Willie L Bennett by Richard Bradfield - Model Shipways - 1/32 Scale - first build - Skipjack

[Richard Bradfield]

Russ, I agree - no pin stripe. I don't want to chance messing it up.

Davidb, I used a brush on everything. I thinned the paint quite a bit and lightly sanded between coats. Paint was applied over a two day period.

 

Thanks for having a look guys!

[SkerryAmp]

Really sharp paint job, and with a brush !! Very impressed !!

 

Looks really good, will be referencing quite a bit when I get back to working on mine shortly.

 

-Adam

[Timothy Wood]

Richard,

 

Excellant paint job, it lools like you used an airbrush!

 

Tim

[captainbob]

Richard,

 

Good color choice and nice paint job.

 

Bob

[Richard Bradfield]

Adam, Tim and Bob, thanks for checking in. The bottom paint turned out a whole lot better than expected. I'm quite happy with it. I'm using the Model Expo water based paints and generally am not all that happy with them. They definately need to be thinned as they dry almost as fast as I can put it on. The paint also seems very fragile and scratches very easily. I'm wondering if I should put a protective finish over it. Any suggestions anyone?

[SkerryAmp]

I am big on using protective finishes on just about everything.  Regardless of the paint itself, the finish just does a nice job of sealing it all in and evening out the overall look.

 

I have used many kinds but lately have been big on minwax poly's. They wipe on or brush on, self level and look really good. You can build up coats if you like to deepen the finish quite easily.

 

-Adam

[Richard Bradfield]

Adam, I have Min Wax polycrylic clear satin, Min Wax polyurethane semi gloss and Rust-oleum polyurethane matte but none of them say its ok to use on painted surfaces. Just talk about stained surfaces. What do you suggest?

[captainbob]

If you don't mind the shine, Pledge floor finish is clear acrylic.

 

Bob

[Richard Bradfield]

I finished all the major painting, touchups and constructed the display stand today. Next step is the cap rail, install rudder linkage, and more ironwork (when my supply of brass gets here).  Here are a few pic of the where I am at the end of today.  Nothing is glued down yet. Gonna take a break for a few days and get back on it Monday.

 

[russ]

It all looks good. I like the cradles and the display base. Very nice creative touch.

 

Russ

[SkerryAmp]

The polyurethanes can work, but you have to be really really careful.  Especially over acrylics, too much and they can lift the paint and if you brush it on you can reactivate it.  They do have a nice hard finish, but they between the smell, clean up and danger to paint jobs I tend to stay away from them myself.

 

 

Right now I enjoy the Min Wax Polycrylic you mention. It wipes on smooth (or you can brush it), it is acrylic based so it won't harm underlying paint jobs (as long as they are thorougly dried that is) before applying and you can nicely build up the depth of finish you want.

 

I have only used satin so far an my Phantom model but plan to use the Gloss on my Bennett.

 

For those who may not be familiar with it...

 

 

 

-Adam

Edited June 8, 2013 by SkerryAmp

[gerty]

Nice job Richard !!

[Richard Bradfield]

One of the many tasks left to do on my boat is the sails.  I have been thinking about this since day one. I wanted to stitch the sails but I was leary that I could get the look I wanted, i.e., small stitches and narrow hems.  I considered hiring someone to do them but expected it be to costly.  So the other day I decided to try it myself and went and bought a sewing machine! A tool I have never used nor expected to ever have a need.

 

I hope these pictures show the detail I intended.  I just bought a new high res camera and didn't realize it was preset on the highest resolution (4608x2592). I had to resize them to what this site will accept.  I may have degraded them to much.

 

This is the unit I bought. Brand new for just $100. 

 

 

 

After a few hours of playing and getting used to the machine I determined I was ready to go for it!   I started marking the stitch lines from the sail plan with a seamstress pen of disappearing ink. I marked the three tabling lines for the hem at 1/8" intervals.  

 

 

Next I sewed the seams. The first 3 or 4 seams on the long end were sewed to fast and puckered a little bit.  Once I slowed down it worked just fine. It all ironed out in the end.

 

View of Port side.  

 

View of Starboard side.  

