The M&M Fun Ship by popeye the sailor - 1:33 scale - the lost log - finished

[popeye the sailor]

the big crash.......a very sad time for the older members of MSW.   the tremors we had in the recent past,  were but stark reminders of how we all had to pitch in together to rebuild what we once had.  some logs never came back......those who past on,  and those whose logs were so extensive,  that rebuilding them was impossible.   one thing that shone through all the turmoil,  was how committed the Admins and moderators were in repairing a crippled site,  and how committed the members were in helping.  those who came after the big crash.........you may have heard about it in passing......but probably not much concerning the impact that it had on the site.  a lot of logs were lost...along with a good bit of information...tutorials and such.  some logs were partially lost,  suggesting the presence of a rim,  to the crater that had formed the epicenter,  of the void.   While some repaired their logs,  others were having to replace their entire logs.  sadly,  some found it to surmountable to accomplish.  

    I was in a similar predicament.......the Gothenborg,  the Gundalow,  the Nordkap....some of the ones I had to repair......the Nordkap didn't make it,  along with this build log of the M&M Fun Ship.    I've mentioned this build many times now........I've had my doubts that I could recreate it.   when I build my first model,  the Nordkap,  I started in right away scratch building and bashing aspects of the model,  so I learned this very early.  I was also entertaining an idea of how to clone hulls from the parts panels.....a much easier path,  that having to learn CAD from the ground up.  I had missed the boat with the cux 87 build......I had already destroyed the panels.  it wasn't until I started the Mary Ann,  that I took towards trying to save them.   only interested with the hull parts,  I traced out the parts for two hulls.   one I had traced a couple extra center bulkheads,  in n effort to stretch the hull,  making it longer.  that hull went on to become the Trawler Syborn.   the other one sat in a box,  waiting to be assembled.  during this time,  the admiral became enamored with the models,  liking them better than my plastic models.   she asked me about what I was doing.......and I told her about the 'experiment' {as it were}.  her next question was,  "so you make the hull......you can make it into anything you want?"  I told her .."sure".   being an avid M&M collector,  it was she,  who gave me the idea.....it took no time at all to come up with the concept for it.   some of the dispensers she had collected,  had these small packs of M&M's inside.........fun size bags.  that's how the name came about.  even the paint scheme was a no brainer....it should be colorful,  like a handful of M&M's  

    I hope I can recall everything it took to build this model.   it might not have all the bells and whistles,  but I think the pictures will fill in the gaps.   in a way,  it makes sense to recreate this log,  over trying to do the Nordkap.   I have another kit of the Nordkap.......a much older one,  so it will make a new log all the more interesting.   with the first model,  in spite of the wood being some 30 - 40 years old,  I was able to use over 90% of it.   the wood in the kit I have now is much older....it quite possibly might even be close to a first production kit.   there is no kit of the M&M Fun Ship..........a one of a kind scratch build.   I hope you enjoy the log.......it took roughly four and a half months to build.

 

5-15-2012

first the keel.......

that's the Trawler Syborn in the background,  all planked and well on it's way.

 

5-16-2012

at the time,  I had just received the new build slip from Tom.  this was the first keel to sit in it.

one by one,  the bulkheads were cemented in place.   even the main table {my only table at the time} was fairly new.......odd to see it without all the scars of time.

soon,  all of the bulkheads were in place......all except the two transom parts for the stern.

the hull frame came out rather straight......it looked pretty good.

as with every model,  sanding is the dominant part at this point.  more will be added before I'd need to get into the really tough sanding.   I will add more a bit later......I just got reminded that we have to go out.  so,  when I get back............  

Edited April 25, 2018 by popeye the sailor

[AntonyUK]

Hi Popeye.

Looks like a lot of fun.

Nice building jig.

Looking for more on your M&M build.

 

Regards Antony.

[popeye the sailor]

thank you Anthony   the admiral will never part with it,,,,it is on the shelf along with my other models.   in picture #3,  you can see my home made slip leaning against the wall.......it has three different set ups on it.   more is on the way.

 

thank also for the likes   

[popeye the sailor]

6-7-2012

 

at this point,  the beam that span the bulkheads were cut out and fitted.   the two transom parts were left off until a bit later.

planning the layout began here.   once they were all in place,  the tops were all sanded.

 

6-13-2012

two beams will be installed lengthwise,  in the slots of the bulkheads.  the short one was cemented in place at the bow.  I want to place the pilot house at the bow,  so it needed a short fore deck.

I got to thinking......putting the beams in the slots would create quite a bit of camber for the deck.   I decided to take most of it out.   the beams were set in place, using a level.

extra framing was needed to give the deck platform a good anchor point.

at both ends of these beams,  they were boxed in and cemented to the bulkheads.   the deck platform is cemented in place at this time.

