Chaperon 1894 by Mike Dowling - FINISHED - Model Shipways - Sternwheeler Steamer

[kurtvd19]

Mike:

I was watching - here's what I did with the decks.  The main deck and boiler deck are painted with Badger Acrylic Modelflex Marine Paint #16-401 Anti-Fouling Red Oxide (same as Boxcar Red Oxide #16-14 in their Modelflex RR paint colors).  I use only Badger Acrylic Modelflex Marine Paints and use Badger airbrushes except for the occasional brush touch up.  The finger joints on the boiler deck and the upper decks went together seamlessly with just some filling of the butt joints.

 

The "tarpaper" on the upper decks/roofs is Silkspan meant for aircraft models.  I think rice paper would work as a substitute as I think it was mentioned somewhere on MSW that Silkspan isn't being made for the aircraft modelers now.

 

The tarpaper is glued down to the deck using Artists Matt Medium.  The brand I used is Winsor & Newton Galeria Acrylic Medium.  It is a think, white liquid that dries completely clear.  I used a scalpel to cut the silkspan into scale 3 ft wide strips.  I kept the scale length to 20 ft or so.  The silkspan was laid onto a sheet of glass and the matt medium was brushed onto the silkspan getting a good coat onto it.  The strip was laid down onto the deck/rook and smoothed into place.  The next strip was laid end to end with the first with a slight overlap - you want the overlap to show.  About a scale 3-4 inches.  The strips were laid down the full length of the exposed deck.  The next strips were overlapped along the length of the strips about the same as the end to end joints on the first strips.  The end to end seams were also overlapped.  Don't worry if a bit of the matt medium oozes out of the seams as it will have a slightly darker appearance that will look just like tar had oozed out of the joint.  The lower photo shows the tarpaper seams - sorry about the construction dust in the photo.  The surface was brush painted after the strips were all in place using Badger Acrylic Modelflex Marine Paint #16-413 Wrought Iron Black (Same as Weathered Engine Black [#16-05] in Badgers RR line of Modelflex Paints.

 

Looking at many riverboat photos show that with very few exceptions tarpaper covered the upper decks that also served as roofs.  There were sometimes planks laid out to make walk ways to prevent foot traffic from opening up leaks.  These decks were for crew use only.  Any area of these upper decks intended for passenger use had planks provided as a walking surface.  The planks in passenger areas were held together with cross wise battens on the underside - this also elevated the planks a bit off the surface to keep things dry under the planks.

 

I hope this helped.

 

Kurt

[Roger Pellett]

No Mike, I thought that the photo was the repaint job! Since you have sanded it all off, you now have another option- maybe.

 

Here in the US, red oxide primer is widely available in spray cans. Here we can buy this as a solvent based product in lieu of a water based. The big advantage of solvent based paints is that they do not raise the grain of the wood. It is often sold as auto body primer.

 

While, I have been mixing my own acrylic colors for my latest model, this is one application where I would use a solvent based paint in a spray can.

 

Using a spray can you should be able to lay down several thin coats.

 

Roger Pellett

[Mike Dowling]

Thank you Kurt for an informative reply, I am sure that will be useful to all.

 

Roger, I really wasn't happy with my first 'paint job' as it looked dreadful. The problem I was having is that the deck pieces are marked with shallow laser lines indicating planks. If I sanded the joints between the deck sections too hard I removed the lines. After painting the joins still showed far too much so I took the risk and sanded it all back. In fact I managed to retain most of the lines probably because I had sealed the wood prior to painting and got rid of the horrid bumps I had left.

 

My plan is to repaint having marked up some of the lines again with matt iron oxide coloured paint. If it still looks dreadful I still have the option to plank over the whole surface and start again.

 

Unfortunately I don't possess and air brush and to be quite honest I don't have anywhere I could use one safely either so it will have to be a hand brush job applying several thin coats. Fingers crossed !! I am still waiting for the paint.

[Roger Pellett]

Mike, with the prepackaged red oxide primer in spray cans, you don't need an air brush or compressed air source.

 

Roger

[Mike Dowling]

Thanks for that Roger but I can't seem to get it over here in the wilds of Northern Scotland!

[Mike Dowling]

Great I thought, the paint has arrived. Indeed it has but it is totally the wrong colour!! Oh joy! So, covering all bases as it were I have now ordered some more paint (!!!!) and some matt varnish so that if all else fails I can go back and use my original paint and cover it with matt varnish. However this does cause even more delay and I did want to take advantage of the dreadful weather we are having.

[Mike Dowling]

At last some progress! I have been waiting ages for some IPA, flow improver and retarder to get some paint into this airbrush and use it. I did have a practise and it seemed OK but, with hindsight I mad the paint too thin and it 'blobbed' a bit but fortunately in areas it won't show. I am not too displeased for a first effort but had I realised how much it was all going to cost it would have been much cheaper to re-plank the thing and hand paint it like I normally would. Anyway I suppose it is a new skill learned that will improve with time.

