popeye the sailor

thanks Aldo.........only one thing left to add to the Phylly C.....that's it after that, I can post them in the finished forum. these two were fun to do

I did a bit more with this build.....mainly cementing the deck platforms in place. the bow rabbits are now in place. the stern deck platforms for that small section of bow decking that I had made, I noted that it was level with the main deck platform. a short length of square stock was cemented in place, as a locator for the decking. the fore castle decking was also cemented in place at this time. after adding in two other short pieces of square stock in to support it......this bow decking was cemented in place. there are some parts that need to be added to the stern transom, that will give it a distinct shape. they were cemented in place. one thing I do notice with this kit, is that it lacks any sort of ribbing, that will aide in giving shape to the bow planking. the rabbit shown, will be exposed.....trapping the planking behind it, instead of being used to affix the planking to it. this I will have to experiment with.

thanks Micheal......you can call me either I hardly ever did multiple builds when i worked with plastic.........I find wood builds to be more time consuming, with waiting time a bit longer....for things to dry. as mentioned, it's a great diversion, and I get to stay busy. yes Anja {and Sjors}....I did get the pictures and stuff you sent to me. I haven't had a chance to go through it all yet.......I have plenty of time though I look forward in seeing you continue with your build hi Andy! not much left to do with the AmericA........next will be the Gothenborg. the half Moon, for the moment, is merely for the smell of wood, and the making of sawdust. thanks Aldo.......there's a bit of scratch work to do on this bad girl......but I've been there before, so it should not be too bad. it's still early yet in the build.......lots of neat planking.

hey there Borge.......good to see your post looking forward in seeing the ideas you were talking about

absolutely beautiful Kats..........very glad to see you back at it. do be careful though!

nawww.......it's the other way around.....LOL! I'm just kidding though. but, I am close towards getting back to the Goth. got a few other aspects I want to get on the deck, and a bit more moldings for the stern........then I can work on the masting. lots of planking on the Half Moon, so that will definitely break the tension. I'll look forward to seeing some progress on your build......but please do it when you feel absolutely ready.

too funny Mobbsie...........I've just begun I figure that by the time I get most of the planking done {there's a lot of it}, I should be well on the way with the Gothenborg.........masting and rigging {the yards probably won't be up by then.......I'm not that good}. it should be fun though.....especially having to make all these missing parts. thanks for the good word, my friend!

I'll keep that in mind Sjors........I'm sure Anja would love to assist thanks Sherry........story of my life got into this habit early.........build and paint, then let it sit to dry with nothing to do. so I'd work on another build until I can get back to what I was doing. the wharf is a busy place glad to have you looking in.

looking sweet Michael.....congrats on your appointment!

I knew I had this build in my watch list...........just an echo to the fine job your doing with her. don't know if you saw my offer........you want sails, I'd be happy to make them for you. no fee.........just a smile will do!

see........looks good, don't it...........now get the poly on it........that will bring out the grain. it's a good idea to do it for another reason..dust and stuff will stick to the stain and tung oil and make it tougher to clean. with a seal coat on it, clean up will be a lot easier. great job Adam!

I think the rule of thumb for the dead eye lanyards is 2 1/2 times the size of the dead eye itself.......I read that somewhere. looking good Sjors

thanks Augie thanks Mark..............this hobby is sure amazing, isn't it. thanks Sjors and Anja.. yup, this is the surprise. it will be very interesting comparing the corel kit with the Billing's kit. I'm going to be following the plans....they look good, but I will also be looking at pictures I may find of her. it will be a good build.....thanks again welcome aboard Wayne..........thanks! thanks Patrick.......well, I have a reputation to uphold I can do a little rigging.........make a little sawdust........do some more rigging, you know, always something to do. I will adjust my signature........thanks for the good word

no...not rushing too much John.......sanded down the anchors last night.....took a little of the thickness down. made a few rope coils....not happy with them....i'll get'em though thanks Daniel for the good word......the ship, back in 1863, was at the naval academy in Newport, R.I. and used as a training ship. thanks as well Mobbsie. I didn't get to see Frank's post.......guess it was enough to alert the constable. boys will be boys hi there Frank! are you working on your build ? I'm almost ready to get on with the Gothenborg.....from what I hear, your back to your old self again! whoooooohooooooo!

