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

[popeye the sailor]

thanks OC....my only distraction of late has been work...........so many changes,  that I'm not sure if I'll still have a job down the road.   but I'm trying to change the way I look at it.......sometimes it makes me pretty angry.  actually,  I felt so good that I spent some decent time at the table  ...tooth wise.

   I'm looking forward towards getting the rest of 'em removed.......it's going to help me overall.   high time I dealt with it     hopefully,  I'll be able to get a lot more done!

 

thanks again............and thanks to all for the likes!

[popeye the sailor]

hey there.........got a bit of progress here to show you.   since I have about twenty or so windows to make {and this is just one type....there are two},  I figured I'd better gt busy on them.  using the metal window billets as a jig,  I set up two 1 x 3 mm strips in order to mass make the frames.  then the tedium of cementing them together.

I had made one of the engine room vents....there are two in all.  I made the other one today.  I used the grating that I made for the United States build.

then,  I was going to chicken out on making the doors for the second level,  and use the metal ones.   they fit OK.......I was just going to paint them.

    but come the moment of truth,  I find that I'm missing one of them.  they've never left the box they came in..........I looked all around the table,  because I did try to drill the squares out of one of them......figured I'd try and make them with windows.  that stuff is tougher than a marine drill Sargent!  when I finally came to grips that it was nowhere to be found,  I decided to make them.   turned out to be the easiest thing I've done all day   

a little clean up and they'll work out just fine.    I'll likely do more on her tonight........I'll post again real soon   

[BANYAN]

Looking great Denis; some window factory you have goin' there - hope the union approves the overtime

 

cheers

 

Pat

[popeye the sailor]

thanks Pat    they have no say in the matter      strange about the door......I hardly ever lose parts    no matter......I wasn't too keen on the metal bits anyway,  though I know I'll have to use some of them.  I forgot to mention that I also gave the three decks a coat of clear lacquer....they need a light sand now and the finish coat.  once I get the windows and doors in place,  then I can put all this together.   gotta start uping the bling factor too.

 

thanks for the good word........and thanks for all the likes too   

[popeye the sailor]

I made further progress with the doors,  windows,  and vents.   the doors were shaped and sanded..........then set on the sticky side of a piece of tape, marked with the position as to where they were fitted on the structure.  the vents were done the same way.....shaped,  sanded,  and marked where they will go.

all of the window frames have been jigged up as well.......now to set and dry.

I don't think I'll need this many for the second level,  but if I need 'em,  I got 'em.  there are a couple of odd windows that I will need to make...they should be fun.   I will have more soon   

[popeye the sailor]

thanks for the likes...I apologize for the slow pace of the updates.   I was a bit crowded at the table.........I keep say'in I need a longer table.   now that I moved the obstruction to it's own temporary table {of sorts},  I can get something done on the dice.  the doors and the vent covers were painted and cemented in place.  much as I didn't want to {'cuz they look corny},  I added the door knobs using those black beads supplied in the kit.

I gave them a backing,  so they would be recessed into the door openings.......I'll paint or stain the backing inside,  so they won't be seen through the windows.  I'm thinking of using that tinted cello,  so it may cut down on the visibility.   as for the fore and aft doors,  I couldn't recess them...the openings were a bit shallow.

I also added the actuator rods on the paddle wheel....finishes it off.

once the windows are ready and added to the structure,  the third level can be added.   still more to do on the first level too.   I'll get to more on that soon........perhaps even the next update.      thanks for look'in in......enjoy  

[vossy]

Really nice update Pop. Hoping to get back to mine again soon once my hand has healed. With the door knobs, I find simple things like dressmakers pins are more to scale, or even old, bent used planking nails. That's what I used for my paddle wheel fake nails on my build.

 

Cheers

 

Chris

 

[popeye the sailor]

yea.......I like to use 10 mm brads.   I have a lot of them from all the Billing kits I've built.   they make great buttons and levers too.   my thing is those beads......but,  if that's what it calls for    what happened to your hand mate?

[vossy]

4 hours ago, popeye the sailor said:

yea.......I like to use 10 mm brads.   I have a lot of them from all the Billing kits I've built.   they make great buttons and levers too.   my thing is those beads......but,  if that's what it calls for    what happened to your hand mate?

I had a fight with a carving knife and a leg of lamb! Nearly cut my thumb off! Its why I haven't updated for a while. Should be good to go again pretty soon though. You keep up the good work.