 

At last though I am able to glue some bits on !!

 

 

[kurtvd19]

Mike:

It looks real good.  Your skill with the airbrush will improve the more you practice.  I think you will like how you can apply paint yet still see the underlying wood grain for when that type of appearance is wanted.

Take care,

Kurt

[Red]

Hi Mike,

That's looking the business.

Great work.

Regards

Red 

[Cathead]

Huh, I've never tried IPA while modelling; I usually stick to rye whiskey. You're making good progress.

[cog]

Patience is something you will have to learn when ordering through the internet ... some stuff take months ... it looks very good though, so it must have  worked

 

Cathead, I never did either, but I prefer a grouse ... famous bird in Scotland ...

[Mike Dowling]

Sorry guys but Grouse is a blended whisky. Now, if you want a real single Scottish malt Balblair whisky takes a lot of beating but, if you are a real peasant like me Jamesons 10 year old Irish whisky is as smooth as a babies bottom.

 

Meanwhile, I shall stick with paddle steamers for the moment.

[mtdoramike]

She is looking really good Mike, I was looking at this kit also on Ebay, but it was sniped out from under me. So you won't get any sympathy from me on the taxes and postage. But it looks like a great build so far.

 

 

mike

[Mike Dowling]

Thanks Mike for your comments and I need to make an apology to all !! Jamesons was not the tipple I meant, it was Black Bush Irish whisky which is not blended but yummy if you like that sort of thing !

 

Back to the boat !

[Mike Dowling]

I have put the edging strip around the deck and the breakwatery bits on the front. All painted including the rear where the paddle will go.

 

[kurtvd19]

Mike:

It's looking real good.

Kurt

[Mike Dowling]

It's update time boys and girls !

 

Whilst waiting so long for paint and stuff I have not been idle - oh no!

 

I have been a busy boy preparing my sides ad making steps and now, at last I have been able to attach something to my hull which I seem to have been waiting for forever.

 

So essentially I think I have finished plan sheet one with a few modifications (thanks Kurt). I have covered some of the horrid ends of the walls with a wee bit of wood strip which up until now I haven't painted. I think it looks quite smart as is but, before I get carried away with more building, do you think I should paint them white or leave them ?

 

Anyway, some pictures for you and you were quite right Kurt, the lettering took some patience!.

 

 

[cog]

Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiicccccccccceeeeeeeeee

[dgbot]

Looking fantastic Mike.  And once you start using an airbrush you will never look back.

David B

[kurtvd19]

Mike:

It's looking good.  The lettering turned out real nice - I told you it could be done!

Kurt

[mtdoramike]

Absolutely beautiful. Your build is giving me the itch to build this model.  

 

 

mike

[Mike Dowling]

Thanks all for your kind comments. Mike, it certainly is an interesting build and more challenging than the other paddle steamers I have done. I think you will enjoy it and you will be able to get it cheaper than I because you don't have to deal with VAT and import charges.

 

By the way Kurt, the alterations you mentioned about shortening the pieces where the funnels have to go was 'sort of' included in my destructions although not very clearly. I am very grateful to have had your notes as well - thank you.

[popeye the sailor]

interesting build Mike.........looks good from what I've seen so far  

[kurtvd19]

Mike:

The kit designer said that the fix would be added to the instructions but I have not seen the revised instructions.  Maybe they did it in house rather than sending it back to the designer who's explanation would have probably been clearer - just guessing though.

Kurt

[Panama Port]

Very nice Mike. Good to see some more progress. My Mississippi has been languishing a little lately. Who'd a thunk this retirement life could get so busy. Hopefully your update will motivate me to get back on it. Keep'em coming.

[Mike Dowling]

If it helps your motivation I nearly bought your kit on ebay so that I can do it next. Have to get a better price though!

[Cathead]

Very nice progress, Mike. As to your question, if it were up to me I'd paint those strips along the wall ends, but it's the kind of detail you have the right to decide on to make it yours.

[Mike Dowling]

Panama Port - silly me, I have built your boat already, I was thinking of someone else!

 

Anyway, Cathead you will be pleased to know that I agreed with you and all is now white !!

 

I have put on the boiler deck and all the uprights (Stationaries). I ignored the destructions and put the strip round the deck on first. I reckoned it would be easier as trying to bend it on boat would have been a nightmare. It also meant that I could slot the uprights in rather than put the strip over the top of them. I have also put the strips on the deck ready for the next lot of cabins. I can't decide at the moment whether to put all the bullrails on the lower deck next or leave them until later.

 

 

[Panama Port]

LOL It's okay Mike. We are allowed a little slippage every now and then.

[popeye the sailor]

very nice Mike