Bluenose II by homer - Artesania Latina - 1:75

[homer]

I have ModelExpo's Bluenose in dry dock. However, I really liked the way Artesania Latina's ship looked, so I purchased it and this will be what remains of my build log. I do realize Al's kit is far from accurate. Perhaps this is why I haven't found many detailed logs on the site. I've been remiss about going so long before creating a build log and I apologize for that.

 

I haven't yet finished my Charles Morgan build. We were getting ready to move and between that and work getting very busy I wasn't able to dedicate much time to it. Then as I approached early retirement, I just couldn't get back into it. In all, almost two years past. Then I wanted to try and get back into building but because I got a bit rusty, didn't want to ruin the CW Morgan, which I put a lot of work into. So, thought I would order and build Chuck's 18th Century Longboat kit. I have finished it and build a small display case. I need to upload images of it into the completed logs. 

 

Not that I want to make any excuses, but during that two year sabbatical I had a small stroke and lost much of the sight in my right eye. This has created a depth of field issue for me, especially with building! Then I developed hand tremors. My ship building has never been on a professional level and I do it for the personal accomplishments. Certainly, I wish I could build like many of our members. You all are certainly a great inspiration. Anyway, back to the Bluenose II.

 

I'll post a pic of the box since AL has had several ship kits and many are still out there from the 80's. Mine is one of there newer ones. I know there has been some conversation about this. To start with, the kit looked fairly good. It was only after I started that, like many others, the false keel was warped. Mine was severely warped! I did the best I could to straighten it.

 

[homer]

I wanted to mention that I started this build on Feb 16, 2019. I'll add some additional pics of the build as it went along. I'll share, to the best of my recollection some of the areas I had difficulty.

 

 

 

[homer]

Additional build pics: The deck pieces are not yet glued down. I found that the measurements in the AL directions where they should be placed were "all over the map"! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[homer]

At the risk of being more of an idiot than I normally am ... I attach a pic of the deck structures with the grid tops, some open. Here's my mistake and hopefully you don't make the same one! I kept looking to see how others made the grid / bar structures at the top of the buildings. I have made similar and in fact, on my CW Morgan. However, these cut pieces were so light and with my shaking hands 🙂 I couldn't for the life of me lay and then glue them in any orderly way. I literally spent two full days messing with these until I came up with what is pictured there now. I wasn't happy with it. But, it was the best I could do under my current circumstances! Then, about three days later guess what I found... The roof bar structures in the supply tray that is given to you by AL. Erghhhhh... I was so angry. I'm not going to change them. At least not yet. It's my work. I put it together and it is what it is! 

 

[homer]

More pics: I had to remake the two small boats. The one on the right I ended up tossing out. The white metal parts I used my Dremel with polishing wheel and I also used 000 Steel Wool. It made quite the mess. I painted and used clear lacquer so they hopefully don't discolor. I then ran the wires for the Bow Sprit. I could not neatly wrap the wires at the ends without my hands moving all over the place and hitting completed items. Sometimes I spend more time fixing things I break than building! So, I made metal "zip ties". I used a nail being held in a vise and wrapped it seven or eight times with the wire. Oh, I first rub wax on the nail then wrap it. Then, i use CA glue and immediately pop the zip ties off the nail before it all sets up. I used these to secure the the metal line on the Bow Sprit. I must not have taken close up pics of this but maybe you can see it by looking at other pics. I also made the anchor items and installed them. 

 

 

 

[Heronguy]

You are off to a good start.  I'm working (well actually not working) on one of the older versions of the AL kit.  It is interesting to me to see the kit difference in the fittings