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Honey Bear by albergman - Finished


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Hello there

 

First Post here and stepping on stage with great trepidation as I've already seen many scratch builds posted and by-and-large with a great more attention to detail than I'm prepared to devote!

 

Having said that I'm still pretty pleased with this model and its recipient, a life long friend, is ecstatic ... so there!!

 

OK, I've only been scratch building for about 15 years and have only ever built one kit ... a Billings Dragon, and mostly scratch build racing cars from the 50's.   When I felt my skills were adequate I did a half-hull of our own sailboat then a series of half-hulls for friends then eventually my oldest pal said he'd prefer a FULL hull instead (greedy b*gger) of his "baby", a Trojan 36 Sport Fisherman.    No plans were available so I developed my own from various suitable photos on the inter-web and supplemented them with MANY visits to the boat where I photographed every inch of it with a tape measure stretched out for scale.

 

I usually build in a composite called Renshape which, if you haven't heard of it, is a product made for pattern-making.   It is very expensive but wonderful to work with as it takes fine details with ease.  However, my supply had diminished and I wanted to get started.   I had a brainwave (brain-fart?) one day when my neighbour was having a set of stairs made for him that used a new synthetic wood that looked remarkably like Renshape ... a true composite and waterproof.    A few off-cuts were "liberated" one night ... and so it began.

 

I screwed/glued together enough pieces to give me the requisite hull ... 

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then went at it with whatever grinding tools I had at hand ... it wasn't pretty.    Much Bondo and fillers were applied and eventually it resembled his hull.

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A deck was added and ever more fillers applied.

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The superstructure was filled in with cardboard

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and the complex shaping of windows began using those little Arborite/Formica samples.

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One doesn't realize how complex a hull shape can be until you try to replicate it!

 

Coaming around the stern cut from mahogany plank.   White panelling from more Arborite samples

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Swim platform assembled from tiny strips of mahogany

 

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Steering wheel from scrap aluminum (no I didn't have a machine lathe at this time)

 

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Seats fabricated from Renshape and aluminum scraps

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I practised silver soldering when many of the stainless metalwork was made ...

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Hand made all the 90 and 120 degree fittings needed for the handrails

 

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Aft deck in finished state

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OK, I won't bore you with any more detail but fire away if there are any questions.

 

The finished model ...

 

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Thanks for looking in.

 

Frank

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Finished Builds: Half Hulls of Alberg 37, Thunderbird 26, Contessa 26, Beneteau 51 Idylle

 

                     :  Billings Dragon kit Revisited

 

                     :  Trojan 36 Sport Fishing boat

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That is some seriously nice work, Frank.  

Mark
"The shipwright is slow, but the wood is patient." - me

Current Build:                                                                                             
Past Builds:
 La Belle Poule 1765 - French Frigate from ANCRE plans - ON HOLD           Triton Cross-Section   

 NRG Hallf Hull Planking Kit                                                                            HMS Sphinx 1775 - Vanguard Models - 1:64               

 

Non-Ship Model:                                                                                         On hold, maybe forever:           

CH-53 Sikorsky - 1:48 - Revell - Completed                                                   Licorne - 1755 from Hahn Plans (Scratch) Version 2.0 (Abandoned)         

         

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

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Thanks fellas for the comments.    Not to everyone's taste here I know.    Omega ... much admiration for tackling such tiny scaled models then packing so much into them!   

 

Frank

Finished Builds: Half Hulls of Alberg 37, Thunderbird 26, Contessa 26, Beneteau 51 Idylle

 

                     :  Billings Dragon kit Revisited

 

                     :  Trojan 36 Sport Fishing boat

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12 minutes ago, albergman said:

Thanks fellas for the comments.    Not to everyone's taste here I know.    Omega ... much admiration for tackling such tiny scaled models then packing so much into them!   

 

Frank

Hi Frank

 

Many thanks!  I really appreciate your compliments.

 

Cheers

 

Patrick

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WOW!  looks awesome!

