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

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!!

Let me try Ian....Thank you Ian!!! Grateful for your assistance, sir.
 
John

Seems like all I am doing is making too many mistakes folks....is there any rule that says we can make this what we want it to be besides what its supposed to be....anyway, I'll post some pics after putting them on my HD ....thanks for following all.
 
I thought i would add something to this since she is not turning out too well...Mmmmm, just don't know. Constructed a detailed railing around the upper deck (only have one side complete, but not painted), wondered if there were any thoughts...since I am having trouble figuring the bow out.
 
I think I goofed some where....
 
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.

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!!

Zeus Cat,
 
This was a very nice post you made and wonderful advice. My hat is off to you and I thank you, kindly. I have since moved on but the holidays have made me lazy. It is back off to school for me so the model making will be much slower. I have the Bireme in the paint facility in my shop and will not give her up...every project I have done does seem to have a way to resurrect itself so letting her sit for a while is surely a great idea.
 
Thanks Zeus!
 
John

Ollie,
 
Your work is so clean!! Time is of the essence, eh, I need to slow her down and quit putting in long days on the Xebec..Nicely crafted Ollie.

...

Oh and no i didn't miss a run, they just are not needed..

Ok, rats are done on starboard side.. reasonably happy with it, oh ok... I cant complain for a first go
 
It's not as easy as one would like and i'm sure it will go smoother on second run..  
 
I was brave enough to throw in a macro..  Black card helps find the fuzzy bits...
best if you dont use waterbased marker to mark out card, it runs when glueng.. 
 
I have a grip on the cow and clove hitch now, handy to know..   I used the principle of doing every forth run and then coming back to fill in..  Ollie
 
 

My model room can accommodate her, Mermaid under final rigging on right.. 
 
So i may start building a building board or slipway to help construction go straight and forward..

Some of the kit getting checked over..  length 790 mm, height 620, beam 160

Hey there Mij,
 
So far so good.. I should post some photos in a day or two to show the work I am doing on the (I don't know what to call this), but, it is the aft grating at the stern. The kit part broke into a few pieces when I tried cutting and now I am forced to design and construct the grating by hand....which is interesting and fun. I have spent all day (6 hours), on this project and it is looking promising. I will post photos when I have her finished at this stage. Mainly working on the aft deck and bits and pieces here and there. Wish the glue would dry faster. I'll keep you posted Mij.....
 
John E

Hi John
 
How is your model of your Xebec coming along.
 
 mij

So sorry folks I have been delayed and away for some time since my last post....had 3 surgeries in one year.....I am back on the Xebec though...I would be very interested in Le Requin's plans for a scratch build myself. Never have tried one but definitely wish to give her a go....here are some of the latest pics.

Your Xebec is coing along fine.  I have always liked unique models.
David B

Hi John.
Nice build.
I also love the Xebec and the lines she has.
Looking forward to a few more pictures and will follow your progress
MIJ has done a scratch build on this boat and it's worth a look at his build log. Using the same plans.
 
Regards Antony.

So sorry folks I have been delayed and away for some time since my last post....had 3 surgeries in one year.....I am back on the Xebec though...I would be very interested in Le Requin's plans for a scratch build myself. Never have tried one but definitely wish to give her a go....here are some of the latest pics.

Planking the Aft Deck...not sure what it is called in Italian. Job is going well after about 1-1/2 hours today cutting individual planks at 80mm long. The planks for the deck are measuring 1x3.5 mm. To tell you all the truth I am having nothing but fun with this one. Very relaxed, listening to some music and cutting one plank at a time. Comments, advice and suggestions are most welcome folks. I have so much to learn.
 
Thanks and all have a great day!
 
John E

Hi John
 
The Xebec kit you are building looks great, I like it that much I went on line to Cornwall Models last Monday and ordered the plans, they arrived the following day. 
This kit I`ll be building from scratch with sone alterations.
 
 mij

So sorry folks I have been delayed and away for some time since my last post....had 3 surgeries in one year.....I am back on the Xebec though...I would be very interested in Le Requin's plans for a scratch build myself. Never have tried one but definitely wish to give her a go....here are some of the latest pics.

Beautiful and superb detail.....As a novice one may learn so much from your postings. I like the toothpick details as well as your rigging....outstanding for such a small space to work in.....keep up the superb craftsmanship.