Black Diamond by popeye the sailor - FINISHED - Revell - 1:350 scale - PLASTIC - snap tite kit

[popeye the sailor]

I was so on the fence about this one........such a silly little thing.    but,  I figure it would make the grand kids happy,  and what the heck......I might as well show it.   I got it for Christmas from my two oldest grand sons,  Chase 8 and Tripp 6 years old.  before I opened it,  Brandon {their father} cautioned me that they were the ones who picked it out,  so I guess that was a subtle hint to brace myself.   I could have laughed.......but I kept it back........put on my surprised face,  and hugged and thanked them.  

 

 

I got a 'grand tour' of the box.......they pointed out all the cool features    I loved it......these two boys are my gems.  when they come over to the house,  they look at what I've got on the table......and the ships on the shelf in the living room.   I allow them to handle some of the stuff {I keep a tight reign on the danger factor}....we talk about how things work.  they go from one subject........and zing!........off on another     quite the chatter boxes,  they are!     Tripp asked / told me {a combo of the two}  that the next time they come over....if I build it,  he'd like to see it {got a 'me too' from Chase on this one as well}.

     I assured them that it will be done and ready for them to see.......tiny model like this one........how long would it take?  I looked in the box when we got home........

 

 

it's molded in two color plastics.......I'll just do some accent paint.   plastic ratlines........the upper ones are part of the masts, so they will need to be painted.   the yards have the sails furled and lashed detail,  but the kit comes with paper sails that can be cut out and used.   I'm going to go with the furled look.   as the name implies,  it is a snap together kit,  but I will use glue so it doesn't start falling apart.   there is no rigging at all,  and there are no points where rigging can be tied.   I want to add this in.......I did set a goal for myself though......no extra parts are to be added.  so,  it may not be totally correct.......I'll do what I can.  there is a fellow on You Tube that posted what he did to the one he built......he didn't do the rigging either.  the only thing I saw was that he used gloss paint on it.....I'm going to use flats.   I did this during my vacation last week..........as my luck turned out,  I didn't get too much quality time.   kept getting pulled away......chores, taking Gibbs out,  the part time job.........yea,  things kept me hopping.

 

 

the skylights were painted flat white......the frames were scraped lightly to remove the excess paint.   the cannons on the spar deck were painted flat black....the kit wanted them painted gold.  I left the gun deck in the black molded plastic,  so it made sense to alter the color to match them.   the grate was accented......the bow was accented.  I did goof on the ship's wheel and boat......painted a gloss brown,  instead of a flat.   Testor's went through a short stint,  where they failed to label their paints.   usually,  I put a dab on the cap so I can tell......oh well.

 

 

the stand has a map and skull & crossbones.........I was terrible with the plaque lettering.....I'll have to touch it up.   the same went for the transom windows.   I'm not going to fuss too much,  but I do want them to look better that this.  there are more windows on the sides of the stern.......still need to do them.   I did the paint on a toothpick trick, and then accented out the frames with gold.

 

 

I started to paint the fore and main mast detail,  but beyond that,  this is where I ended.   it was back to Wal-Mart and the real world.

 

I also got the nod that I can order some of the parts that I need for my other builds {that are stalled}.   builds that I've completed,  some of the extra stuff added called for a borrowed part from another build.   meaning to replace them at a later date proved to be harder than I thought,  when I kept getting the red light from the budget director.   the first wave came in the other day..........I hope to place another order in a week or two.   hopefully,  I can beef up my inventory as well.

[NenadM]

Sweet little chalenge

 

And not an ordinary modeling. I thought it will be fullfilled with emotions

[popeye the sailor]

hello Nenad.........yea,  sort of.   Chase and Trip are the oldest of the tribe {they have a younger sister and a new baby brother}.  I love them......and this kit gave me an idea.   I'm going to pick up a couple of these snap together kits for when they come over.   they enjoy legos.....I think there are a few basics in there somewhere.   we can sit at the Kitchen table........no glue,  no paint..........perfect!     after all.........what are grand parents for???    

 

 

well,  I didn't have to do anything out of the ordinary today.........guess I can sit here at my desk and play      after spending a little time on a couple of side projects,   I settled back on the Black Diamond.   I would have posted a picture similar to this one....but my provocative south park cup was in full view and the caption could be seen {just wanted to keep things clean around here}.       the masts weren't complete anyway.......it gave me a chance to get them done,  paint wise.

 

 

the side stern windows are done as well......they're not perfect,  but they will make a child smile.......and that's what I'm shoot'in for.  

