America by greatgalleons - FINISHED - Mamoli - 1:66 - Kit No. MV26 by A.Jorden

[greatgalleons]

New build log for Yacht America,   Been looking around for a few sail boat kits which do not require too much rigging.   I have built many models, more than I can remember or count of tall ships of all sizes and shapes and have chosen this Yacht model because it appears to require not to much brain power.  

 

I have never been impressed with Mamoli kits, they are made for bashing.  You never know what surprises will appear during the process of the model build, so here goes.

 

[greatgalleons]

So when I first started building models ships many years ago I used to purchase wood glue in small bottles, now I get the gallon jug of glue and transfer it to smaller jars.  You would be surprised how much wood glue it takes over time.  I don't have any specialty tools for I use, I just use what works.  

[greatgalleons]

Ok, lets see, here we have the bulk heads and false keel looking things, and some deck pieces, these all look like familiar Mamoli materials which are included in all their kits. Now I remember some other mamoli ships I built, HMS Beagle, Golden Hind, Rattlesnake, and Friesland, 

 

these parts fit loosely, just a little filing on the frame parts

[greatgalleons]

the wood decks will hold the frames in place, its easier this way than to glue the frames in first and then try to make the decks fit.

[greatgalleons]

the forward deck needs a 1mm piece glued to the back so the rear deck can set on.  I use note pads for my glue , when it gets mucked up just peel and chunk.

 

[greatgalleons]

I use a couple of straight pieces of wood with some clamps to straighten the keel while I glue everything together. nothing fancy here.

[greatgalleons]

here are the filler pieces glued in, it does not have to be pretty, it just needs to do the job.

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here is the stern filler sanded down

[greatgalleons]

included in the kit are a couple of rounded end pieces, I glued these two together but did not glue them to the rear deck. I only used the tacks to hold them in place in order to contour the planking around them in the next step.

[greatgalleons]

soaked the planks in water and used a hot plank bender to contour around the back here.  I only use glue on the edges of the planks and not on the inside of planks. the preformed curved piece is on temporary and will be removed latter.

[greatgalleons]

Now the hull planking begins, I used plenty of glue on the framing points and in between each plank edge so the planks don't shift while sanding the hull.  Again it does not have to look pretty, it just needs to be firmly secured to the framing. 

[greatgalleons]

a bit more planking and shaping 

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more shaping and removing temporary supports for upper hull planking

[greatgalleons]

I will add some walnut planking to the inside of the upper hull to make it more ridged before sanding the hull

[greatgalleons]

so my intensions where to use more natural wood colors than paint. I using some 1mm x 1mm and 3mm bass wood around the edges of the deck, I used the preformed curved pieces I removed earlier and a guide for the 3 1x1 pieces 

[greatgalleons]

I will use a small 2x1 sapelli strip butted up against the boxwood runner

[greatgalleons]

here is a situation, the deck planking provided in this kit is not sufficient to cover the whole area, I got shorted some deck planking in the kit, so what I had planned will not work , I will go through my supply of unused wood and come up with an alternate solution. I'm having to bashed the kit anyways, typical of Mamoli

[greatgalleons]

I have decided to use the deck planking provided in the kit along with some leftover bass wood from Model Shipways kits 

[greatgalleons]

I'm using some 2x2mm basswood for the supports

[greatgalleons]

Might as well get creative, change a few details

[greatgalleons]

I will work on the deck furnishings before I work on the outer hull, I have to wait for a few warm days to use spray paint and clear coats since I do not use them inside the home work area. 

 

with in the kit are some simulated blue glass pieces to be used on the cabin doors and such, I cannot bring myself to use them, I will make my own. I use clear plastic and use black ink to dye the wood under the windows.   I also added some girth to the provided kit pieces which seemed a bit small.

[greatgalleons]

continued making the deck furnishing,  these pieces will not be glued in place until the hull is complete. I have not decided on what I will used on the hull, I might used paint, ink, or copper plating strips below the water line , I will determine what looks best when I get to that point.

[greatgalleons]

a few more deck pieces 

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re-making some more pieces

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clear coat on the furnishings brings out some more natural tones,  have not clear coat the decks yet. 

[greatgalleons]

Now that the deck stuff is mostly done I will work on the hull after Christmas for sure.

Edited December 24, 2017 by greatgalleons

[Gregory]

Nice work. I'm a big fan of the natural wood look..

[greatgalleons]

so I had a little time today and sanded down the hull a bit,   there are lots of natural imperfections in the hull planking, so I'll be using some wood filler.

 

I've had this jar of wood filler for 4 years and kept it in a ziplock bag in the refrigerator and its still usable.  it would normally dry out and be unusable within 1 month outside the fridge. 

 

I'll let the hull filler dry out for a 24 hours and then start sanding again

[zappto]

Very nice work, your working very solid. It will be pretty yacht!

[Matt Cinnabar]

Beautiful!