Fair American by KenW - FINISHED - Model Shipways - 1:48 Scale

[KenW]

Just completed the Model Shipways, "Armed Virginia Sloop", and while I was pleased with the result, I can see a lot of "mistakes".  So I want to see if I can do a model without the old problems (only new ones).

 

I chose the Fail American because it seems more difficult than the AVS, but not too much more difficult.  It has a second mast, more complicated bow and stern and it is squared rigged.

 

After my parts survey, I see that the center keel is not in agreement with the plans.  This problem has been seen by other MSW builders.  I contacted Model Expo and am waiting for the replacement center keel. 

However, the keel part's length is NOT about a half inch short, so that problem has been fixed.

 

While waiting for the new center keel, I decided to practice on the kit supplied center keel since on my last model I had problems with creating the rabbet.

     So I removed the center keel and bulkheads and lightly removed the laser burn discoloration.

     I redrew the bearding line to be more in line with the size of the majority of the bulkheads.  I did not make any changes to the bulkheads!  I did modify the kit supplied center keel if needed.

     I cut the rabbet and was pleased; I felt is was much better than on my previous model.

 

So I am happy with the practice attempt and now just have to wait for the replacement center keel.

[augie]

Welcome aboard, Ken.  Finally---- someone from my hometown!

 

Fair American is a neat vessel and there are a few logs on MSW.  I enjoyed following Rafine's log back on the old MSW and he recreated part of it here on the new site.

 

Glad you started a build log for her.  Best of luck on your voyage.

[KenW]

Hi Augie.  I just checked out your MS Syren build log and the Syren looks a lot like the Fair American.

I will probably reference your site for helpful tips and advice.  I may even ask some questions.

Thanks.

[augie]

Ask away Ken.  I'm no expert but there are plenty of talented folks on board here who are and they're always willing to help.

[KenW]

I am still waiting for the replacement center keel from Model Expo so I decided to make the cannon carriages. It should be easier for me to correctly frame the gun ports, when I reach that point in the building process, by having some completed carriages.

 

The gun carriages are made from laser cut parts: 2 side parts, a bottom part that contains the axles and 4 trucks.  Unfortunately, all the parts are made from basswood which splits easily.  I had 3-4 axles break off and one truck split apart.  These parts are very small and do not glue back together easily so I just glued trucks over where the axles were and cut a new truck (which was not easy) from spare basswood.

 

The motto here is that it is not the deficiencies of the kit or the mistakes made which are important, but the strategies created to overcome the issues and enable model building to continue.

 

Anyway, I attach photos of the carriages in various stages of completion.  The barrel is not glued as yet and still needs to be painted black.  The trunnion was made from a toothpick slimmed down.  I made quoin beds and quoins; however I may not use the quoins depending on the height of the barrel vs. the gun port opening.

 

 

 

Thanks.

Edited July 3, 2013 by KenW

[KenW]

The replacement center keel from Model Expo still has not arrived. 

 

The Fair American kit provides bilge pumps made from dye cast metal.  I didn’t like the look of them and think that wooden pumps would be much better.  So I constructed two pumps based on the ones from the Armed Virginia Sloop.

 

I started with a ¼ inch dowel cut to a length of 3/8 inches.  I used 3/16” .020 walnut planking split in two around the dowel to give the look of a barrel.  The handle bracket was made from 1/8” square walnut stock with a notch cut in the top.  The handles were 1/16” walnut rounded from about halfway to one end and leaving a nob or ball at that end.  I made the straps and U-bracket from 1/16” strips cut from a manila folder.  I find it is better to paint the manila strips before gluing.  Finally, a spout was cut from 1/16” square walnut stock with a gouge cut into the top.  A photo of the pumps is attached below.

 

Next I plan on replacing the dye cast metal binnacle.  Again, a wooden binnacle will look much better.

 

Edited July 24, 2013 by KenW

[EdatWycliffe]

Dear Augie and Ken:

 

I just finished planking the hull of Fair American, my first pob ship. (I recently completed Phantom, my first ship ever and had so much enjoyment that I've become an enthusiast.) Now I've run into my first problem with the plans--the hatch coamings. I want to build and install the coamings and grating before laying the deck pad, but I can't figure out what the parts list means by the 3/32 x 3/32 "upper" hatch coaming and the 5/32 x 5/32 "lower" hatch coaming. Also there is an unnamed part below the lower hatch coaming that is 3/16 x 3/16. Can't tell if that is a part of the coaming construction. In short, how do I construct the coamings for the fore and aft hatches?Also, is the plan accurate w/r/t the number of horizontal and vertical pieces in the grating? I'd be truly appreciative of the help. Thanks.

 

P.S. WHere can I find Rafine,s build log?

Edited July 16, 2013 by EdatWycliffe

[trippwj]

P.S. WHere can I find Rafine,s build log?

 

Ask, and ye shall receive!  here is the link to Rafine's Fair American log

http://modelshipworld.com/index.php?/topic/1114-fair-american-by-rafine-model-shipways-kitbashed/#entry19650

[augie]

Wayne to the (quick) rescue !!!  I hope Rafine's log answers Ed's question.

 

Ed-  I don't really feel qualified to answer your question on the coamings and I hope someone chimes in.  If I knew how to make a drawing here it would make life easier.  Let's assume for a second that the coaming around the gratings could be simply made from 4 pieces of identical dimension timber glued together into a rectangular box.  That would actually do the job but it's not 'correct'.  The joints must be interlocking (or overlapping).  Normally I've just notched the ends of the 4 identical pieces so that the end pieces sit down on the side pieces and the whole assembly is the same thickness.

