Charles W Morgan by jwvolz - Model Shipways - 1:64

[alde]

I have seen some great builds of the CW Morgan on the forum. I would push MS for new parts in good condition.

[texxn5]

jOE PLEASE DON'T GIVE UP.

 

Joe, please don't give up. These parts appear to be the Plankshear. Use them for spacing of your stanchions, but please look at my Build Log Part I to see how I handled the Plankshear when I didn't like how it turned out. It is easily corrected. As Commodore Perry said: Don't Give Up the Ship! My website shows how to deal with this problem, and it really doesn't matter that it is broken. Just my two cents...but you have too much invested and this is not really a problem.

John

Edited March 13, 2016 by texxn5

[jwvolz]

No response yet on the PM to Marc Mosko. Next step s to contact Expo directly.

 

I haven't given up yet, just frustrated.

[texxn5]

Frustration with all of this is real and it sucks, but the end result and reward will be worth any of this. It won't be long before everything will be scratch built and you won't have to deal with this petty stuff that drives you nuts. Just plan ahead and make sure you have sufficient parts and aren't missing anything else so that you don't have to deal with MS anymore. I had problems but they eventually got resolved, it's just those 3-4 week delays that frustrate you. Glad you're hangin' in Mate,

John

[Landlubber Mike]

Joe, sorry to hear about all your frustrations with this kit and ME.  This is not a good advertisement for the kit.  I've similarly had concerns about the use of basswood on the kit, particularly on the framing materials.  I could be wrong, and hopefully someone will correct me if I am, but the plankshear pieces I believe are covered up by other pieces/planking.  They are critical from what I can tell to make sure that the stanchions, etc. are spaced correctly, so I'd rather be dealing with pieces that are whole than try to fix and use the broken pieces.

 

Overall, I'd say that the kit is a nice one with good plans and on a subject that is not often seen in the kit world.  One can make a nice model right from the kit as John has shown.  I would have bought the plans and tried scratching it as I'm planning on replacing most of the kit (visible wood, cast pieces, etc.), but ME doesn't seem to offer the plans by themselves.  I was able to get the kit for a steal on eBay, so it was a wash for me to source plans from elsewhere, buy plywood, etc. for the keel, etc., or buy the kit for the price I did and bash it pretty heavily.

 

As an aside, I would highly recommend seeing the Morgan if you are in the area.  I was with family so I couldn't spend as much time as I would have liked on the "pirate ship" as my girls called it, but it's cool to now have a connection with the actual ship that I'm now modeling.  I have a ton of pictures I can share with you as well if you ever have questions on what something looked like.  I also recent read the Leavitt book on the Morgan, the Yankee Whaler, and am currently reading a book on the whaler Essex, which was destroyed by a very large sperm whale who didn't take too kindly to whaling practices  It's given me a little more insight into the ship which will give more context as I build the model.

 

Anyway, just wanted to offer words of encouragement - hang in there my friend

[jwvolz]

Thanks Mike.

 

I've been to Mystic a few times Mike. It's been about six years since my last visit, but I do get up that way on business travel a fair amount so I'll likely try to get their this Spring/Summer. I'll let you know if anything comes up that I need a photo. 

 

Now I patiently wait again for Expo to even return my e-mail about the replacement, replacement parts.