Boulogne Etaples by popeye the sailor- Billing Boats - 1:20 scale kit

[popeye the sailor]

it was November of 2011 when I started this kit.   I was waiting for the Regina to come.......figured I'd go as far as I could until then.   this kit was slated to be discontinued.....I wanted to get one before they disappeared.  Believe it or not......the Admiral picked this one out,  she liked the way it looked.  when we learned that it was out of stock...as well as out of production,  she settled on the Mary Ann as a close second,  and it was ordered.   a bit down the road,  I got an e-mail asking me if I still wanted one.......I said sure,  and the rest is history.

 

 

 

 

 

the wood parts are done very nice

 

 

 

 

 

I built the hull frame and the shell of the pilot house.   the Mary Ann was in the works  and the Regina was also started as soon as I got her.   the Boulogne was bagged up and put in the closet.  John and his admiral {Pam} came to the states and stopped by to meet and visit with me and mine....so little time and so much to talk about.......{he just wanted to see the M&M ship in the flesh}  hee....hee 

    but I showed this one to him....one day I'd get back to her...........

 

now ....I think it's time to do little things to her.    the Mary Ann......the Regina {turned Susan A}.....the AmericA......heck,  the Lobsie twins snuck their way in there somewhere.......these are all finished.  I don't have any builds left that I have already started.  I have two kits in the closet that I haven't started yet......and I am in nagotiations towards getting another Revell Cutty Sark kit  {my third at 1:96}

 

yes,  I know it sounds crazy.........but I'm still young enough to enjoy it.......and by golly I will!  to the fullest!   I wasn't going to put in all the frame work and stuff,  seeing as I've already done it,  but I found this to be a rather  "loose fitting kit".......I figure that it would be good to show some of the things I did to "tighten" her up.   more on it soon.....thanks.

[popeye the sailor]

it starts with the frame........I still didn't have a build slip,  so I made one.   parts for this are included in the kit.

 

 

 

After the keel was assembled and set up on the board,   the support parts were cemented in place.   this boat can be set up for R/C.....there are plans and diagrams included for this.   I chose to make it a static build....not ready yet for this....perhaps in the future sometime,

 

 

 

there are also diagrams that show the parts and their respective numbering,  makes life very easy,   the prop tube was cut down and the channel for it was planned out.  it will be installed at a later time.   the ribs fit snug......adjustments could be made without too much fanfare.

 

 

 

 

as I've done with most of my builds,  like-sized square stock was cemented in between the ribs,  to aide in locking them in,  for added strength.

 

 

 

the bow rabbits were cemented in place at this time

 

 

 

 

 

the rest of the frame was laid out

 

 

 

this was left to dry.

 

 

 

 

[popeye the sailor]

here's where I get the term  "loose fitting".    the frame was ready for the next step....installing the support beams

 

 

the deck parts were cemented together to insure that they fit correct to one another

 

 

after it was dry enough to handle,  it was fitted in place.

 

 

 

 

the frame was flipped upside down and the deck was cemented in place.

 

 

 

the deck joices were slid into place and cemented as well

 

 

 

extra support strips were also added.

 

 

this was also done at the nose of this deck.....there was a bit of a gap,  and lacked support for it

 

 

 

 

the excess strips were cut off flush and this was allowed to dry.

 

 

[popeye the sailor]

the bow deck was next to be installed.   the frame for it was laid out.   sanding was also done here to make the surface flat.......faring it,  if you will.

 

 

I found that the two panel halves did not completely meet the bulwark posts.   I put the gap in the middle and shunted it with a piece of square stock.

 

 

 

 

leaving this to dry,  the pilot house was assembled........this is going to be quite big......just the way I like it.

 

 

 

 

the bow deck did not meet flush to the edge,  so two pieces of square stock was cemented in place.

 

 

where it met the bow stem....had to be slightly modified

 

 

the pilot house did not sit flush to the table.......I later found that I was a micro off at one corner.  it was broken free and fixed.......I used ingenious ways to keep it flush.  this is very important.....it needs to sit flat in it's box.

