popeye the sailor

it's the old thing about quality VS cost.....those cannons look sweet!

gee Denis.......going through your log, I get the feel of the old addage......"we are our own worst critics". but the pictures tell a different story all together....you've actually done a very nice looking build the price you paid for the kit......the way you handled the printed laid out decking {other folks would have had a cow over that}, the problems with the stern windows and how the transon shell seems to cover them over quite nicely, ........the life boat issue.......the hand rails {I like them, by the way}......among other pratfalls you've encountered. you've faired them well and made them shine.......the overall build is superb. I look at all of that brass decoration in awe.......very well done! I have seen your build on the old MSW.......I knew I had seen your name before.......so glad to see your back. it's been hard, finding and setting up my old watch list.........I know your build was among them. now that I have commented, it is back in my list......I can now enjoy as you finish this fine lady.........it's the eye candy that makes me fat and happy!

thank you Denis........this is me stumbling into the unknown. I've done plenty in plastic, but this is my first in wood. I am so thankful having the good fortune of running into folks who have seen.....and worked........on this ship first hand. they also supplied me with sites to look at and sent me a whole slew of pictures. this is a testament of this site.......a really fine group of folks who love their ships and the hobby they base them on. the background and history here is quite in depth. I truly enjoy being here......and I hope you do as well thanks for the good word....I really appreciate it

yepper.......that's what I'm doing Alex I leave them just a tiny bit longer, so I can fit them flush to the bulwarks. when I do the calking, I don't get any on the ends, so they will blend in better. I'm so glad I was told about this....this soon into the build....I never even thought about it {well' not much actually} I saw this in the plans........I wasn't too keen on the deck and the bulwarks going in the same direction........but that's the way the plans said and that's what I did. I should have followed my vision instead.

the 'well almost' John is going to be these last two..........I just hope the frustration is small enough, enough to keep it from becoming a 10 min heat source {I'd say 15 mins, but that's giving it too much credit} thanks Daniel........did a 'hare' just run past me? the real lines are going to come from fitting the top rails on the bulwarks. Billing's isn't too clear as for how to do this, so I'm going to have to get creative. I'm not real keen on the material that they are made of....very stiff plywood. I haven't had too many problems from using this pen Augie.........of course the laws of probability, probably hasn't reared it's ugly head at me yet. I think that by the time I do get to the point of applying stain, it should be long dried. I still have those last two to do yet.......I had better get on with the Gothenborg though, before you know who really gets mad at me

say it with pictures I'm sure the community would love to see your build Robert

looking sweet Walter.......she's really coming around! very glad to see an update never dropped on on my foot........but I have dropped a couple.......I can second how strong these hulls can be. the only one to date that saw ant real damage, was the Gothenborg.....snapped the head of the bow stem right off it. darn lucky I was able to fix it. very nice work your doing

not too many folks are....I have quite a few of the Billing's plans. guess you could say that I seem to have gotten used to them

having pointed out the problem with the cabin bulkheads....it left me scratch'in my head, as for an easy way to do this. I then thought about the parts panel I have put away. I got them out and laid them on the table......between looking at the plan diagrams and the panels, I figured out which one has the cabin bulkheads. this can also serve as sort of a tutorial.....I keep these panels for a number of reasons. they are good to have in case a part needs to be replicated, in the event you need to make a part from 'like' material, and for some of the shapes they have, they can be used to ease the scratch making of parts for other ships. in addition to all this, they can be used to trace out the parts for other hulls, and scratch build the rest.....outfitting it as you see fit. I've made two hulls already. in the box, I have the panels for the Boulogne Etaples, the lobster boat, the AmericA, and the Gothenborg. I have another box stashed away which has the Mary Ann, and the Regina {I want to make one of these hulls}. I have just about every panel from the ships I've done, except for the Nordkap and the Cux {which is the same hull as the Mary Ann}. on a piece of paper, I drew out the ribs and measured the height of the bulkheads. starting at the stern transom, the planks were cut and shaped, so they would fit flush with the bulwarks. I used my archive pen to simulate the calking.......not sure if this was a good thing to do, but to me it looks good, so I went with it. after it was dry, it was trimmed and sanded to shape.....the second level bulkhead was done next. the top plank for this one needed to be trimmed as well........there are small appatures that needed to be allowed for. the bow bulkhead was done next. the two main deck bulkheads are going to be a bear to do, because they are recessed under the decks. I also found that I had forgotten to draw out one of them. I'll get to them for the next update.