 

Cheers

 

Chris

 

[ccoyle]

23 minutes ago, vossy said:

I had a fight with a carving knife and a leg of lamb! Nearly cut my thumb off!

Too bad we don't have a "I vicariously feel your pain" button!

[BANYAN]

Nice update Denis; she's coming along very nicely - glad you found some room on the tabletop to progress her.

 

cheers

 

Pat

[popeye the sailor]

no like button on that one Chris.......I hope your recovery is progressing well.   thanks for the good word.......

 

thanks pat.   I did more on her yesterday.......I didn't get any pictures though.   I'm also trying out something a little bit different for the first level railings.  I should have more soon      

[CDW]

I just caught up with/found this build thread and began looking through your latest progress photos. All I can say is wow...beautiful! 

Now I'll be going back to look through the entire thread. She's a beauty, Dennis.

 

My wife and I stayed a few days at the Rising Star casino in Indiana. Their casino is built upon one of these riverboats. Your model reminds me of our stay there. By the way, they had a gorgeous model of the Rising Star casino boat in their showcase. I thought I had taken photos of the model, but can't see to put my hands on it at this time.

[Old Collingwood]

On 11/9/2018 at 8:43 PM, ccoyle said:

Too bad we don't have a "I vicariously feel your pain" button!

I think it would be appropriate for all of us at some point.

 

OC.

[kmart]

Wow  Popeye,  That paddle wheel turned out Awesome.!!!

[popeye the sailor]

finally done with my work week   I can get back to what I was doing    I'll get back at the table tomorrow and see how my ideas for the first level railings have dried.......I've only done one section so far....will have pictures on this tomorrow.

 

hi there CDW!  I'm trying to do something a bit different.   if you come across those pictures....I'd love to see'um    thanks for the good word.....hope you follow along.......I'm probably at the half way point.

 

yes OC.......wouldn't wish that on anyone!  I hope your better Chris........really love to see more of your project.   superb looking model   

 

thanks Kmart!  I wasn't too keen on the materials use to make it...but it did turn out well.   now to try and replace all that other metal junk.   Cathead did a great job on his paddle wheels.......the frames are made of wood too!  I would have liked to have done it too,  but I chickened out 

[vossy]

Hey Pop, I should have some more updates on the weekend or maybe Monday Aussie time. You are doing a great job on this model, and indeed your paddle wheel does look fantastic!

 

Cheers

 

Chris

 

[keelhauled]

Dennis,

You are a ship building machine!!!

 

I've been binge reading your build. 

What a Beautiful build!  nice attention to detail. 

thanks for the fun! 

Marc

[Kevin]

just been catching up with your log my friend, she has certainly moved on since i last looked in, apologies with not keeping up, but since i got my mojo back i am doing my best, right back to the rigging

[popeye the sailor]

thanks for the kind comments gents     I've been tinkering with her a little today.......beginning to get the feeling that the railings might be a bit too high.  you might have had that feeling from time to time........start something that looks cool in the start,  but reality sets in,  and you begin to think better of it.   I don't think it would be too hard to make an alteration     should have some pictures up soon.

 

that's good to hear Chris!   yours looks much better than mine,  but thanks for say'in so      

 

thanks Marc........and I have many projects to prove it!     I'm glad you like the build......still more to go.  hope you follow along!

 

I'm in the same boat Kevin........if I'm look'in in here,  I'm not gett'in anything done..........if I'm at the table,  then all the logs I watch build up and it tough to catch up to 'em all.  compound that with not look'in in the scratch builds,  because I'm look'in through the kit builds.  as was said in the Monty Python sketch "Dennis Moore":  "my, this redistribution of wealth is trickier than I thought?!?!?"

 

honestly....I can't think of a better predicament to be in   

[cog]

8 hours ago, probablynot said:

Trouble is, I can't leave 'likes' for you unless I take the trouble to log in to MSW!  I've just popped in to put that right!

Trying to get rid of an addiction, Brian?

