Gunboat Philadelphia by Joseph F. - FINISHED - Model Shipways - 1:24

[Joseph F.]

I got this kit a couple months ago, intrigued because it seemed an obscure subject. (I didn’t realize how many had built this kit before, and that the real vessel still exists in the Smithsonian.) Reading the short and unfortunate history of the gunboat, I have become very excited to start this project.

 

 

The kit is in 1/24 scale, or 1/2” = 1’. The completed vessel should be a little over 2 feet long, and I’m glad to be working at a large scale again, since my last two projects have been much smaller.

 

 

The kit comes with 7 or 8 sheets of plans which are a great compliment to the instruction manual, 11 sheets of laser cut wooden parts, as well as a decent sized bag of planks and dowels.

 

 

I have sorted all the rigging blocks and hardware in a container and will soon start working on the keel.

[Joseph F.]

Have been working on assembling the frame. Lots of sanding and cutting here but it has come together really well and quickly.

 

 

Working on the Stem and Transom, most of it is sandpaper work but an sharp angled carver is necessary for cutting the rabbet.

 

 

A laser cut line in the frames show you exactly how much needs to be shaved off, while the frames in the middle just need a little sanding.

 

 

Using every heavy flat object I have to get the frames glued evenly. 

 

 

I’m going to let that sit for a couple

hours, and then it’ll be time to start planking! 

[barkeater]

The battle of Valcour Island was pivotal in the success of the American Revolutionary War stopping the British forces from coming down lake Champlain in 1776. This stopped the invasion that year which allowed the colonials another year to organize and when the British strike came next year they were defeated at Saratoga. Although Benedict Arnold and his hastily built fleet were defeated they quite possibly saved the American Revolution. While the Philadelphia may have had a short life and unfortunately was sunk she is a truly historic vessel. Good luck on her build.

[Chuck Seiler]

Joseph,

 

    Welcome to "The Grand Society of Philadelphia Builders". 

 

   

[Joseph F.]

 

Have glued the first three rows of exterior planking.

 

 

https://3d.si.edu/explorer/gunboat-philadelphia
 

I am consulting this 3D model from the Smithsonian as I go along, which shows the present state of the real vessel.

 

 

Adding planking at the lowest parts of the deck is the latest thing I have done.

[Joseph F.]

 

Exterior planking using the “spiling” method was difficult, and there are many gaps. But I plan on filling and sanding them.

 

 

Interior planking went very smoothly.

 

Another angle of the interior planking.

 

 

Finished the interior planking. Deck pieces are not glued down yet, since they don’t fit perfectly, but working on that.

[Joseph F.]

 

Still working on getting the deck pieces to fit, have done a little work on the cannon and gun carriages.

[Joseph F.]

Finally glued the decking pieces down, had to use wood shims in the forward and middle sections. The gaps in the aft decking will be covered by the storage lockers.
 

Using my handy new nail pusher to fix the knees. 

 

The port side storage chest. Finally was able to use my Tamiya scribing tool to simulate the hinge.

 

 

The unpainted boat with decking, chests, knees, and gun carriages.

 

 

After adding the shot garlands and dry fitting the mast partner, I painted the interior of the boat in the light grey that comes with the kit. I have only seen one other builder use a grey stain on the interior, but I thought it would provide a good contrast with the honey exterior and the espresso bean gun carriages. Going to paint the gun quoins bright red.

 

NEED HELP: How do you paint Britannia metal? Acrylic won’t stick to it. Have considered getting a blackening solution, what would other builders recommend?

Edited September 22, 2021 by Joseph F.

[John Gummersall]

Joseph

 

There are about as many ways to blacken brass as there are model builders.   If you look on MSW logs, lots of folks have various ways to do it, with mixed results.  Some successful and some not so successful.  I have found (not that I am anywhere near an expert)  that Novacan works great for blackening etched brass.   See my post on my Philadelphia, it shows some results.   You can use it full strength to get a really rustic brown/black look or use it 1/2 strength to get a more even blackening.   

 

john

Edited September 22, 2021 by John Gummersall

[Joseph F.]

Small update on solutions to blackening Britannia metal:
 

Tried two products on each of the 9 pounder cannons for the gunboat. Novacan black patina on the left, and Jax pewter black on the right. Both did the job well, Jax I feel gave a slightly more consistent finish, but both are good products and can be found on Amazon.

 

I also have got some brass black solution I will be trying soon.

[Joseph F.]

My first attempt at tying the deadeyes was so bad I lost steam on this project and laid it aside for over three months. But tonight I picked it back up and made somewhat decent deadeyes on the starboard beam.

 

Have also glued and clamped the pieces of the mainmast, looking ahead.

 

Have recently read Rick Atkinson’s first book on the Revolutionary War, which included a good chapter on the fighting around Lake Champlain in 1776. Also going to start Jack Kelly’s new book on the Battle of Valcour Island soon. These are giving me more impetus to continue this project.

[Roger Pellett]

Joseph,

 

Looking good!

