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

[Mike Dowling]

I have completed the cabin walls etc on the boiler deck. I am not sure that the bending method given for the curves is very good. The idea was to bend the wood that had been laser inscribed in a pre made jig. Despite enlarging the lines with a number 11 blade and being very, very careful it was almost impossible not to splinter the wood. I got away with it but only just ! It had been suggested that the rear of the wood could be backed with card before the bending but I feel this would have made the job even harder. The instructions say not to soak the wood but to be honest I think it is better to do it. There is more bending on the top cabins so I will risk and try it next time.

What a lot of upright battens !! Easy enough to cut but quite a chore to stick. I have also chosen to alter the painting a bit to make it 'my own' and left the door panels white. I think it looks OK.

 

 

[Red]

Hi Mike,

It really is looking very nice.The red and white makes a lovely contrast.

Are you going to put lights in it?

I will be getting this model next, so continue your excellent posts.

Kind Regards

Red

[popeye the sailor]

looks awesome Mike.........must have been very tedious

[Mike Dowling]

Funnily enough I did think seriously about putting lights in and the model certainly lends itself to that very well. I still could do it until I put the next deck on. Hmmm, keep thinking.

Glad you like the doors!

Popeye, tedious yes, worth it? Definitely.

[cog]

Mike,

 

You make her shine!!! She might be even more attractive with some inner light. Your doors fit well with the colour scheme.

 

Keep in mind that if it is plywood you want to soak, it will not stand the bending. Even just soaking may have serious consequences. The layers will come undone, and the wood will swell ...

[chborgm]

If you are going to put in lights , I have a lot of 1.3 mm clear 12v LEDs you can have. Ask and you shall be given. 

 

clarence.

[Cathead]

Really nice, Mike. I've been away on vacation and was looking forward to catching up on your progress.

[kurtvd19]

Mike:

It's looking great.  The battens sure are a job but they add a lot to the finished project.  Glad you got the bends done OK.

Kurt

[Mike Dowling]

cog, I understand about the bending, I have had trouble with ply before but this is not - it is just basswood.

chborgm. oh you tempt me so much - I think you might not be so generous as I live in Scotland and I am not sure how I could pay you the postage. Maybe we could discuss with a PM ?

Thanks all for your generous comments.

[Mike Dowling]

Firstly a thank you to both Kurt and Clarence for their kind thoughts and observations about potentially lighting this model. After careful though I have decided against. My reasoning is that I think it would best be lit with fibre optics to keep the lighting dim and not overpowering and as Kurt pointed out these vessels didn't have electric generators so lighting would have been by candle. Also because I had already put the boiler deck on I could not access the void underneath well enough to attach the fibres. Also Kurt pointed out quite rightly that lighting inside would show up every gap and irregularity. Had I decided to light earlier I could have made more effort to seal all gaps very carefully and it something I will certainly bear in mind for the future.

 

Anyway as you will see I have attached the hurricane deck which again, contrary to the destructions I made into one piece first so that I could put the rub rail round the sides off the boat. Getting that deck fixed on was a real effort. It took ages to get it just right so that all the holes in both decks lined up so that the stationaries would be vertical and all the smokestack pipes etc would also fit. As you can see from the added stationaries I got there in the end. The stacks, skylight etc are just dry fitted at the moment as I want to get the painting of the stair rails and all those tops done and the rails and decorative support brackets on first.

 

See what you think.

 

 

 

 

[kurtvd19]

Mike:

It's looking good.  Alignment can be a bear but in the end it all fits together quite well.

Kurt

[WackoWolf]

She is looking more Beautiful with each new update. Thank you for sharing this with us. Keep the post and pictures coming.

[Panama Port]

Very nice Mike. Coming along very well. Mine is progressing, but not much you can see. Getting into the main deck details and interiors. Waiting on paint hasn't helped either. Getting good quality supplies down here is a slow process. I can do lots, but can't finish much.

 

Marv

[Cathead]

Looks real nice, Mike. A fine model.

[Mike Dowling]

Bull rails on now and the skylight. Next job should be the 'pretty' bits or maybe the Texas.

 

She is beginning to look like a proper boat now. I thin she looks a bit like a liner or cruise ship with the hog truss posts on.

 

 

[cog]

She really looks beautiful, Mike. Well done. A few more steps and you've achieved yet another stunning build!

[S.Coleman]

She does look amazing. Nice neat work. A real master piece.

[Mike Dowling]

I decided to leave the pretty bits until later and so I progressed with the 'Texas' and the pilot house trying very hard to follow Kurt's instructions on how to modify the latter to make it more realistic. I hope he will be pleased with my efforts. I had to purchase a 'steering wheel' as the kit did not account for modifications and didn't include one. I also made up a stove but it really doesn't show. You can see I did do the pretty bits on these!! Those stairs going up to the pilot house were a real challenge and I have to admit it did take me three attempts before getting it anything like square but I think they look OK now.

 

She now looks more like a paddle steamer but there is still lots to do, maybe get the side decorations on next.

 

 

[Panama Port]

Isn't there supposed to be a big flappy round thing on the back? Just kidding Mike. Looks fantastic. You will have her sailing the shelf in no time.

[Mike Dowling]

I haven't got round to my big flappy round thing yet - but I will !!

[Mike Dowling]

OK I couldn't resist! I just had to get those deck frilly edge bits on and despite quite a lot of CA gel on my fingers I think it looks, well pretty I suppose !!!! The decoration, not my fingers that is.

 

 

 

[cog]

She does look a bit naked at the rear, Mike ... Very nice progress though

[kurtvd19]

Mike:

It's looking great.  The pilothouse work is right on!

Kurt

[Red]

Hi Mike,

Fantastic job.

After all the trials and tribulations, you have created a beautiful model.

You should be proud of yourself

Kind Regards

Red 

[Mike Dowling]

Thanks Kurt - I really appreciate your kind comment, and the rest of you guys thank you as well. Still a way to go and I promise to do the big flappy round thing soon!

[chborgm]

really looks great mike. Keep it up in the beautiful Scottish Northern Highlands

[popeye the sailor]

she look'in super Mike........love what you've done with the pilot house and all the frilly decorations!   if I recall the paddle ship,  that flappy round thing on the back is going to be a work of art all by itself!   the big reveal is gonna be awesome  

[Mike Dowling]

OK guys and gals, here is the reveal !!!! The big flappy round thing is complete and on the boat !!! You are right Popeye, it was certainly a work, whether art or not I leave those amongst you to decide. A little 'kit bashed' with visual suggestions from Kurt.

 

 

 

 

[Roger Pellett]

Nice model!,

 

Roger

[Red]

Nice work Mike.

Regards

Red