Mayflower by husky1943 - FINISHED - Revell - 1:83 - PLASTIC

[husky1943]

Howdy Ya'll,

 

This is my Revell Mayflower that I have been building on for a while.  I had this very same kit when I was very young, and I never finished it.  In fact, I built it up just enough to fill it with pennies, float it out in our lake and then sink it with gun fire from my pellet gun (true story).  Anyway, I promised myself to build it again and actually finish it.  Sorry that it isn't really a build from the beginning, but here it is.  Just started doing the rigging.  This one is going to be a straight build OOB.

[russ]

I recall this one. I built it back in the 80s. You are doing a fine job with it. Nice paint work.

 

Russ

[husky1943]

Thanks Russ.  I would have "weathered" it more, but I like the way that it was coming out.  I appreciate the compliment!

 

Rob

[husky1943]

Started the rigging on this bad boy, and it took me well over two hours just to get this done.  Working on something this delicate makes me feel like I have pillows for hands!

 

This model, because of its age (I guess) actually has soft plastic ratlines, instead of the clunky hard plastic ones.  They don't really look all that great, but once I got the knack of installing them, they are going a bit faster. 

 

If you notice in one of the pictures, the bulkhead is warped slightly (the handrail on the top deck).  I was painting, and I learned a long time ago to speed up drying times by using my wife's hair dryer.  Well, plastic melts from heat (Yes, I felt really stupid, but not stupid enough to try and melt it back to being straight).

 

And yup, this model is nearly as old as I am!

[russ]

So far the rigging looks good. It takes time so do not worry if it seems to drag on a bit.

 

Russ

[husky1943]

Thanks Russ.  I would go even faster if I wasn't spritzing the cat with a water bottle every three minutes.  She likes to "get up in my business" when I'm working on the boat. 

[russ]

Cats and ship models do not go together, that is for sure.

[husky1943]

Howdy Yall,

 

an update on my modest effort at the Mayflower.  Got the ratlines (didn't know they were pronounced "rat-lins.")  Although they are better than the hard plastic, I really didn't care for them.  Plus the fact that my fingers get really huge up in them tight spaces!!

Edited February 13, 2017 by husky1943

[husky1943]

Now, I'm up to installing the blocks and the sails.  However, I want to install as many blocks as I can BEFORE I install any sails.  I am afraid that once the sails are in place, then I am going to have a problem seeing and reaching everything.  We'll see.  While this is just an introduction, I am learning, and I can tell you several things.

 

1)  Cleaning blocks and other very tiny parts is a chore.  Especially when they are steeped in flash!  Good grief, was there no "QA" in 1966? 

2) Thank God for Superglue.

3) I am going to have to create some tools for "reaching" inside the boat to get this rigging done! And,

4) Perfection is NOT something that I am going to be able to achieve.  While plenty of others on this site have the talent to achieve it, I am not one of them.  Makes me appreciate their skill all that much more. 

5)  I retired from the Navy, but am not really versed in square-rigged ship anatomy.  Never too old to learn! 

 

It's good to have helpers, even if all they do is nap while I do stuff.  They keep me company, though!

[husky1943]

The sails....  Ah, they did not "weather" the years well.  Anyhoo, some of them have some cracks in them.  I just put clear tape on them, and figured that they were patched canvas.  Then I colored them.  The instructions suggested that I use a green wash.  Green wash?  I didn't really get that, so I used shades of tan to give them some subtle color.  Then I painted some areas a little darker to show patched canvas.  Thoughts? 

 

However, my intention is to install as many blocks as possible ahead of time so that I will save me from having to reach too deep inside the rigging. Plus, I read on here somewhere (hat tip to the person that wrote it) that I should rig from bottom to top and from inside to out.  So, I am looking at the plans and trying to figure out how I am going to accomplish the rigging. 

 

As a closing thought - I have realized that keeping the rigging uniformly taught is a real REAL pain at times.  I think on my next build (which will be an improvement on this one hopefully) I will try and use dowels for the masts.  Again, I saw how a person even showed the difference by hanging weights on a plastic mast and a dowel, and the difference was amazing.  But, I must finish this one first. 

 

Finally, seriously thanks to everyone who posts on this site.  I have learned so much from so many.  I am really glad to be back doing something that I really loved doing.  This hobby makes me happy

[russ]

Your model is coming along well. I recall those plastic sails from the Revell kits. They can be a bit brittle, especially after some time. I would have recommended that you attach the sails to the yards before you mount them on the masts. However, that ship has sailed so you will have to extra careful in attaching the sails.

 

Beware the cats near any rigging.

