Meredith

As of yesterday I am leaning strongly towards the Sherline. I also like the fact there are many accessories specifically for the machine

I will be watching too I have been tempted quite a few times to buy this kit - and I still probably will. I am like you - could find very little info on it vi the forum. Most build logs I was looking for. So you can blaze the way - and all the pitfalls will be highlighted before I start

Good topic - but I still can't make up my mind. I had almost settled inthe Proxxon M70 - due to price and availability. But the Sherline keep calling me - the price is a factor. But the I saw some not that much more expensive than the Proxxon. It's not like I can just spend the difference later on to "upgrade" to a Sherline. It appears there are more accessories available for the Sherline. Any thoughts - would I be better to just save longer and hold out for the Sherline ? I have ordered some books to read on the meantime and been doing as much online reach as possible. But I still am undecided!!!!!!!

Welcome Nick I am also very pleased to see young people get involved in this hobby. Amazing how many skills you can learn when you are doing something like this for pleasure. All the best with the build and I plan to follow your progress

I started with a Modellers Ship Yard "Schooner for Port Jackson" - I purchased the DVD to go along with it. I set up the laptop right next to my work table and had the dvd running almost constantly. It was a great help for a first build. I don't know how many times I hit the rewind.. play... rewind.. play.... and swapped between the DVD and this forum and lots of reference build logs. I started a log here and if I got stuck - there was always help from other members. I am especially grateful to "Jim Ladd" aka john for his help with my mystery lines - when it came to rigging. There were three lines that just magically appeared on the DVD and instructions with absolutely no reference at all to where/how they were tied off etc. The dvd was a great help - AND I finished the boat. I am still happy with it - of course there are things I could have done better with more experience - but its still a respectable model for a first attempt. My second boat was a model Shipways 18th Century long boat - with great instructions by Chuck. I made this almost exclusively without help from the forum - as the forum was down for most of my build. I was/am also making a Model shipways Syren - another great set of instructions by Chuck - and a build log here by him (or was on forum 1) and HEAPS of other memberswith build logs of Syren with help and inspirations and tips. I did find Model Shipways shipping to be expensive - and no options for different services/shippers - so I used my US address (get them online) and this made the shipping VERY fast and a lot cheaper (about 1/2 the price). The Aussie firm of Modellers Shipyard is most helpful and their own line of ships/plans appear to me to be of really good quality (I am a novice!!) with little experience of many other brands to compare to. http://www.modelshipyard.com.au/ The only other online site I have used to purchase kits is http://www.miniaturesteammodels.com/index.htm I purchased a "Supply" from them - haven't started it yet - so I cant really comment on the instructions. Very helpful person on the phone (he rang me about my online order - so good customer service - and pretty good prices) I am currently building another Model-Expo/Shipways kit at the minute - A Bounty Launch. Plans are great/clear - instructions not too bad - but they don't mention the 1/4 deck at all.. so the plans were good enough to make it. I have come across one small problem with the instructions.. but its fixable. So I guess poor instructions are not so important when you get more boats under your belt - there is always this forum to get you out of trouble!!

It's big 1:16 and almost 440mm long

Hello fellow neighbour.. nice to see someone from our end of Oz building. Great little model - I will watch along too.

Few photos of the hull oiled - under lights and still wet - so pretty shiny.

I have finally got all the 'tween frames done. Had more problems with stain. Did more reading and research. I have decided its the sanding sealer causing the problems. Spend half the day yesterday experimenting and think I have solve the problem. Bit too late for this build. I WAS going to stain the timbers a light honey sort of colour. Did trials and was very happy with the colour. But it just didn't work - very poor stain job .... took it off a dozen times - but couldn't remove it all - so I decided to go darker...and darker.... and darker.. with the thought that I could go back to the original instructions and paint if all else failed. I didn't want it painted - so I have persevered with what I had to work with. I undercoated the inside - because some of the dark stain seeped through and it would have been close to impossible to get it back to raw uncoloured timber. Then I was tossing up what coulour to paint inside - I was going to go off white (might look right with the honey coloured timbers I have for the inside bits) - but thought that might be too great a contrast with the very dark outside hull. So at this stage I am leaving it light grey. Could change my mind again It has had about 3 coats of the grey. And the grey was used just because it was the only colour I had in a spray can - this boat WONT rust as the grey is actually Cold Gal - nice and mat and very good coverage. So onto some photos... The inside with all the frames installed and painted with Cold Gal....(originally as an undercoat) Decided to paint the top area black and install a strip of honey coloured timber - this will match all the interior timbers I have already prepared. The little green bits are just felt - as I didn't want to "fix" any more dents from clamps... I used spacers to get the outside strip even al the way around.. Darker bits on the staining of the hull - most of these are now removed. This hull has so much sanding it isn't funny - but its silky smooth! I have now touched up all the black paint and given it about 10 more coats.. and I have oiled the hull - much improved appearance and any unevenness has blended nicely. No photos yet of the hull as the oil is still a bit wet and shiny as I have given it some more coats. Ok this might not finish up as the "Bounty Launch".... but it will be a boat of some sort. I think I have learnt a lot during this build - and plenty of things I wouldn't do again. I might even attempt it again sometime as I have the mould/frame all ready to go to do another one sometime. Maybe if I get to make this same boat 10 times - I might actually improve!!!!

