Bluenose by Nirvana - Model Shipways - Scale 1:64

[Nirvana]

Getting closer to final "dressing" of the stern planking.

The planking is certainly in need of putty and sanding to get that smooth surface Bluenose is in need of.

[popeye the sailor]

look'in very nice Per   

[Nirvana]

Hmm, so it seems that my bluenose got a little fat stern area...

Nothing that can be fixed.

First I checked the laser piece towards the plan, and found it accurate.

 

Well, placing the piece on the ship and I saw she was wider than I thought, must be all the ice cream consumed while modeling 

When doing so having the main rail part on the stanchions, I can have it flush with the waist without any overhang, but this will give her a large lip instead.

My solution and this was the easy way out instead of making a whole new piece.

I made two cuts into the part, and then will create fill pieces. Once painted only I will know along with everybody else following this thread.

This way there won't be a lip but also I will get the overhang I am looking for.

Pictures are exaggerated. 

 

 

 

 

 

[mikiek]

Nice fix.

[Worldway]

I don't believe you're the first to have a misfit piece.  I believe I read this several times in older build logs that this piece needed to be trimmed or remade.

[Nirvana]

Derek,

thanks that makes me feel better.

 

[Nirvana]

So I tried various varnishes for my deck on separate planks.

Fell for one that enhanced just a notch, here is the fore-deck still wet.

I think together with the grey waterway and white inside of waist and stanchions it will turn out okay.

This is a lighter varnish, and maybe gives me a chance to make it darker if I like.

[Heronguy]

Beautiful decking!

[Nirvana]

Doug, 

I am okay with it, the nibbling was a challenge and with the varnish the flaws are showing up.

[Heronguy]

What I was struck by in particular was the darker and lighter planks interspersed. I think it looks awesome that way! The varnish brings out such a nice lustre.

 

[mikiek]

Nibbing is always a bear. That's why so many people skip it. Nice work!

[popeye the sailor]

the deck and bulwarks look super Per.   regarding the stern......if this was a Billing's kit,  there is a mistake on the old and newer production of the model.  the keel spine on the older kit is 300 mm,  while the newer production measures it at 310 mm.  it's misleading that they show rounded transom as well...especially up at the stern bulwarks.  so,  when the cap rail is added,  it won't fit correctly.   the keel problem really doesn't add to the transom woes,  but creates a nasty gap at the deck division.   the transom problem does though.....had the same problem with the AmericA.   you did very well to alleviate that.....something I will have to take care of when I start my Bluenose project.  really like that way you did it   

[KeithAug]

Deck is looking really nice Per. Re your comment:-

16 hours ago, Nirvana said:

the nibbling was a challenge and with the varnish the flaws are showing up.

 

Have you tried mixing a little deck sanding dust with PVA and filling the areas you are concerned about with the mixture?

[Tigersteve]

Looks good to me! Once you get more onto the deck, you won't notice whatever is bothering you. 

Steve

[Nirvana]

So there is always curve-balls thrown at us ship-modelers, and this ball at the stern has really got me going.

For a while I was on my own creating my own boom sheet buffer. But I couldn't get it right so I stayed with the metal piece provided in the kit.

However, the legs weren't long enough to have them sticking down into the deck as the plans were showing.

Again, the think hat had to come on.

And this is the outcome.

Some extra sanding is needed and final painting too.

Oh, I had to add some extra material on top of the side parts as they were shorter than the stern piece.

 

[Nirvana]

The buffer house is now completed with the buffer inserted, some touch up paint is in need.

The part along with the rail is not glued into place yet, but I am pleased with the result.

 

 

 

The over view of the decking is showing the second layer of varnish, I used golden oak which is very universal varnish.

It's now drying and waiting for more add-ons.

 

[Nirvana]

Vallejo has a white foundation paint, which I used on the waist and stanchions at the port quarter area.

Good or bad I don't know but I have a feeling this base might good enough for a single layer regular white.

It's bright but probably a good contrast as well.

[Don Quixote]

Does Genes practicum show specifics on planking? How to use bands and such?

[Nirvana]

My first trial of air brushing, doing this on the hull. And it turned out so much better than I expected, no running paint at all.

