Spanish Galleon ISABELLA by deckape - FINISHED - Billing Boats

[Lucius Molchany]

I like the shields on the bow! 

[Jean-Pierre]

Nice job! A little question.  Doesn't your plan show an access to the latrines on the beak.  You know, all that gaspacho, and zarzuella and paella and bocadillos have to find a way out, caramba.

 

(As you can see, I am revising my spanish

[deckape]

Ahoy

            Here is another update build report the entire hull is now complete with the exception of the opening of the shutter bays and installation of the rudder.  The hard part of the build is behind me and the fun parts will begin the deck furniture will follow and the cannons too. Not to much on the deck fittings I will start with the gratings and make a set of ladder ways a lot to do to make this relic come back to life.  A very difficult kit to build mostly the dried and splitting of the wood made this kit a issue to build. A word of caution I would love to share here on the forum anyone who has these ancient Billing kits they must be built on the fly other words if you let it idol longer then the kit will allow you will face the problem I had on Isabella. If the remainder of the construction of this kit it will build quicker now since the hull has been completed.  right before I shot these pictures I gave the ship one more good coat of polyurethane and let dry only thing to do now is prepare and make the deck furniture. 

Frankie Day

[Steve 12345]

Looking good frankie just caught your recent vid on utube also thumbs up buddy 

[deckape]

17 hours ago, Steve 12345 said:

Looking good frankie just caught your recent vid on utube also thumbs up buddy 

Thanks Steve I got to check out your Bounty  Thumbs up buddy

[deckape]

                                                                                                            MAST CONSTRUCTION

 

 

Ahoy Gents

                         Here is another update video of the build thus far the entire hull has been completed the installation of the rudder has been completed the fitting set to the kit gives you a set of brass gudgeons or rudder hinges.  I will save the opening of the shutter bats will be done last next thing to do is the construction of the 4 mast, again taking care when cutting out the disc for the mast platforms they had a recess ring that fits on top of the mast platform that will except the green crows nest wind shields.  In turn these assemblies were a treat to behold, no difficulty on these parts you have to form the acetate shield by rolling a cylinder object adding pressure while you roll the the object over the green shields this process makes the installation more easier then cementing a little at a time until completed and save time.  I have two mast completed two more to go they will be a fast assembly not much there as that of the fore main mast assemblies.  Some fellas out there mentiomn the ship is to glossy I made it glossy on purpose the wood in this kit was so dried out from time and elements  this was done once the mast are all completed I will airbrush on a couple coats of matt to tone it down a tad don't want it looking flat just enough to take out the sheen of the polyurethane.  A lot of you guys think I built this quick the answer is no I spend anywhere from 9 to 16 hours a day on this project like a dog with a bone I am not letting go until this is completed.  I assumed I will have about there more hours to completed the remainder two mast the mizzen and the spencer mast they don't have that many parts posed to the fore man mainmast.  If the good Lord is willing and the rivers don't rise I should start the standing rigging tomorrow evening the real fun will begin. Here are the update comnstruction of the Isabella.

 

[popeye the sailor]

looking good Frank!  

[deckape]

Ahoy Shipwrights

                                Okay guys the nightmare is over with all structure and important assemblies have been completed and detoured from anymore wood to deteriorate. the kit is in its complete state of construction all is left is a little tune up here and there and the installation of the cannons. I am constructing these as of now got three installed the kit gives you 12 cannons of turned shiny brass, opeong of the shutter bays were easy I thought I would run into trouble cutting these out but no soap they were cutted out with no problem as I swipe the sweat from forehead.  By this evening she will be ready for the standing rigging this when the real fun begins and the hard p[art is long over with saved from decay of dried out dead wood.  Again cant stress anymore then I possibly can. anyone who has these old Billing kits from the 60s and 70s need to be built if not you will have a kit full of dried up wood that is in the process of turning into sawdust. The Ramon and mahogany wood used in their earlier kits have a tendency to dry our quicker then the usual.  So builds those old Billing kits now is the time. I been working on this kit everyday for 31 days straight 12 to 17u hours a day this the reason why a lot of your great modelers out there say I build fast. Being retired and working a job still allows me to work all these hours on the kit a must build for my I saved ISABELLA  from decay it goes to show you can polish an old tuird

Frankie Day

[popeye the sailor]

really taking shape now Frank.   interested to see how you'll do the chain plates and dead eyes......I've never done them on the ship before.

