Chaperon by Blighty - FINISHED - Model Shipways - Weathered and aged - My first build log

[kurtvd19]

Those are the hold downs for the pilothouse.  Made from brass strip with a hole in each end, the end bent down at a 45 degree angle - rigging line was taken down to the deck.  The attached photos show how I did them.  The photo with the rigging line on my Chaperon shows the rigging before I went back and tightened it up.

Fig 9 - shows a different type of wind brace/tie down - this is from Alan Bates' Steamboat Cyclopedium

The other drawing is from the old Model Shipways plans (for the solid hull kt that was never produced)

Also detailed on Sheet 4 of the instructions for the current kit.

 

Kurt

[Blighty]

Thx Kurt. not one of my brightest moments! if in doubt  "read the instructions".

[Blighty]

Hi I have some updates to show, although currently only roughed in I think they are significant changes

The LED lights arrived and Rossi46 and I wired up the lower decks. There is a slight change to the layout of the lights that I posted earlier in this log but the effect dictated that these minor changes were required.

I wanted a very restful, dim illumination and the yellow LEDs did just the job, I am very pleased. I'll post night pics later when it gets dark.

Yellow lights all round, between 1,8 and 3mm DIA. The pics below show more detail than I can describe, you know what they say, A picture paints a1000 words.

 

Messy work bench, it got ugly, nearly pulled the chainsaw out.

Edited February 20, 2017 by Blighty

[Blighty]

A pic of the lights so far, still have the Texas deck and pilot house to light up. All this is temp as I am still painting and finishing up lower decks.

[Tigersteve]

Awesome!

Steve

[chborgm]

I like the effect. I see that you are powering with battery. Have figured out how long they will last? I use my lit models for night lights in the house so I used house current. I think your choice makes a cleaner installation.

Clarence

[Blighty]

Clarence,

Using your ships for night lights must look awesome, great idea, however I think that commits you too house power source.

That was not a consideration for me, the only time we will be in darkness in my display room will be to look at the Chaperon lit up, a matter of minutes only. I have not calculated the battery life, nor am I likely too but when the installation is complete I will definitely run a fresh battery to failure and add info to this log. Actually running a test is the best real world method in my opinion.

Battery power does make life easy for a clean self contained installation in most cases, I was originally going to mount the battery in the hull but I was on again, off again with the lights, (no pun intended)! so my options kept diminishing as the decks got built up. So now, the battery will be mounted in or around the pilot house, exact location tbd. another wing and a prayer design change.

Thx for following.

[Blighty]

Thx Steve, it was well worth the effort to install LEDs.

 

Len

[Mike Dowling]

If I dare make a suggestion why not have the battery outside of the boat? I think it will show a lot if you put it in the pilothouse. Also tricky when you have to change it. I would have thought a tiny hole either through the hull or between decks for the wires would hardly show.

[Blighty]

If I dare make a suggestion why not have the battery outside of the boat? I think it will show a lot if you put it in the pilothouse. Also tricky when you have to change it. I would have thought a tiny hole either through the hull or between decks for the wires would hardly show.

Mike,

        I thought about putting the battery on top of the Texas or Skylight deck but I have it from good authority the Captain is storing some crates of wine under tarpaulin sheets on one of these decks which leaves little room for wine and battery. Now if a few of those wine cases were to 'be left off' your plan would work!!!! ummmmm.

[Guest Tim I.]

I am really enjoying following your log. I am not an expert at weathering by any stretch, but your step by step examples are very helpful.

 

Thank you,

 

TIgoe

[Blighty]

 TIgoe, your kind comment has made my day, thanks so much. I'm certainly no expert and have learned things doing this build. Good luck with your weathering efforts. Anything you want additional detail on, let me know and I'll help where I can, just don't expect expert advise!.

 

Len

[Blighty]

I have the pilot house constructed, just have to add light and some furniture. I purchased the wheel from M/S it is very nicely finished.

The interior of the pilot house deck has had the vinegar wash treatment, I am liking that finish more and more, especially when the solution has aged.

I've been working on my hobby room so the Chaperon will have a better dry dock for her refit.

Note, for the modified frt panel of the pilot house I used 1/32" stock, I'm pleased with the scaled appearance.

Excuse the quality of the modelling,

 

my close up shots will expose my considerable shortcomings, 'practice makes perfect!', sawdust in my case.

The walls were also washed with vinegar and then a thin coat of white was applied ensuring the weathered surface still showed through.

 

 

 

Edited February 23, 2017 by Blighty
deleted blurred pics.