 

 

 

 

the stand was touched up too.......still found it hard to stay within the lines  

 

 

minus the yards w/furled sails,  this is what the whole model will look like.   some rigging will enhance the looks quite a bit.       I have a fairly good idea of what I will be able to add.......the lifts,  fore stays,  back stays,  and braces.   looking on the deck,  the railings are like solid walls.    hole can be drilled through them......hopefull not at the cost of them looking cheezy.    the lower ratlines do not have that much of a chain plate to them.

 

 

I'm thinking that the back stays can be done by drilling tiny holes in the bulwarks,  just after the ratlines.  braces can be done using the same method......perhaps holes through the railings,  or bulwarks.   I have some small scale plastic dead eye assemblies from another past kit........sure I can make them work,  but I have to follow my own rules........NO EXTRA PARTS ADDED.  so,  I'll have to improvise.   the yards have to be painted as well......the sail areas.

 

 

back at it I go............

 

 

[mtaylor]

Nice work, Denis.  I guess they thought Grandpa needed something to keep him busy and yes, I'll wager that they will be "all eyes" when they see it.

[trippwj]

Nice when the kids give the old guy an appropriate gift!  Looking good, Denis!

[JLuebbert]

Great present and great story! I look forward to not only following your build but to your grandson's reaction when you're done.

[Piet]

What a nice thing you are doing Popeye Denis, your grandsons will remember this forever.  That model will be the most priced thing to them for a long time. 

You are doing quite a remarkable job on the model.

 

Cheers,

[Old Collingwood]

"Core blimmy me hearty thats where i left me little ship then" we should sing a sing-along song as you "me shipmate" build her - "yo ho ho and a bottle of rum"  and no sign of "old Ned" - "Its a pirates life we live two sheets to the wind me hearty" :dancetl6:

 

 

OC

[popeye the sailor]

as Popeye said in one of his cartoon shorts  "This is embarrass - skin.......AK-k-k-k-k-k-k-k-k-k!!!   thanks for the good word everyone.......and all who hit the like button!     I've been at this all night.........I think that if it goes the way it's gone so far,  it will look alright.   the lack of termination points is making it tougher,  but I did drill some holes and it seems to be working.   I also tried an idea for making dead eye assemblies made of thread.  the first try didn't do so well.

 

 

I wrapped some thread,  tied it off and dabbed some white glue on them.   taken off the ....yea,  that's my x-actor in the vise........'metal dowel',  they looked flat, white-ish,  and just plain didn't look good.  the result pictures were too fuzzy to show you,  so I ditched them.   the second try I did them dry.   a notch was cut into the end of a plastic tube.......smaller because they were also out of scale.  these might still be out of scale,  but they came out a lot better

 

 

some thread was fitted in the notch and pulled past the vise,  making sure that it would not move.  another piece of thread was wrapped around the tube and tied off.

 

 

the thread that was fed into the notch was cut and tied around the bundled thread,  tying it together at points opposite each other.   it was then taken off the tube and clamped into the jaws of my helping hands,  where it wad pulled tight enough to cause the bundle to become an elongated oval........the shape of a dead eye assembly.  the knots were then glued and the excess thread trimmed off.   the process kinda took me away from taking pictures for a while.   I had done other bits of rigging to the bow spirit.

 

 

I'll try to get a better picture of the assembly in action.  it's hard since I'm dealing with black.

 

 

....still not too good....huh!?!?!   here's a shot of the dead eye in the helping hands.

 

 

I got fed up with the light issue........I was using my small desk lamp......I brought the whole ordeal over to the table,  especially when it got down to tying all this together.  and finally...........a half way decent picture of them.  I was tying the last pair on the bow.

 

 

turned upside down,  I added a pair of bow stays.

 

 

 

this finishes the bow..........now it's time for the fore mast to be cemented in place.   I had better get the yards painted up and ready to add to it.   I will need to make two more sets of these assemblies for the fore mast.........them two more sets for the main mast.........and then two more sets for the mizzen.   I don't think I will make any for the lower fore stays....I'll just tie them off at a good anchor point.

 

 

I'll try and go a bit further before I turn in.   thanks again everyone for being so kind.   I knew that one day,  I would completely rig one of these vessels {so far my track record has been zippo}.............but who would have thought,  it would be a model like this one      

[mtaylor]

I knew that one day,  I would completely rig one of these vessels {so far my track record has been zippo}.............but who would have thought,  it would be a model like this one      

 

Well, Denis, you had to start someplace on finishing the rigging.  Might as well be this one.  Makes it even more special for the lads.     Nice work.

