US Brig Syren by Hipexec - FINISHED - Model Shipways - 1:64 - building as USS Argus

[Jim Rogers]

Looks great.

 

[Gahm]

That looks great, Rich! I guess there will be no copper plating of the hull after all that beautiful work!?

 

Thomas

[HIPEXEC]

No copper plate....I like to look at wood

[HIPEXEC]

The instructions call for me to finish the stern trimmings and cap rail before plunging into installing the decking. I pre-made the gold piece a while ago. I'm pre-shaping the stern cap trim. I am also shopping for 1/8" letters for the name "ARGUS" since the kit only comes with "SYREN" letters.

 

The gold trim piece has been glued but the cap is just snapped on for photo purposes.

[HIPEXEC]

Cap trim on the transom is trickier than meets the eye. I got it on but I will have to do some artistic filling to make it look like I want it. Oh well, if it was easy anybody could do it. 

[src]

13 minutes ago, HIPEXEC said:

 if it was easy anybody could do it. 

I hear that phrase at work all the time!!

Looks good to my eyes Rich.

Sam

[xken]

Rich looks like you are off to a great start. Just remember old dogs can learn new tricks if motivated enough. OLD FARTS RULE!

[HIPEXEC]

2 hours ago, xken said:

Rich looks like you are off to a great start. Just remember old dogs can learn new tricks if motivated enough. OLD FARTS RULE!

Yea! Old Farts Rule! I like that.  By the way, your Connie looks great!

Edited August 5, 2017 by HIPEXEC

[HIPEXEC]

3 hours ago, src said:

I hear that phrase at work all the time!!

Looks good to my eyes Rich.

Sam

But with model ship building it's true. It's a challenge sometimes.

[HIPEXEC]

I finished the basic trim on the transom. I'm not sure if I like it or not? I'll keep looking at it and tweaking it.

[HIPEXEC]

I'm finishing the hull planking for the sliver I left off because that edge under the cap rail would have been too delicate while I planked the entire hull. I'm also bending the cap rail. The cap rails have to be bent flat side up which is difficult.

[HIPEXEC]

I'm using Chuck Passaro's method of flat or edge bending the cap rails. Only I did soak it for a little bit.

[HIPEXEC]

I'm fine tune bending the cap rail. Pre-bent was just a little off. By the way, I sanded down the bulkheads to make them just a bit thinner than the cap rail as per the instructions.

[HIPEXEC]

Starboard top rail glued and being held flush with masking tape. I now am tweaking the port top rail to get the curves exactly.

[HIPEXEC]

Port side top rail is now glued on. I only see one place on the starboard rail that will need my attention when the glue dries. I don't like the way it sits there. It will take some filling and sanding to make it right. Top rails are much easier when they come laser cut in the box. Making them yourself is many times harder.

Edited August 8, 2017 by HIPEXEC

[HIPEXEC]

Now I'm prepping for planking the deck. I framed the companionway and a long time ago I pre-drilled the holes for the masts. The kit comes with two laser cut deck framing pieces for the forward part near the bow that don't quite match the curve of my hull. I'll have to tweak them.

[Jim Rogers]

Looks great Rich.

[HIPEXEC]

I made the cut to match the laser cut pieces to my raw material. Tricky cut. Now I'll tweak the laser cut pieces to fit my hull. They are just a bit off.

[HIPEXEC]

I glued on the margin planks with a little kentucky windage, forcing, bending and other acrobatics. It still isn't perfect but I have to eventually install waterways which should cover the small gaps.

[HIPEXEC]

Well here's my hull without painting but it still gives the same dark/light look. I added some doo-dads to the stern to make it more pretty. The clamps on the bow are to show Heronguy that even at the state I'm in. The bowsprit is still vulnerable to breaking. I have been using these clamps since I broke off the bowsprit a while ago, but I still have to maneuver the hull where it could still be broken.

[Heronguy]

Very nice Rich.  Your Argus is going to be beautiful broken nose and all!

[HIPEXEC]

I glued the first deck plank right down the center.

[src]

On 8/8/2017 at 9:22 AM, HIPEXEC said:

 Top rails are much easier when they come laser cut in the box. Making them yourself is many times harder.

But much more satisfying dont you think??

Looks good Rich!

Sam

[HIPEXEC]

I decided to give all the veneer work a coat of varnish to "toughen" it up. It has a tendency to splinter when handled too much. The varnish will seal it. I've masked the few deck pieces I've installed since I don't want the deck varnished.

[HIPEXEC]

I masked the bow stem and keel since I do not know what I am doing with them yet and varnished all the planks to seal them. I used semi-gloss clear poly.

[HIPEXEC]

I'm finished with this stage of varnishing. Where ever I have to glue something to the varnished hull, I will sand a small space down to the wood for the glue. The whole thing will get some more varnish when finished to cover those sanded spots

[Tigersteve]

That's looking very good. Your lettering seems off centered to me in the photo.

Steve

[HIPEXEC]

Now that the varnish is done for now, it's back to deck planking. I'm using a number two pencil to darken the edge to simulate caulking. A good old #2 pencil can do a lot. It can make tree nails and other details.

[HIPEXEC]

21 hours ago, HIPEXEC said:

I'm finished with this stage of varnishing. Where ever I have to glue something to the varnished hull, I will sand a small space down to the wood for the glue. The whole thing will get some more varnish when finished to cover those sanded spots

I'm going to do the letters again using a professional lettering person. They are just stick-on

[HIPEXEC]

The sign maker just finished the ship's name way ahead of schedule. I won't put it on until the ship is finished and final varnished