The Tumblin' Dice by popeye the sailor - Artesania Latina - 1:80 - Mississippi riverboat

[Mirabell61]

Nice progress going on Denis,

 

Nils

[vossy]

That's very clever to use the old fret as a bending form. Its for this reason I never throw any offcuts etc. out. Also really like the herringbone deck. If I ever do this model I may go down that route if you don't mind?

 

Cheers

 

Chris

 

[popeye the sailor]

thanks for the good word gents!   I'd have gotten further yesterday,  but the admiral had a doctor's appointment.......and we made an afternoon of it      then last night,  some drunk nut decided to fly up our street,  like a bat outta hell,  and totally take out the telephone pole on the corner of Varney and Riddle St.....and ended up hitting a house two doors up on Riddle St!   Whatta freak'in mess!.  he cleaved the pole......all he got out of it was a laceration on his calf!  on top of that.....while all this was going on,  another drunk woman drove through the police blockade and attempted to get through.   they took her away in a paddy wagon,  and her car was later towed.  wonder if she was at the same party?   they are still working to replace the pole at this moment........looks like they are almost finished.

 

of course Chris.......if you see something you like,  be my guest      not often I come up with something usable.......definitely a time saver though,  I think you will like it     I just answered an e-mail request from someone in Ontario,  who wants to Build the Andrea Gail......he reads my logs on Word Press.  hope I didn't disappoint him........I don't draw plans for anything I do........I just build it.  I wish him well and good luck     that's how I build my hulls........from saving all the parts panel sheets...also good if parts need to be scratch made or replaced.   I did try to assemble the spiral stairs yesterday........boy!  did I mess those up!   I may need to so something like you did.........or perhaps feed my Frankenstein and try that elevator idea I have stuck in my head 

 

thanks Nils........compared to Chris........I'm on the wrong side of the escalator!  .......a lot of effort,  with little progress  

 

thanks for the likes.........I have a few more pictures to show.........I get them up in a bit     thanks for look'in in !

[popeye the sailor]

yesterday was devoted to the second level structure clean up.   the windows and doors......finished trimming the excess planking,  and then sanding to all the openings.   you probably saw that I had sanded over the planking, to get rid of the ridges.....I went over it again with the stain.  it did come out a little darker,  even though I wiped it fairly quick after the application....shouldn't take away too much.  it was given a coat of lacquer,  but I had to give it a second light coat,  due to some 'white' that started to form.  lacquer can be rather touchy with humidity.

while this process was going on,  I tried my hand with the spiral stairs.  I can concur with Hugh.......they are a pain    they didn't come out right.

[popeye the sailor]

now that we have power back...........came back on @ 6:30 AM {Gibbs let us know}......I can continue.   this is a fairly bright room......I could have continued without it........some of my pictures are done with no lighting at all.  I figured I would start with something easy,  while I think about the stairs.....I finished the coral bars.

the second level deck is cemented on...had to be weighted down due to the arch.

sorry to see.......but the bow fender was a flop!   I used the wrong template {deck}.   the parts panels are in very good shape.

the one laid on top is the one I should have used.   the mahogany bent OK......but I think I will try a softer wood.   I can stain it later.   for chuckles,  I did a dry fit of the second level, and the third level deck.

here's how the stairs came out........

the instructions weren't much help either......so I will try a different approach.   it starts with this platform..........

and these stairs .........

getting the height right is going to be the feat.......I'm working from the ground up.   I'm going to make the set of stairs that will join the second level too.....they need to join together on the platform,  that will likely tell me better how high the platform needs to be.   I'm also thinking of bypassing the platform idea,  and create stairs that branch off each other,  joined at the lower level.   I'll get to be able to use some of the kit parts this way.   if this don't work......then I guess I'll have to go all 'Dr Who' on the model   

[popeye the sailor]

I've been meaning to get these pictures up here.   I tried a couple of different ideas on the stair issue.   I continued with the original idea,  adding the stairs to the landing.   I then thought that the landing might be a bit too deep.

...if anyone needs a guillotine....or a hangman's platform.......I'm your man       I then tried idea #2........the same basic double flight of stairs,  but I went higher...and gave it closed in sides.

you see the edge that has been cut out.......I will do the entire flight.

here I get the notion that I've gone too high.  perhaps a couple steps lower.

...here are the infamous before and after pictures............

I then did them in mahogany stain......they came out looking blotchy.   my next idea should raise my expectations...hopefully take it to the next level.

[Old Collingwood]

What a great job you are doing scratching those stairs,  I have yet to make a few stair cases for mine, it will happen though (In time)

 

OC.

[Piet]

Caught up with you Denis. Great progress and I hope you van figure out how to proceed with the spiral stairs, They give the boat a level of class. If not, that your regular stairs will also look awesome.