 

 

....and so,  here she sat......the deck and bulwarks fitting tightly together........the bow deck as well....all flush to the edges of the frame.   every corner that will be seen is matted,  flush as well.

 

 

 

 

the last thing I did was cement in the windshield frame

 

 

 

the Regina has arrived........I finished up this part of the build and bagged her for storage.  I hated to,  but I had too many builds in the works as it was.  here,  on the 21st of November,  2011......she was to spend her time in the closet,  until the day comes when I could continue her.  the Regina was the second build I did for Tom......it was more important.

[Sjors]

Hi Popeye,

 

This means now that you are also working on the Boulogne Etaples?

And if so…….you glue the pilothouse already on the deck?

Give you that no problems when you are planking her?

 

[popeye the sailor]

hello Sjors.   the pilot house is not in place yet........the only planking I plan on doing will be inside the pilot house.......I'm not going to make the same mistake like I did with the lobster boat.   it's about time I took this one out of mothballs.

[captainbob]

Popeye,

 

Good start on another fun build.

 

Bob

[riverboat]

 wishing you smooth sailing on another interesting build

Frank

[popeye the sailor]

thanks Bob......everything here was done in 2011.   I brought her back out as I was finishing up on the AmericA......figured I'd do the hull planking.   I can work on the hull and paint while I'm planking the Half moon and working on the Gothenborg.   the table is clear now,  the Boulogne is planked.....not how I would have liked it,  but it going to see paint,  so I didn't have to be picky.

[popeye the sailor]

thanks Frank! 

[Salty Sea Dog]

Hi Popeye!

 

That looks gianormous! How long is that boat?

[augie]

Hey Popeye.  I go out for a sandwich and when I come back there's a new project well underway.  Make this journey as memorable as your others!

[popeye the sailor]

hey there Buck.......the hull measures 22 inches long,  and 7 3/4 inches wide.   yepper......even the admiral said the same thing.   now that the hull's planked,  it looks even bigger.   my next  "off the beaten path"  build is going to be modeled from this hull.   it will be a collection of three vessels......the first hull frame is already cut out.....that won't begin for a while now.

 

 

thanks Augie......I had to get this one a step or two ahead of the Half Moon........different steps,  different things to do.   I will do my best.

[newbuilder101]

Okay...I thought I had it figured out before...that you did builds in your sleep. Now I think it must be that there are two Popeyes! Are you sure there aren't more hours in your day? Seriously, great to see another build. 

[popeye the sailor]

nope Sherry.......just one of me    pulled a couple of  "2 in the AM" to get the hull planked.   pulled this out of the closet just before finishing the AmericA.   I have more to add.....recent stuff now.   should have more up soon 

[popeye the sailor]

I pulled this out of mothballs around mid May.   I'm doing this now,  so I won't have two builds needing planking........and more variety.   first I need to get the bulwark panels on.........if it weren't for the scuppers,  I would have planked the whole build......what a pain they were.  first to fare the hull.

 

 

 

here are the panels

 

 

I contemplated making them from basswood flat stock.....that might have been a better choice.  these are a plywood......I was afraid to wet them,  for fear that they would separate {plys}

 

 

 

 

after they were cemented in place........and doing some creative clamping at the bow,  I noticed something was wrong.   the first bulwark post shows through the scupper.  I did not cement here, in seeing this beforehand......I chose to cut the post off flush to the deck and move it about 2mm.

 

 

 

I did the same for the starboard side

 

 

 

 

 

I have to make additional posts for the bulwark.  while I had this one off,  I used it as a template.

 

 

 

 

 

the bow looks pretty good.......clamping this to shape was a real pain it itself.

 

 

the extra posts were cemented in place.......a couple of them are a bit short,  butthey will be covered with the top rail.  if they show,  I'll doctor them up then.

 

 

[Jim Lad]

You just can't help yourself, can you Popeye! I blink and you have another fishing boat half finished!!

 

John

[Sjors]

Very nice Popeye,

 

And you know, every build has his own challange….

And it looks like that almost every kit has problems with the bow how to clamp!

Can they not figure out how it becomes easier?

A little jig or something?

