Fifie by Dsmith20639 - FINISHED - Amati - 1/32 scale

[Dsmith20639]

Continuing construction of the wheelhouse. I planked the sides, added the door and windows.

 

Used the excelllent photo-etched metal parts in this kit to create the two herring shovels.

 

Made the water tank and painted it green. Then I painted the life belts, added the roof to the wheelhouse,built and painted the navigation lights and mounted all the parts along with the boom support and a single block to the wheelhouse.

Finally I installed the wheelhouse on the superstructure along with the chimney and support bracket.

 

Next up will be the masts.

 

 

[Dsmith20639]

Continuing work in the Fifie I assembled the aft tabernacle (mast base) from the photo-etched brass parts provided.

 

I cut and tapered the dowel for the aft mast and fitted its hardware as shown on the plans, gave it a coat of Wipe-on-Poly, attached it to the tabernacle, and mounted the assembly on the superstructure just behind the pilot house.

 

I then used CA to mount the wooden cleats to the mast and on the deck next to the base. The instructions called for pinning the cleats but I had trouble drilling the holes for the pins so I compromised and just glued them in place. I will need to be careful when installing the rigging.

I also installed the boards enclosing the areas on either side of the hatches and net rollers (used to corral the catch of fish dumped from the nets?). These were not called out in the assembly manual but just appeared in the photos provided, soft of like the gunwales did at an earlier step. I've also noticed that the instruction manual glosses over the rigging of the boat with just a series of finished photographs so I will need to study the plans carefully when I get to that stage.  Seems odd that some major parts of the build are completely left out of the nicely done and photographed instruction manual while some minor items are given detailed steps and photos. It's as if the writers couldn't make up their minds about the level of experience of the person buying the kit. A simple sentence at the correct step in the build process (like- using the parts as shown on Plan Sheet X, enclosing the fish collection areas port and starboard, etc.) would suffice.  Anyway, just my opinion.  Maybe that shows I'm still only a beginner if I am expecting detailed step-by-step instructions.  But I would prefer that rather than missing steps and a bunch of glossy photos.

 

[Dsmith20639]

Assembled the front tabernackle (mast base).

 

Tapered main mast, attached to tabernackle, and added mast components.

Built the front skylight.

 

 

And the bus rope hatch (whatever that is).

Assembled and installed the bow stay.

 

Then I began adding the various deck furniture, starting with the aft companion way and engine skylight.

The front companion way, bus roller hatch, and front skylight.

Installed the main mast assembly, chimney, bollards, steam winch, hand pump,  stern seat, and various eyelets for mast stays.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next up will be building the life boat.

 

[Dsmith20639]

Progress on building the life boat has been very slow. For the last month I've had health related issues caused related to my medications for Parkinson's disease, etc. But at last the life boat is finished.  It was equivalent to a mini kit build in itself! Here are the results such as they are:

I then added the metal piece to the bow. (You can see the life boat on deck in the background.

And currently I am working on the net buoys. All 30 off them.

 

[Dsmith20639]

Completed derrick boom for foremast and upper and lower booms for the main mast.

[Dsmith20639]

I mounted the derrick. boom to the front mast and completed the front mast rigging. I dismounted the main mast so it would be easier to rig the sail. It took awhile to connect the lower boom to the main mast due to the size of the tiny bolt and hex nut used and my lack of coordination, but eventually I got it installed.  Next up is to make the sail and install it on the main mast.

[Dsmith20639]

Continue making progress on rigging. Completed front mast and began work on main mast and sail.

 

[Ken_2]

Wow!  You have made great progress!  I like the detail of your photographs good color and good lighting - very nice.  They show your attention to detail.  I struggle with my selection of a color scheme.  I have chosen one for my build, but I like the colors and finish on the wood that you have chosen.  It is a beautiful boat.

Ken

[Dsmith20639]

Well I've finally completed this build and the rigging. I had a small problem, I lost one of the small bullseyes for the shrouds but luckily I had a deadeye in my stash the same size and drilled out the center converting the 3 small holes to one large one.

 

[Diver]

2 minutes ago, Dsmith20639 said:

Well I've finally completed this build and the rigging. I had a small problem, I lost one of the small bullseyes for the shrouds but luckily I had a deadeye in my stash the same size and drilled out the center converting the 3 small holes to one large one.

 

On my build list.

[ccoyle]

Very handsome!

[Thukydides]

Great job

[JacquesCousteau]

Fantastic job, that looks excellent!

[Paul Le Wol]

Congratulations! Beautiful job 

[Ken_2]

Great looking boat.

Ken

[Carleroo]

I've been looking at your build and am very impressed. I am thinking of building this kit and wondering of you have some overall insights on what was good about the kit, and what might have been some "watch-outs". I do like the larger scale and love working on little details. I also have a slight hand tremor that makes it a bit challenging to do complex rigging, but this model does not seem too complicated - at least there seems to be more room to manage threads, knots, etc. than in a more fully-rigged ship. Thanks, in advance, carl

[Dsmith20639]

I think I made note of most of the problems with the kit as they occurred in my build log. Let me know by replying here if and when you start your build log and I will follow along and try to answer any questions you may have. As noted, I hated the MDF and the row boat was a challenge in itself. The kit is BIG. Planking the hull posed problems because off the thickness of the planking material so the final results were not up to my normal standards, but I thought the pictures on the box with exposed wood planks were unrealistic and that's why I fully painted the hull, also painting covers up a lot of minor mistakes. The final steps of finishing the model, rigging the masts, etc. is not difficult but the instructions at the end of the manual are sorely lacking compared the the rest of the manual (just a series of pictures with no commentary) and a few steps obviously omitted. By the way, I have Parkinson's disease  so I understand your concerns about a hand tremor. Just go slowly, don't rush, and don't give up.

 

Good luck !