puckotred

I found the last picture I took of Bohuslän.
 
 
 

I have not had the time to update the log lately, but here's some progress:
 
 
bottom finished.

 
 

 
Nice warped roof there.

 
Warping fixed with the vertical bits of Pianowire.

 
 

 
The bridge.

 
 

 
 

 
Bridge with LED's

 
 

 
Funnel. The metal sheet supplied was a very thin piece. Impossible (for me) not to buckle it.
Did my own extra pipes as none was supplied in the kit.

 

 
This build will be suspended until late autumn as I have other ships to build now that the weather is warmer. Sanding must be done outside. I'll try to up a log of the Pinco Genovese later.

Hello,
 
Sorry for the lapse in updating the build.  The last two weeks have been plagued by a series of minor emergencies that have been keeping me pretty busy.  On top of everything, the motherboard on my 12 year old computer finally gave out.  With no CAM program, the mill has been sitting idle for two weeks.  I now have a "new" 6 year old computer and I think I've finally tracked down all the software I had before.  Back in business!
 
I've finished most of the planking of the boiler deck and have started on the construction of the deckhouse.
 
Steam scapepipe in place. 

 

 
Posts going in.  These were the only posts notched over the deck beams.  The rest will be lightly notched into the cap.

 
Top plate installed.

 
Intermediate posts to frame the windows.

 

 

 

 

 
I decided not to run the deck planking all the way forward at this time.  Instead I placed a lateral cap across the deck.  This brings the deck up to the same height around the entire circumference of the structure making the side planking a little neater.  It also allows me to hold off on installing the chimneys.  I'm still trying to figure out the transition.  I have to hold off on planking the side walkways as well.  The curved tops of the paddleboxes will have to go in first but, these can't be added until the sides of the deckhouse are planked.  I'll complete all this next week.

 
Final photo of Fridays progress.  Lowest four strakes of side planking in place. 

 
 
 
 

I found the last picture I took of Bohuslän.
 
 
 

I have not had the time to update the log lately, but here's some progress:
 
 
bottom finished.

 
 

 
Nice warped roof there.

 
Warping fixed with the vertical bits of Pianowire.

 
 

 
The bridge.

 
 

 
 

 
Bridge with LED's

 
 

 
Funnel. The metal sheet supplied was a very thin piece. Impossible (for me) not to buckle it.
Did my own extra pipes as none was supplied in the kit.

 

 
This build will be suspended until late autumn as I have other ships to build now that the weather is warmer. Sanding must be done outside. I'll try to up a log of the Pinco Genovese later.

Thanks Burnside. There's still a lot of frustration concerning scale and accuracy. I've decided to try and not think about it and just go on building. 
 
 
 Lightning for second deck:
 

 
I suck at soldering but the wire is secured and glued to the wood. It isn't going anywhere...
 

 

 
Done at last
 

 
Awaiting third deck. 

 
 

Looking good as Bob said. I never thought much of the gap between the planks. I sanded them before I glued them down... Did the gratings the same way as Bob. Still have not glued them in place.

Hello,
 
sorry for delay with updates, I was bussy with new job and nearly no time for modelling... have not much time to work at the Sphynx, so here only few images showing last changes.
 
Last beams and carlings on forecastle and the door at kooking plase:
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Then glued inboard planks on the taffrail, and last strake at the f'caslte bulkhead:
 

 

 

 

 
Mounted all Cannons, glued waterweys and margin plank on f'castle:
 

 

 

 

 
Gratings and coaming are dry fitted now
 
Alex

Looking good as Bob said. I never thought much of the gap between the planks. I sanded them before I glued them down... Did the gratings the same way as Bob. Still have not glued them in place.

I have been bouncing back and forth between this build and Niagara. This one is helping to keep my sanity while I debate with myself over part sizes for Niagara.
 
The gun deck planking is under way. I went with the kit supplied caulk strips stained dark (Minwax Provincial). Assembly is pretty easy once I got the routine down. It does however, seem to be just a few steps above building a ship in a bottle. I couldn't even begin to say how many times I have bumped the frames while working inside them.
 
While the caulk strips look OK the gaps they fill seem to collect a lot of dust when I began sanding. Even with a paint brush I could not get it all out. I suspect I will need a damp rag or something similar. The strips just don't completely fill the gap between plank edges. If I had it to do over I would probably take a different approach. Another thought would be to run the plank edges thru my table saw to square them up and smooth them off.
 
Given the limited space inside the frame I think I am going to hold off on planking the hull and main deck for as long as I can. I think quite a bit of the assembly can be done before the planking, although it will be out of order from the instructions.
 
I'm also thinking it will be wise to go ahead and stain and finish the deck now while nothing is in the way.
 
