Chaperon by RussR - FINISHED - Model Shipways - 1/48 Scale

[RussR]

I am still waiting on the glass for my Hermione build. So in the meantime I thought I would do some of the preliminary task before my Chaperon build.

 

I have both the Chaperon and Armed Virginia Sloop by MS and waffled between which one to start. The Chaperon won out because there is fewer built and I have Kurt Van Dahm's  excellent CD "Building Chaperon" and the many build logs here on MSW. I may sell the AVS because my wants will probably change before Chaperon is built. 

 

This will be my 1st build log and will try to make many updates and photos but can't make promises. I just don't want to get to deep into it until the Hermione case is completed.

 

Here is a few pics of the kit as received without the paperwork. I did put the small parts into the plastic box that came with my Hermione kit.

 

 

[mbp521]

Russ,

 

Glad to see another Chaperon builder on here. I'm smack in the middle of my Chaperon build and what fun it has been. Kurt's CD has been a blessing and has helped tremendously, along with Catheads (Eric) excellent advice and help from several others. Looking forward to watching your build progress. I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

 

-Brian

Edited August 1, 2019 by mbp521

[Cathead]

I'm always up for another proper steamboat build. Glad to have you on board and looking forward to seeing what direction you take this in.

[kurtvd19]

Russ:

Glad to see another Chaperon on the building ways. 

I am almost tempted to build another and do some of the things that I didn't have time to do before (and meet the magazine deadlines).  Eric and others have added the details and I hope you follow suit.

Have fun...

Kurt

[Cathead]

I actually haven't built Chaperon yet, but it's on my someday list.

[kurtvd19]

Yeah, I realized that later.  But when you do I know you will be incorporating the extras I didn't included.😀

[RussR]

I am slowly progressing with my Chaperon build. But the drawings are devoid of any measurements (and I do mean any). Can someone tell me the placement of the Skylight, Texas, Pilot House, and Chicken Coup. I have covered up the markings on the deck with the simulated tar covering. Unfortunately the plans aren't drawn 1:1. 

I have thought about trying to interpolate the positions of the above from sheet 5. But have decided to ask here. 

 

I am taking pictures of the progression of the build but wanted to have it completed before I started a log. 

 

[mbp521]

Russ,

 

Looks like we are about at the same place in our builds. I almost ran into the same situation when I was "tar papering" the Boiler deck roof when I realized I was covering up the reference lines. Fortunately I caught it on my first run over the lines and ended up being a quick fix. This is one of the things I love about this forum, plenty of modelers out there willing to help when you get in a bind.

 

 

 

Here are a few photos with a ruler for reference to help you out.

 

On the Boiler deck roof, the reference line for the Hurricane deck is 105mm from the front edge.

 

On the hurricane deck the reference line for the Texas deck is about 60mm from the front edge, this is including the trim.

The chicken coop line is 20mm to 34mm from the aft edge of the Boiler deck roof.

 

 

And for the pilot house lines on the Texas deck roof the reference lines are 88mm from the front edge.

 

 Sure hope this helps.

 

-Brian

Edited October 18, 2019 by mbp521

[mbp521]

Russ,

 

By the way I forgot to mention, Your build is really looking sharp!

 

Keep the pictures coming in.

 

-Brian

[RussR]

Brian,

Thanks a million that helps a lot. I was hoping I didn't have to try and interrelate (scale up from the plans) because they aren't drawn 1:1. 

I just checked out you build log and your a lot more detailed than my Chaperon. I am still pretty much an out of the box builder. 

Russ

[mbp521]

Russ,

 

Thank you for the kind words. Glad I could help. 

 

-Brian

[RussR]

I am sorry looks like my photo got all jumbled up

 

My Chaperon is finished. The following is the photos that I took along the way. I will try not to post any duplicates.

1st a few of the typical boring stuff.

 

Later I had to remove the keel and redo it because I bent it edge wise instead of the proper way.

 

Since I didn't add lights I didn't detail the boiler as some have done.

 

The infamous finger joint. I just filled it and re-etched it in. The paint was Anita's All Purpose Acrylic....Red Rust that I bought at Hobby Lobby.

 

Nothing innovative in the next photo...I just followed the instructions.