I yam wot I yam!

finished builds:
Billings Nordkap 476 / Billings Cux 87 / Billings Mary Ann / Billings AmericA - reissue
Billings Regina - bashed into the Susan A / Andrea Gail 1:20 - semi scratch w/ Billing instructions
M&M Fun Ship - semi scratch build / Gundalow - scratch build / Jeanne D'Arc - Heller
Phylly C & Denny-Zen - the Lobsie twins - bashed & semi scratch dual build

Billing T78 Norden

 

in dry dock:
Billing's Gothenborg 1:100 / Billing's Boulogne Etaples 1:20
Billing's Half Moon 1:40 - some scratch required
Revell U.S.S. United States 1:96 - plastic/ wood modified / Academy Titanic 1:400
Trawler Syborn - semi scratch / Holiday Harbor dual build - semi scratch

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Amazing!! So how did you make the 90 and 120 degree handrail fittings? That anchor is pretty awesome too. That's some real eye candy there- well done!

-Buck

 

Current build: AL Morgan's Whaleboat (1st build)

 

Kits in the ships locker: I cannot confirm nor deny that there may be a few kits in there...

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Frank,

 

How did you make the "T" pieces where the rail joins the stancheon?

Keith

 

Current Build:-

Cangarda (Steam Yacht) - Scale 1:24

 

Previous Builds:-

 

Schooner Germania (Nova) - Scale 1:36

https://modelshipworld.com/topic/19848-schooner-germania-nova-by-keithaug-scale-136-1908-2011/

Schooner Altair by KeithAug - Scale 1:32 - 1931

http://modelshipworld.com/index.php/topic/12515-schooner-altair-by-keithaug-scale-132-1931/?p=378702

J Class Endeavour by KeithAug - Amati - Scale 1:35 - 1989 after restoration.

http://modelshipworld.com/index.php/topic/10752-j-class-endeavour-by-keithaug-amati-scale-135-1989-after-restoration/?p=325029

 

Other Topics

Nautical Adventures

http://modelshipworld.com/index.php/topic/13727-nautical-adventures/?p=422846

 

 

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2 hours ago, Salty Sea Dog said:

Amazing!! So how did you make the 90 and 120 degree handrail fittings? That anchor is pretty awesome too. That's some real eye candy there- well done!

Hi Salty
 
Thanks for the compliments. 
 
The fittings were hacksawed from a piece of aluminium scrap ... in this case a heat sink from an old computer.  
 
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I'd just cut them to give me enough "meat" to make the piece. 
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First I drilled the hole that runs horizontally (the rod above is in that hole) then, using a cardboard template, I'd mark the requisite angle then run a drill in till it finds the first hole.    
 
Now i crazy glued the rough piece to a tool I made with a handle.and proceed to shape it with files then polish.
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Initially I was going to silver solder each stanchion to the rail but the logistics of getting every angle right scrapped that idea so by default I had to fabricate the fittings. 
 
I worked out a way of doing it and got it down to less than a half hour each.
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When the time came to install the rail I built a jig on the foredeck using those handy Arborite panels which would hold the rail at the right height and correct fore and aft.
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I slid 4 fittings onto the straight rail the started bending it by hand to fit into the jig.  
 
Once the bow pulpit shape was done it was a simpler job to coax the right curve into the rest of it.   
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I then snipped off pieces of stainless at the right lengths and slid them into the fittings which were still loose on the rail.
 
A drop of CA on each end secured everything and it was surprisingly stable.   I could even lift the model with it!
 
The same process was used for the bridge deck rail.   This one was more complex as it is one continuous piece and has to follow the lines of the glasswork (under masking tape here).    
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The "start" and "finish" uprights had to end up at the perfect distance apart to accept the stainless ladder.     Note to self: make sure every fitting is on the rail before you start bending!
 
The bridge ladder ... Now there was a challenge!!
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The CQR was filed out of scraps as well and I really went to town on it.    In fact, it was made for the model of my own sailboat but I hadn't got around to installing it there so, when I needed an anchor I gave him mine.
 
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Cheers
 
Frank

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Finished Builds: Half Hulls of Alberg 37, Thunderbird 26, Contessa 26, Beneteau 51 Idylle

 

                     :  Billings Dragon kit Revisited

 

                     :  Trojan 36 Sport Fishing boat

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Thanks for the detailed explanations and pictures. Fantastic work! The effort you took on these pieces sure paid off.

