Elsie by 4whelr - Model Shipways

[4whelr]

 

For whatever reason I decided to build my very first model wooden ship. Because it was listed as an Entry Level model and I recognized it as the same type of fishing vessel used in the movie Captain Courageous! (I love that movie)  The Model Shipways Kit is: Scale 1/8" = 1' (1:96). The overall length of the finished model will be 21 1/2 " (546.1 mm) and 16" (406.4 mm) tall.

Here is a brief history of the Elsie copied from the Instruction Booklet.

 

 

History

ELSIE was designed by Thomas F. McManus of Boston and built in 1910 at the Authur D.

Story Shipyard in Essex, Massachusetts for the Atlantic Maritime Co. of Boston. She was

registered there until 1916. She was later sold to the Frank C. Pearce Co. of Gloucester, and

in 1933 to Gorton Pew & Co. In 1934, the schooner was sold to Captain Levi Kearnly of

Newfoundland. On January 19, 1935, returning from Gloucester after delivering a load of salt

fish, her seams opened at the stem rabbet and she foundered in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

The ELSIE is a classic, and probably most well known Gloucester schooner, so-named for the

region's principal port. She was fitted with small dories for hand-line fishing the Atlantic

coast. She was designed with a semi-knockabout schooner rig (forestay inboard on the

bowsprit), reflecting the influence of the safer, but costlier, knockabout schooners (no

bowsprit). She was outfitted with power after her 1921 race with the Canadian fishing

schooner BLUENOSE, but it was removed in 1931. An early Howard Chapelle drawing shows

a propeller fitted in the skeg forward of the rudder.

The more you read about the New England fisheries, the more fascinating their history

becomes. Unfortunately, the few substantial reference works available are mostly out of print,

and one must either spend large sums at rare book shops, or ransack libraries to get at them.

The easier volumes to find are those by Church, Chapelle, and Story—all excellent reading.

Goode's The Fisheries and Fishery Industries of the United States is the great work on

fishing methods as practiced in the 19th century. It is now quite rare, but well worth the

trouble to locate. Chapelle's book. The American Fishing Schooner, has become a standard

reference on fishing schooners, their design, and construction.

The 1937 movie, Captain Courageous, with Spencer Tracy, Mickey Rooney, and other great

stars, is an excellent film if you wish to see the fishing schooners in action; very realistic for

a Hollywood production. It was made during a time when these boats were still around.

 

 

After opening the box, looking at the parts and reading the instructions, my first thought was what the heck have I gotten myself into! Then my supervisor looked it over and said we need a work table. All that glue, paint, and chemicals will surely destroy the finish on the dining room table.

So the first order of business was to build a work table.

Once the table was done I re-read the instructions and realized I had no tools to do the build. A few months later tools and other supplies covered my work table. In hind sight I should have made a bigger table!

I started trying to decipher the instructions and realized I needed some better guidance. I ordered Ben Lankford's How To Build First-Rate Ship Models From Kits. It was a major help! Using its instruction I was able to sand and shape the hull. I installed the stem post, keel, and stern post. Lankford suggested using automotive spray primer. Since I had some left over from another project that is what I used.

Unsanded and carved hull.

HURRAY..I found MSW! Now I really am feeling confident. Then Oh no! MSW has changed and all my bookmarks no longer work. HURRAY....MSW 2.0 is looking even better than MSW and information is being posted at an unbelievable rate. Thanks to all the info pasted by the members I just might be able to do this!

More to come!

[Sjors]

Hi ?

 

I use a question mark because there is no name…...

Or I can call you Elsie       

Never hear from such ship so you make me curious.

I take a chair and I'll be watching you over your shoulder.

Enjoy your build, take your time and let us see where it ends.

 

Good luck with it !

 

[4whelr]

Thanks Sjors,

LOL call me Elsie, now that's funny!!

Seems I forgot to give my name......they call me lots of things, some not so nice!

But I answer to Eddie quicker than any other name!

Eddie

[Sjors]

For this time only….Hi Elsie           

Nice to meet you .

 

[augie]

Welcome aboard, Eddie.  Looks like Elsie will make into a really nice schooner.  Glad you've decided to start a build log here.  Plenty of expertise and encouragement aboard.

 

Oh, sorry you ran into Sjors on your first visit.   

 

Nice table!

