HMS Victory by gjdale - FINISHED - Mamoli - Scale 1:90

[Sjors]

Have a great trip when you visit Europe.

Say hello to Mobbsie from us when you visiting him and his Admiral.

Enjoy your stay.

 

[Trussben]

Great looking blocks Grant, really nice.

 

Ben

[mtaylor]

Grant,

Have a great trip.  Send pics occasionally.    I'll get some of the powder monkeys to clean up the popcorn mess and get the chairs put back into place.

[Sjors]

I can call my cleaners back then Mark?

 

[rdsaplala]

Splendid work on the blocks, Grant, they're perfect!

Enjoy your trip to Europe, my friend, don't forget to post some pics

[gjdale]

Okay, I know I should be packing as we leave first thing on Monday morning, but........

 

I still had the tools set up, so I ran another "production run" of the 3/16" (4.75mm) blocks, experimenting a bit more with the sheave hole placement.

 

Here's the result......

 

 

I think these are just about "export" quality, although there are a couple that need to be weeded in the QC process (one right near the centre front for example).

 

Alright, that's me done in the shipyard until early October.  I will no doubt drop in on a few of your logs over the next month, and I may even post the odd "tourist" pic.

[mobbsie]

Fantastic blocks Grant, as you rightly say " export quality ".

 

See you soon mate.  

 

mobbsie

[augie]

Have a great trip and say HI to Mobbsie.

 

Oh --- you can export any QC rejected blocks to my attention here  

[rdsaplala]

They all look great to me, Grant, excellent job. Have a pleasant trip

[trippwj]

Safe travels, Grant - and let me know when you start taking orders for custom blocks!!!

[texxn5]

After seeing these and your info on building the sanding drums, I may have to reconsider my blocks for the Morgan. these look superior. Great job Grant, hope you are enjoying your tour also.

[gjdale]

Thanks all for the good wishes for our trip (and the kind words regarding the blocks).

 

We're one week into the trip now, and to keep things ship modelling related, we did visit the Musee Nationale de la Marine in Paris. Very interesting and some great models. I took lots of pics for you know who, but as I don't have the ability to resize them from the iPad, posting them will have to wait until we get home.

 

So far in the last week, after leaving home on Monday morning, we spent a total of 22 hours flying time, one day in Hong Kong (to break the flight), arrived London on Wednesday and spent the day walking around Winchester (UK), Thursday went to Oxford (UK) for the day, caught the train to Paris from London on Friday, did a three hour night time tour of the Louvre that evening (best time to go - far fewer people), Maritime Museum and Eiffel Tower on Saturday, Palace of Versailles on Sunday, Montmartre today followed by a Night Photography tour, from which we've just returned. Tomorrow is Notre Dame and Musee Rodin, then it's back to London on Wednesday.

 

We are exhausted, but have been having a ball.

 

Only two downers so far. Managed to get my pocket picked on the Metro train, despite taking precautions. Fortunately, they only got my ready use cash (about $100). Second (and by far the greater tragedy) was allowing the Admiral to choose the restaurant that night. Neither of us speak French and she unwittingly (or so she says) managed to take us to a vegan restaurant of all things! She is still laughing about it..........I'm not!!! When I say that I am a carnivore, I'm being polite about it! Fortunately, some of the food we've had since has restored my gastronomic balance. The Admiral has had restaurant choosing rights suspended until further notice. If it doesn't bleed, it's not going on my plate!

 

Second Shipmodelling link - Photography tour was also about learning how to use the camera properly, so hopefully I'll be able to take better pics in the future, especially since we're doing more of these in both Florence and Venice later in the trip.

 

I'll try not to turn this into a travel log, but if I can make any tenuous maritime / ship modelling links, I might just drop in a line or two - assuming I can find the time and energy. At the rate were going that's looking more likely NOT to be the case!

[augie]

Sacre bleu!  Your wife chose 'Café des Legumes' !!!!  Glad you survived.  If you can't find a decent meal in Firenze, I give up.

 

Sounds like you're enjoying the trip.  Stay safe and well.  We all miss you

Edited September 2, 2013 by Augie

[texxn5]

Hi Grant, why not turn it into a travel log???? When we can't be building, at least we can be traveling as our excuse....lol. Enjoy your trip, it sounds great. I love Hong Kong, sorry you didn't get to spend some time there.

