USN Picket Boat #1 by jct - FINISHED - Model Shipways - 1/24 scale

[Guest Tim I.]

Sometimes, the repairs look better than the original. I had a bog oops moment on a previous build, but ironically once repaired no one was the wiser. I think that is the best thing about our craft. It is a little easier to hide, or remedy mistakes than others.

 

- Tim

[jct]

I would agree Tim, you learn quite a bit by recovering from mishaps

[jct]

Hi all,

  A small update on the boiler construction...started off by applying the brass parts to the boiler doors, just pre-bent and attached with ca per the kit instructions, you'll notice them are still brass in the first pic...I've gone with a painted finish on most of the the metal parts.  I tried Blacken-it but had no luck, I'm gonna have to practice with that stuff.

 

   Anyway, I decided to construct the sight tube from some clear tubing I have in the junk box, so a piece was cut to the appropriate length and test fit...the fittings will receive a trim later.

 

  The boiler itself was up next, I wanted to continue the theme of a lightly weathered look so I applied a dark wash to the boiler and steam dome sub-assemblies, these parts were then sealed with natural Min-wax stain and left to dry...then all was sanded with 220 grit to expose some lighter sections.  Its a technique I've used before...(applique armor on WW2 Shermans) and works pretty well.

 

  The bands were added to the boiler subs and the steam dome top added, and the stand parts added.  Still have some touch up painting and dry brushing to do, but that's all for today. Pics follow, as always thanks for your time and attention:

[jct]

A small update...spent some time working on odds and ends...after a couple unsatisfactory attempts to sand the taper into the torpedo I decided to make it out of card stock.

  I marked out a circle with a small compass, then cut a pie shaped section out.  It was then a matter of forming the cone and attaching it to the dowel.  I then coated the cone with thin super glue to harden it.  Once everything dried I stated filling and sanding...still a bit more to do, but overall I think it came out ok.

  I started on the condenser and hot box...these still need detailed and finish painting, also finished the boiler front

Pics follow:

[jct]

Seems photos are mixing randomly when loaded???

[src]

Jay,

Looks great. As far as the loading of the pictures, I usually choose "Add to post so I can make the decision on where and what order to place the images.

Sam

[jct]

THX All for the likes, Hi Sam...I click More Reply Options and use the advanced file loader and let it slam, you are adding them one at a time??

 

This one is a blast from the past, I see you can even add text under the pic this way...love it

THX MUCH

[popeye the sailor]

I can see why that engine appealed to you.......looks really neat!  nicely done J 

[jct]

THX Popeye...this is really a different build, been enjoying it so far

[jct]

Small update...started to plumb the sub-assemblies, before I did that I practiced with Blacken-it and got the elbows done, you can see there is not much difference in them and the parts I painted, so the finishes will be a combination of the two.  

 

A lot of the steam and water lines are supposed to terminate at the deck, to simulate running under the deck boards.  I kinda thought if the lines ran under the deck there should be holes for them to enter and exit and they would be a bit larger then the pipes themselves...so I proceeded to trial fit all the subs and mark where the lines should be, drilled the holes and painted the insides black.

 

All the plumbing was left longer than required so the pipes disappear into the holes...

 

That's it for now, thanks for all the likes and the time and attention, Pic's follow:

Paint and Blacken-it, pretty close in color

scale plumbing

plumbing the boiler...note the extra length

hot box and condenser

plumbed

holes in the deck

This is the hot box test fit, you can see how the pipes will disappear "under" the deck boards

[src]

J,

Thats some nice miniature plumbing there.

As for posting pics, yea I have been doing them one at a time, there have been a few times where the order they went when I let the web site do it were not always in the order I wanted, and I like to add text as I go like you did.

Sam

Edited November 11, 2015 by src

[dgbot]

Came upon your log and am learning quite a bit.

Wonderful saves and techniques.

David B

[jct]

Thanks yo gentlemen...thx to all for all the likes :)

[jct]

More little stuff:

 

Test fitting all the subs

 

Shot of the torpedo painted out

 

All the subs painted and weathered(dry brushed)

 

 

The coal, mixed some gloss black to airbrush consistency and stirred in the ground asphalt

 

loaded bin

 

 

start of the ash bin, idea from Tim I...thx Tim

 

ready for paint

 

That's all for now, thx for looking in

[dgbot]

Fantastic work .

David B

Edited November 14, 2015 by dgbot

[rafine]

Looks great.

 

Bob

[Guest Tim I.]

Looking good!

 

- Tim

[jct]

Thank you all for the kind words and likes

[jct]

Hi all,

A couple of small details, finished the ash bin and tiller.  The ash bin was just painted and had a few pieces of Coal glued in...the tiller took a little more effort, I noticed the kit came with two, why, I'm not sure but I decided to use them both...I glued them together in the center only...then did some shaping to create as S shaped tiller instead of a straight one, pics follow:

 

the finished ash bin

 

two tillers

only glue in the center

Layout...X marks the cut-offs

Shaping with xacto and sandpaper

 

Final shaping with 320 grit...still needs some finish, probably just some natural stain and poly

 

 

[src]

J,

That looks really good. I tred to make one like that for my Enterprise and it fell short. I went back to a straight one, yours is much nicer. Have you thought about a pin to reinforce the glue joint?