I do have a bit of an update. the lights and boxes are painted........waiting to be cemented onth the shrouds. the flag was also raised.......I'll shape it later

I know John........my inability to keep one's hands out of the box........I am guilty.......I am sooooooooo guilty. I'll be doing the Gothenborg, which is very close to her rigging stage. this will make for a good companion, planking the hull and decks, while I do the rigging I have one other card to play as well..........you've seen it John, remember

thank you Augie and John for your vote of confidence. roll the bones............darn! they STILL tell me nothing! I got back to 'er........now, to make heads or tails of the deck platforms. I was simply going to plank over the ribs, but staggering the planks every "1" didn't impress me. I did run into my first chigger.....in handling the frame, I broke the thin bridge along the top of the bow stem. I fixed it and put the cast off back in to protect it. you can see the supports for the joices I put in there. the deck platforms I have are fitted in place. the main deck platform is supposed to be in two sections.......I did it as a single piece. after marking out the bulwark posts, lines were drawn and the notches were cut out. there is a rounded section of decking that is to go at the bow. it is to be level with the main deck. I got to this section of decking the following day.....in between working on the AmericA {all of this was, for that matter}..........the upper mizzen deck I'm going to add in small pieces of square stock under where the bulwark posts are {underneath} to support the platforms, when the frame is fared. they need to be flush to the inner walls, come time for planking. this puts the build up to speed......I can update as I go along. enjoy!

what is missing probably amounts to a complete parts panel. the kit also was to come with a build slip, but the only parts in there for it was the slip rail. I put it together....... the keel parts were cemented together. I got the instructions........I can get some insight as to what the parts are to look like. this is so cool! I miss the smell of wood.........after the hull is painted on any kit that I've done, there is only limited wood fabrication to do......the small parts and fittings for the deck and mast. even with the rigging, which I love to do, can become tedious. this is probably the main reason why I amass builds the way I do...... not because I'm in the habit of not finishing a kit, but that I miss the construction part of it...... making sawdust. this kit couldn't have come to me at a more opportune time........it will make for a perfect companion, for the kit I plan on finishing next. well......anyway......... the build slip came out of the closet. I had punched out all the cast off from the bow stem. I had already dry fitted and tested the parts.....a nice fit. the build went on. I added short pieces of 3/16 square stock in between the ribs to aide in locking them in. the hull frame assembly continued. before the transom rib was cemented in place, the deck joices were slid in place. I went all the way forward to rib #6, and all the way back to rib #13 {strange way to number parts}. the transom rib finishes off the frame assembly. I will be adding short strips under both ends of the joices for support. there are the bow rabbits that still need to be cemented in place.

I came in possession of this kit quite by surprise. the box was fairly intact, with only minor damage on one of the side panels. along with it, were a few assorted bundles of planking and a package of different size dowels. one of the bundles was for this kit........ I added it to the kit.......to the bundle of planking that was already in there.......I guess I'll have more than enough. doing a complete inspection of the contents, I found that I was missing a good deal of parts. I took pictures of the contents, after I removed the hull parts........they, at least, are all there. I contemplated renaming the ship, but it would be hard to do, since most of the ships that I know of, all sport these tops {crows nests}. some of the deck platforms, most of the crows nest parts, the cannon port lids, and some of the deck fittings {wood}, is a pretty good tally of what's missing. I see I'll be doing a good deal of scratch work. the bones are all there......I think I can make it work

take your time Sjors

just to see someone smile, is enough for me......no fee.......just an offer. there are thing that I still cannot do.........besides, I get my spinach wholesale! AK-k-k-k-k-k!

sometimes, the contrast of woods is quite nice.......it's all in how you do it

I'd be willing to do them for you.........send me the stuff

there wasn't that much damage.........you did a great job!

with the job I do.......cuts and knucklebusting is common.......I do try to be safe. the admiral and I have been together long enough, that when I don't get back to it, right after a zinger.......she knows it's bad. I thank my lucky stars, that hasn't happened yet one time I drilled a hole in the meaty part of the palm of my hand.........she was right there when I pulled it out. sometimes, we can be right, for all the dumb reasons. no typo........I've just gained a new level of common sense. glad your mending well