Keep plugg'n at them my friend.

[vossy]

I would definitely go with the spiral staircase if you can manage it; and i'm certain you can!

 

chris

 

[md1400cs]

Denis,

 

Just catching up - been away - Looking great Your spiral stairs are excellent As Chris and OC just said I agree 

Edited April 10, 2018 by md1400cs

[Geoffrey]

Looking really great. Love this build.

[popeye the sailor]

thanks for the confidence    work week's over now,  so I can take another stab at the stairs.  sad part is I used Ca on them,  so it might be hard to salvage them.

    we'll see what a fresh perspective can do.

 

thanks for the kind word....and all the likes!   

[popeye the sailor]

OK........I had put them in my oops bag.   I needed to split one apart,  but I didn't have to do anything about that.........one already did.   they need to go in opposite directions.   taking the intact one,  I did some fitting to see what I can do to get them right.   Hugh was correct in his assumption,  that the stairs fall short of their goal.   they need one more step.   I drew the part needed on two different thicknesses of wood,  to be cemented together to equal the thickness of the kit steps.

 

it's a beginning   

[Kevin]

I think the spiral will look much better, you can do it

[Mike Dowling]

I know it's a pain but I have to agree with Kevin. I am quite sure you will manage it.

[src]

Just caught up here Dennis. The stairs with the sides looked much better then the set without. The spiral stairs however will be much nicer, you can do it.

Sam

[vossy]

if you have a look at david's build log of the same boat (drobinson02199) you will find he had the same spiral staircase problem. he describes how he overcame it in there. seems to me you are at the stage whereby you haven't gone too far as to make fixing it an insurmountable problem. either way, looks like the jury has spoken and we all want to see a spiral staircase! lol

 

cheers

 

chris

 

 

 

[popeye the sailor]

I hear ya Sam..........working on it as we speak!   

 

so I see Chris........I will have to look at Don's log...haven't done that yet.   I'm going to try a different approach.......these darn instructions don't show very much.  I should be used to it.......being a Billing Boats builder.   I will have an update .....did a little yesterday.   wrong in the assumption that I didn't go too far.....I did... now  it's damage control time and it may include some scratch building anyway.   so be it!   

[cog]

Remeber @Adrieke emigrated to downunder ... he build a sternwheeler with a winding staircase ... worth a look I would say ...

[popeye the sailor]

I do Carl........I'll take a look at his log as well.  I did look at Dave's log......he hit on some of the conclusions I have been thinking of.   the curve of the decks is one of the problems.   I added one more curved steps to the top,  and even though I can get it to align to the second level,  I see it's not even to the first level.   it will probably need a straight step at the bottom,  and it may need to be trimmed.  one set is still intact.......while separating the other set,  it didn't come apart too good,  so I will need to make another whole set of stairs.   I didn't get anything done yesterday.......ended up working on the car,  getting it ready for state inspection.

 

thanks for reminding me about Adrieke's build....I'll look at his as well   

[popeye the sailor]

I looked up other logs for this model,  and I came up with several others.   each one had their take on the stairs......not the fun part of the model.  I decided to take a different approach,  which as I'm proceeding,  might not have been a wise choice.  I had assembled one already with the post,  and it came out uneven.....part of what prompted me to try making straight stair flights.   taking them back out,  the posts were removed and cleaned up,  later to be cemented on the model,  to insure that they would be straight,

the one that I removed the post from was sanded around the outer spiral,  and I added another step to the top,  seeing that the spiral itself wasn't achieving the 90 degrees it required to make the span the the second level.

I noted that it wasn't a straight ascension either....I'll have to work on it.   as for the other flight of stairs,  I had to take it apart,  which ended up badly for the parts..........everything from splintered cuts to the uneven.   they will need to be sanded and corrected,  in order to salvage them.  instead of making new pieces, they were sanded down in thickness,  and cemented on a small piece of 1/32 flat stock to make up for it.   it was compared to one I did earlier to check the thickness.

the end result is that I now have a left and a right flight of stairs.   the next task will be to get them to fit.

I haven't done them yet,  but another thing that I find odd are the hinges for the doors on the first level.   the way they are shaped,  suggests that they need to be bent around a brass rod,  to create the hinge pin eyelet.   but in doing this,  it creates a double thick hinge....not good in my opinion.   when I create them,  I will post a picture or two to show you what I mean.

[Old Collingwood]

Looking great mate,   love what you are doing with those stairs, mine are difficult enough just being straight.

 

OC.

