RickyGene Posted October 21, 2019 Share #1 Posted October 21, 2019 Well since the SOS is a no go, I was haunting eBay again and came across what I took to be an interesting vessel. I am a sucker for Naval Training Ships. Plus the price was well below half what a new kit cost and this was a NIB. I pulled the trigger and this what I purchased. The Chilean Navy Training Vessel Esmeralda in 1/100 scale. This is the older version, no laser cut. All fittings included and this kit retails for over $500.00 f/the laser cut kit. Searched the WEB and read all I could find, not too much but some. Found only one build thread and the site is no longer available. So this will be my next project. Any comments would be helpful, seems I can find no builds anywhere and any tips would be helpful. VTHokiEE, hexnut, mtaylor and 2 others 5 Quote Neophyte Shipwright Wisdom: When all else fails, read the instructions! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickyGene Posted October 21, 2019 Author Share #2 Posted October 21, 2019 Here is the only photo I could find of a completed hull f/Esmeralda. mtaylor and lmagna 2 Quote Neophyte Shipwright Wisdom: When all else fails, read the instructions! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickyGene Posted October 21, 2019 Author Share #3 Posted October 21, 2019 And of course the actual vessel. ccoyle, mtaylor and lmagna 3 Quote Neophyte Shipwright Wisdom: When all else fails, read the instructions! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccoyle Posted October 21, 2019 Share #4 Posted October 21, 2019 Barkentines are dead sexy. RickyGene and mtaylor 2 Quote Chris Coyle Greer, South Carolina When you have to shoot, shoot. Don't talk. - Tuco Current builds: Brigantine Phoenix, Hawker Hurricane Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickyGene Posted October 21, 2019 Author Share #5 Posted October 21, 2019 She is Bewitching...…….. Quote Neophyte Shipwright Wisdom: When all else fails, read the instructions! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickyGene Posted October 25, 2019 Author Share #6 Posted October 25, 2019 Received the kit this week. Comes in a large flat box, this is one of the Billing Boats kits that came w/fittings, ie: 146 brass turned portholes. And of course the rest of the trimmings. The wood is in perfect condition, some of the best plywood I have ever seen in a kit. The kit is not for a beginner, but the plans and instructions and there is also a PDF one can down load. Anyone with determination and the right mind set could build this beautiful ship. I have spent the time wanting for the kit, might I add, I purchased Friday evening and was shipped this past Monday. UPS delivered to my doorstep Wed. afternoon just before 12:00. Now that was service. I had a order from CA take 2 weeks before! Anyhow, as I was saying, I spent the time waiting building a Billing Boats Build Slip #397 that I have had so long I no longer where I purchased. This is the build slip as recommended on the PDF and the written instructions for the construction of the keel/frame. And in keeping with their recommendations, have followed their suggestion. Let me add, the slip is no cake walk, you have to pay close attention on how you place the center building spine. Get it off and the Pooch is, you know the rest. Looking so forward to building this beast. The scale as given is 1/100th, that translates into a hull almost 36" long and 5 1/4" wide deck. That makes for a monster ships hull. mtaylor 1 Quote Neophyte Shipwright Wisdom: When all else fails, read the instructions! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickyGene Posted October 26, 2019 Author Share #7 Posted October 26, 2019 Is it me or does the sails at the top of the mast look like a man wrapped in a shroud ......lol. lmagna 1 Quote Neophyte Shipwright Wisdom: When all else fails, read the instructions! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickyGene Posted October 26, 2019 Author Share #8 Posted October 26, 2019 Can anyone inform me of how one contacts Billing Boats USA. I have sent e-mails and they keep coming back. Are they no longer in business? I seem to remember reading somewhere they were no longer producing kits! Rick Quote Neophyte Shipwright Wisdom: When all else fails, read the instructions! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catopower Posted October 27, 2019 Share #9 Posted October 27, 2019 Hi Rick, Billing Boats is a kit manufacturer, while Billing Boats USA is a distributor and never made kits. Billing Boats USA went through some changes a few years back – they are still in business, but owned by Ages of Sail. Email address is customer.service@billingboatsusa.com Hope that helps! Clare mtaylor and RickyGene 2 Quote Clare Hess He's a -> "HE" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickyGene Posted October 28, 2019 Author Share #10 Posted October 28, 2019 (edited) Thank you, got in touch with, seems they want me to do the impossible to help me. I doubt I would purchase another Billing Boats kit for a dire lack of support. Rick PS: the e-mail address keeps coming back as undeliverable! Edited October 28, 2019 by RickyGene correction Quote Neophyte Shipwright Wisdom: When all else fails, read the instructions! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catopower Posted October 29, 2019 Share #11 Posted October 29, 2019 I'm guessing you got in touch with Billing Boats, not BBUSA. So, what is "the impossible" that Billing Boats wants you to do??? On the BBUSA email, I just checked and they are apparently having problems with spam attacks on their customer registration system. This seems to be happening to a lot of ecommerce sites and somehow affecting the email address. Someone is looking into it now. mtaylor 1 Quote Clare Hess He's a -> "HE" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickyGene Posted October 30, 2019 Author Share #12 Posted October 30, 2019 In answer to your question what they are asking for is not the end of the world. But I feel as if my character is being called into question. I purchased from eBay, NOS from a Hobby Distributor in IL. Before those I contacted will help, they want a copy of the sales receipt, a photo copy of the plans showing the parts needed and proof of where I purchased. Yes, I understand the why and sure they have the right. But on the other hand when I contacted Daniel Dusek about a issue, not just once but twice w/in the last three years. No questions asked, what was the issue and he took care of and replaced FOC. Also had a issue w/OcCer, they did the same, what was wrong and the parts sent. I understand their questions, but I also offered to pay for, not just get free. Just goes to show who apricates your business and who, it is just about the money and forget you. So w/o saying their name here in the USA there is a reason I have never purchased from again because of another issue years ago! I have been provided w/another distributor here that has Billing Boats and maybe they can help. If not, I will just march on and scratch build. Thank you for you concern Clare Hess Quote Neophyte Shipwright Wisdom: When all else fails, read the instructions! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chborgm Posted August 12, 2021 Share #13 Posted August 12, 2021 What happened to this thread? (I am building the ship, and have had great support from billings mtaylor 1 Quote Flying Fish -- MSW Essex --- MSW Constitution -- MSW Confederacy -- MSW Philadelphia -- MSW Chaperon -- MSW San Felipe -- Panart Portland -- Bluejacket Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonedoctor51 Posted November 15, 2023 Share #14 Posted November 15, 2023 Beautiful hull. I'm struggling with the hull on the Billings kit. It is much harder than meets the eye How did you get the hull so smooth? This is a single planked model and the hull is steel. Overplanking with thin plastic sheet? Some type of wood filler. Help! Thanks Lou mtaylor 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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