[Omega1234]

Hi Denis

 

Chase and Tripp are going to be the proudest grandkids on the planet when they see what you've done!  What better way to introduce the younger generation to our wonderful hobby.

 

Be warned however, because I predict more models will be suddenly appearing for you to work your magic upon.  Sorta like the 'ultimate compliment' and a testament to Grandad's skills.

 

Nice job!

 

Cheers

 

Patrick 

Edited January 6, 2016 by Omega1234

[popeye the sailor]

thanks for the kind comments gents..and those who hit the like button.   I thought I was going to get back to some painting,  but I decided to finish catching up on everyone's builds instead.    it was very enjoyable    now that I'm all caught up...I can continue on without guilt that I was leaving someone out  

 

Actually Patrick.......Santa was very good to me this year.  I got several models.   one place I like to go to and window shop is a site called  'old model kits.com.  back in my plastic days,  I built a lot of models.......quite a few of them,  I see there       I got two this year:

Revell Fokker DVII - 1/28 scale - production dated in the mid 90's  {molds most likely were made in the 80's or even the 70's

Revell Santa Maria - no scale given,  but I'm thinking it's a 1:83 scale kit - production dated in the mid to later 60's  {molds were made as early as 1957}

 

I still have a sweet tooth for those early kits.....I enjoy the nostalgia feel they give.   another one I was hoping for,  was the Revell Thermopylae.....they had one when I had last looked.  it would have been a good companion to my Revell Cutty.......but it was not to be.  it was sold by the time the admiral ordered.    so she went to Ages of Sail and got me a Mantua / Sergal Thermopylae.          it's a 1:128 scale kit.......very nice {yea,  I looked in the box} quality......and of course,  I had to look at the instruction sheet.   other than figuring out Italian.....I'm good!   thenI saw something that made my eyes go big.....the parts panel diagrams look to be 1:1 with the model.  I haven't measured everything yet to make sure,  but either the use of these diagrams,  or the panels themselves,  I think I can come up with a hull for a Cutty in the same scale {or any other clipper of similar design}.   So,  I have that to look forward to.

 

no progress yet..........I ended up going to sleep..........had this weird dream about tying trees together 

[popeye the sailor]

more was done yesterday.........I was in and out a lot.    I hope I have time to get this all posted.......I have to work this morning,  and I'm running late       the sails {furled} were painted......didn't have any grays,  so I stuck with flat tans and whites.   since I'm not planning to work with different color threads, the rope detail was painted flat black.  there is some touching up to be done.........I know    

 

 

 

here is the relation between the tan color and the second step of flat white....kinda rushing it .....

 

 

then the black accented rope treatment

 

 

 

the fore mast was cemented in place along with it's lower ratlines.   no room on the chain plates

 

 

 

the yards were added

 

 

the fore stays were added next.   

 

 

 

it's thin thread........kinda hard to show it to you.   it will be the lifts next and the back stays.......how ever will be the most easier to work with.......such a small model  

[riverboat]

Nice! little kit there  Denis..... the kids will love it, but I don't think as much as you love building it!

 

frank

[UpstateNY]

Really fun stuff Popeye...your grandkids are going to love it... .

 

Cheers,

 

Nigel.

[popeye the sailor]

thank you very much Nigel and Frank.......and all who hit the like button.   didn't get too much more done......went to Hobby Lobby yesterday.  got the two car models for the boys........so I'm almost ready  >evil grin<        I mean really..........aren't grand parents supposed to spoil the grand kids?   there is a rather wide selection of these snap tite kits out there........it will be interesting to see which one will continue  

 

one more update should wrap this up

[Jim Lad]

Good on you, Grandpa!  Will the completed model go home with the kids or stay at your place for them to admire when they come over?

 

John

[popeye the sailor]

Thanks John!  

[popeye the sailor]

well......I thought one more update would wrap her up.....but I thought wrong.   other duties took over and left me working on the fore mast,  the last time we spoke.

 

 

 

before I put the lifts on the yards,  the other two masts were cemented in place.....I said awwww,  what the heck!   so I did the fore mast lifts,  simulating a pulley assembly on the lower yard {looks strange,  but effective}.  then the main stays and the lower mizzen stay.......both of the lower stays are doubled up.

 

 

next,  all of the yards were installed......even the lanteen yard.