[popeye the sailor]

you got that right Carl.........I get the shakes whenever the site is down  !    appreciate the kind comment and the due diligence Brian....cripes......yours is even coming out better 'n mine!   I do feel good about 'er though,  since she's privately owned,  and not from a major shipping line company.   it gives me a bigger window....come to think of it,  I don't even recall if there really is a "king of the Mississippi".  anyway.......I have to show the admiral what you've done on yours............she'll probably run out and get me another kit      I do have the remains of the Robert E Lee in the closet,  given to me by a patron of the site.   I was going to make a ferry out of it,  but I may change my mind.  I have the paddle wheel frames,  but I saw how Cathead made his,  so if I need to alter them,  I can try.   but that's another story       OK..........it's update time   

[popeye the sailor]

I've been tinkering with her here and there.........ideas are spread all over the table.   I hardly have room to do anything with the Progress.......it's like I need another table {like a hole in the head}.  I started to assemble the benches.......there are only three in the kit.

as can be seen,  I've also been working on the smoke stacks.  the holes are drilled for the decoration that separates them.

....which leads to the railings in question.   I think they are too high.........shouldn't be a huge deal,  since other aspects of this model are out of scale,  but it is.

fitting them to the model........this is quite evident.

this is only part of the whole idea.   there is more to them......idea in progress      the decoration that separates the smoke stacks needed a real good cleaning up.......quite a bit of flash.  after all the mold lines were filed off,  it got a coat of gold paint.

the smoke stacks were taken to the booth and given a coat of flat black.   I used a spray can.....the paint was really thin.   with the stacks set up this way,  a few runs developed,  so I trimmed the runs off with a razor blade,  sanded them,  and gave them another coat.   I drilled holes in the base and fitted small diameter dowels in them,  setting them up in a different way to dry.

not liking how the railings were going,  excess wood was cut off the posts,  making them look a bit better.

a cap will be added to the railings before they are cemented in place....but before I reveal how I didn't listen to myself........here is the progress report on the stairs.  I know your all anxious to find out.   not that great,  I'm afraid........the first one still fits odd,  and the other side is looking to follow the same trend.   the outer banister broke in just about the same amount of places,  forcing me to cobble it together...........still the same bunching near the top of the staircase.   sad but true........I like Brian's outcome a lot better..........................I will still try,  but don't be surprised if I do an about face   

now I was told that it was the worker's day off..........but I caught one of them hang'in around.  very kind of 'em to let me take his picture  

.....and now to show you that I don't even follow my own directions .........I cemented the starboard side railing in place without doing the cap rail first!

looks a lot better though,  than my first vision of them.    I need to make a pair for the fore end of the boat.  more on her soon   

[Old Collingwood]

Love the staircases  and  - you have shrunk  into your own build   - very cool.

 

OC.

[BANYAN]

Wh has been a busy boy then   Quite a bit of progress Denis and all looks good.

 

cheers

 

Pat

[CDW]

The riverboat's name has caused the Rolling Stones to be stuck in my head. 🙂

[popeye the sailor]

that's why I didn't put the tongue in there        that would have clinched it........I'd have Mick thump'in on my head!    thanks CDW!

 

thanks Pat.......I figured I'd better get busy on her,  or the admiral would have killed me    she never left the table anyway,  so it wasn't hard to pick up where I left off.   I have a few more pictures of what I did later last night. I'll have them up soon   

 

thanks OC.........I thought I'd show one of the folks on there.......does look kinda neat   Chris is correct.........the 1:87 scale figures work well on this model.   

 

thanks to all who hit the like button   

[popeye the sailor]

at the moment......the camera is 'feeding'.   I got the pictures out beforehand,  so I can show you the new additions.  the aft railings got the cap rail added to it.   in a way,  this worked out,  because of the slight curvature of the deck.  if the cap rails were on, it may have been harder to get the railings to bend as much as I needed them to.

the windows were added at this point........the port side railings were also added at this point

the cap rails for this side.........and the windows

I used the tinted cello that I have on hand......with the upper deck open,  you can see into the cabins pretty good.  once closed off though,  the view might be a lot less.   it will be a bit harder to add the windows to the fore and aft ends,  due to the curves.   the smoke stacks are dry now.....I'm letting them set a bit longer.

I done some work to the stairs.....   hand rails are on.  I'm still plugg'in away  

that piece comes from the one on the left.........I cut it off trying to fit it in place.  more updates soon   

[Sjors]

Very very nice Popeye,

I’m away for a while and hoppa....something

new 😁

 

Sjors

[src]

wow Dennis, she is really coing together. Doorways and Wheels and Stairs oh my!!

Sam