Half Moon by popeye the sailor - Billing Boats - 1:40 scale kit

[dragzz]

wow popeye vary clean work it looks nice 

[patrickmil]

The Half Moon is looking great Popeye. You're really working fast and everything looks very nice and clean.

[popeye the sailor]

thanks Dragzz and Patrick......almost to the end of this step.......update soon....I hope

[popeye the sailor]

I am not used to doing anything during my work week....I'm usually too tired and falling asleep at my computer.   this is something I just had to get done.  so,  I did the railing Saturday evening........

 

 

 

then Sunday evening,  I did the pin rack........stained it just before I went to bed.   I glued it in place before I went to work this morning.

 

 

 

so......now the railings are complete.  this step is done.   there are some other rails along the hull to go on yet...and some painting.  I'll be doing that next.  here are some shots of the deck and how it looks now.

 

 

 

 

 

these two pictures how the railings follow the bulwarks

 

 

 

 

 

I need to get some semi gloss lacquer for the seal coat......I have some clear gloss,  but I think it would be too much shine.   I'll be heading back to the Gothenborg to do some more rigging.  thanks for your good comments,  I really appreciate it very much. 

 

 

[Piet]

Hey Popeye, that looks awesome!  Agree about the semi gloss or mat finish.  These old ships didn't shine, they were all rough working ships.

 

Yea, take a break on this one, you did good and now a change of pace, rigging.

 

See you there.

 

Cheers,

[augie]

Really first rate on the railing, mate.

[Jim Lad]

Verrrry nice, mate.  Yep, agree with your 'no gloss' principle entirely.

 

John

[Timothy Wood]

It's been a while since I checked in  on your build.  In two words "Nice Work"....  She looks fantastic!

 

Tim

[dragzz]

hello popeye i think lacquer is vary hard when it drys do u think it will crack over time or u going to find a soft clear just a thot 

[patrickmil]

She's looking great Popeye. A little varnish and some curing time will do her real nice! Lookin' forward to seeing progress on the Gothenborg.

[Shazmira]

Beautiful work Popeye! How in the world can you take just a few minutes to do something before you run out the door for work? No way I can do that, if I sit down to the work bench, my butt seems to think I have to stay there for hours, don't think the college would appreciate me calling in sick all the time lol

[popeye the sailor]

well!    thanks to everybody who commented......too many to name!     I will mention on the lacquer thing though........first rule:  don't put it on too thick.   I thin mine down before I paint......for this one though,  I'd better use the airbrush.  doing it in thin coats,  it has time to seep into the wood and create a base for the next coat.......cuts down on the cracking thing {although,  in all my years of using it,  I have never had it crack on me}.  it is the reason why I like it.....it's a hard finish,  and less prone to finger prints and minor ding makers.  varnish is a soft finish,  and with heat and humidity,  can become a bit sticky.......but that again,  is a byproduct of laying it on too thick.

 

the Gothenborg.......well,  all my builds that require it,  is done with lacquer.   I want to try a urethane,  but again,  it's a softer finish.  a semi gloss will dull down enough to produce a nice finish......if it is too shiny,  there is also a dull coat that can be applied over it,  to kill it some more...but I haven't had to do that.   I have had to use it on some of the Billing's paints I've laid.......you want to talk about shine

 

I don't have too much of a use for gloss paint........not for sailing ships,  or war ships.    thanks again to you all........yes,  it's back to the Gothenborg and continue the rigging.  I still have shrouds and ratlines to do ! 

[popeye the sailor]

it's easy Robbyn...........I build in my mind    oops!  I just dropped a piece...........wait a sec! :D :D

[realworkingsailor]

Uh oh... Popeye's loosing his marbles....

[dragzz]

popeye thank u for that info id keep that in mind ty again

[mobbsie]

Uh oh... Popeye's loosing his marbles....

My bet is Sjors nicked them to replace his cotton cannon balls.  

 

Looking real sweeeeeeeeeeet Popeye.

 

mobbsie

[popeye the sailor]

hey Andy.......can't lose what I never had........just ask the admiral :D :D :D

 

 

thanks Dragzz

 

sorry Sjors.......I had my head examined last week..........and the doctor said that I had nothing in there.   I got some pretty colored rocks though

 

thanks Mobbsie      I'm humbled after reading your comment on your build..........don't think I'm THAT good,  but thanks     

[mtaylor]

Denis,

 

I'm just now catching up.... she is really looking sweeet.  Great job.

[popeye the sailor]

hey there mark............you mean to tell me,  that the last person finally left your  "retirement" party!!??!?!   must have been a doozie!

 

     thanks for the good word.......I've only just begun on the deck layout.

[kiwiron]

Great job on your half moon Popeye,looks a bit differant to the Goth you are supposed to be doing.My school report card must be like yours easily side tracked.Must try some spinach myself might get something done then.