[Canute]

Len, coming along nicely. The washes work well, don't they?

[Blighty]

1 hour ago, Canute said:

Len, coming along nicely. The washes work well, don't they?

Thx Ken,

         Yep, the vinegar wash is great but a few draw backs with it too.

The pros:-

It looks exactly like real aged/weathered wood, no mixing colors or skilled art techniques required.

The stain is permanent and the penetration is deep into the surface, this allows rubbing down after paint, for example, vinegar wash, allow to dry, thin coat of paint and then sand off areas where excessive ware is required, I did this on the deck in fairly large patches.

Easy to paint over, I really like putting a thin coat over the top as on the pilot house, so the stained surface shows through. Much more pleasing than seeing virgin wood showing through the paint.

Another thing I did on the deck that I forgot to mention, after final red oxide spray, a few patch ups with a mixed red/black to get close to the spray color, put a bit of variation into the finish. So when that was done I still thought it was a little bright compared to the aging on the walls so I put a brushed coat of vinegar mix on top of the paint. I think that looks stella, may be a bit over the top for most tastes but I was well pleased. Dulled it right down.

The cons:-

Warpage, hard to avoid on thin stock wood, this could be a downer for the pro modeller. For me, I'm just having fun with the build, a few flaws in the tolerances and joints though I try to avoid them, it doesn't detract from my enjoyment of the build.

Different species of wood stain differently. I don't know the woods used but if you are considering the vinegar solution, try some on scrap pieces. Some of the wood I tried to stain barely changed, however same types seem to be consistent. (This can be seen on the wall I created rear of the boiler, I used some scrap wood from my previous build, (Emma C Berry) along with some Chaperon kit wood. Stained it afte it was built.

My next build is the Picket Boat from MS, I'm thinking of painting all the wood with the vinegar before starting and keep the painting to a minimum except the outside of the hull which will definitely be black. I'm already looking forward to that.

 

 

[Blighty]

The Admiral graciously made some lamp shades for the skylight lamps, thx babe they look great. Gluing down the Texas deck now.

[Rossi46]

Those look great and show excellently in the sky light. 

[chborgm]

Really looks great..

[Blighty]

Thx for the comments above, I'm looking forward to getting the final couple of decks down now, the end is in sight.

 

I have to now paint the brass components, any advise as to best way of doing this and which type of paint to use? They are all still attached to the blank except for one piece. Thx in advance.

[Cathead]

Personally, I'd use a blackening solution. Holds better and looks nicer.

[Blighty]

Hi Cathead, I was actually referring too the white trim pieces, however I will purchase the blackening solution for the unpainted brass, this will be a new process for me but I've been meaning to check it out but this is the first opportunity, which is the best make to get?

[Cathead]

I've only ever used the stuff supplied by BlueJacket, but it's worked very well for me. Also, I've found that metal parts actually take paint better after blackening; the process seems to roughen the surface slightly and the paint adheres better. But take all that as a grain of salt; I'm not that experienced with a wide variety of solutions and paint brands; I hope others chime in as well to give you broader advice. Make sure you order brass black rather than pewter black.

[kurtvd19]

I have used Birchwood Casey Brass Black after trying a lot of other stuff.  There was a lengthy discussion here on MSW about blackening brass - a search will provide a lot of other opinions and tests.

Kurt

[Blighty]

Thx for the feedback on brass blacking, I'll read up and go get some.

 

Len

[Blighty]

I'm super stoked tonight, I just lit up the Ole' riverboat for the first time with all the lights in place including the Texas and pilot house, all yellow LEDs. Very pleased with the brightness and balance of luminance. I have to clean the wiring up tomorrow and glue down the pilot house. So pleased I went ahead and lit her up.

I had to make a outhouse to house the 9V battery but it looks ok, still requires a splash of rust but I don't think it is out of place.

 

Len

[Nirvana]

That illumination is making the Chaperon coming alive.

[Cathead]

That's really nice. The low-key, understated lighting effect is well-done and just the right approach, in my opinion. Excellent work.

[mtaylor]

Impressive build, and the lighting really makes the eyes "pop".

[Mike Dowling]

Len, it looks smashing, well done. Are you going to swap the little out house you made for the battery for the chicken coop? Then no one would know your secret inside !

[Blighty]

4 hours ago, Mike Dowling said:

Len, it looks smashing, well done. Are you going to swap the little out house you made for the battery for the chicken coop? Then no one would know your secret inside !

Crikey Mike, are you suggesting I fill the outhouse with BATTERY HENS?