 

OK, now the real question........  what's your ship's cat name????

[lamarvalley]

Nice schooner Eddie, looking forward to watching your build. About the table... you could have made it 4 times bigger and by now you'd still wish for more room

[4whelr]

For this time only….Hi Elsie           

Nice to meet you .

 

LOL Hi ya Sjors. See I answered to Elsie! :D

 

Augie - Thanks for the kind words about the table. My Captian Cat's name is Abbey! She's been with me for over 7yrs. I think she has me totally trained by now!!

 

Randy - I must agree with you about the table size. I have run out of room on the table and I still don't have all the tools I want nor have I built any of the jigs I have seen here on the board that I need to build.

 

Eddie

Edited July 1, 2013 by 4whelr

[trippwj]

Off to a good start, Eddie!  Looking forward to following the build.  Since Sjors hasn't offered, I'll supply a popcorn machine for the masses.

 

[bhermann]

Eddie - those lines look somewhat familiar to me.  I will be following along as you build.  It looks like you are off to a solid start - keep up the good work.

 

Bob

[4whelr]

Thank you Wayne!! They are probably going to need it.

Thank you Bob!! We will see if it is good work or not!

 

Since I haven't gotten any finished work to show right now, I thought I would show some of the novices like me some of the mistakes I have made and I have made plenty! For all you that build those masterpieces, please snicker and laugh behind your hand! Oh, and remember laughing with a mouth full of popcorn is a choking hazard!

 

My first disaster! While holding the hull in my hand and sanding, Captain Butterfingers here dropped the thing and broke the keel!!   (Note to self: Keep the ship in the clamp!)

Mistake, a chance to learn something new! In this case how to repair broken keel. Repair is done. Need to prime and sand to ensure it is a repair I want to keep or redo.

Some of my attempts at rudders, gudgeons and pintles and hatches. Keep in mind these attempts were all made before I found MSW and I had never own any soldering equipment in my life!

Finally, not so well finished hatches. I have to find some better paints. The ones I have seem to "clump" badly even when thinned. Now I know why most of the scratch builts are constructed out of hardwoods! Basswood is tough to get completely smooth! Have to work on that also! Also, my first experience with Blacken-It didn't go so well. After reading the blackening thread I probably wasn't  patient enough and painting over the Blacken-It was a real disaster as you can see, it peeled off! Oh well, back to the worktable!

Comments are welcomed! I put on my big boy panties every morning!

Seriously, I take suggestions and criticism very well. I  am here to learn afterall and sometimes learning requires both!

Eddie

[Sjors]

Hi Eddie ( wow, I know your name  )

 

Thank you Wayne for providing the popcorn machine.

I knew I could count on you.

 

@ Eddie,

 

From our mistakes we can learn.

Even it is the hard way…...

Then for the paint…...

I normally use Enamel but I found out there is a much better paint.

Admiralty paint...

That's really good stuff.

Everything that has painted on my build is replaced by that paint!

See if you can find it…..

 

 

[Anja]

Hello Eddie,

 

Found myself a seat in the front row.

I'm looking forward to seeing your Elsie grow.

 

Good luck and happy modelling.

 

Anja

[4whelr]

Thank you Anja! For the moment I am awaiting some more "supplies". As soon as they arrive I will begin to work again! They just don't give you enough material to make LOTS of mistakes!

[lamarvalley]

Oh but Eddie, making those mistakes makes you better... I know this from vast past and current experience

The cost of a model is the kit plus about 200% for upgrades and redos. But where can you have such fun for comparably so little coin?

[archjofo]

Hi Edie,
Thanks for the nice comment for my model.
You build a very interesting ship.
'll Keep an eye on your report.

[Ferit]

Salute Eddie,

I like your motto "Be yourself. Everyone else is taken."

[4whelr]

Randy - So true! Don't know which is worse, continuing to buy tools, books, or materials!

 

Johann - Thank you! Hope to have a progress report soon!

 

Ferit KUTFLU - I liked that quote from the first time I read it. Just "felt right" for me!

 

Lawrence - As I said in my opening post, I like this ship as it was the ship in Captains Courageous. I just may take 10yrs to build this one and that's not taking a break!!!

 

Have actually completed some more work, well repairing some mistakes, update coming soon!

[4whelr]

Just a quick update.

