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

[popeye the sailor]

thanks OC.........sadly,  I don't think I got to see your Vic.  with all the logs I look at {and I do oggle over quite a few}  I missed it     I don't miss too many of yours now   {notice I said 'many'}.  that my no name Bass.......don't even know who makes it.   it's a shorter bass.....kind of like a student model.   I put a set of flatwounds on it and it sounds really nice.....has a nice smooth 'bottom' to it.  I have two other bass guitars.....a Fender Squire P body,  and a Epiphone Les Paul.

 

the last set of pictures were from 7-25-2012............these are from 7-27-2012.  I started to flesh out the aft cabin roof.   looking at these pictures.......I can't believe I did this.

this was just the beginning for the pilot house.   the cabin roof is a rounded triangle......I planned to shingle it.  the shingles were cut and shaped.

I was getting an idea of how they were to fit.......I started to plank the deck at this time too.

all cut into little wafers.......they will be shaped and trimmed into the shingles.

they were set on a board.  once arranged on the board,  each one will be given a color.   they are to follow a pattern.

I had taken paper and cut them to the contour of the edges.   the shingles that line the edges of the roof will be trimmed to these pieces of 'templates'.

all done with Testor's.......

[popeye the sailor]

I guess I spoke too soon about the pages        all these pictures are in about 54 folders....roughly 54 sessions working on the model.  I wonder how many pages it will take to tell the tale     

 

7-30-2012

 

those pieces of paper were used to form these singles for the edges.   the fillers were stacked up according to color.

all lined and ready to go!

the edge will have a length of drip molding across  the front.  {I guess I was dry fitting the deck planking?!?!?!}

[popeye the sailor]

7-31-2012

 

this wasn't a big session........not like the others {I was a madman......}   there was some fitting and painting.   I made the molding to hide those gaps along the edges of the aft cabin.

the exterior of the pilot house got a coat of paint...

and the inner bulwarks and pilot house interior got painted too.

darn it.......I think I missed a step!   the strip around the waterline!....OK....where is it? 

[popeye the sailor]

I did.......I missed 7-28     anyway,  I made up some decal stripes {these are actually train decals}  

I don't think I used the pink-ish looking ones.   here is how all the decal work was done.

we'll be in August next.......and this time.......really planking the deck   

[Old Collingwood]

Wowzer what a colorful looking boat.

 

I used to have and play an Ibanez SR in Red   and a tennor/alto sax.

 

OC.

[Omega1234]

Hey Denis

 

Now that’s a real party boat! Nice!!!

 

Cheers. 

 

Patrick

[BenF89]

Whew! Looking at how fast she was coming together, I feared I'd missed the whole saga - glad to see I can follow along with the rest. Looks like a unique project - glad to see you're able to bring some of it back for us 'newbies'

[popeye the sailor]

Ibanez SR...is that a guitar?  I gotta get back to practicing one of these days    modeling sucks up all my free time,  since I left the band.......or did the band leave me.....I don't recall     it was fun while it lasted.

 

thanks for all the kind comments folks....there is so much more to come.   it's hard to recall all that went into this project.......glad I have the pictures to show.   I store all my picture on memory sticks......even if the model hits the end of it's life expectancy,   I still have something to show that.....yes,  I built it      thanks as well for all the likes    on with the planking........

 

8-1-2012

 

the fore deck was the first area to be planked.   as was seem earlier,  I was experimenting with Annegre with a mahogany center strip.

I used the archive pen to simulate the calking.

the cap rail was painted a chocolate brown 

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

[popeye the sailor]

8-2-2012

 

the aft section of the pilot house was going through it's own changes as well

the additions to the fore deck got some accents in mahogany

then it was time for the main deck to get planked.  the center mahogany strip continued there as well.

as can be seen,  the mahogany stripping bordered off the dance floor.

the planking was finally reaching the pilot house........it stops leaving the structures a well to fit into.

 

[BANYAN]

Great seeing this fun project come back to life Dennis; that is a very nice paint finish on the hull.

 

cheers

 

Pat

[popeye the sailor]

8-3-2012

 

the dance floor was totally bordered off by this time.

