St. Elme by downeaster - Soclaine - Scale 1:20

[downeaster]

I started a new build. St. Elme is a traditional fishing boat. I am a static modeler but it can to built for RC. The scale of this build is new to me with the length 35 inches. Need a bigger model bench !!!! I could not find much on build logs for this model. 

[ccoyle]

I like seeing builds of kits from lesser-known manufacturers -- off the beaten path, so to speak. Those actually look like pretty decent castings.

[downeaster]

Got time to work on the hull this week. This is a big model compared to my last. Not much to see yet but here are some pics....

[downeaster]

While the glue on the hull was drying ...I started working on the winch. Casting in the kit are in good shape and easy to work with. I really enjoyed building the piece. I approach each object as its own model kit and when you put all the kits together you have a finished model boat. 

[downeaster]

finished build of winch....just needs paint

[downeaster]

Finished planking of the hull. Sorry no pic of that process. Fully sanded and primed. This is my best planking for sure. The old saying that the more you do something you will get better shows with each of my boat builds. Thanks everyone for following along and giving those thumbs up's.

[downeaster]

Got some time at the workbench. Got alot done and got time to upload the pics for everyone to enjoy. Some deck furniture built and ready. 

[downeaster]

Began to build the wheelhouse. Enjoying this model as I continue. This is a great kit but I wouldn't recommend for beginners. The wood and supplies are good...instructions are not very detailed. 

[downeaster]

Built container to hold two barrels. Aged the wood to have a weathered look. Also a storage locker that will be found on the deck in the stern of the finished model. 

[downeaster]

Ladder for the wheelhouse soldiered together. Painted and installed. 

[BobG]

Fantastic craftsmanship so far on this wonderful model! Super crisp and sharp painting!

[downeaster]

Thanks GrandpaPhil , BobG, ccoyle and everyone else for all the nice comments. It is always encouraging to hear from others in this great hobby.  Model ship world is a great forum filled with friendly and helpful members.  

Thanks

[downeaster]

Back at the workbench. Today got work on making two gas containers. The picture show each step into the build. 

[downeaster]

After the gas container build...I needed to build the storage box. I weathered the wood to a grey wash look. 

[downeaster]

Next was to build the life raft container.  This will be mounted on top of the main cabin. Alot of little projects getting knocked off the list.

[downeaster]

Got a new tool. Something not necessary but makes one job easier.  Model expo waterline marker. When the admiral gives the "ok" for a new tool,  I don't pass it up.

 

[downeaster]

Back to the work bench. Finished installing the rub rails to the boat. Next is to start painting the hull and get a stand built.

 

[BobG]

Great to see this build coming along. How have you found the quality of the wood supplied by Soclaine? It looks pretty good to me in your photos. There is a Soclaine model that I'm interested in but I can't find much information about the quality of their kits.

 

Bob

[downeaster]

To answer your question Bobg. I have no complaints about the quality of the wood in this Soclaine kit. I will say the instructions are not for beginners but if the modeler has some builds under their belt, they should be OK. This kit relays on using the scale drawings to complete the model.

[BobG]

3 hours ago, downeaster said:

This kit relays on using the scale drawings to complete the model.

When you say "scale drawings," does that mean they are 1:1 drawings? Also, are the drawings relatively easy to understand? I've seen some drawings that were so "cluttered" with detail that it was actually difficult to determine what I was actually looking at and to get accurate measurements. 

 

Bob 

[downeaster]

Scale drawings are 1:1 drawings in this kit. This kit included 4 sheets of 1:1 drawings. They are printed well and not cluttered with information to make measurements easy. 

[downeaster]

I got time to paint the hull. This size build everything takes more work to complete. Very happy with the finished hull. Finished the inner ribs above the deck.  In the pictures I placed a ruler to give everyone a sense of size to the boat

.

Forgot to mention the scratch build stand the boat is sitting in.

[downeaster]

I scratched built some fishing deck fixtures that will be found on fishing boats like this one. Rubber inflated buoys.

[BobG]

She's a very cool boat!

 

Bob

[downeaster]

Got time to get the top rails attached to the boat. What would we do without clamps in this hobby. 

[yvesvidal]

On 10/27/2019 at 7:16 PM, downeaster said:

Beautiful hull. I like these French fishing boats. Thanks for building one of them.

 

Yves

[BobG]

2 hours ago, yvesvidal said:

Beautiful hull. I like these French fishing boats. Thanks for building one of them.

I love the small fishing vessels of the Mediterranean, Britain and the USA. There are quite a few models of these boats that some of the older model companies have produced over the years but, unfortunately, they are often plagued with poor quality materials and instructions and are not very historically accurate. Vanguard Models by Chris Watton will be releasing two fine examples pretty soon that will be very high quality:

 

https://modelshipworld.com/topic/20737-chris-watton-and-vanguard-models-news-and-updates/?do=findComment&comment=690037

[yvesvidal]

2 hours ago, BobG said:

I love the small fishing vessels of the Mediterranean, Britain and the USA. There are quite a few models of these boats that some of the older model companies have produced over the years but, unfortunately, they are often plagued with poor quality materials and instructions and are not very historically accurate. Vanguard Models by Chris Watton will be releasing two fine examples pretty soon that will be very high quality:

 

https://modelshipworld.com/topic/20737-chris-watton-and-vanguard-models-news-and-updates/?do=findComment&comment=690037

I agree that finding a good quality kit is sometimes hard to do. There are so many of these fishing vessels around the Mediterranean Sea and the Normandy and Brittany shores, that you cannot go wrong if you decide to customize them a little bit. I know that Chris Watton is usually releasing very high quality boats, but the ones shown on your link are no-where to be found on the French coast lines. What you are building is "the" typical French fishing vessel. I have seen a lot of these when I was a kid and they are still used a lot nowadays.

 

Artesiana Latina and Constructo released similar vessels (My brother built a couple of them) but AL is now out of business and Constructo's quality is not exactly what you want....

 

Below are a few examples, but honestly, the Chalutier you picked up is probably the nicest one: 

Marie-Ange by New Cap Maquettes

Le Marsouin, one of my favorite but almost impossible to find.

 

The Mare-Nostrum by AL....toy like when compared to your model.

The Boulogne by Billing Boats.

 

There are many more and it would take an entire thread to cover them all. I hope you do not feel like I hijacked your thread. Let em know.

 

Thanks

Yves

 

 

Edited March 9, 2020 by yvesvidal

[downeaster]

Just got time to post some updated pic's of my build. Started to work on the two masts. Alot of deck fixtures are reinforced using the masts as anchor points.

 

 

 

[downeaster]