 

The boiler deck was uneventful.

 

I added some scrape wood along the scribed lines to line everything up. And also added 90 deg. blocks to keep the walls plumb.

 

Another shot of the same

 

A shot of the barely visible boiler

 

Shot of the Sky Light an gluing battons on the Texas.

 

Made a ships wheel out of cotton bud sticks and cardboard. 1st one was to small and the 2nd one was to large. Now I wish that I hadn't spent the time doing it because one can't even see it in the Pilot House. Also made a stove from a barrel left over from something else. In the end it isn't visible anyway.

 

Leggo blocks was used to keep the paddle wheel lined up. 

 

Another shot of the paddle wheel assembly. Later I found out that the shaft was to short. So I had to pin a short piece on both ends to make it work.

 

Here shows the bull rails installed. Also like to mention the neat CA Glue Applicator. It is the best I have used. I have even forgot and it set overnight and it still wasn't clogged the next day. If it dose clog up all you have to do is just clip a piece of the end and your good as new. Then when it gets to short, pull it off and stick on another one. Another good thing about it is you can control where the glue goes. And you don't get glue all over the place.  Also you don't waste glue.😀

 

Another shot of the bull rails. Also some of the railings and decorations.

 

Here I am fabricating the Stag per the plans, no problems.

 

Paddle Wheel and Supports. Also some more Railings and Decorations installed. 

 

Wow! What a mess. ..I used Lego Blocks to keep the stacks plumb until the glue set.

 

From here on is the finished model on a 1 by with some molding around the edges. I used some 3/8" square basswood. Then I beat'm up with a meat tenderizer to rough them up And stained with diluted india ink. Then I knocked off the sharp corners with a course rasp then stained the whole thing with Golden Oak (I think). Then a coat of wipe on polly. 

The surface was covered with Medium Ballast 

 

That's All Folks

Now on to the next project, what ever that is.

My goal is to finish what ever I start.

I have studied many many logs which are a great help.

I bought Kurtvd19's CD which helped a lot

Thanks to all.

RussS

 

 

 

I sorry, looks like my photos got all jumbled up.

[kurtvd19]

A real nice job Russ.

 

[Cathead]

Congratulations on finishing! Always a good feeling.

[mbp521]

Beautiful job Russ. She really came out great. Congrats on her completion. 

 

-Brian

[Brianh526]

Nice Job!  What a great accomplishment.

 

Brian

[patrickmil]

Outstanding job on this build! Question for you as I get nearer to installing the main deck, how did you work with the unsightly seams between the fore and aft deck pieces? Are they visible on the finished model given the boiler room and other structures? I'm planning on planking over these decks with 1/32" strips but I'm wondering if all that work is necessary.

[kurtvd19]

The seams can be filled in and the etched lines between planks can be cleaned up.  Not real visible after this is done.

If you plank over the decking make sure you transfer the markings for structures and pieces to be located to the new planks and open up the holes in the deck you will be covering - eliminate the need to measure and cut holes after doing the planking if done as you fit each plank.

 

[patrickmil]

Thanks for your response Kurt! I was sort of planning on doing that with the deck layout as I laid down each and every plank. I don't think 1/32" strips will add too much thickness but also should allow the deck plank butt joints to be visible.

[Landlubber Mike]

Beautiful work Russ!

[mbp521]

Patrick,

 

At the sake of hijacking Russ' magnificent build.

 

I had the same issue with mine, I wasn't too keen on the joint lines on the Main and Boiler decks and 1/32" strips are exactly what I used on my build to cover them up. The strips were thin enough that there was not enough difference to be noticeable and the comings were thick enough to hide the additional planks.

 

 

-Brian

 

[patrickmil]

Hi Brian,

 

Thanks for your response!

[RussR]

As Kurt said in a post above.

All I did was glue the decks together with pva and after it dried I filled it with Minwax filler. Then etch the lines back with a scribe and a straight edge. I figured that after I got the rest of the structure in, one wouldn't be able to see any flaws if any (which there wasn't).

Also I didn't spend a lot of time on stuff that wasn't very visible like the boiler and pilot house interior.

RussR

Brian, outstanding build by the way. 👍

[GrandpaPhil]

Congratulations!  Well done!