Chaperon by Papa - FINISHED - Model Shipways - Ron Gove

[Papa]

I purchased the Chaperon after spending two weeks camping on  the Mississippi River in West Memphis, Ark. 

I think it is the best MS kit I've every had.  Here are 3 shots of my progress to date.

If I had better organizational skills I'd have done a build log.

 

Ron Gove

[Papa]

Your decking looks real fine, as does the rest

thank you

[Papa]

I have a question from anyone who has built the Chaperon.  It is not clear to me if the cap rails that are bent around the edge of the boiler deck are to be installed flush with the deck or centered on the edge of the deck.  Any advice will be much appreciated.

 

Ron

[kurtvd19]

Ron:

I put mine on flush with the deck planks.  Installed centered would trap rain water on the deck.

Kurt

 

[Papa]

Thanks Kurt. You are correct about the rain, unless they added scuppers.    Anyway, flush is much easier.

Ron

[Papa]

Had a 2-3 month absence from the shipyard while camping in Florida. Now I am back at work on the Chaperon.  Here are the 2 latest photos.

[Papa]

The hurricane deck is on. 

[ccoyle]

This essentially is a build log, so I have moved it to the proper section. Carry on!

[Papa]

Well, Thanks. I hope I can keep up with frequent postings.

[Papa]

Started constructing the various and sundry items for the hurricane deck. Here are shots of some poles, galley stacks, hog posts, and chicken coop. (can someone tell me what the "chicken coop" is for?

[kurtvd19]

Chicken dinners.

[Cathead]

I assume that, as in maritime vessels, a supply of fresh eggs would be highly desirable. Even on a settled river, having your own is better than buying them, and the hens can be fed in part from table scraps.

 

Your Chaperon looks good so far.

[kurtvd19]

Eric's correct - I just noticed I forgot the smiley face to end my previous post.

Kurt

[Papa]

So it is literally a chicken coop?  Wouldn't that need some ventilation. I thought it might be for a "seat of ease".

[Cathead]

Kurt has built (and thoroughly researched) this model, so he's the final authority on its specifics. But a chicken coop would be a completely normal feature of a steamboat. Also, to my eye, that structure looks too small for regular human use (especially in original photos of Chaperon), and its placement isn't right for an outhouse. Its location would drop straight into the after cabin; these boats didn't have complicated plumbing. The actual outhouses are likely within the superstructure on the boiler deck, overhanging the paddle wheel (which does a good job of disposal). I don't think any boats would have made passengers climb to the hurricane deck to use the outhouse, and there would at the very least be two of them (gents and ladies). All of which confirms that it's a chicken coop.

[kurtvd19]

I agree.  When I get some time I will dig up some photos of these common features.  Meanwhile here is a photo of a model I did with the outhouse overhanging the wheel.  The glue OOPS was removed after I saw the original photo.

Kurt

[Papa]

That must have made for some messy stern wheels! I guess I need to get some model chickens for back there!

 

[Cathead]

Oh, the wheels would have been washed plenty clean by their inherent action, and technically many of the outhouses weren't dropping directly onto the buckets, just into the zone where the wheel's downward motion helped disperse the material. Probably cleaner than the bows of some sailing vessels. Although I recall a possibly apocryphal story of some crew doing repairs on a sternwheel while having someone else standing guard outside the ladies' hut to ensure that the workmen vacated the premises before any lady had to use the loo to avoid any, well, upward glances.

 

I do suspect you're right that, if the model shows the shed being completely solid, it's not quite accurate: there should be some ventilation and light allowed in, at the eaves at least.

[Papa]

The hurricane deck is coming along nicely. I am using  strip styrene to make the bands on the stacks and sheet styrene for the decorative crown at the top of the stack. I also mitered the top railings on the stair rails rather then the butt and overlap joints shown in the plans.

[Blighty]

Jumped on board to look in on your build, looking great, brings back resent memories of my build of Chaperon, a really nice tight build you have there Sir!

[Papa]

Thanks Blighty. It has been a fun build.  A great vacation from rigged ships.

 

 

[Papa]

Finally got to adding the bull rails. Also adding the photo-etched rails and decorative supports.

[Tigersteve]

Cool!

Steve

[Papa]

I have attached most of the decorative railings. Everything fit perfectly together. The skylight is done and attached. I assembled the skylight fully before attaching to the deck to ensure that it was square. I am working on the Texas (which I placed on the skylight for the photo). I decided to assemble it before adding the 1/32" sq. battens. The battens are a bit  more tricky to add this way but I was concerned that they would interfere with bending the fore and aft sections. Although the sections are pre-bent using a supplied jig, there is a lot of fiddling to get the curve right when everything goes together. Since the battens are laid over the grooves that need to expand as the sections are bent, i thought it best to do them last.. I may actually get this model finished in less than 1 year!  I appreciate all the "likes" and comments.

 

Ron

[Papa]

Attaching the roof trim around the skylight.

[Papa]

I've painted the Texas and assembled the pilot house. Notice that I added some 1/8" sq and 1/16" sq reinforcements. This is especially important when one uses water-based paints as the sheets have a tendency to warp.

[Papa]

Glued the Texas on today. I discovered after I had glue on everything that the etched line showing where to put the Texas was significantly off center. Had to measure and draw some new guidelines; seems to be good now.

[Papa]

The Texas is in place. I am now working on some details for the pilot house. I was inspired by Kurt Van Dahm's Chaperon to include the ship's wheel and a stove in the pilot house.

[Papa]

Pilot house wheel under construction using tooth picks and styrene. Not prefect put it is mostly hidden anyway.

[Blighty]

I bought my wheel, wish I'd have done what you are doing, it's going to look very cool when finished up. I'm enjoying your build very much Ron, keep up the good work.