-Buck

 

Current build: AL Morgan's Whaleboat (1st build)

 

Kits in the ships locker: I cannot confirm nor deny that there may be a few kits in there...

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  • 2 weeks later...

Let me get this straight. You made this beautiful model from scrap synthetic wood offcuts , bondo, cardboard and leftover scraps of various materials? I am truly humbled!

Greg

website
Admiralty Models

moderator Echo Cross-section build
Admiralty Models Cross-section Build

Finished build
Pegasus, 1776, cross-section

Current build
Speedwell, 1752

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3 hours ago, dvm27 said:

Let me get this straight. You made this beautiful model from scrap synthetic wood offcuts , bondo, cardboard and leftover scraps of various materials? I am truly humbled!

Greg ... When you put it that way even I find it hard to believe!!!:D

 

But yes, it's made just the way you said.   The cardboard was used but just as a pattern for the sides.   It was replaced by Arborite samples (you know those little 3x2 samples hanging on a board in the hardware store?) ... where a flat strong surface was needed.   I found thin sheets of smoked plastic (sold as replacement for the visor of a welder's mask) and they made perfect tinted windows.  

My neighbour is still puzzled by the missing boards in his deck!!  :rolleyes:

 

The steering wheel rim was made from a little aluminium flashlight I got when I bought a new razor ...

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it had a solid ring of the right diameter on the end ... just needed to be liberated.

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Made a perfect wheel with stainless rod bent to shape and pulled into 4 shallow holes

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The real thing

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All I'm trying to show is that with a little imagination (and a healthy stockpile of scrap metals) you can find items that contain the shape you need.

 

Frank

 

 

 

Finished Builds: Half Hulls of Alberg 37, Thunderbird 26, Contessa 26, Beneteau 51 Idylle

 

                     :  Billings Dragon kit Revisited

 

                     :  Trojan 36 Sport Fishing boat

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18 hours ago, Omega1234 said:

Hi Frank. 

 

I know now that I've said it before, but I'll say it again..."Flipping amazing"!  

 

I think there should be a law against making things look so easy. 

 

Cheers

 

Patrick

Thanks Patrick ... but please don't bring the law after me!!    

 

I just remembered that over a year ago I started a YouTube channel to show films I'd make about my models ... well, that was the plan and I only ever made one movie (this Honey Bear model) and posted it.  After that, no matter how I searched for it using all the key words I'd given it I couldn't find the d*mn thing and, as a result, to date only 20 people have ever found it ... all of them being myself and the friend I made it for.   Needless to say I gave up on that idea till I learned more about YouTube.

 

Anyone who wants to see it can find it here and I'd be curious to hear what they think of the idea.

 

Frank

Finished Builds: Half Hulls of Alberg 37, Thunderbird 26, Contessa 26, Beneteau 51 Idylle

 

                     :  Billings Dragon kit Revisited

 

                     :  Trojan 36 Sport Fishing boat

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Hi Frank

 

I'm a bit confused by your You Tube video.  Sorry.

 

I admit that I thoroughly enjoyed watching your video of the actual full-sized boat stuck on a massive slab of red wood.  But, where was the model of Honey Bear?   Maybe it's in another video (he says with tongue in cheek). 

 

Seriously, Frank, just amazing.  That's Museum quality modelling, right there. 

 

Cheers

 

Patrick

 

 

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19 hours ago, Julie Mo said:

Frank, you're kind of like the miracle worker.  Beautiful work!

 

16 hours ago, Omega1234 said:

Hi Frank

 

I'm a bit confused by your You Tube video.  Sorry.

I admit that I thoroughly enjoyed watching your video of the actual full-sized boat stuck on a massive slab of red wood.  But, where was the model of Honey Bear?  

Patrick

 

 

Thanks Julie ... you give me too much credit.

 

Patrick ... you got me there for a few seconds.   I'm thinking ... maybe there's been something wrong with the video all along.   Anyway, I think your eyes are just suffering from all that exquisite modelling you do in the micro-world.

 

Frank

Finished Builds: Half Hulls of Alberg 37, Thunderbird 26, Contessa 26, Beneteau 51 Idylle

 

                     :  Billings Dragon kit Revisited

 

                     :  Trojan 36 Sport Fishing boat

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