Auvergne

Hi Ollie...Love the Rum barrels!! You are doing a great job and I will be following your beautiful build. Best luck to you. You know what you are doing for sure. Thanks for sharing your photos. John

Wow Mark! I, at this stage in my modelling career may only hope to be as skillful as yourself. Excellent job you are doing. I am presently studying for a scratchbuild but so far have only gotten as far as the Ship Model Builders Assistant....reading now about your first scratchbuild and how to plan before you do any cutting. Thanks for sharing your build as I will be following, too. Good luck friend.

You will do just fine Kimberley...you have so many resources here on MSW and so many good people helping you. Be strong on the patience thing...I am learning the same thing. I see the professionals here on MSW and you know they take their time. And with the results any of us may hope for. I am following your build and you look set to go. Good Luck on you Santa maria build and we are all with you. John

Hi guys and gals. I wanted to show my progress on this Bireme Greek Warship the past few days. First, I had to do some painting on the topside merely to show a progressive schedule I hold myself accountable for. I need to see a progressive advancement to feel as if I am actually accomplishing something. Not sure why, but that’s how I work. Secondly, I have caught some mistakes; i.e. using too much glue (so instead of the glue applicator I now use a paintbrush), slow but it looks better; I don’t know how I did this but my calculations for the bow was like way off. Don’t know what I was thinking… So for the bow I have had to cut away some planking and replace @ the CL of the bulkhead, where now I do not have 1 continuous piece of planking all the way through the hull from stem to stern in some areas as shown in the pictures. I am learning though. Actually, I have discovered with a mixture of water & wood filler at very thin doses works well on the inside of the hull as a filling agent to cover minor and small defects. Not sure if that is actually legal or not but I did not want this baby to go to the scrap pile just yet. I then sand the hull down with 400# sand paper (again, hope that’s OK), then with a #0000 steel wool to give it a flat shine and reduce any grit caused by the wood filling agent I created. Once complete with the hull’s bow I will do minor aesthetics throughout the hull and then…tackle the beast, the stern, or prow…wish me luck… BTW, the instructions on this thing are quite minimal…a good kit for the most part, but one must know some woodworking skills as well as a small bit of Marine Engineering, but truly, nothing major. I just like to sound as if I know what I am talking about…(DOH?!). See ya’ll next time! Have a great night! I am learning folks. John E (Auvergne).

Good morning friends, I wanted to give you an update on my Bireme Greek Warship. It is coming along good (I am thinking), but as we all know it is not complete until the painting is complete. That is why I am making this post at this time. Even though she is not complete and I have much work still yet to do I decided to paint her upper deck. I have decided to make her my own paint design. This is the only difference I will make and try to keep her anatomically correct in her historical value. (Though I have not done much research with the exception of what I have learned from Arthur and others. I hope this meets with everyone and your satisfaction. Have a happy day of modeling. John E

Here following is the better photo of my progress.

Greek Bireme 3 Yesterday was a very productive day on this Greek Bireme Warship. I succeeded at some of the interior decking though have yet to complete. I should have executed this portion prior to the topside decking but have had no real significant problems. The carpentry on the topside was relatively easily accomplished. Once dry, I simply cut away any excess lumber with surgical curved scissors which work beautifully then filed even with a small file, though an X-Acto knife did just as well. Completed the decking (or covering), on the oar shams and am ready today to continue boxing in the shams (topside & below), as well as my wales. I have yet to complete the interior decking and bottom side of the hull but anticipate a good day today! Hope everyone enjoys and have a great day of model shipbuilding. John E I am however having difficulty resizing these photos. I'll have to repost later the good shots I had after resizing, again.

For the technical pens Kimberly...you can find them at any hobby or art store...Michaels, www.dickblick.com has them too. As I meentioned earlier a .25 or .35 will do nicely. BTW, you are doing great on your model...you are doing nbetter than I am on my Bireme...Good luck and happy modeling....

Excellent work !! I love what you did with the hull. It pays, eh, to wait on necessary lumber. Patience is a virtue for sure. Sometimes I rush too much. But, you really must take your time. Good job. John E

Very good Kimberly! Sorry to ask but is this a plastic kit or wood? If it is plastic I can help you paint the intricate details at the stern and bow. It helps to use a Rapidiograph Ink filled pens. They are technical pen for drafting and a .25 would work great. Chose from a wide variety of colors of acrylic ink and dab on with the pen point. Very easy, very clean, and you receive a professional look if you take your n time. Best wishes to you Kimberly! Enjoy. John E (Auvergne).

Beautiful! Such a gift you have. I have always desired to design and build my own yacht, and I have some who are my favorites by John Alden, S&S as yourself, many others... I did not realize how miniature you were building till I saw her in your hand. Superb craftsmanship and patience. I wish I could grasp drawing the lines a little better than I do but you have delighted me with great tips. Please keep posting as I enjoy your work! Thanks. John E.

Hello Folks. I am hoping to be in the proper place for this kit build. Don't wish to be booted out. This is my first kit after 40 years of work, work, work. Now it's time to enjoy my passion. Please be delicate, I'm not an ol' salt just yet. I know, not a pretty photo or my layout but I'll get the hang of this. Thanks all!!

Hello Kimerly, I really like the manner in which you have laid out your model in sections. This reminds me as a mechanic working on Jet Engine Components overhauling items like waterpumps, fuel pumps, oil pumps, etc...I laid my parts out in the same manner but isn't it funny I failed to do the same with my model. Looks like I have to learn all over again. I believe your model will turn out brilliant and cannot wait to see the finished product. Best Wishes. John