Mayflower by SkerryAmp - Model Shipways - 5/32" = 1'

[SkerryAmp]

Good Evening All,

 

Did a fair amount of work on the mayflower finally.

 

1st, once again - thank you Dennis; this would not have been done if it were not for your planks!!

 

I finally got the entire hull and bulwarks second planked, and decided to fill and paint the hull.   It was an adventure as always.  A little sanding and filling here, sanding and filling there, more sanding, more filling, more.. well you get the picture.    I am satisfied I guess is the word for it,  but I still recognize I need a lot more skill building in the planking department.   Not overly thrilled with the bow, the planks are semi even but angle up a tad which means (I believe) I didn't taper them enough.   Am hoping once it is all together and shiny and cleaned up that only I will see booboos.   Live and learn eh?

 

So,  here is the hull all painted up....

 

From the bottom

 

And from the bow (don't worry, it looks crooked but that is camera operator error not getting a nice clean shot, the angle is mucking it up.   Drove me into a panic at first until I checked and double checked and triple checked)

 

 

And finally from the stern.  I may need to work a little more on where the planks meet the stern, that edge is less than smooth,  but try and try I can't seem to get it where I would like it.  We shall see how that goes.

 

 

So with that done,  I shall let that sit aside and dry and then give it another light sanding and then will stain, treenail and seal the bulwarks tomorrow night.

 

 

 

 

[SkerryAmp]

I did also decide to do a little prep work for when the bulwarks are done.   I decided to get the wales ready for their debut.   I have some boxwood and pear laying around so I decided I am going to use those to do the wales and the moulding.  I want a nice clean edge and have become somewhat addicted to using those woods.  

 

For the wales I decided to stain them using ebony stain.  Will give a nice black I think and a nice touch to the model (I hope)

 

So first I picked out some clean boxwood strips.....

 

 

Pulled out the trusty ole Minwax Pre-Stain Wood Conditioner (I absolutely love this stuff)

 

 

Treated the boxwood accordingly....

 

 

The previously mentioned Ebony Stain also by Minwax (I have pretty good luck with their products)

 

 

And - WALLA!   Black Wales

 

 

I have no set those aside to dry overnight and will see what I can about those tomorrow...

 

The question now is,    what do I do now...hmmmmmm.

 

 

Well, thanks for stopping in!

 

Enjoy!!

[riverboat]

Looks real good!! Adam, you're right , once its all painted up no one will no the difference, My Supply was  messed up at the bow,  but painted up

I'm the only one who knows :D . It's all a learning experience!! ( that's what I keep telling myself)

Frank

[riverboat]

You can always stand back and admire your masterpiece!!

[augie]

That ebony stain looks pretty darned good.  Look forward to seeing those planks laid on.

[russ]

Nice work with the stain. I like that look.

 

Russ

[popeye the sailor]

there you go Adam........the hull looks much better!   the stern can be blended flush with sand paper on a wide surface block ......I have different sizes.   for the rounded portion,  wrap some paper around a large dowel.    for those wale strips,  I pre bent mine before I stained them......hence the reason why I had breakage  {I like to think that}.    once you get them bent and on the hull......you'll be a happier camper.  they'll enhance it all the more 

[Sjors]

Great job Adam !

 

You paint job is just like a real piece of art !

Very nice !

The stain comes out very well.

Nice contrast with the white hull !

 

[gerty]

Looking good Adam !

[DCIronfist]

Wow really looking good

[SkerryAmp]

Thanks all,

 

Getting little bits and pieces done as time allows, just when I think I found some time - POOF it's gone!

 

The mayflower is still moving, but more in "clean up" stages at the moment,  Getting some light sanding done, some staining, getting the hull and bulwarks just like i would like them before the trim goes on.

 

The trim is painted and ready to go once the stain is just right and dry!!

[riverboat]

Hi Adam, just wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

Frank

[SkerryAmp]

Thank you Frank! Much appreciated.

 

Merry Christmas to you as well!!

[SkerryAmp]

Egads!  Can it be!

 

YES, yes it is... an update!

 

Que fan faire!

 

So, pulled out the mayflower and have prepped to fit the exterior trims, wales etc.    The first two wales were bent by soaking them in some windex and clothespinning them to the rim of a glass to get a nice curve.   Once dried,took them out  and in they went. Surprisingly they went in pretty smooth.

 

I have a little touch up on the white to do where it meets the lower wale but other than that,  I think they came out pretty good.

 

Once all the trim is on I will poly it all up nice and neat and give it a slight sheen which should deepen the colors and really bring out the ebony a bit more.

 

 

Looks like I will have some more time for a while to be at the bench so will be making the most of it as best I can!!!

