US Brig Niagara by rfolsom - Model Shipways

[patrickmil]

Your Niagara is looking great so far. Everything is very clean looking. For the yellow I used Tamiya's spray dunkelgelb (dark yellow), but that was just my own personal taste in the color. I would also agree with Rich about the cap rail. Sweet looking build so far.

 

BTW, do you have a log for your Cutty Sark? Inquiring minds want to see.... 

[rfolsom]

Thanks, Patrick;  I'll have to check out the Tamiya color;  the yellow ochre in Model Shipway's paint set is a little too dark for me.  I do have a build log for the Cutty Sark on this site, I started it when I started the Niagaras';  but have been working on the CS for about 15 mos. longer, so had to play catch-up with the photos.

[texxn5]

Hi, I just found your log.  I'll be following it closely as this will be my next build after finishing the Morgan.  Looks good, keep it up.

John

[rfolsom]

Slowly working on the inside bulwarks;  painting each plank as I go....

[Rich_engr]

Cool man- looks good there!  Very clean paint work- perhaps I'll take a cue from you and Larry and pre-paint inner planks before installing them.  

 

Good to see some progress- must feel great!!!  

[patrickmil]

I will have to echo Rich's statements for my post. Your gunports look especially clean and neat.

[lb0190]

Good morning Bob,

 

Your build is looking clean and sharp.

[rfolsom]

Thanks for the nice comments, guys... I should be finishing up the ceiling of the inner bulwarks in the next couple of days, and will post some pictures soon...  Then it's on to the outer bulwark planking.

[rfolsom]

Inner bulwark planking almost complete.  All I have left is the planking from the bow to the first fore gunport edging strip, plus the red topmost stringers.  I found out that, for things to line up with the plans, I needed to make my topmost green planks 1/16" wide instead of 3/32" like the lower four.  This proved to be universally true with the exception of one single plank: the port-side plank from the aft side of the 1st gunport edging strip to the fore side of the 2nd gunport edging strip, which is 3/32".  This small discrepancy may be due to unequal fairing of the deck surface of the bulkhead(s) in that area previous to waterway/planksheer installation.  The first picture shows a test fit of the lower plank on left, and a pre-cut, unpainted 1/16" plank on the right.  This is the starboard plank who's twin will be wider on the port side.  I'm crossing my fingers that everything will line up correctly;  I've measured every possible dimension and compared it two the plans, so I am retaining my optimism...

 

Bob

[S.Coleman]

Looks good. It's interesting watching you do all this before even starting the hull planking, or the decks. Obviously the deck planks are laid straight onto the bulkheads?

[popeye the sailor]

looking good Robert! 

[lb0190]

Hi Bob,

 

Your build is coming along very well. I'm curious to see how you manage to keep your painted surfaces clean. I just beat the tar our of mine to the point I somewhat regret painting so early in the build.

[rfolsom]

I decided to plank the inner bulwarks first in order to establish as many known and solid reference points as possible before tackling the outside planking, and it also gives strength to the model when fairing the outside of the bulwarks prior to planking the exterior.  I  opted to paint the planks individually because of the different colored end-grain trim around the gun and sweep ports.  This allowed me to (almost) get relatively clean lines without tedious and laborious masking.  Had these pieces not been present, I definitely would have planked, and then painted.  I will treat the outside bulwarks in a similar manner, but after installing the planks immediately below the gunport sills, I will finish the hull planking completely before painting.

 

Larry, is this also why you chose to do it this way?  Anyway, I wouldn't call my surfaces clean;  (thank you, though)  they all need more sanding and coats of paint.  I'm just shooting for a happy balance where the individual planks are discernible without the paint job looking like dried mud on a tree trunk...  

[Rich_engr]

Lol- dried mud on a tree trunk!!!  I felt the same way with the paints at first- had to thin the heck out of them!  Also, the paint job on my inner bulwarks/gunports didn't turn out as good because I used that @$#@@ awful primer!!!  The outer hull, all deck pieces, guns, etc. do not have any primer on them.  That stuff was like an oil slick and almost bled into the paint (even after being dry prior to painting).  So from now on, I'm not using the primer at all...

 

But yours looks really good- painting the inside was a pain (I masked the stringer, then did the red port frames free-hand).  I only masked the waterline on the hull, and painted after planking was complete.  

 

She's looking good- keep going!!!  

[ajromano]

Very nice work.

[lb0190]

Hi Bob,

 

Looking back, I may have reduced the paint scratches if I covered the bulwarks with paintets tape or just something to offer it a little protection. Painting aHead makes a lot of sense to me but I just need to figure out how not to damage it as I complete other work.

 

Your doing a great job on your build!

[patrickmil]

Bob, the inner planking looks great. Are you planning on painting ahead with any of the exterior planking? I could see that it may work with painting the yellow planking since most of the planks don't need to be tapered at all. I have been watching another thread on here where someone is dying their planking material with the hopes (I'm thinking) that cutting and sanding won't eliminate the color from the wood.

[Rich_engr]

Dying the planks?  That sounds interesting...  I know they soak up water very well, and Sharpies bleed pretty easily, so why not thinned paint?    Might help with having to re-touch paint nicks later on...

[popeye the sailor]

could also be used as a weathering aide.......especially if your looking for a two toned appearance.

[patrickmil]

The build log of the Constitution by Cookster is where I discovered the dying process. It's on page 6 or 7.

[rfolsom]

Just a few more touch-ups and I will be ready to install the red stringer planks P and S, and then it's on to the outside...

 

Patrick:  I will be pre-painting the planks immediately below the gunport sills, and pre-painting and cutting the yellow planks, as well as the top outside stringers.  I will then proceed to plank the rest of the hull fully before sanding and painting in it's entirety.  The dying technique sounds interesting;  I may have to experiment with that on my next build...

 

Cheers,

 

Bob

[texxn5]

Nice progress Bob....nice to see it coming together...

[Pygothian]

Think I'll add this baby to my list seeing it is massively discounted on model expo currently!

[ajromano]

It was $179.00 with paint a couple days ago! I have 6 or 7 kits that were 80% off. Every now and then they discount so cheap I can not help myself!

Edited October 20, 2013 by ajromano

[rfolsom]

Yes, I purchased my Niagara for $144 five months ago... A great deal!!

[rfolsom]

Niagara's inside bulwarks are planked... going to start on the outside planking. 

 

I don't want to cross build logs here. but I'm also up and running on my Cutty Sark build;  installing bulwark stanchions...  My goal is to spend equal amounts of time between the two, instead of building one for two months, and then the other, etc...

[Pygothian]

It was $179.00 with paint a couple days ago! I have 6 or 7 kits that were 80% off. Every now and then they discount so cheap I can not help myself!

That's the deal I got. Also got the Syren last deal, and the victory costs section, I was very tempted get get the endeavour and Victory since they were over 80% off.

 

It's addictive and I haven't beef started building yet

[popeye the sailor]

your doing a great job Robert......I'm watching both builds.  looking forward in seeing more. 

[patrickmil]

Very nice and clean bulwarks!

[ajromano]

I am much beter at buying than building!