[EdatWycliffe]

Thanks Augie. Appreciate the response.

[KenW]

Ed - I'm glad Augie answered your question since I haven't gotten that far yet on my model.

 

Also, I forgot to credit Aliluke with the design of the bilge pumps.  His Armed Virginia Sloop model is outstanding!

 

Still waiting on the replacement center keel from Model Expo.

 

Cheers.

Edited August 2, 2013 by KenW

[KenW]

Does anyone have a way to get that fancy scroll work onto the stern?  My hand is not steady enough and the Fair American does not come with metal scroll work that I can just glue on.

I would need the letters for "Fair . American ." as well (although I can probably get decals for that).

 

Thanks.

Edited June 2, 2014 by KenW

[EdatWycliffe]

Thanks, Ken. Also receiving help from Figuerres who has a terrific build log.

[samueljr]

Ken

 

For such a small amount of detail you might want to think about having it printed out on a heavy card stock and then just cut it out and paint it as you would if it were photo-etched. Although not the "norm"  a run of p/e for just a single item would be cost prohibitive.

 

You may have to think out side of the "box"

[KenW]

I don't know what it means to be "photo-etched".  I will have to do some research here.

Thanks.

[KenW]

The replacement center keel from Model Expo still has not arrived; although they say it was shipped on July 9th. 

 

The binnacle in the Fair American is also made from dye cast metal.  It doesn’t look very good to me so I decided to make my own from left over walnut planks from the Armed Virginia Sloop.

 

I based my design on rafine’s and added an extra drawer that can hold charts and stuff.   There probably should be some kind of vents on the back or roof since I assume that there were lanterns behind those “triangle” shaped doors. 

 

I may be changing the overall “look” of the Fair American with these changes, but I guess I can always use the metal binnacle, as well as the metal bilge pumps if necessary. 

 

Anyway, I wish my center keel replacement part would finally get here so I can start building this kit in earnest.

 

Edited March 24, 2014 by KenW

[augie]

Nice work on that scratched binnacle.  BIG improvement.  If you are ever around a hobby store, you might want to pick up a piece of brass tubing that you can slice thin and make a 'compass' that fits into your opening.

 

Hope you get that bulkhead former soon.

[aliluke]

Nice work on the binnacle Ken. A massive improvement on the kit piece. I'll keep watching your log.

 

Any chance of seeing some photos of your AVS? Maybe in the completed ship gallery?

 

Cheers

Alistair

[rafine]

Your binnacle looks very good. I'm looking forward to watching your build.

 

Bob

[KenW]

Thanks Alistair and Bob for the encouraging comments.

I uploaded a couple of photos of my Armed Virginia Sloop on the completed models gallery.

Cheers.

[aliluke]

Your AVS looks great Ken - thanks for loading. Can't see any "mistakes" that you referred to. I'll keep up with your Fair American log as it unfolds.

 

Cheers

Alistair

[EdatWycliffe]

Enjoying your log. Very nice work. It's time I started a build log for Fair American, but I can't figure out how to do it under the new MSW. Can you please point me in the right direction? Thanks.

[KenW]

Ed:  It took me quite awhile to figure out how to use the new MSW.  Once I got started, it seems sort of logical.

The place I started was in "The Captain's Lounge".  There is a tutorial on how to start a log, add photos, etc.

I would recommend starting there.

Cheers.

[EdatWycliffe]

Thanks, Ken. Hopefully, I'll be able to post some photos tomorrow. I ordered some parts from MSW three weeks ago and just got an email explaining that they are several weeks behind filling orders. Still, hope you got your keel by now. Kind regards.

[KenW]

The replacement center keel finally arrived yesterday.  The new part matches the Fair American’s plans exactly.  I attach photos of the old center keel sitting on top of the new replacement center keel.  The two parts line up perfectly at the stern, but the difference in size is well over a ¼ inch at the stem.

So now I am able to start removing the laser burn, redrawing and cutting the rabbet line, and gluing the stern/stem posts, the keel, as well as the 16 bulkheads to the new center keel.  It is great to be back modeling again.

 

 

 

[KenW]

Structure creation is progressing.  I attached the Stern, Keel and Stem to the Center Keel first and then fitted and glued the bulkheads.  I added some scrap wood to strengthen the bulwarks during fairing.  The fairing is complete; but I had to add shims to a few bulkheads – including the starboard side of bulkhead #1.  I also added the filler blocks fore and aft.  I added scrap wood around the hatch openings so I can install the combings before laying down the deck.  Everything, so far, is pretty basic but enjoyable and relaxing.

 

 

[EdatWycliffe]

Looks great, Ken. The bulkhead fairing and the filler blocks look exceptional.

 

I purchased cannon carriages and gun barrels from Syren and I just tried to put together the first carriage. I really botched it. They are delicate and extracting the parts in tact from the board is difficult.

 

Your cannons look good. How did you determine the angle of the cheeks. I understand that the distance between the cheeks at the forward carriage is narrower than at the aft, but how did you determine the distances apart? Did you make a jig? Or did you keep the cheeks parallel? Thanks.

 

Ed

[aliluke]

Very nice work Ken

It reminds me of the AVS and one thing, amongst others that are good about their kits, is the number of bulkheads that MS kits provide are a great foundation for a hull. Other manufacturers give you great distances to span.

 

Cheers

Alistair

[rafine]

It's looking very good Ken. You're off to a very nice start.

 

Bob

[jastrząb]

Good idea to replace the metal parts. Nice!