[realworkingsailor]

 

When I say that I am a carnivore, I'm being polite about it! Fortunately, some of the food we've had since has restored my gastronomic balance. The Admiral has had restaurant choosing rights suspended until further notice. If it doesn't bleed, it's not going on my plate!

 

 

 

 

Meat + Fire = MMMMmmmmmmm.... <drool>

[Kevin]

glad you are enjoying the trip, keep safe

 

all the best

[Sjors]

Hi Grant,

 

You are not only a great modeller but also a great tour guide !

I can read between the lines that you have a great time over there.

It's not that far from where we are living but still to far ( 4 1/2 hour drive )

I shall wait patiently for the pictures of your trip.

Maybe it is easy to post them on Picassa web and put the link in your build log so we can all see the great pictures ?

Thanks my friend and enjoy the rest of the trip in France, England and Italy !

 

[Sjors]

Strange to see you at the forum so early in the morning but I must not forget that you are in Europe at the moment   

 

 

[gjdale]

Just getting a quick fix before the day's activities Sjors. Just enough to keep me going. Man, this MSW addiction is tough!

[gjdale]

OK, they got me!

 

I arrived at Chatham station (UK) to meet Mobbsie for our tour of Chatham Dockyard, and was delightfully surprised to be met by Sjors and Anja as well. What a wonderful surprise it was too. We all had a great day at Chatham Dockyard where Mobbsie had arranged a private viewing of the model collection. What a treat! We were like kids in a candy store! Then we all came back to Mobbsie's place where his Admiral (Christine) had prepared a delicious roast dinner. We all ate and drank and told tall tales and true, amid much laughter. Had the opportunity to inspect Mobbsie's work first hand - and I have to say it looks even better in the flesh than in the pictures he has posted.

 

Sjors has already posted a few pics, but here is one of all of us. I'm the one looking like Santa Claus minus the red suit!

 

 

What a great example of the power of this forum, to bring together people from all over the world, and on meeting for the first time it's like we have been lifelong friends.

 

Thanks Mobbsie for arranging it all, and thanks Anja and Sjors for making the effort to come over for the weekend. And of course, thanks to Admiral Christine (C-in-C Home Fleet) for your gracious hospitality.

[Jim Lad]

Glad to hear that you're having such a good time in Pommyland, Grant!

 

John

[trippwj]

Good looking bunch of models there!

 

Glad to hear that Sjors behaved!

[augie]

Fantastic opportunity.  Give Sjors something to eat.  Poor guy looks like he just survived pneumonia    :D  

[texxn5]

Grant, isn't that the truth. What an awesome site. I just almost did the same thing with Henry (popeye2sea) on the USS Constitution in Boston. Here I am from Texas meeting a guy from Boston and having the entire ship (a National Monument)to ourselves after hours and no one on board except us and the watch. What an event of a lifetime. And Henry was just like an old friend I'd known forever. Bringing people together with common interests from all walks of life and creating lasting friendships. How cool is that! All because of this forum and the wonderful people that are part of it! Next time maybe we can drag in Augie, and all the rest of the "Moose Crew" together and have a conventiion!!!! I am happy to hear you are enjoying your ventures also. Have fun.

John

[mtaylor]

I'm just sitting here smiling.  What a great picture of everyone.  

[WackoWolf]

I have always said that this site is like one big family affair. If people could get along like the people of this forum does the world would be a nicer place to live in. It doesn't matter where your from or what your believe in on this forum. To bad other people in this world couldn't get along like people do here. But this is just my 2 cents.

Edited September 11, 2013 by WackoWolf

[rdsaplala]

I'm pleased to know you had an enjoyable trip, Grant, thanks too for sharing the pics, it's indeed amazing how this website brings people together

[Patrick Haw]

Hi Grant,

 

Just saw on Lawrence's log that you're in Florence now and heading to Venice  in a few days.  I was in Venice for the third time in June and just love the city.  Stay away from the tourist traps along the Grand Canal and just take off walking.  You'll get lost for sure, but you will find some amazing treats in the back streets and hidden piazza's.  Enjoy!

 

Patrick

[texxn5]

Glad you are enjoying your tour......beautiful area of the world.

[texxn5]

Hi Grant, hope the typhoon didn't disrupt things to bad for you there. I love Hong Kong, it is such a dynamic city...I find it fascinating. Be safe going home.....it'll probably seem strange after a long trip, I know mine will...