 

If you want to read something to keep you interested, I recommend Kenneth Roberts’ historical novel “Rabble in Arms.”  This is specifically about the Revolutionary War on Lake Champlain, ending with the battle of Saratoga.  Roberts was a history professor at Dartmouth.  He is best remembered for his Novel “Northwest Passage,” which was made into a movie starring Spencer Tracy (not the Alfred Hitchcock movie).

 

Roger

[Joseph F.]

Have started blackening and placing the brass fittings on the gun carriages. Trying to determine whether it will be easier to rig them directly to the boat, or assemble the gun rigging away from the boat… 

 

 

Going to start on the gunwales soon, I may paint them black. 
 

Thanks for the encouragement and the book recommendation @Roger Pellett

[Joseph F.]

I had assumed my kit was missing a pair of metal anchors, but I have just realized in this kit that the anchors are assembled from wood. I am tempted to cannibalize the anchors from my Vasa build, since they are almost the perfect size.

 

 

Either that, or I may not include the anchors at all, since the anchors would only be hauled up while the boat was under sail.

[Joseph F.]

Got some 5/32” eyelets for the hawseholes, and some zinc coated .177 caliber BBs to imitate the cannonballs for the 12 pounder. Both were blackened with Birchwood Casey Brass Black.
 

[Joseph F.]

Gunwales painted black, got the inspiration from another modeler, and I think it’s a good combination. They’re only dryfitted now, and I need to finish painting and touching up.
 

[Joseph F.]

Touched up the gunwales. Started sanding the mainmast, and dry fitted the brass mast ring and the stern railings. 
 

[Joseph F.]

Have painted the rubbing strake black, and installed the swivels, stern rails, catheads and mooring bits.
 

 

Most proud of the rigging on the port side 9 pounder. It’s not perfect but it feels like a great milestone in this project.

 

 

Enjoying Jack Kelly’s book on the 1776 campaign on Lake Champlain. It’s nice to understand the significance of this vessel as I build it.

[Joseph F.]

Both 9 pounders rigged, thole pins installed, anchors assembled. I used the metal anchors from my Vasa build, so I’ll have use another set of anchors on that kit.

 

 

Still have to rig the 12 pounder, and assemble the awning, but I am going to start assembling the mast and rigging.

[Joseph F.]

Started work on the mast and rudder.
 

 

This boat is really coming together, very pleased with my progress so far

[Joseph F.]

Started on the main and topsail yards.
 

 

Fitted the main top, still rough, needs some more work.

 

 

Finished the rudder. I got the idea to hammer over the ends of the nails from a picture of a larger Philadelphia model I had seen, but these are out of scale. 

 

 

Soon I will be rigging the shrouds and forestay!

[Roger Pellett]

Joseph,

 

It’s coming along nicely.  It’s a minor detail but the hawse holes in the original gunboat displayed in the Smithsonian are lined with lead.  The linings are grey, not black.

[Joseph F.]

Stained the mast.

 

 

Installed cleats and started rigging deadeyes, which is easier because of the large size.

 

 

@Roger Pellett I did see that on another model, I’ll consider repainting the hawseholes

[Joseph F.]

Have rigged the 12 pounder (minus the breeching rope) as well as the backstays and the forestay spreader. 
 

 

Now I just have to rig the anchors, yards, and topmast, and to build the awning structure and I will be done with this project.

[Joseph F.]

Finished rigging last night. 
 

 

Worked on the awning structure and fore rails this morning. 

 

 

There are a couple things missing, the breeching rope on the 12 pounder, the wooden rungs on one side of the shrouds, some rigging on the maintop, the oars, the stove, equipment racks on the awning, etc. I would eventually like to add a red pennant at the topmast.

 

 

I may come back and add those items, but for now I am finished with this boat.

 

 

I know it’s not the best Philadelphia ever built, but I am really proud of this boat. 
 

 

This has been the most advanced kit I’ve ever built, and also the most fun.

 

 

I am especially proud of the rigging. I did cut some corners, but it came together really easily and gives me confidence for future projects.

 

 

I was given a set of reference photos by another modeler, which I will add to a Google Drive folder for future Philadelphia builders to use.

 

 

Again, there are some things I will go back and add later eventually, but for now I am finished with this project and very proud of it. Now to focus entirely on Vasa.

[Roger Pellett]

Very nice job!  How about a case to protect it.  It’s too nice to leave unprotected.

[Joseph F.]

Good idea @Roger Pellett really I need more shelving all around.

 

Here is the link to the reference photos, as promised. Let me know if the link doesn't work or if you don't have permission to access:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1BUE6i8l-8UsupmQ88LXrb0ecgY-J32aq?usp=sharing

[Ryland Craze]

Congratulations on finishing this model.

1 hour ago, Joseph F. said:

I know it’s not the best Philadelphia ever built, but I am really proud of this boat. 

You should be proud of this build.  I have seen many Philadelphia Gunboat models over the years and yours is just as nice as those that I have seen.

[ccoyle]

Looks great, Joseph!

[fnkershner]

Any model completed is worth celebrating. It is my hope to have more completions than Viking burials before I die. Nice job!