 

The seams turned out better than I expected.  There are a few small defects of loose stitching but hardly noticeable.

 

Next up was tabling, or hems, around the outside edges.  I bought some 1/4" fabric tape which worked like a charm. Its sticky on both sides.

 

 

I used two strips per side. I first put tape over the middle and outside tables, then folded the outside onto the middle table.  I then put down another piece of tape over the inside table and the already folded table from the previous step and folded together. A hot iron fused the tape into the material and gave a nice flat somewhat stiff hem needed for sewing.

 

 

The taped hem was then stitched. Once ironed, all the puckers were gone and the sail looks pretty darn good.

 

 

 

I still need to wash it again and of course put the boltrope, cringles and reef lines on. Before I do that though I need to decide what color and specific material I will use.  This sail was made with white premium 100% cotton muslin.  I also bought a light tan muslin and I have the darker tan material that came with the kit.  Not sure if the colors will show very well in the picture below. I really like the white sail cloth but also like the light tan muslin.  I won't use the kit supplied cloth. Any comments on the sail color?

 

 

Hate to admit it but I really enjoyed sewing and making this sail. This sail was really a test to see if I could even do it. Although I think it turned out really well I will likely make another , hopefully better one.

 

Thanks for looking in.

[bhermann]

Richard - this is my first visit to your log and I am impressed with what I see.  The details like the hinges and the lighting are really very well executed.  Congratulations on a job so far well done.  It was timely that I looked in today - I have been considering how to do the sails on Bluenose for a few months now, and you have given me insight into some possibilities.  I was just browsing Amazon for the Steam a seam tape - it's nice to see someone here actually using it.

 

I will be following along from now on - keep up the good work!

 

Bob

[hamilton]

Really nice work on the sails, Richard! Impressive detail - it'll look great when rigged up

hamilton

[Richard Bradfield]

Bob and Hamilton. Thanks for the gracious comments and for checking in on my log.

[captainbob]

Nice sails for a beautiful boat.

 

Bob

Edited June 26, 2013 by Cap'n'Bob

[Timothy Wood]

Cant wait to see her with the sails rigged, you are doing an excellant job.  Keet it up...

 

Tim

[Richard Bradfield]

Bob and Tim, thanks for checking in and for the positive comments.

[joshukr]

Richard,

 

I have been away from the site for a little while and just checked your progress. I am way impressed with your A frame, the impressive paint job with a brush and your sails. I have a lot of work to do, I am hoping to get some good work in this summer, and when I do I will post my pictures for you to see. I also really like the stand, very cool looking. I have a feeling I will be asking you many questions down to road.

 

-Josh

[gerty]

Nice job on the sails Richard !

[petehay]

Richard,

What did you end up finishing the deck with?

Pete

[Richard Bradfield]

Josh and Gerty, Thanks for checking in. Josh, I've been waiting to see some progress posts from you. If I can help you, just ask away!

 

Pete, I stained it with Minwax Ipswich Pine stain and sealed it with 3 coats of clear Rust-Oleum polyurethane matte.

[Richard Bradfield]

I put my sail making aside, while I wait for some eyelets I ordered to arrive so I could complete them. Today I have been working on the oyster dredge rollers. The picture shows the two roller assemblies prior to painting or blackening. This little project took me about 8 hours to complete to this stage and I am pleased with the result. I sorta wish I had aluminum tube to use for the rollers but only had the brass. I will likely paint the rollers with aluminum colored paint and the mounting ironwork white.

Thanks for having a look.

[Timothy Wood]

^{Nice work!}    

 

^Tim

[captainbob]

Good brass work.

 

Bob

[Richard Bradfield]

Tim and Bob, Thanks for the comments. I went ahead and blackened all the parts then started to put on the boat. I immediately discovered that the axle brackets for the long roller were to tall so I had to make new ones. Here is a old and new pick.

 

After blacking the new parts I installed the dredge roller on the starboard side. Everything fit well and I am happy. Probably do the port side tomorrow.

[Timothy Wood]

Sweet...

[captainbob]

Nice looking rollers.

 

Bob

[popeye the sailor]

wonderful work Richard!   love the metal work and you've added in lots of detail!   I can see why Adam suggested this kit to me