[Kimberley]

Your ship is amazing Popeye.  From what I have been reading, sounds like you are quite the busy bee.   

[mtaylor]

The retirement parties (had two) were fun.  But no drunken revelry as they were at work....  oh well.   

[popeye the sailor]

I still envy you Mark........not having to worry about the 'grind' anymore.   with the way my  'work' is set up,  I have four days to devote to my builds {when it's possible}.   I hope that when your 'smoke' clears.......you'll find more time for your build.

 

thanks Ron.........yepper.....moving back to the Goth,  but too many thing are cropping up with the holidays and home life to put any distance on things.  what I've done with the Half Moon put me on a different spin..........making me want to bash the rest,  rather than follow the kit build.  I think it will be for the better though.   the Goth is easy,  I'm rigging....and back to it I go.  with the way things are going....I think it's going to get a lot busier at the wharf. 

 

thanks as well Kimberly..........welcome to the insanity.    yes,  the wharf is a very busy place.....but I enjoy it,  and have found working with wooden ships,  a whole lotta fun.  recent happenings here,  are pointing the wharf to get a bit busier.......you'll find out about it soon  {I hope}  

[popeye the sailor]

you know.......I looked at the date on the last post on this build and I thought to myself  {can't talk to myself.....they'd put me away}  that I've been away from this one way too long.   for some strange unseen reason,  the ship appeared on my table.   hey.........what's a poor boy to do?........I started to tinker with it    lo and behold.........I do believe I have enough for an update    as soon as I get it all together,  I'll get it up here for ya.

[mtaylor]

It's okay to talk to yourself Popeye.  The only time to get worried is if it becomes a 3-way conversation.   :D   Anyway, I'm looking forward to your update. 

[NenadM]

I have just dropped

 

Very nice work

 

I like it, watch and learn

 

Nenad

[popeye the sailor]

thank you folks for dropping by and the likes.......I just hit the deck.    my son had the coffee going and everything.  so,  as soon as I can pour some in my eyes,  I will get to work 

 

thanks Adam,  Augie,  and Sjors for the likes.....it's good to be back in 'kit builds'  again 

 

thanks Mark......I'm one of those folks that tends to reason verbally.......I've already been eyed by a few

 

thanks Nenad.....thanks for the good word and welcome to the log.   don't know what I can teach you......but whatever it is,  I hope it's useful.  this isn't a complete kit,  so I'm going to have to pre-fab some of the parts.   I'll have to do a count of the number of part,  as opposed to what I have.......but the worst area is the crow's nests......missing a lot of parts for them.  glad to have you join in 

[popeye the sailor]

the tinkering began with the holds.........each one is made up of two pieces,  glued together.

 

 

the fife racks are to be made from 5 x 5 mm square stock.  they need to be slotted to receive the pin rails

 

 

then I toyed around with the framework for the trailing boards

 

 

the pin rails were cemented to the posts at this time,  as were the bases for them

 

 

this elongated knee at the stern had to be reworked a little......it locks into the kit designed cap rails.  since I changed how the cap rails looked,  the slot was filled in and sanded to smooth it out.  the holder for the flag staff was also cemented in place.

 

 

the holes for the lift pulley assemblies were drilled into the fife racks.  the bases were later beveled and these, and the trailing board frames were stained.

 

 

 

I need to go over them with the mahogany stain to give them the reddish hue,  like I did with everything else,  so far.   there is a small canopy that is located over the opening in the first aft level.   to make it easier to assemble,  I gave it a bit of framework.   I knew about that small chunk that got taken out of the outer frame......and I was going to face it towards the inside,  but I wasn't watching when I did it.

 

 

the holds are located in there areas on the deck......the life boat will be located on the first hold.   I haven't gotten to that point yet.

 

 

but I began to work on the holds....and planking the canopy.......leaving off at this point

 

 

at this point........I wanted to do some painting.   the sides of the fore deck and the sides of the aft deck need painting before the rest of the rails are installed.   I was looking at the pictures that I have,  some of the builds that are here,  and what I have for decorations.........and it has me a bit befuddled.

 

I see that there are quite a few discrepancies between kit manufacturers.   some show four gun port lids at the stern........the pictures that I have show two gun port lids and a larger door in the upper transom, with an entirely different decoration arrangement.  there are other aspects that vary.......so I've decided what I am going to do.   I'm going to look at everything,  and meet them all half way.........since it IS the Half Moon.     I do have one saving grace........Anja was kind enough to send me some pictures and diagrams.......I'll have a peek at them as well.   another update soon     thanks for looking in 

[Sjors]

Very nice Popeye !

 

Keep on going with the progress   

 

[popeye the sailor]

thank you Sjors........I should be back at the table shortly.   gotta go clean the snow that the plow guy left behind       got another three inches coming in tonight......but the temps are going to be mild,  and they are saying that we should see rain by the end of the week.......

.........just what we need!