HM Cutter Alert by VTHokiEE - FINISHED - Vanguard Models - 1:64

[glbarlow]

Your method produce great results so go with what works for you. I use the drill only for the corners and slice my way there with a #11 blade, finishing with the files. I also do it with each layer of planking both inside and out so the final bulwarks layeyer is just following the previous two. But again, it’s whatever works and yours did. 
 

I’m with you on the paint. Some acrylics come in a tube and have to be thinned. I use Admiralty paints exclusively, one coat generally does it Except for my white hull, to get that look takes about 10 coats). I may try the thinned method on Cheerful, but for now...  Your paint work looks great as well. 
 

Maybe paint the gun ports before removing your tape. 

Edited April 30, 2020 by glbarlow

[VTHokiEE]

On 4/30/2020 at 12:02 PM, glbarlow said:

Maybe paint the gun ports before removing your tape. 

There is a lot of wisdom to this and I don’t plan on removing the tape until after the ports are painted. I have finished up making the ports, then I installed and painted the wales. 
 

Of course once I removed the tape from the wales I did notice a spot that I will have to touch up when I get the black paint back out.

 

[Edwardkenway]

Looking good, great progress. Your cutting of the gunports worked just perfectly 😊

[Old Collingwood]

Just as Edward said  your gun ports came out spot on,   also  I love the shaping of the hull  and  the smooth work on  her,  nothing wrong with that in any shape or form, really coming on my friend.

 

OC.

[Moab]

Looking excellent...Moab

[VTHokiEE]

Finished painting the blue between the gun ports and placed one of the rails. I unfortunately got some glue on one of the blue strips. I’m hoping that I can repaint it and it will be fine.
 

I wanted to get the rails attached before putting the caps on as I thought it would be easier to clamp the rails to dry (I couldn’t see a way to apply CA without causing a mess on a 1mm strip) without the caps in the way.

 

I also noticed that the cutouts in my cap rail are a little wavy, I need to check to see if it will effect placing parts later. I’d rather file them smooth before I attach them.

 

[Old Collingwood]

Can you lightly sand the blue a bit to smooth out the dried on glue, then re paint it?

 

OC.

[VTHokiEE]

9 minutes ago, Old Collingwood said:

Can you lightly sand the blue a bit to smooth out the dried on glue, then re paint it?

I’m going to go sit in the corner and contemplate why I didn’t think of that. Thanks for the suggestion!

[ErnieL]

Nice problem solving here. I looked closely at your planking and believe I took some of your pitfalls to heart. I picked up my Speedy and prepped the prow just a wee bit more. 

[VTHokiEE]

Slow and steady continuing on. After I attached the rails I noticed they were too high in a spot or two so I loosened then in those spots and reattached them (fingers crossed the photo etch fits). Then I marked off the waterline and painted the area below white. I’m currently painting and attaching the cap rails (...slowly).

 

 

 

[Old Collingwood]

Liking the colours mate  really attractive.

 

OC.

[VTHokiEE]

23 minutes ago, Old Collingwood said:

Liking the colours mate  really attractive.

 

OC.

Thank you! It’s amazing what a little bit of paint can do. Of course when I had it all taped up to paint my kids told me they thought that it looked better without the tape. 🙂

[VTHokiEE]

I’ve never used wipe on poly, but I decided to give it a try on this build. I’m not certain the picture really does it justice but I am very pleased with the first coat.

I finished attaching half of the cap rail as well so on to the other side. 

[Edwardkenway]

Looks great Jim, paintwork looks really sharp 😁👍

[Gregory]

10 minutes ago, VTHokiEE said:

I’ve never used wipe on poly, but I decided to give it a try on this build.

The difference compared to post #108 is obvious..  looks great!

[Old Collingwood]

As Edward and Gregory said  - she is looking really nice   well on track mate.

 

OC.

[VTHokiEE]

Both cap rails have been attached. In the process I learned that I made the gun ports wider than they should be. The included patterns are fine but I should have been more careful with where I cut compared to where I marked, something for me to watch out for and be more careful with in the future.