I was also think about what I was going to plank the pilot house floor with.

the interior of the pilot house was also on my mind......I continued with making a small table.   on the model,  it took on the shape of an easel,  more than a table.

the engine companionway and the bottom part of the pilot house were painted in the light gray.

 

the pilot house floor planking was done........

more work on the pilot house table / easel.

more main deck planking.........around the pilot house and engine companionway.

 

[popeye the sailor]

thank you Pat     I've mentioned this model enough times.   I wish a lot of my hull finishes came out as well as this one did.   it's one of my better ones  

 

8-7-2012

 

the planking progressed......

I added other strips of mahogany to accent the dance floor

along the bulwarks were beginning to get filled in by this time.......it was almost to that point near the pilot house.   I wasn't sure if I had cemented the pilot house together at this point........I see that I haven't yet.

just as well,  since it might have been a trial to fill in around it.  I believe these are the aft cap rails.

I was itching to get busy on the dance floor.   I ran a few configurations through my head.   I ended up taking a piece of graph paper,  and drawing out the design.    it's the only part of the project,  that I drew a plan for.  I still have it today      measuring it out,  I needed tiny squares 4 x 4 MM.......I started to cut them with this jig.

this tool was somewhat helpful....it's a pickup pen.  it has a sticky tip,  that allows you to be able to pick up small parts....Tom sent me a couple to try out.  there are a couple different size tips......they clean up relatively easy...just roll them on a piece of tape.   they're better for plastic modeling though.......sawdust clogs it up too quickly.  they did help here though....it made the task easier.

of course there was a lot of checking to be sure that they were square...........

GAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!   HOLY QUALITY CONTROL!!!!!!!!  

it took a bit of time,  but I managed to get them all stuck onto the sticky side of adhesive tape strips

then the paint........

just the beginning.........

 

[popeye the sailor]

8-8-2012

 

the main deck planking continues......

 

it was sealed with semi gloss lacquer.

[popeye the sailor]

8-12-2012

 

I had done one end of the edging on the dance floor.   the squares were a tiny bit off......it made it hard to fit them in place.

to even them up,  I used the jig in another way.   they were all stacked inside the jig,  an the exposed side was sanded flush to the jig.   in a painstaking effort,  they were turned to another side and sanded 

another batch was painted.

I still ran into some difficulties here and there,  but the borders were done

measuring out the center,  a central design was drawn....

[popeye the sailor]

8-13-2012

 

enough time had past......I think the cap rails had their shape by now.

time to cap off the corners

the center was filled in with a collage of the corner designs.

I really should have marked this out in the beginning........it would have made it a lot easier.

from afar,  it doesn't look too bad.......

the rest was filled in with full strip planking.......in hindsight,  it might have looked better,  if I had done the calking.

it was given a coat of semi gloss lacquer.

I gave it one more light coat........

the dance floor is complete

[popeye the sailor]

8-15-2012

 

along with the easel,  I made a seat 

the moldings I had made were painted and cemented in place.

I will need three doors......one for the pilot house,  and two for the aft cabin,  which is nothing more than a changing room for the guys and gals.  the doors were assembled.

with the handles,  it gives me one left and two right handed doors.   the two for the aft cabin needed some signage on then to denote the gender.   I though this was kinda cute 

I like to think I meant to do this,  but I had goofed.   the opening was too tall.   since I didn't plan it with any form of step up,  I will close the open area with a piece of flat stock.

I'll do that later........I was having more fun making a disco booth for the deck layout.

I'll go with that for now........hmmmmmm      decals are fun.........I'll do those next!

the doors are in place now on the aft cabin.  I did some simulated hinges to finish them off.

along the bottom of the cabin,  I painted some 1/4 round molding and ran it across the deck edge.   the progress so far...........

the cap railing is just dry fitted at the moment.  I still need to make the rest of it.  the opening above the pilot house door was closed up,  and I began to shape the roof.

I like the idea of the large windows......the interior can be seen quite well.   I plan on adding a lot of detail....probably the most I've ever done.  I hope I get to do all that I want to do     more to add tomorrow  

 

[popeye the sailor]

thank you very much for all the likes    I got up very early this morning........I was hoping to get the log wrapped up today,  now that I'm back on my weekend.