 

Russ

[husky1943]

Russ,

 

Thanks Russ.  And I would have listened to your sage advice about attaching the sails first.  What a great idea!  I could have done the ratlines first, and then attached the sails and extra blocks to the yards before installing the whole thing!  Ah, I wish that I had done it in that order!  Lesson learned. 

 

Ciao for now

Rob

[husky1943]

Howdy Ya'll,

 

So, I have all the sails up on her, and I am starting the rigging.  It would be nice to have either a bigger model or smaller hands, but since I have neither, patience is what I need.  So, I finished the forward rigging, and I am not happy with it at all. The line that I used is too thick and the lines - EVERY STINKING LINE - came up slack.  I hate it, but there is nothing that I can do.  So, I soldier on finishing up the rest of the rigging.  The nice thing is that at a good distance, it looks nice.  Oh well, lesson learned.  Yup, for the next model, all masts and yards are either being made out of wood somehow or I'm reinforcing them to the point that they won't bend with the rigging.  Happy Sunday everyone!  

 

Ciao for now

Rob

[russ]

Not sure what kind of line you used. It may have needed a stretch prior to use. It may be that humidity might be part of the problem. Not sure what it is. However, the model as a whole is looking good.

 

Russ

[husky1943]

Thanks everyone for the likes and best wishes! Russ - so I should stretch the line first?  I did not know that.  Now, as for humidity - this is the Florida Panhandle.  So, unless I move about 16 dehumidifiers into the house, I will have to work with 90-100 percent humidity.  That makes me think, though.  Hair frizzes in humidity - so it makes sense that thread could do that as well. Must think through a solution.  I would replace the line, but that ain't gonna happen. So, I take notes and move on.  Thanks for all the help!!

 

Ciao for now

Rob

[russ]

Rob:

I live on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Same humidity. It happens. I have not had a huge problem with my rigging here in the house since we have central HVAC, but I have seen it happen in certain cases. .

 

Sometimes, giving the line a decent stretch before using will help. Nothing too drastic, but a moderate stretch.

 

Russ

[husky1943]

Hey Russ, I just now realized that you live over in Biloxi.  Now I have a place to stay when I come over to blow my money at the Palace or one of the other casinos!!  (I'm kidding)

 

Based on your fine tutelage, I think that I might have figured out my problem (at least on this model).  I found some thread that is much finer, and I have been passing it through a glue stick that one of my kids had.  They had this stuff in high school, and since they are adults, I realize that this stuff must remain kind of pliable for a very long time. I have also stretched the line just like you suggested, so hopefully doing the combination of all these steps will result in better results than previous.  Thanks again for all the tips!!

 

Ciao for now

Rob

[husky1943]

Yes, I think that I have solved the problem here.  This stuff works great AND all the knots that I tie appear to stay tied.  Plus, I can wrap a line around a bollard or belaying point (or whatever) and the lines stays put!  The only problem is that it makes the line sticky, so it sticks to everything, is kind of hard to pull through a block, and I'm sure that it is now a perfect dust magnet!  However, I am pleased with the results.  I did notice that the line is much too white for the job.  Need to get something darker.

 

Ciao for now

Rob

[russ]

I recall using diluted white Elmer's glue on rigging line way back when. I use beeswax these days. You can get a cake of it at a local sewing or crafts store. Un the line along the edge of the beeswax and then run the line over a hot light bulb to melt it into the line.

 

Russ

[husky1943]

Howdy all,

 

Well, she is finally finished.  Got her rigged as fully as I could.  I couldn't for the life of me do the forward "reef lines" on the sails.  I think I am calling them by the correct nomenclature.  I assume that they are the lines that help to furl the sails, and they are supposed to be forward of the sails and attached that way.  However, I could not figure out the instructions.  I went to school on others here, but by the time I think that I knew how to do them, there was no way that my hands would have fit into such a tight space.  However, I am proud of how it came out, and it was worth all the effort.  I enjoyed it very much.  If it's okay, I just added four pictures of figures that I did.  They are 1/35 DML plastic.  Loved to do them, but after my eyes got into my late forties, they were very difficult to do.  Hope you don't mind that they have nothing to do with ships, just wanted to show you what I did in another life.  Have a wonderful weekend and I appreciate any comments, suggestions, critiques.  

 

Ciao for now

[donrobinson]

Congratulations on your completion, she looks great

[russ]

Congratulations on your completed Mayflower. She looks very good. Be very proud of her.

 

Russ

[husky1943]

Howdy Don and Russ,

 

Thanks so much.  Now, I am off to the store to put it up for sale.  I build 'em and sell 'em.  See how that works out!  And thanks to everyone (especially you, Russ) for the support and tips.  I have learned much here.  

 

Ciao for now