[popeye the sailor]

fleshing out the pilot house.....three sides were cut with the windows and door marked out.

the bow platform was prepped and sanded.

the sides were cemented together {here's where the door came in}  I decided where the door is to be......only one.

making the frame to cement the shell in place......it will also double as a dash frame too.

with the shell fitted {not cemented in place yet},  I moved to the aft end,  because a cabin is to be located there.

the two transom parts are in place now

[popeye the sailor]

6-15-2012

the pilot house was put back in place,  so that a section could be added,  closing off the port side fore deck.

then the rest of the deck platform was added.

one of my ideas was to make some lounge chairs for the deck.  this involved some soldering.

a template was made to make the basic frames for the lounge chairs.  the deck platform was finally dry and the clamps could be removed.

the first lounge chair frame was done...

the chair assembly continued.

for the starboard side of the fore deck,  a rounded extension was added to allow for door movement {or the illusion that it could}. 

the pilot house was marked on the deck,  in prep for planking.   post extensions were added to the stern posts, to frame in the aft cabin.

as can be seen,  the planking butt stagger lines were marked on the deck.   also planned is a dance floor......this is the only thing I drew a diagram of.

 

[popeye the sailor]

6-19-2012

more aft post work was done,  making sure they were all perpendicular to the deck.

all around the deck platform,  was sanded flush with the bulwark perimeter.  here around the fore deck,  especially.

extensions were added to all of the bulwark posts,  to make them all look the same thickness.   sanding was going on all over...even some of the faring {I recall this plywood was tough to sand.....a lot of work}.

I had also cut the rabbits for the bow and stern.  I did the bow at this time in prep for hull planking.

the faring process continued...

yea......this plywood was terrible to use.  at this time,  I didn't have a dremel,  but I came up with something to use.   we had bought what they called a 'peticure', a motorized 'sander' for our dog's nails.  he hated it so we stopped using it......just in time for the switch to break.  I rewired it so all I had to do is push the battery pack in place,  and it would run.   it wasn't the best,  but it beat the heck out of expending all that elbow grease.   you will likely see it in some of the pictures.

     the planking started by this time.

I'll show the highlights of the planking........it can be seen how the planking sits behind the rabbit.  the planking was butt staggered like this through the entire process.  it better utilizes the planking,  rather than the full strip.

 

[mtaylor]

Denis, it's great to see this one coming back.   A lot of creativity went in her, as I recall.

[BANYAN]

Great to see this one back mate - it was a fun log to follow.

 

cheers

 

Pat

[Omega1234]

Hi Denis

 

I joined MSW long after your M&M Funship was built.  I've only seen a few photos of it in the past, so it's great to savour the journey of how she was built.

 

Bring it on!

 

Cheers

 

Patrick

[lmagna]

Hi Denis

I bet this is one build log that won't fall behind or end up in the unfinished kits! This could be the fastest build log in history! Keep it up I'm expecting great things from you!

 

Lou

Edited April 21, 2018 by lmagna

[popeye the sailor]

thank you very much for the kind comments. also thanks for the likes    

 

yes it was Mark.......it's one of the reasons why I decided to repost it.   I should have done it at that time,  when everyone else was rebuilding their logs,  but it was a finished build,  and if my memory serves me right,  I had five or so builds going on at the time.   way too much to replace.   what amazed me was that I didn't have to put much thought into it...I had everything planned out in my head.   I even added in a few extras.......like Andy's suggestion about the windshield wipers!  the admiral actually accused me of prolonging the project   

 

thanks Pat......I'm sure you remember the log........you followed star to finish!   glad your ready to follow again!   

 

thanks Patrick.......then you'll get a huge kick out of it!   I had just as much fun with this build,  as I did with the Andrea Gail  

 

hello Lou......thanks for the good word!  I guarantee that will never happen......it sits on a shelf,  and the admiral STILL won't let me touch it!  I wouldn't think of try to mod it in any way.......it's a one of a kind.  even if I tried to build another one,  it wouldn't come out the same.

 

I've got a small errand to run.........but when I get back I'll post more.  

Edited April 21, 2018 by popeye the sailor

[popeye the sailor]

6-21-2012

this particular session was devoted towards fleshing out the front of the pilot house.  I'm sure more sanding was tucked in there somewhere.   the hull looks a bit disheveled at this time.....it'll get better.  off of the frame for the dash,  the framework for the front wall was built

the planking seemed to stall here.  I guess I was more interested in enclosing the fore deck.  the front wall and windshield was cemented in place.

the back section of the pilot house is still removable...

the interior looks a bit better after a little sanding and primping.

across the back wall,  the access hatch to the engine was fleshed out

[popeye the sailor]

6-22-2012

it was back to planking the bulwarks again,  after the rest of the pilot house was assembled.   I had done some sanding to all the posts.....you may have noticed one picture,  where one of them was clamped.   I ran into some trouble with a couple of them.  the goal was to get the planks to lay as flat as possible,  making them just as smooth inside as outside.

planking around the stern was interesting.....instead of rounding it off,  I left it to come to sort of an apex.  it was given a less subtle shape with the finish sanding.

the wall for the aft cabin was built up some more.

the shape of the deck realized...