There sure are some good women out there :)

I purchased mine in Australia Richard - and with a lot of things we are already paying quite a bit more. The one with the speed control was $45.52 AUD (listed as US $41.78) and the one with out was $37.73 AUD (or $34.63 USD). Not sure how often they update the currency conversion on their site - but the Aussie dollar has dropped against the US dollar of recent times. www.proxxonworld.com.au I have proxxon tools in both AC and DC (the pen sander is at the minute the only 21v proxxon I own) - all my other proxxon gear is 240V (disc sander, mini drill/grinder, scroll saw, shaper etc)

I just looked up the price difference. Seems there is $7 between the two. I haven't used it a lot so far but when I did. I did use the speed control each time

I have the speed control on mine - more than happy with it. I don't even remember the cost difference though - so hard to say if its worth it.

Ok.. all planked.... I have just wacked some sanding sealer on her and when that's dry I will fill a couple of holes and sand off. Having second thoughts about painting it - might stain - not sure yet. I was putting the very LAST plank on and saw that the planks weren't lined up at the bow.... hmmm... fix or ignore.... if it was to be painted it possibly wouldn't have mattered too much - but I would always know. 2 were wood glued on - so I steam those off and the other two were CA glued on. I only needed to take them out of the rabbit - so I just couldn't live with it - so off they came . I still have to fix one plank - its just a wee bit short to hold in the rabbit - so I will need to put a little batten inside and fix to the keel. It should be ok - with the cap rail to hold it was well. But I need to work out what room I have - I don't want to put it in yet and find the other stuff wont fit. Or I might even put a brass strip from one side of the keel - over the keel and to the other side - I will have a play and see what works best. The plank might even clamp ok when I take it off the former. It actually still fits - but it was impossible to hole in place while the glue dried. I am confident it will fix ok. I think I will plank the transom - the word "transom has been laser etched on it - I did put it to the inside (was the outer side by design) - if painted it will cover up. But if I decide to stain and leave wood - I wont really be able to get rid of it. This is also the reason I haven't trimmed the planks yet. I will do that after I have planked the outside of the transom.

ok... I am back to where I was a few weeks ago. I fixed the gun ports - not brilliant - but better than they were. I still have to repaint them as they have a little bit of stain on them and that's changed the colour. So a light sand and repaint. Might do that later tonight. Then its onto the rest of the planking - now I have all my clamps back in service as the bounty launch has been planked!!

Would I be better using aircraft type ply? - or any other suggestions?

I have a Dos Amigos awaiting patiently to be started. I have had some of the pieces out a few times - just to look at them. I am not very happy with the ply used for the bulkheads and false keel etc - I know they get covered up completely - but they are all flaky and brittle/dry feeling. Timber supplies where I live are non-existent (or paying $50 for a 1/4 sheet of MDF - in comparison to well under $10 in civilisation for a sheet twice the size). I was considering asking one of the FIFO (Fly in/Fly out) guys to bring back something suitable on his next R & R swing. I don't want to risk getting something weird - so I thought I could ask him for something that is pretty stock standard to the non ship building world. Question..: Would MDF be suitable in the right thickness? I figured re-doing these parts would also give me a little experience in cutting these parts with the scroll saw in preparation for my first scratch build sometime in the distant future.

Been having a little bit of poison dart practice here.. and I think our aim is improving Now its back to planking. Should be able to get the two un-tapered planks each side up from the Garboard done - then move back over to the bounty launch and get 4 more planks done on her..

What a sensational build. You are very talented indeed. I can foresee me coming back again and again to this build log - its pure pleasure!

I really enjoy this ship building lark - and I am keen to improve with every build. The logs here are SO inspiring - and I most look and in some ways feel a bit overwhelmed at the beauty of many of the things I see done - and I think I will never be that good.... but practice.. practice.. practice. I must keep an open mind and try new things and new (to me) methods - and hopefulyl one day those beautiful, precise clean little items I see other's produce - will be at my place too I know.. baby steps... and keep trying and keep learning.. and one day.. who knows! I have been told plenty of times I have the patience to worry a sheep dog.. so I am pretty sure I can stick at it and not loose heart.. I just have to keep looking here at the wonderful artistic builds and keep aiming to improve.