oh......I know Mobbsie I tried to get to her today, but I got caught up cutting the cabin bulkhead planking for the Half Moon. I'm hoping this will pasify you know who, until I can do something to you know what, so I can put it you know where. oh.....so your saying it really wasn't the meds that broke Sjor's fever...........his frustration built up so much pressure, that he literally 'vented' the fever out!!! yes, I've heard that chewing on 'down' pillows can have that effect.......must be related to the frustration thing. I know......I'll PM him a couple of pictures of the spitfire.....could be what he's doing right about now. I'm sorry Sjors......I have one project I have to do tomorrow, but I will do my best to get some pictures here........I know I said today, I failed miserably...and I apologize. I hope you like what I did to the Half Moon.

.....oh......a little 1:1 work

I'm going to dread doing mine.......probably the most painstaking part of any model. ya did good Verne

superbly done John.........just a small oopsie......not a big deal.....huh it'll be my guess that she will reside at the museum. she'll be a very nice addition to the collection

hi there Ron........oh yes, I have dead eyes all around me........just not on the ship yet I have a few on there.......but I need to get a move on it..........Sjors is getting impatient....he's even beginning to yell at me.........hee.....heee I also should have something on the Half Moon soon.......a sort of a tutorial, if you want to look at it like that. thanks for the birthday wish.........I had a great one!

is that the same yard?.............nice

now it's beginning to take shape! very nicely done!

on plasrtic kits.......those two bottom lines are not there. they don't even show that the hull was indeed plated all the way up to the bulwarks............painted black, no one would be the wiser. I wouldn't put either one in for this very reason. scale would be another reason to consider........how small would those rails be? builds are started with the best of ideas and intentions. when left for periods of time, some of the luster can become dulled or lost. it makes getting back in the grove that much harder. build your ships gentlemen.....with all that you can muster. when they are finished, you'll be all the more proud of what you've done..........all because you stuck with it.

earl gray.........or orange peoke...it's all in the tea heck, I've even heard some folks use coffee. I love it Ron......looking quite stunning!

you already sent me a birthday wish Sjors......appreciate it though. not much more with the Goth I'm afraid......I will have something on it tomorrow.....promise. truth be told.......I have been looking into creating a sure - fire way to correct the cabin bulkheads on the Half Moon. I have also been fixing the spitfire........somehow it got pushed into the wall and it got some right side damage to the stabilizer and wing tip. I plan to get her up in the air, putting it on you tube..........whether it's a successful flight, or a crash and burn......first one I've done in a while, so who knows I won't let you down good buddy....even if it's just the fore shrouds.

robbyn is correct........yea, I'd fight it. you'd have never hit the car in front, if the other guy didn't rear end you. nice bit of progress though......glad to see your getting better

that would also be known as a ribbing.........and not like the ones the admiral gives me

boy.......murphy sure gets around! I had a simular run of bad luck a while ago........though not that roll of the dice what a mix of good and bad.......ouch and congrats! yea, I've learned that you can't jump ship when you first do it.........once it cures and dies down, the true color comes out. I've been using semi gloss lacquer for quite a while now...........I love it when it is done.....the shine is nice. but, once cured, it dulls out and the shine goes away. I give it another coat.........but I think the next time I get more, I'm going to get the gloss. I think the wood will suck in half of it, leaving me with the desired sheen I want. it's all in how you plan it out. I'm glad your happy with it....I saw nothing wrong

done is when all the lines on the plans are completed and rigged..........but lots of folks go beyond that. think of being done.....like the horizon.......you get to the point where all it is to you, is a flat line.........it seems endless. it can be frustrating....but keep thinking of the end result.........you should see land very soon now. throwing it in the wood pile is going to what........give you 15 mins of heat .....maybe? you won't do that though........you've come too far already you'll finish it.....to your satisfaction {no one elses}, and put her up on the shelf.........but I'll tell ya something........look it over again, after you've done a couple more. you'll see how far you've progressed in experience....all because you stuck to it, and finished it. besides.......makes for a great conversation piece for show and tell

DARN IT!!!!! I did it again! I failed to see the extra pages at the bottom......that's what I get for looking in during the wake-up! I hope you had a great annaversary......{missed that too......DooooUGH!}. nice progress you've made......I like that rabbit idea.......wonder if that can be adapted for other kit builds........experimentation needed {right up my alley}. laser cut on those parts looks nice too.....

thanks Adam! done with work for another week.....the next four days are for play!