MrBlueJacket

So during this past week, I have painted and installed all the deck furniture, lined the cockpit well, and started on the masting. Really taking shape now.

We're looking into the bulkhead issue, thanks for your email about it.

Nic

After installing the gratings, deadeyes and fife rails, I put some of the other deck furniture on to see how it looks.

Here's some bits and pieces ready for a coat of flat black paint.

Bulwark is trimmed, hull is primed, and the bulwark is painted flat white.

The solid railing is on, and mis-matches of the seam are covered with Bondo. The false machinery well is installed and painted, along with two steps down from the pilot house area.

And of course, with the coppering finished, it is time to hang the rudder. I used thin strips of Britannia metal, and pinned the rudder in two places.

During the past week, I have put on the caprails, installed the bowsprit, Sampson post and winch assembly, and drilled holes for the masts and fife rails.

And just to take a little break from the copper, let's put in the timberheads! Then we'll sand them flush to the bulwarks and add the caprail. Almost getting to where I really like the build - adding deck furniture and masting and rigging. I consider the hull a necessary evil to get to the fun stuff. Oh, and did I say, our client wants sails? We'll do those from silkspan. Stay tuned......

And here is the starboard side completed. Now to go back to the other side and do it all over

again.

About 1/32" or a little less. just enough so there is no chance of a gap.

All the starboard side plates are in place, except for the waterline row. Notice two things:

1 - the upper edge of the plating is ragged. Don't worry, the waterline row will hide all of that.

2 - The aft end waterline row is starting to be applied.

I made a diamond non-skid pattern by spraying black through a stretched screen over a gray base. I am happy with the look.

So for the decking planks, I chose 1/32 x 1/4 basswood, and stained it using MinWax cherry. To get the lighter color, I only used the top liquid in the can, and did not stir up the bottom material. I'm pleased with the color.

The kit had 1/16 balsa for the undersides, I substituted 1/16 plywood. I could have used 1/32, it would have been a little easier to bend around the bow.

And more plates attached. Tedious work, but looks nice when done. Still following the rule of bottom to top, back to front for the plate overlaps.

Here's another shot with more plates added, and also the tube of silicone gel for reference.

Now to switch glues and start putting the flat plates on with silicone gel.

Here's a shot of applying the CA glue

And the edge of the keel is done.

For gluing plates that have to be bent, like what you see so far, I like CA glue (thin). When I get to running plates that are flat rows, I prefer Silicone gel.

Installed the bulkheads and deck. This old kit has no provisions for planking the deck, but I can be creative  ;-)

And with the rudder done, we can start on the hull.

So after yet more sanding and primer, I was able to finally put a coat of flat black on the hull. The white stripe is vinyl tape to mark the waterline for coppering.

And now to start coppering. Rudder first.The rule is bottom to top, back to front.

Unfortunately, after sanding, there is still just one little area that needed filling.

Hi Dan,

I started a build of the BlueJacket Mary Taylor on June 6th, it's still not in the index. Also, I just started another one this past Wednesday of the Laughing Whale "Tourist" Can you please add these?

Thanks,

Nic