I cant buy anything by looking at it first... I have to buy sight unseen via internet. I did see the new little Proxxon one - along with comparing to their bigger models. I visited Proxxon World in Tuggerah last year and got to look at all their range. Then of course I am going to have to learn how to use it - and what it can do! ohh and then I need to work out what accessories and end mills would be the most valuable to me. of course I am heading in the direction of a scratch build - but I think I will start with a POB first - the POF scare me - they are so beautiful - but I don't think I have close to the skills required. I am really grateful to Youtube and logs here to try and pick up what tools can accomplish for you and I am afraid I am a bit of a tool junkie - I LOVE them :) I now need to spend lots of practice time to get competent at using what I have already!

Ok.. small updates.. Those gun ports have really been worrying me.. I hated them... Sooooooo... I decided to sand back the red inner hull framing.. which then gave me a chance to neaten up all the edges of the planking around the openings. Made sure they were all the same size (some how one of the ports was larger than the others - not enough care in the early stages I guess). The made little window frames out of pear (which is way less hairy and really smooth and easy to work with) and installed them - they are back to the right size opening according to the plans. One side needs a bit of a touch up with the paint or maybe just even a wipe over with a moist cotton bud - but that's easy - I will leave that until I am finished with the sanding etc of the planks - cause they only get messy again when I sand. Little bits of dust stuck in corners etc. They aren't perfect - but they are better. My other option was to pull all the planking off and start again. I thought I would try this first and see if I could live with it. I also attached the transom "planking" - took me a while to decide on what finish I wanted. I looked at every log here I could find. Seems there were three options I narrowed it down to.. 1. Leave as one flat piece as per the plans - and just stain same as side planking. 2. Paint black like the lower area (one log made this look very attractive!) 3.Or plank the transom (and the added surround) and add treenails and stain later with the side planking... I chose the third option after MUCH swapping back and forth between finishes... I think it should come out ok - with the other black bits to be added around it. On to the photos.. I have attached the Garboard plank.... but with working on my Bounty launch at the same time - not sure I have quite enough clamps to get the next two planks bent and drying and awaiting their turn to be glued. So I might go back and start the treenails on the other side today as I am waiting for glue to dry on my Bounty too... OR I could sit on the internet and look at stuff to buy I have saved enough money to buy a milling machine and maybe.. maybe.. a lathe. I just cant decide which ones! if I go the Proxxon - I cant afford both. I cant afford a Sherline at all.. so MANY decisions. I spent most of last night looking and comparing (like I really KNOW what I am comparing ) - I am even considering the Chinese ones.. after all I am told Proxxon is made in China....Ohh its so hard! I have been looking and ogling for months... Or I might just go cheaper and in a totally different direction and get a Foredom or something like that - so I can TRY and play with some wood carving for the decorations on the ships (watched a lot of you tube videos on woodcarving and logs here last night and got enthused). Or I could go even cheaper and just get a flexi shaft and handpiece for my current Proxxon rotary or dremel rotary tools....

Umm... John... I am lazy - I use the dryer - I don't hang stuff on the line up here. I leave for work too early in the morning and get home too late. If we don't take washing off the line the instant it is dry (you can count that in minutes - not hours) it tends to rot. Sunshine is a bit severe up here. The only thing I tend to hang on the line is new work clothes - I hate them when they are new - so try and wear them out as quickly as possible. So I wash them 50 times.. hang them on the line and leave them there for a few weeks - even hose them down if I am watering the garden :) So little bit of an update.... these shaped planks are pretty easy - and its at such a large scale - I would say a pretty good beginners model. I have fitted and glued the first two planks both sides (top and bottom - working towards the centre) The next two planks are just shaped and waiting to dry out and then glued. With the garboard plank - I did put some clamps on from side to side to try and hold the plank in the rabbet - which left some dents in the edge of the planks.. pretty nasty ones in fact. So after I fitted the second plank - I thought I better deal with that now - and was going to try the wet and steam method of bringing the plank back to the original state. I was bending the new planks in the kitchen by dipping in a big pot of boiling water on the stove.. bends so easily and can push against the side of the pot to get the start of the bend. So after I planked - I dripped some of the boiling water on the dents and was making my way back out to my build area to use the little iron to steam them out. But by the time I got there - I couldn't really find the dents - they had already gone! But I still used the little iron just to dry the planks out a bit - to hurry up when I get the glue on and fit the next planks. So on to a few pics.. pretty boring - no too much to show. While this is drying out - I will swap back to working on my Syren...

Superb workmanship. If this is the furniture and flooring - I would love to see the ship it must be beautiful!!!!!!!

Have a great holiday John. She sure is looking great. Very impressive scale too!!