[popeye the sailor]

6-25-2012

the planking continued from this point.......the first couple of pictures were blurry,  but I think the others show how well she planked over.

there were a couple of bulges...but they sanded out fairly well.

 

[popeye the sailor]

6-27-2012

the outer hull of the stern was built up to flesh out the aft cabin

it was then trimmed and I did some rough sanding on it.

[popeye the sailor]

6-28-2012

more on the planking

a strip was laid on each side of the hull to equal the thickness of the rabbits.   the aft rabbits was cemented in place.

[popeye the sailor]

6-29-2012

the additional thickness is 1/32,  I believe........it mated the rabbits dlush.

with what I had on the deck,  it was impossible to work on her upside down.  I made a stand for it,

the keel was trimmed flush...

 

[popeye the sailor]

7-6-2012

to speed things up just a little......I wasn't going to go this far into the planking.   here is how the stern was shaping up,  and a snap of the garboard laid wit h a few more strakes added.

the garboard plank fit into the slot and made a nice transition.

these sessions were quite long.  I'd start working on it,  and the next thing I knew,  it was time for shut-eye.

[popeye the sailor]

7-10-2012

the job was done by mid day.  I took it outside to do some rigorous sanding.  

one side went well........the other side...........well?!?!?  no matter....in the end she smoothed out rather nicely.  I don't recall if I had used any filler at this point,  but I will with the second sanding.   it will help to get rid of the minor chinks in the armor     I'll get to some more tomorrow.  thanks for look'in in!

[Omega1234]

HI Denis

 

That's a lovely job you've done with the first layer of planking.  In fact, looking back at how you started from the bare frames and ended up with the first layer of planking done and sanded, has put a smile on my face.  I've always viewed the planking process of hulls as somewhat akin to a butterfly emerging from its chrysalis. From just a series of frames, thus emerges a beautiful hull...and yours is no exception.

 

Nice job!

 

Cheers

 

Patrick

Edited April 22, 2018 by Omega1234

[popeye the sailor]

thank you very much Patrick     it had the usual imperfections,  but it didn't take much to get the hull ready for paint.  actually,  it was kinda quick.......I did do a coat or two of filler,  but I like to sand as much off as I can.   it doesn't add thickness to the 'shell'.      very kind of you to say.

 

thanks to all for hitting the like button     the admiral got a pleasant surprise today......    our youngest son Kevin and his fiancee {spelling.......dunno,  I'm used to saying 'girlfriend'} brought her over something to add to her collection ......an M&M hibachi!

came complete with the utensils!   I might loose the spare room,  if she keeps this up!  

[popeye the sailor]

OK.......I got some time before I have to man the grill {no....not that one....she'd kill me!}.   here are some shots of the hull / filler treatment

 

7-11-2012

 

I spent a lot of time sanding.......I still had a couple of imperfections to take care of.

when I got it where I wanted it,  it got a coat of primer.

[popeye the sailor]

7-17-2012

 

the prop was then added to it.

then I began to make the stand for her.

then it too got a coat of primer.

as can be seen,  I added a little more filler to the hull.......I believe that was the last application.

[popeye the sailor]

7-18-2012

 

it wasn't much.....just a facial   

the rudder was made at this time and installed.

the hull was just about ready for paint.

then it was time for rub rails.

the stand got a coat of paint first.

more rub rails to go yet....stay tuned   

 

 

[BANYAN]

This brings back some great memories Denis - I am enjoying the log twice over   So will the  M&M hibachi join the fun and games on the deck?

 

cheers

 

Pat

[popeye the sailor]

thanks Pat..... we are doing some research on the hibachi...trying to get a handle on just how many of them were made / sold.   neither of us have seen it before,  and the people that Kevin bought it from,  told him they got it from a raffle.  we're thinking that it may be a collector's item........for this reason,  she won't use it,  and I don't blame her.   some of her cookie jars and dispensers go back a few years.  I keep telling her that she ought to pack some away...but she wants to show them {who can blame her.......I have my boats in the living room}   

 

thanks to all who hit the like button   

[popeye the sailor]

7-19-2012

we are getting close to paint.....which is good......but there is so much more to go    more rub rails were added,  along with some of the other bits of detail....like the portholes in the aft cabin.

the cabin roof was put on at this time too.

the stand got it's felt buttons....

 

here are a few more shots of the progress.   there were over 800 pictures in the entire log.......

...and this one small addition to the model.

 

                                                                                     

 

 

[Old Collingwood]

A great walk down memory lane my friend,  I think I remember it from way back then,    I was building my De Ag  HMS Victory back then (the part works kit)  and got as far as building one of the launches ( I still have that but alas lost my main Vic in a house move - had to leave it at the old house as it was to big to take with us).

 

Love the Bass in the corner of the room  (oh yes I spot things like that being a musician)

 

OC.

[popeye the sailor]

....amazing how long these log pages are.   I remember when they were half the length   

 

paint!

the paint work on the model came out so good.   it was probably one of the best jobs I ever did.  more in the next session