 

8-16-2012

 

the portholes were painted the chocolate brown,  and filled with Testor's window maker........I think I've done this with earlier models.   this product works amazingly well for creating small windows......especially in aircraft models.   I can't count how many times I cemented in small windows,  only to turn cloudy because of the glue.   the cap rails were also cemented in place on the model.   they stop at the fore deck,  where railing will take over,  running up to the stem.

one side in place..

painting the fo-pah........making amends 

the window maker starts out as a milky fluid......it will dry clear.   I've had the bottle for quite some time......haven't used it since I last was heavy into modeling.  I can't say how many years.

I believe the pilot house is assembled at this point.  the mating lines have been touched up and some sanding has been done to get the mating surface for the roof flush.

both cap rails are in place now

there was still more to add to the wall of the aft cabin.   added are a pair of lights that will illuminate,  so that folks can find their way easily.

they too are filled with the window maker.......I probably should have dabbed in some white or yellow paint inside to color the lenses.   when dry,  they can be painted on the inside......just carefully go in with a wet brush.

here they are after an hour or so......the milky appearance is going away.

they are in place now......hard to see,  but the appearance of glass is there.

still looks rather visible.........I'll touch it up again after the paint has cured.

[popeye the sailor]

8-21-2012

 

there are to be six posts that will line the bulwarks,  in which to run some festive lights.   I had found a vast assortment of eyelets,  used for belts,  straps,  and shoes.   sorting some of them out {gonna be a huge task},  I chose some chrome ones to install in the deck at {as close to} equal spacing.

the hatch covers for the engine companionway were created and painted.   decorative molding was cemented around the companionway,  wheere it mates to the back of the pilot house.

to aide the posts,  to stay upright and vertical,  brackets {large eye bolts} were created and installed above the chrome post seats

mahogany molding also lines the paint separation along the back of the pilot house

[popeye the sailor]

8-22-2012

 

mahogany was used to band the aft cabin roof edge.

mahogany was also used to line the rub rails and additional hull moldings as well.

the windows were also lined with mahogany frames.......it did come at a price though.   I had a repair job to do.

I now wish I had redone this particular part of the pilot house wall.......I was too geared into going forward {still am as a force of habit}.   the best thing to do in my mind as this point was to touch it up with paint.

getting it the best that I could........I left it at that.

 

[popeye the sailor]

8-28-2012

 

continuing on with the pilot house,  I concentrated on what was to go inside.  wanting to add some instrumentation,  I started off assembling a computer screen.

it looked a bit too odd to be there..........hey Barbie........I made yas a computer!   I'll think on this some more    then I went on to flesh out the dash board and ship's wheel.

this was actually a punch out from the Gothenborg kit...the center cut for the tunnel.   I always save these cast off pieces.  the ship's wheel was painted at this time.   the telegraph was assembled too.

molding was added to the dash...

round bits of cast off material was used to make the gauge bezels.

it was given a coat of semi gloss lacquer. 

I had copied an image of a gauge decal sheet.......I printed off a sheet of them that will last me quite a while.   a column of levers was created using a 1/2 piece of dowel and brads for the levers

 

[popeye the sailor]

8-30-2012

 

continuing on with the pilot house interior.......we need a radio.  here are the raw parts that will create it.

adding some structure to the back wall along the roof edge.

the radio was assembled.....

making the rest of the window frames......and being more careful   

more done on the radio.....

I came up with another idea concerning the radar screen

I went online and found some images for ship components.   they will be shrunk to a more usable size.

more cemented in place inside.......the radio with wiring and mic,  and map sprawled out on the easel

other 'wires' were added to the interior.  they will be routed elsewhere.

 

 

[popeye the sailor]

9-5-2012

 

I decided on an overhead compartment and additional radar above.   the framework was added to attach it too.

the overhead compartment was fleshed out.

the windows were added at this time as well.   clear cello was used.   seeing this now.......I probably would have used the tinted glass {cello}.   while it might have enhanced the looks,  it might have obscured some of the detail...so I'm glad I didn't have it at that time   

I use the window maker to cement the cello in place.

the overhead was put in place to see how it would look.  the rest of the windows will be installed later.

when I got it the way it should look,  the overhead and the on dash part was painted.

 the funnel was soldered together at this time.