I got the keel repair done and when sanded and primed it didn't look to bad.  Then I noticed the sternpost was not right (green circle)! Don't know what I was thinking when I did that.

Here is an earlier photo that shows the area better.

I realize that once the ship is mounted this probably couldn't be seen. I can't remember which thread I read it on but someone had a post that said something to the effect that, "if you overlooked a mistake you knew you could repair, that mistake would be all you would see when you looked at the finished build". Didn't want that to happen so off comes the sternpost. Needed to make a trip to the hobby shop for some more material. No easy feat. It's only an 84 mile (135.2km) round trip. On no, the trip takes me right by a liquor store. Hummm, hobby shop or liquor store, that is the question. What the heck, do both!    After a strong drink, back to work. Sternpost finally finished to my liking. Also filled the dents that resulted when I dropped the hull. Couldn't prime it because it rained most all day today.

Did pick up a new addition for the shipyard. A Panavise Jr.. Oh Look! A little guy followed me home from the hobby shop and is looking over the ship

Hope to have more to post soon! Well if my paints hurry up and arrive.

Till then, Cheers!

Eddie

 

 

 

[russ]

Eddie:

Good work so far. If you had not told anyone about the keel repair, we would not have known. Your repair is very good indeed. This will make a really nice looking model when it is finished.

 

Russ

[Sjors]

Nice fix Eddie.

 

To keep that guy happy, give him a cup of coffee or a drink…..

 

[lamarvalley]

Looking good Eddie and your repair is spot on. Nice looking lines on that vessel.

[4whelr]

Russ - Thank you! I may be slow but I am learning from you all! Most of the skills I am aquiring are due to information shared by other members of the forum!!

 

Sjors - I think the little guy wants a drink and not coffee. He said something about going out for rum and wenches when I was cleaning up!

 

Randy - Thank you! I am taking everyone's advice and taking my time trying to get it right. Of course I blame everyone on this forum for this need to get it right. After seeing all the beautifully done builds on here I had to really up my game!!!!

 

Eddie

[4whelr]

Lawrence,

Thank you!

Am at a standstill right at the moment.

Have been working on the deck furniture while awaiting some materials and books I have on order.

Once everything gets here it will be back to the shipyard!

Eddie

[JPett]

Ahoy Eddie

 

She looks good

 

I see you have already found that most mistakes can be fixed with alcohol.  

 

Looking forward to following your adventure

[NMBROOK]

Lovely repair Eddie.That is quite correct in that if you know something is wrong,no matter if no one else spots it,it will haunt you every time you look at the model.

Kind Regards Nigel

[4whelr]

Lawrence - Thank you. Have been enjoying watching your build! Looking really good. Doing very little outside work here. Has rained all but 3 days in July.

 

JPett - Alcohol may not fix the mistake but it sure takes the sting out of finding it and stops the constant self flagellation over making it!   BTW glad you haven't painted your treenail work!

 

Nigel - Thank you! So true! That mistake is all I could think about after finding it! Have enjoyed following your build also! It looks really awesome!  

[4whelr]

I am going to show warts and all in this update. I marked my waterline,  taped off the hull and painted it.

Unfortunately my tape job was not as good as I thought it was. When I removed the tape I had experienced bleed over and I had a paint build up between the two colors! Why yes that "S" on my chest doesn't stand for superman. Suppose it must be for "Stupid Man"!

I sanded it all down.

I then re-taped and repainted. Turned out better the second time around.( I placed the unfinished cabin and hatches on the deck just to get and idea how it will look with them in place.)

 

Now I have a question. It is my intention to let the paint harden off for no less than 24 hours. I intend to sand lightly and put on a couple of coats of MinWax  Satin Polycrylic. I want some type of protective coating on the acrylic paints.  Is this a good idea or is there a better way to protect the finish on the hull?

Thanks,

Eddie

 

[russ]

The waterline looks good now.

 

I have used polycrylic and it works well. Just let the paint harden really well. Do not be in a hurry to clear coat it. Give it a few days.

 

Russ

[JPett]

Ahoy 4Whelr

 

A little late to this party.

 

I found a great tip here on MSW to prevent bleeding. After taping, take whatever color or treatment you just taped over and paint the tape line. Once this dries and seals the tape line paint the other color.

[russ]

You could even use a clear coat to seal the tape.

 

Russ