 

I’ve completed the stern transom piece, but I haven’t attached it yet. There is a gap underneath that I need to plank. I’m trying to get a plank fitted before attaching the stern piece. The kit leaves the interior timbers (?) natural, but I decided to paint them so that they blended in.

[Old Collingwood]

She is looking really nice  certainly coming to gether now.

 

OC.

[BobG]

Great job. She's going to be a real beauty!

[PhillH]

She is really taking shape now and looking great. I am watching with interest as I have the same kit here ready to start.

 

Phill

 

[glbarlow]

Great progress.  I never ceased to be amazed at the transformation in wood created by wipe-on poly. 

 

Your paint lines are very crisp, nice work.

[VTHokiEE]

I added a plank to the stern, I think unfortunately that the lower rail makes it look slightly off level. I’ll have to look and see if I can correct it if it bothers me.

Then I started adding the posts and rails. I originally thought that I would paint all the posts off the model but quickly realized that there was no real need and it would be easier and quicker to paint them on the model. I did paint the railing off model so that I wouldn’t accidentally mess up the stern.

[DelF]

Looking really good - smart paint work!

 

I had to look closely at the first picture to see what was bothering you. Noticeable, but only just. However I know what it's like when you've spotted something like that - it niggles you until you do something about it. Unfortunately it looks like it might be the lower yellow rail that is out of line - the gap between the two lower yellow rails is slightly wider on the right than it is on the left. Fix that though, and the gunports might start to look out of whack. I'd be tempted to leave well enough alone. For me it doesn't detract from a fine looking model.

 

Derek

[VTHokiEE]

41 minutes ago, DelF said:

I'd be tempted to leave well enough alone. For me it doesn't detract from a fine looking model.

Thanks! I think you're right and I am going to see if I can leave well enough alone. I really wouldn't want to "fix" it and create a ripple effect.

[Gregory]

5 hours ago, VTHokiEE said:

I think unfortunately that the lower rail makes it look slightly off level.

I'm hard pressed to see what the problem is.  It looks really good to me.

[Old Collingwood]

You are doing a really nice job mate  - the whole thing looks splendid  - tidy, colourful  and a  very attractive build.

 

OC.

[VTHokiEE]

1 hour ago, Gregory said:

I'm hard pressed to see what the problem is.  It looks really good to me.

You’re too kind, and I’m not going to highlight it further 😁.

 

1 hour ago, Old Collingwood said:

You are doing a really nice job mate  - the whole thing looks splendid  - tidy, colourful  and a  very attractive build.

Thanks! I’m really enjoying it; it feels like slow going but every piece adds up (and I’m starting to lose my fear of painting).

[VTHokiEE]

Learned about the mizzenmast as I continued to work on the Alert. I blackened the PE elements after shaping and drilled holes for the nails to prevent any issues with breaking the wood. I've been trying to clean up some paint from poor taping and for whatever reason it looks a lot worse in these pictures than previously; I'll probably try to clean it a little more.

 

I've now started working on the catheads and I'm at a little bit of a quandry. The directions recommend airbrushing the PE that attaches to the catheads, but I don't have an airbrush. Is there recommended PE prep to brush paint it? Of course part of me wants to use this as an excuse to buy an airbrush but I really have a mental block about using them for some reason.

[DelF]

I'm not sure why airbrushing is recommended. Paint is fine if applied carefully (I use Admiralty Paints dull metal black for ironwork), otherwise I use a blackening solution such as Casey's Metal Black. BTW, I think your paintwork looks fine.

 

Derek 

[VTHokiEE]

1 minute ago, DelF said:

otherwise I use a blackening solution such as Casey's Metal Black. BTW, I think your paintwork looks fine.

Sorry I failed to describe it well enough, I use Casey's Metal Black for my blackened PE, but for the catheads (and them next for the decorative work), the PE is painted yellow ochre. I'll give it a go and see how it comes out.