I have the plastic nav light boxes from the Nordkap booty {that's another story long lost.....I'll tell ya about it sometime   }.   I didn't like them,  so I made a pair of my own.

 

 

 

[popeye the sailor]

9-7-2012

 

radar screens and mahogany molding was added to the overhead

the nav lights were painted.....why I did them this way....I dunno....bit I did.

a base for the funnel was fleshed out.

.....and then dry fitted in place with the funnel

the completed overhead compartment

 

 

[popeye the sailor]

9-12-2012

 

the overhead and got a coat of semi gloss lacquer,  along with the other radar part for the dash.  the binnacle was painted as well

framing for the roof was under way at this time

the funnel base was painted

the radar for the dash was cemented in place and hard wired in.

more framing for the roof was taking place......then it will be painted.

the overhead compartment was cemented in place.

the rest of the windows were added to the pilot house.

the nav light boxes were cemented to the roof

 

[popeye the sailor]

9-13-2012

 

I had attached the anchor rope to an eye bolt that I installed on the stem.   the anchor assembly is added to the model.

I plan to have a railing around the funnel.   I decided to use chain.....I installed the posts.

the roof edge on both sides of the pilot house was beefed up a bit more,  to give a better anchor for the glue.

the funnel assembly with the chain added.

the admiral and I went down to her stash of M&M stuff,  it's quite a collection.   unfortunately,  there were no figures that were to scale,  so we chose the best ones.  for the time being,  I gave them a base so they could stand up on their own.

they seem to like it a lot.......red even got behind the wheel.

in the interest of the model,  I decided not to leave him there though.......I have a reason      perhaps if I should do a Walking Dead boat.......maybe I can have Maggie or Darrel drive     

 

 

[popeye the sailor]

9-18-2012

 

the funnel was painted silver......the chain was good,  but I don't think it's enough.  I decided to add a shield to it.   the attachment point for the shield was added to the funnel.

the roof was painted at this time.

pieces of dowel were cut,  along with some circles,  for the next addition to the model

the roof was dry fitted in place.

finding the centers of the circles,  the pieces of dowel was cemented to them,  and then dry fitted on the deck

a small thin sheet of brass was cut for the shield

 

 

[BenF89]

I'm loving all the little creative details - it really is a 'fun' boat, haha!  

 

[popeye the sailor]

9-19-2012 {part 1}

 

this was a huge session........my picture finger was tired after this one    for the table tops,  I printed up some images of M&M's - circles with an 'M' bossed in the middle.

then the set up to drill the thousand or so holes in the shield....

the back side of the shield was sanded to remove all the drill punctures......them redrilled to clean out the holes.

then bent around a dowel to give it the curve.

it was then cemented on the funnel

next was the set up for the fore deck railings

these are the 15 mm three hole stanchions

they were spaced by eye after the length was established.  I used CA to cement the stanchions in place.

the back wall of the nav light boxes were painted the color of the light.

they just need a touch up now.

[popeye the sailor]

thank you Ben.......there's a lot more   

 

9-19-2012 {part 2}

 

the admiral had some cloth that had M&M racing emblems on it.   I cut up the material leaving the emblems intact.

hooks were added to the posts.......they will be closed when the lights are strung,

I believe the roof is cemented in place at this time....oh........wait!...no,  it wasn't!  there's still a little bit more to add to the interior of the pilot house.   hooks were added at each of the corners though.   the tables were stained,  instead of painted.....after they were wiped off well enough,  the emblems were cemented in place with white glue.

the yellow one doesn't look too good.......I waited to see what would happen when the glue dried.

it did get better....good enough to use.....the others are drying as well.

they were given a coat of semi gloss lacquer.........

  <-- spoiler alert

[popeye the sailor]

9-21-2012

 

I used Annegre to do the border around the roof......doesn't matter what I used,  it was going to be painted the chocolate brown anyway.

I mentioned string'in lights.........I'll wager that you think they may be lit.  no.........would have been cool,  but I should have thought of that earlier in the project.           I found these lights in the dollhouse section at Hobby Lobby.  they looked perfect for the task.

they will terminate at a box that I need to add to the pilot house.   the border around the roof was painted.

cutting the M&M material to size,  I began to cover the lounge chairs with it.   I used white glue to cement it in place.