Sam

[jct]

Thanks for all the likes!  Josh, I almost did the same   still cant figure way MS burned out two??  Sam, thanks much, but I believe your Enterprise is outstanding, it will be pinned, what I'm debating is how to finish the top of the mount...may cap it with a very thin piece...not sure

Thanks again

J

[jct]

Hi everyone,

still working on the little stuff, finished and mounted the tiller and started working on the gun mount...I decided to mount and shape a small piece of end grain on the tiller to simulate the rudder tenon, I think it turned out ok, the tiller may get painted...the light finish just doesn't look tight to me...we'll see...Pics follow:

 

false tenon mounted

 

tiller mounted on aluminum tube

 

mounted to the stern

 

Ditto...may get painted

work on the gun carriage

 

catching on to blacken-it

[jct]

...continued working on the howitzer carriage, and got all the boiler plant sub-assemblies in place, pics follow

 

 

Finished and mounted...a little touch up paint to do

 

Power plant all installed and plumbed

 

 

here's how the open coal bins look mounted up

 

I decided to paint the tiller

 

[jct]

Hello all,

Yet another small update...got the parts for the spar mount assembled and mounted, and tapered and finished the mast.

 

When I was mounting the howitzer carriage I noticed that all of the pre-cut holes were the exact size of the tubing that the locking pins were made of. This caused a bit of a problem when trying to insert the pins, they simply would not go without a lot of force and by the time they were where they were supposed to be the finish have taken a real beating!

 

So I figured to fix the issue it would be a simple matter of enlarging the holes...well a file would not fit because of the deck...so I resorted to the drill...bad chose! When I had installed the mounting blocks I pined them to the deck...the first two drilled out nicely, but the third broke loose and pivoted around with the drill bit, scoring a deep circle in my deck...the air was blue!!!

 

To those of you who plan to build this kit I would strongly suggest enlarging all the hole prior to assembly.

 

Luckily,back in the early part of the build when I was making the decking, I make extra. The old decking was pealed off and the damaged pieces used to scribe the shape one the new planks. Once complete these were glued down. You can see the difference in height compared to the finished planks.

 

This will sit for a few days before sanding the new planks down to their finished thickness and the fore deck is refinished. I'll surface sand back to the mid point of the deck to feather in the finish...as always thanks for your time and attention...Pics follow

the blackened mounts

 

 

disaster!!!

New deck

 

[src]

J,

I can just imagine the words that came out. We feel for you, looks like you made a good save though.

Sam

[jct]

Thanks Sam,,,there were a few heck's and darns for sure, should be ok if I can match the finish, I don't anticipate much trouble there sine it hasn't weathered any...

Thanks everyone for all the likes

[jct]

Hello everyone...finally got back to the Picket after the holiday week end...got the foredeck sanded down and refinished...there is the slightest difference in the finished shade...is what it is!

 

From there the howitzer was remounted, fit much better this time around.

 

The torpedo was mounted to the spar with CA and then sanded down and painted again.

 

There were only two rigging blocks included with the kit and I figured I needed a minimum of 6, when I could find none the correct size in my spares box I thought I would try my hand at making some.

 

The blocks started as a length of walnut the correct width and thickness, the center was scribed to make filing the stropping grove easier, once that was complete the length was flipped 90 degrees and holes drilled. They were then cut apart for sanding and shaping. The result is passable and will allow me to rig the gun sled.

 

The hook eyes for the stack were installed and the stays rigged to the stack and the spar mounted to the holders...still needs to be rigged

 

That's it for now thx for looking in. Pics follow:

[jct]

Hello again,

Another update...the final one as the Picket is complete. After I got he spar mounted and rigged I was looking at the boat and it looked to me like something was missing...so I decided to make some detail items that would have been aboard.

 

With the open coal bins the most natural would be a shovel, so I cut a small piece of card and soaked it in diluted white glue it was then pressed on the end of a round toothpick to get the shaping started, when it dried it was moistened and folded to the final shape.

 

I also thought it would be appropriate to add a few thing the howitzer would require...so I scratched a worm and sponge/rammer. These started as sections of round toothpick glued up to the correct length and then adding the details, the sponge is a small piece of natural sponge trimmed and glued on, the ram end is wraps of tape. The worm is a spiral of wire. All were then painted and weathered.

 

I also added an ensign staff and flag, the flag was found on line and printed it was shaped while the glue was still wet, so it looks like there is a breeze.

 

The rigging was done per the plans with the exception of the torpedo staff forward mounting ring, this I ran up through the block on the hoisting mast, I saw this configuration in an on-line article about spar torpedoes.

 

Well that's about it, I want to thank you all for following along and lending support and encouragement. Thanks as well for all the kind comments and likes, much appreciated. Pics follow:

A few tools for the crew

loaded aboard

Gun details

some rigging

bow shots

views amidships

 

 

[Canute]

Well done! I really like the tools you added.

[Jack12477]

Nicely done. I like the results, especially the added tools.