 

 

[popeye the sailor]

I know John ......I showed you this one......in the closet for all this time.   it's about time I got the log going for this one.

 

I wish there was a jig for shaping the bow Sjors..........what a pain it was to get the panels to stay there......that plywood was so stiff.

[Yambo]

I've soaked thin plywood loads of times Popeye with no problems. If it does de-laminate though I'd simply stick some glue in the gap and clamp it. My Skerry shown on the 'Latest full profile . . ' is nearly all plywood and all of the side panels were soaked in hot water without a problem.

[Sjors]

Popeye,

 

We have so many inventive people on MSW is there no one who can make this???

Come on boys and girls……..make something!

No, not me, I have to work       

 

[popeye the sailor]

I've seen what laser cutting does to plywood Yambo........there have been times where I threw these parts out and planked it.....makes it so much easier.   if it wasn't for the scuppers {preformed}.......I would have done so.    I have a multi build coming up....I will make them out of basswood......it will make them easier,  and I can position the scuppers where I want to........that pesky 2mm will not haunt me again....... bwaaaaahaaaaa!   thanks for looking in

 

 

your like me Sjors.........a poor working stiff!

[runner63]

Popeye;

 

Excellent start I will follow closely.

 

runner63

[popeye the sailor]

thanks Runner63....I should have an update up soon

[popeye the sailor]

to complete the bulwark walls,  the stern ramp needed to be installed.   you can see the walls and top rail on the table......but these parts won't be used.   in setting up the side walls for the ramp,  I noticed that the stern wall were too short,  and left a fair gap there.   I made a pair for this area......but this also means that the top rail can't be used either.   no matter,  I'll just make one of those as well.......and I see no problems with the erection of the gallow booms,  because of this.

 

 

 

 

I made the stand for her as well.....she'll need it after she's planked

 

 

there was a bit of sanding to be done......didn't want to do too much though.   I added posts in the corners of the stern walls.

 

 

 

 

making sure all was ready,   the planking comenced.   the kit supplied 1.8 x 7 mm  planking,  but I had taken the strips from this kit,  to do one of my other projects.   I was going to order more from Billing's when I was ready to do it.   I'm sure that some of you have found out that Billing USA is closed,  but I was able to get a bundle of 1.8 x 8 mm planking.....more than enough to do the hull.

 

 

 

[Sjors]

Hi Popeye,

 

That's a smooth beginning of the planking…….

Keep on going this way and you have not a lot of sanding to do!

 

[Jim Lad]

Very neat job of that complex stern area, Popeye.  She's coming on well!

 

John

[popeye the sailor]

thanks Sjors and John      with the top rails on......there will still be plenty of room for the gallow.....I'm pleased that it didn't change.  as for the sanding.........I wouldn't be too sure about that.  I'll tell ya when I post the next update

[popeye the sailor]

so.....this begins the planking.   with the shape of this hull,  I figured that I could get away from tapering so much.   the 1mm difference in the planks should have tipped me off.  when I realized this,  I chose to do the planking to preserve the shape,  rather than come out with a clinky looking hull job.  the beginning went pretty good.......it wasn't until I got to the turn,  when I realized I might have a problem.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

in the last picture,  you can see how the plank wants to stick out at the stern.  I can sand this down,  but I knew by this time,  that I had better think about tapering........even if it was just to regain the line.  the rest of the planking can be done without being too picky.......filler needs to be added,  and it is to be painted anyway.

when I get around to doing the multi build.......I will have a better idea,  since they are based on the same hull design.  at the moment,  I have one frame ready to assemble......I have two more keels to frame out.   it's funny........the admiral asked me the other day,  where I was with starting them.  she mentioned that I should be starting them soon,  if I wanted to get them done in the time I specified.

.....a modeler's work is never done

Edited June 8, 2013 by popeye the sailor

[popeye the sailor]

the planking continued..........of course,  my habit of pulling out the brads after the planking dried took time as well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

from here on........I just filled in the gap,  one side at a time.  the stern was evened out.

 

 

 

 

I did some sanding.......I'll do the rest later.

 

 

 

 

the port side finished,  the starboard side was next.