking has been taking up most of my time. when I can get the lower shrouds in finished, I can start to do the ratlines and the second set. I also need to get on with the yards as well. the stern is going to get some extra detail as well.......still a lot of work to do stay tuned and thanks for the good word! happy Holidays to you and yours.......hope the new year holds good things for you!

I do wish you luck with the freeing ports........your adding in detail that is very easily dismissed in most kits. a friend of mine in Canada sent me a bunch of dental drill bits. I haven't found an opportunity to use them yet, so I really can't tell you how they work. have a great holiday, and hope to see more of your fine work in the coming year!

nice to see the tower framed in........your going to sheet it with flat stock, I'm guessing. with the grain running vertical, it should cover nicely. I notice your using the Testor's red tube......how is that working for you? it does work on wood, but the green tube is better. the guns look great......are you going to add additional detail? have a great holiday....your work is impressive!

happy holidays to you as well....good sir!

have a great holiday Frank! I hope your feeling better

it's not hard Shawn........just develop a system. my primary build is the Gothenborg.........I've done a bit of work to the Boulogne......now I'll probably jump to the Half Moon. I'm also planking the trio, which is getting to be more like an assembly line. I'll just bounce back and fourth. #2 is looking great Pete.........the way you've framed in the fish boxes in very nice. the blonde wood is a nice touch.....wood grain is always an eye pleaser! I thought you were giving your sis one of the other ones?

thank you Vivian....more to come soon.

looks real good Bob.........sweet looking frame!

coming along great!