I'm to the point where I need to build and install the grating before I can complete the gun deck planking. Here's a few pix
 

 

 

 
 
 
 

Actually...didn't sleep on it. Decided to quit whining and proceed. Keel has no warping, and half the bulkheads are installed.

Ok, I see what your problem is now. I didn't care too much about that. I hid the gap from the hull planking and the frames with the gunport framing. 

Ah I see now. As the added 4 inner frames are shorter then the middle and outer ones they sit on the added strip between the 3 frames. This meant I had to fit them slightly forward of the 3 main frames to make the planking sit on all of them. What you could do now is add a thin strip of wood to the extra 4 supports. Or do as Mr Puck did and leave the gaps as the planking hides it anyway once finished.

Middle Deck fitted
 
Just a quickie as the next logical step has been completed. The middle gun deck is now fitted and finished. I'm quite pleased, although it took some work to get there. Its looking good and solid if nothing else, and my previous comments about the deck pillars taking the weight is rubbish, completely removed the deck would remain just as solid. The odd doughnut shaped things are the mast supports/decoration of course. I have dry fitted the mast several times, its a tight fit, but fine. I do hope the "doughnuts" look a little less odd when the mast is in situ!
 

 
A couple of things to note; you may note I'm down to two deck support pillars (one of the intended three ended up too short!), but shorty I'll be down to none!  I'm unhappy with them, surely I can do better, so am going to replace them all. I'm desperately hoping my local DIY shop sells 8mm doweling and am heading up there shortly, that supplied by the kit long since used up. (I know I can readily get some online Bob, but the 8mm is all I need and bearing in mind the hefty postage, if the local shop can supply it, then its obviously the better choice initially).
 
I've also veered away from the plan somewhat. I have fitted an extra deck beam. The one furthest away as the photo shows, is not on the plan. So I've fitted one. I feel justified in doing so partly because I moved the existing ones closer together than planned (not entirely intentionally!), and partly because it just didn't look right, the cross beams ending in the middle of nowhere on the right hand side. No doubt I'll pay the price when I run out of beam material on the top deck.
 
That is a point actually; quality stuff though it is, there's certainly not an overabundance of material supplied. Eyelets are another example, I ran out ages ago, and still need many more. Luckily anyone who has done a couple of builds previously has spare eyelets.
 
So the upper deck beckons. I'm going to sit and have a good think about it though, I had such problems fitting the middle deck, I'm half tempted to build the deck completely "off ship", to fit it as one complete piece after. Its getting the dimensions right that's going to be problematic doing it that way.
 
Onward and upward...
 
Bryan
 
 
 

Ok, I see what your problem is now. I didn't care too much about that. I hid the gap from the hull planking and the frames with the gunport framing. 

Hello Mike,
I also used the supplied strips. Mine where dark enough to simulate nicely caulking. When I varnished the deck they darkened a tiny bit more
 

The plans show the deck butting up to the hull, but all the pics in the manual (and my build) have the hull planks on top of the deck planks. I would butt the deck planks up against the hull. Looks better imho...

My Hull planks are also on top of the deck planks

The plans show the deck butting up to the hull, but all the pics in the manual (and my build) have the hull planks on top of the deck planks. I would butt the deck planks up against the hull. Looks better imho...

I had 4 or 5 planks that where quite bad but fortunately I managed to either fit them with the bad side down or use them around the grating cutting away the worst parts. One was warped but I force glued it (almost) straight...

I had 4 or 5 planks that where quite bad but fortunately I managed to either fit them with the bad side down or use them around the grating cutting away the worst parts. One was warped but I force glued it (almost) straight...

I had 4 or 5 planks that where quite bad but fortunately I managed to either fit them with the bad side down or use them around the grating cutting away the worst parts. One was warped but I force glued it (almost) straight...

Hello Mike,
I also used the supplied strips. Mine where dark enough to simulate nicely caulking. When I varnished the deck they darkened a tiny bit more
 

I have been looking into this one myself for later down the road and from what I can see the instructions and the way the kit is designed I would not call it a beginner kit but an intermediate one. I think what would make it harder for someone with less experience would be if you are wanting to take it beyond what the kit provides in terms of details. Otherwise the usual difficulties would of course apply with planking, and rigging and making sure everything is squared up and measured out right.
 
I'm looking forward to seeing how this kit builds out to get a better idea of what to expect.

I thank you all for pointing out the kit supplied caulk strips. If you hadn't I would have breezed right by them. I'm still undecided as to what to use. Both the strips and the styrene have pros and cons. I will do a little more testing tonite and let you know what I come up with.
 
BTW - It's good to see even more builders of this kit jumping in to help. I appreciate all input and feedback!