 

Enjoy and Happy Building all!!

 

 

 

[russ]

That looks really good. I like the planking and especially the wales. Excellent colors.

 

Russ

[popeye the sailor]

she looks great Adam........love the color you chose      really sweet job!

[Chuck]

That looks just fantastic.  Well done.  The finish is excellent.

 

Chuck

[Sjors]

Amazing good job Adam !

You must be proud now !!!!!

 

[SkerryAmp]

Thanks guys - much appreciated!!  I am really happy how it is looking so far and yes, quite proud of myself ,  I had to make sure I had a batch of that stain mixture sitting somewhere safe and air tight so I don't have to guess later on!  It is amazing to me how something seemingly as simple as two strips of wood (the wales) can bring it together so much.

 

I have the other trim painted and drying now, will be putting those on sometime between now and sunday.

[jre8655]

Adam,

 

I've been reading through your build log.   I just finished the Model Shipways Bluenose 1:100 scale and have been tying to decide which model to build next.  You have inspired me to take up building the Mayflower as my second build.

 

In going over the plans and reading through the assembly manual I've noticed an eyebolt incorporated into the keel just aft of the fore mast.  I didn't see that in your photos and don't think I read anything about it in your posts.  Do you have any clarification on this piece?

 

I will be following your build and starting my build log shortly.

 

Thanks for helping me decide.  I hope I can approach your level of detail.

[SkerryAmp]

Hi Jack, glad I could help   - I think you will enjoy it, it has been an absolute pleasure to build so far, I just wish I had a lot more time to devote to it.  Regarding the eyebolt,  I wish I had clarification on that one,  I did install it, just as the instructions say but having read through the book a couple times I still havn't found where it comes into play.  I am sure I am missing it or just not reading something right, but figure when I get to it, I will know .  From the pictures it looks like several lines from the foremast go down to it, but again not 100% sure.  I know that doesn't help you any, except to say we are in the same boat..or ship .

[Chuck]

Thats for the rigging.   see the rigging plan for that....there should be another small drawing showing how that is used also...

 

Chuck

[SkerryAmp]

Ah, thanks Chuck!  Will check that out when I get home.

[jre8655]

Adam,

 

I was reading through the manual this morning as I was getting the parts inventoried and found the section that refers to that eyebolt.

 

On page 47, under "Fore Yard..." it's explained as being a substitue for a knight that is supposed to be located below the forecastle deck.  The eyebolt is used to secure the ramshead.

 

I'm still on page 2, paragraph 1, in my construction phase.

[SkerryAmp]

Well, aside from feeling silly (and rightfully so) that I for some reason kept reading over that and not clicking what it meant - mystery solved!    Tis a good day!

 

Thanks Jack!

 

Looking forward to see yours take shape!

[SkerryAmp]

Well, nothing HUGE... but a quick update.   My plan as mentioned before was to get the other trim up over the weekend,  well - when I went to do that I noticed a tiny tiny flaw in my ship which I had to rectify ASAP.  One of the railings wasn't trimmed and sanded properly and was thicker than the other so had to work on that a bit before anything else could happen.

 

Then, of course tonight I realized I couldn't just lay the trim down either as it would be easier to take care of some of the painting first.

 

So - tonights up date,  the yellow painting along the exterior of the forward and rear decks.  This of course has to dry and then tomorrow will be masking it off and doing the green stripes.   THEN adding the trim!

 

Whew!

 

So, here it is, the mayflower + yellow paint!

 

I searched around for a yellow that I thought looked real good, and one of the threads here had mentioned using artist acrylics. So, poked around: the goal was to look for the right colors but more subdued and less vibrant than a lot of the model acrylics tend to come in.   Whalla!  Yellow Ochre.    I used Winsor and Newton Galeria artist acrylics, and while straight from the tube they worked well I did use a little liquitex flow aid to help even out the finish a bit.  

 

Here is the result

 

 

 I wasn't overly concerned with "neatness" at this point (I mean I didn't just slap the paint on but wasn't dialed into final lines etc) as there will be trim over the edges as well as masked and repainted secondary edges which is where I will start to hone in and focus on the lines. 

 

Until next time!!

 

Enjoy!

Edited February 19, 2014 by SkerryAmp

[popeye the sailor]

yea........still some rails to go      looks very nice Adam.......the color blends nicely with the hull planking.   sweet!

[Sjors]

I agree with Popeye Adam.

 

Paint job is terrific !

 

[DCIronfist]

I do like the color you chose and it sure looks great :)

[Ferit]

Hi Adam,

Me too, I also agree the agreement of Sjors with Popeye  ...

Colors really look very smooth, in soft harmony...