[popeye the sailor]

thanks OC.......I might have made some headway.   doing it this way though,  the railing posts are taking a beating...but I suppose if I were to paint them brown,  they won't be too noticeable     more soon if it pans out   

[popeye the sailor]

....more on my unconventional way to make spiral stair cases.   the top step I added wasn't the best thing to do.......I ended cutting off most of it.  having the step level with the second level,  pushed the stair case away from the post.   tough to get a step up in this hobby.......I'll never get a raise this way   .....just thought I'd pun it up a little***   

I have a gap at the bottom........do I dare?!?!?!   why not!  there's nothing like a happy landing    while I play with this,  I'll show you something else......the hinges for the first level doors seems to be an oddity too.   I've seen them done in different ways......here's what I've derived from them.  the way that they are made,  suggests that they be folded over......the center part is to be wrapped around whatever is to be used as a hinge pin.   this makes the hinges double thick,  something I think is kinda weird.   I first thought about folding them over,  and then snip off the double part,  making the hinge thin and not as bulky.

it can be seen how the center part is thinned down......the holes are supposed to match the opposite part.   I stuck a piece of that steel rod in my vise, in order to accomplish the bending process.   but beware.........if you let go at an inopportune time,  the part gets catapulted into god knows where!   gentle pressure.....this way,  it falls to the floor {this is the road I took}.   just as much as a paint to locate them,  even though I pushed the mat under the table {it suppresses bounce}.

at this point,  they are crimped with the needle nose pliers.   the first couple,  the holes didn't line up........this was corrected by inserting a pin through the outer holes,  acting as a guide.    it didn't take long to bend them all......I found that I have two extra pieces......not a boon bonanza,  but if one is messed up,  there is a replacement.

see what I mean by them looking thick      this would have been the best time to trim them,  but I started to assemble them before I realized it.   maybe later.

this is what they will look like.......I will use CA when I get them set up.   I'll chase out the holes with a drill....then drill them again when they are in place on the model.  the brads are 10 mm,  I'm guessing.........I should use the ones I got from Billing's {they might be a tad thicker}.  I'll use 7 mm when I fill the holes.

    I also began plotting what to do about the metal doors and windows for the second level.......gonna scratch the doors from wood,  and make frames for the windows.   the first holes to fill on the second level will be gratings {on both sides}.   assembling the supplied grating from the kit is a no go......the darn thing looks too big.

holy visibility batman!   yea.....not my cup of sassafras tea.   I got out the grating kit I got from model shipways........had this darn thing for a while now.....I'll never order from the place I got it from again!  >thump!<  bad customer service.........>thump!<.....bad!.....BAD!!!.....>thump!<.....>thump!<    it would have been a good fit.......except that there wasn't enough to make both of them  

I then though of the grate material I made for the United States build {look into that build to see how I made them......insanity at it's best}.    "there,  there....little fella.......I don't like to use helmets either ."   so..........after cutting one of them to size {since I didn't have the sense to snap a picture of them},  it was fitted into position.

now.....I need to make a frame for it.   rather than muck it up by combining stain and paint....I'll just use paint.

.......once I trim it up,  of course      then I can make the other side.   I also set up another bow fender in the CORRECT template,  {this time}......I'll do the trim and fit today.   the last thing I did in this session,  was to add the outer railing to the stairs I was working on.  I figured it might safeguard the spindles from breakage.......still gotta cement one of them back on.  I left it off for fitting purposes.   with a little sanding,  it doesn't look half bad.   staining is out due to glue blotches.........still gonna be a pain to paint.

[Mirabell61]

Lovely stairs Denis,

 

I can imagine what it looks like with those period dressed figurines on them.....

 

Nils

[Mike Dowling]

Excellent stairs, well done Sir !!

I think the hinges look fine and I personally would stick with them as they are.

[Mike Dowling]

Another thought! I have some plastic mesh left over from another build. I used it to make the windows in my yacht Mary. It would be just right for your grills.

Do you have any ?

[md1400cs]

Denis,

 

Yes - those stairs of yours are really excellent. Well done!

 

[src]

Those are some nice looking stair Dennis. I know somebody who does stairs in Los Vegas, want a job???

Sam

[popeye the sailor]

thanks for the good word on the stairs......trying not to let ya'll down    I need to build a shelf for the Norden........darn thing is sitting on the table at the moment.........needed better light for it's photo shoot.   I'll figure something out  

 

I have to find some of those figures Nils......I'm still looking     thanks!

 

I thought about that Mike......I have some fine mesh.....or I can even use the tinted cello I'm using for the windows.   it would have been good if the Model Shipways grating worked out.....smaller mesh...I wouldn't have to worry about being able to look into it.  I'm sure I can block it out with something....thanks for the offer   

 

jee Sam.........hmmmmmmmm,  could be a way to get a leg up in that line of work     if my current job does a nose dive,  I'll let ya know