So I proceeded with painting the inside of the waist with the airbrush. So easy and the coverage great as well.

Looking forward doing more airbrushing.

 

I will do more white airbrushing of the hull for the next step of black/blue and the dull red for the bottom.

[mikiek]

It's the only way to fly....

[Nirvana]

Before I am getting ahead of myself it's time to find the location for the pedestals.

I measured the inside height of each pedestal and used the plan to determine the locations for them.

Now I have to figure decide whether to go with the board I have or mount the it all on a single board.

Using the board the Bluenose is sitting on right now will off-center it in a case. I think that will make it look strange.

With the pedestals and a single board display case Bluenose will be centered properly.

Thoughts and ideas are highly valued in this matter.

If any has pictures I like to see them, just link them in your reply.

[Nirvana]

I am preparing the hull for the major painting...... there are a lot of small holes that are in need of care before the final paint.

During the session of air brushing, one of my brushes is not doing its job properly, it's not spraying paint but only air..... which is weird, as I have cleaned the whole unit.

Anyway, despite of that I am getting ready for more painting.

 

[mikiek]

Per - what paint are you using and are you thinning it? Even the "airbrush" paint can stand to be thinned out.  There are various ratios but surprisingly you can add a lot of thinner.  Vallejo also makes some good additives. And of course your weather can have a major effect on how the paint comes out.

[Nirvana]

Mike, I am using exclusively Vallejo paint.

Had a long talk with a gentleman at HobbyTown yesterday, regarding the three brands they carried at their store.

When it comes to pigments Vallejo is the one to go with.

Thanks for your comment regarding thinner, I did purchase that too. 

The last picture is showing Bluenose non-painted starboard side.

It only has a foundation and added "filler".

Am to try the automotive blue filler someday as someone in here has vouched the easiness of working it.

[mikiek]

One other question Per - does your airbrush have the bottle underneath or the cup on top?

[Nirvana]

Mike, 

one is a single action, bottle underneath and a dual action cup on top.

The single action is a paasche airbrush, but the connector is wrong towards the compressor so I haven't used it yet.

[mikiek]

When you are cleaning your dual action do you know about the 'backflush'?  Put a little cleaner in the cup. Put the cap on tightly. Unscrew the little crown on the end where the paint comes out. Don't lose it, they can be expensive. Put a finger or thumb over the opening at that end - careful you can stick your finger with the needle. Run the brush for a few seconds, both air & paint. If you do it right you'll get a spray or mist coming out the tiny hole on the cap. Your basically forcing air backwards and that can blow out stuff that normal cleaning doesn't move. Empty any extra cleaner from the cup - it will be all dirty. Then add a bit of fresh cleaner and spray normally.

 

There may be a way to do the same with the bottle type but I don't know it. I have both types and the single action bottle brush rarely gets used.

[popeye the sailor]

when painting large areas,  air brush can save you a lot of time and give you a nice finish.  sounds like your using a siphon feed.....I use one as well,  but it's an el cheepo      glad to hear your finding it easier.  your doing a super job.

[Nirvana]

My simple setup for waterline marker.

Now time paint the white waterline area.

[Nirvana]

I took a step back and reviewed my lines........ and no way I am to use them.

My setup was too simple and inaccurate.

I had heard about using laser for the purpose and after a lot of tweaking with the setup bench I was ready.

And after this I am to get my own laser as this worked out so fine.

To get this correctly I used a mdf board normally used for shelving and added the pedestals as I had marked out on plan and boat.

This setup would ensure proper waterline.

Next was to secure her and align it all with water levelers.

Once I had this done, aligning the laser was the next step.

Once that was done, lights on and I had a perfect waterline. Using a regular pencil I marked it off.

For some reason of which I can't recall I had narrow masking tape from the auto painting, best part it had the perfect width for the waterline.

Applying it and then masking of the top area of the hull I will paint the lighter colored hull part.

I learned this long time ago always paint the lighter colors first then the darker.

What is extremely important before painting is to use a round edge tool to have the tape having a proper contact with the surface.

Happy with this I started experimenting to get a proper anti-fouling red tone.

I didn't like the one recommended from MS, so I gave my Vallejo paint a shot.

Turned out really nice.