 

 

 

the lifts were done on the other yards

 

 

the lanteen still need to be done........and I've begun work on making the dead eye assemblies for the back stays.  then it will be the braces.......and that should finish it off.

 

[GLakie]

Until you find "just one more little detail" to add to her Dennis!  Those boys will love it! 

[popeye the sailor]

I wish there were termination points on this model..........then I could do just that!        but,  the more lines I add to it,  the better it looks

 

thanks George........actually,  I think it's going to shock my son more  

[Omega1234]

Hi Denis

 

She's looking better and better with each extra detail.

 

Nice!

 

Cheers

 

Patrick

[popeye the sailor]

thanks Patrick  

[mike0879]

It's amazing how just adding a little extra work can improve a model to be better. I like the looks of taking a simple kit to higher quality. I have an old life like model that I started many, many years ago. Now after seeing what you did I have to get it out and start finishing it to some higher standards. You have motivated me.     

[popeye the sailor]

thank you very much Mike.........I hope you do      I love building older kits...I used to do plastic models.  but even with wood builds,  adding in bits of detail that the manufacturer left out,  enhances a model to a higher level....more depth and complexity.   even though the rigging might not be totally correct,  it adds to it.   I'm still working on the back stays and then the braces.....when this is done,  it's going to add even more.  imagination is the mother of creativity,  and research is it's father.......put together,  you can't miss  

[popeye the sailor]

I tried to finish her in one more update,  but it was not to be.   making those 12 dead eye assemblies for the back stays was a real trip!  I had a few failures along the way too {I found that if you don't tie the correct threads,  they fold up when taken off the tube}.  all of the yards have the lifts done.

 

 

then I added the vangs to the aft end of the lanteen yard.   I was going to do a pulley assembly for them too,  but I just kept it simple.

 

 

dealing with uncooperative paint and running an errand or two,  by dusk,  I had this many done.

 

 

I had the six 'long threads'  for one side,  and two of the 'short threads' for the other side.   by bedtime,  I had them all done.

 

 

I'll get'em on tomorrow  

[popeye the sailor]

I started on it right after coffee....and during the second cup.   on the starboard side,  I tied all the long threads through the holes that I had drilled the day before.

 

 

I didn't cement these just yet,  in case I had to make adjustments.   on the port side,  the short threads were tied.  these were cemented and when dry,  the top thread was cut off.

 

 

as you can see,  I set them up so they would stand up on the bulwark.  it would make it easier to terminate the long thread.  the long thread was then rigged into the mast and down to the port side,  where it was tied off on the dead eye assembly it was associated with.   finished...starboard side still not cemented yet.......the back stay assembly looks like this.

 

 

once they were all tied,  cemented,  and trimmed.......all of the back stays look like this.

 

 

 

the braces were next.   I did the aft braces.

 

 

 

these didn't come out too bad........I then thought.....is there such a thing as fore braces?   as much as I know,  they are fastened to the front of the yard {tip},  but I'm not sure if they are rigged at the mast tree,  or to the yard tip of the leading mast.  Example........fore mast yards - to a fore stay........main mast yards - to the fore mast or yards......mizzen mast yards - to the main mast or yards.  I'll do some looking into this......I think it would be neat to add them in.   I think though, that on a larger scale model,  there are pulleys attached to the tops for these lines.......without any place to rig them on such a small scale as this........I'll be rigging them however I can.   I do have to say though......the rigging really changes the model   

[Piet]

Ah yes, the spiders have been busy    All the added "ropes" and lines sure makes the ship, they belong. Nice work there Popeye Denis.

 

Cheers,

[Omega1234]

I tried to finish her in one more update,  but it was not to be.   making those 12 dead eye assemblies for the back stays was a real trip!  I had a few failures along the way too {I found that if you don't tie the correct threads,  they fold up when taken off the tube}.  all of the yards have the lifts done.

 

#1.jpg

 

then I added the vangs to the aft end of the lanteen yard.   I was going to do a pulley assembly for them too,  but I just kept it simple.

 

#2.jpg

 

dealing with uncooperative paint and running an errand or two,  by dusk,  I had this many done.

 

#3.jpg

 

I had the six 'long threads'  for one side,  and two of the 'short threads' for the other side.   by bedtime,  I had them all done.

 

#4.jpg

 

I'll get'em on tomorrow  

Hi Denis

 

Nice work! Now, would those windows in the bottom right of the last picture be from your Holiday Harbour build???

 

Cheers

 

Patrick

[NenadM]

I wish there were termination points on this model..........

 

No, there were not !!!