[deckape]

Ahoy Shipwrights

                              Okay a while since the last posting, Here I am starting the standing rigging  following the old English rigging.  Starting from the bowspirit fore stays have been rigged all back stays on the fore mast have been rigged one more top side on the main to the forte top stay will be rigged next then I will proceed aft and the shrouds will follow, The build will slow down no worry to spend 16 hours a day on the build she is beyond any more drying out and crumbling away in a box.  Thus far a very enjoyable build I am hooked on this old kit as if I was hipnotised LOllllllllllllllllllllll As of now I will go back and review the model for any inperfections that I missed I found four and they were corrected. For more details on the build go to my you tube channel you will see 11 video of thye build that will show you more in depth of the build then just pictures. Having a ball on the build next will be the Billing boats Norske Love a rea treat for me and you too,

Frankie Day.l

[Steve 12345]

Looking great frankie enjoy following your work both here and on utube Caught your on boxing of the norske earlier today can't wait to see her started 

thumbs up buddy 

[deckape]

Ahoy Shipwrights

                                 Here is another update build report on the Isabella, The standing rigging has been underway working on the shrouds once the shrouds are completed the ratlines will follow next.  After all standing rigging is completed the yards will be prepared and installed along with the running rigging.  she is coming along very well I should havethis kit completed in three more weeks working at a pace of 10 to 14 hours a day gives the impression of a fast build ion the norm this would take three to 6 months to build at a pace of 1 to two hours a day or every other day. I have the next Billing boat build the Norske Love will be next something to look forward to.

Frankie Day

[popeye the sailor]

good job Frank!  

[deckape]

Ahoy Shipwrights

                              Thanks guys for your comments I am honored, Here is another update build report thus far all of the lower shrouds have been rigged.  Next will be the stopping of the ratlines and the upper shrouds will follow,  After all shrouds have been rigged and ratlines attached its time for the preparation of the yards and running rigging lastly will be the rope coils and she is done I assume I will have anywhere from two to three weeks and she is launched into the gallery.

Frankie Day

[Steve 12345]

Hi frankie can you post some closeup pictures of your sails when you get them back from the seemstres I gotta send my bounty sails out to get stitched but I am not sure what way to ask for them to be done 

[deckape]

Thanks Guys

                     Okay here is another update build report on the Isabella, Thus far all of the standing rigging is finished next is to lay down the ratlines on the upper platforms and she is ready for the running rigging and the installation of the yards. I went to a seamstress and have my sails made for the Isabella using the kits sail templates and sail cloth that was included in the kit a nice touch to say the least. Now Days fully sewn sails are included in the kits it makes life a little sweeter. Okay I uploaded a slew full of pictures apposed from the last posting.

 

Frankie Day

[deckape]

Ahoy Shipwrights

                             Here is another build report on Isabella, Glad memorial day weekend is over with it took me away from the building bench now its back to ships work.  In this build report I have installed and rigged all of the fore yards the blocks that haven't been rigged yet are the sail rigging still waiting for the sails to come in I should have this build finished by this week end I am doing the main yards and the two spencer yards when done they will be rigged adding rope coils as go along.  not much to the running rigging it went faster then the standing rigging did,

 

Frankie Day

[Jean-Pierre]

Nice pictures of what is becoming a great model.  Special congratulations for the slightly curved waterline, just as it should be!

[popeye the sailor]

look'in super Frank!  

[deckape]

Ahoy Model Shipwrights

                                           Okay Isabella is almost done I have all of the sails done I got them back from my personal seamstress they all fit to size as per sail patterns. Okay all of the sails have been installed next will be the rigging of the sails this will be easy because all sail blocks have been previously rigged during the running rigging.  This Sunday she will be completed I will take some nice final reveal so stay tuned for that, Here are the pictures

Frankie day

[Steve 12345]

Ahoy Frankie looking good buddy

[popeye the sailor]

sails look very nice Frank!   really fills out the model  

[deckape]

Ahoy Shipwrights

                                  Okay long time no see but still here okay fellas here is the final reveal of the Isabella she is finally completed now for Norske Love I will post update pictures of the build I started on her about a month ago so I will start another build thread on her The Love is a older kit 1970s issue like that of Isabella everything has to be cut out by hand I would not have it any other way old school kit verses old school dude.

Frankie Day

[glennreader]

I agree. Well, not sure I would go so far as no laser/CNC cut parts, but some kits these days are little more than 3D jigsaw puzzles. Got to leave us some work to mess up.

 

Nice model, I like the sails.

 

Glenn

[popeye the sailor]

great job Frank!   she looks super with her sails    looking forward in seeing the N.L. build!

[Ferrus Manus]

Gotta love the antics of the fabled master of Cigarland. Love your builds, Frank. I'm also subbed to your youtube channel.