Santa Maria by MrBlueJacket - FINISHED - Aurora/Heller scale - 1:90

[MrBlueJacket]

A bit of a departure, but I was at an IPMS show in Sanford ME this spring, and decided to build a model to enter next year. Not anything too complex, like Cutty Sark of Constitution. This kit seemed perfect, and with just a little kit-bashing should produce a good model.

 

[MrBlueJacket]

First, the vacuformed sails will be discarded. also, the plastic decking will be replace with wood. I took some glued-up decking, and painted it wood, then wiped it off with thinner. SInce the main deck was a little wider than the wood, I had to butt splice 2 sheets together. A scrap strip of 1/32 basswood added strength to the joint.

When flipped over, you can't see the joinery.

 

[MrBlueJacket]

Here's the kit decks

[Knocklouder]

Good luck on your journey.  I will be cheering you on in the back ground.  

[MrBlueJacket]

Next step is to insert wooden blocks because I will be using pedestals, not the plastic cradle tht came with the kit.

First step is to rough up where the blocks will be with some 60 grit sandpaper.

Then some 5-minute epoxy to hold the blocks, which were tapered to fit the curve of the bottom.

[MrBlueJacket]

Painted the inside bulwarks dark tan

[MrBlueJacket]

Shaped the wooden deck and traced the attachment points. Not sure if I will cut the grating off the plastic deck or use the laser cut gratings we sell. Opinions?

[GrandpaPhil]

The laser cut gratings would look better and if you have them at hand, I would use them.

[MrBlueJacket]

4 minutes ago, GrandpaPhil said:

The laser cut gratings would look better and if you have them at hand, I would use them.

Yes, I think so. I'll play with it tonight.

[ScottRC]

Definitely go with the laser cut grates.  

I have this kit and was wondering what to do with it.  Using the hull and scratching the rest sounds like fun.  

I following your build with renewed interest.  

[MrBlueJacket]

Here's my first attempt. Our gratings are rectangular, so I cut off the edging, squared it, and added new edges. Not happy with my joinery work, so I will re-do tonight. Like the noted modeler Steve Wheeler said, "The wastebasket is your best tool."

[MrBlueJacket]

Second attempt, using a Unimation disc sander. Much better.

 

[MrBlueJacket]

Over the weekend, painted and installed the grating. I like the way it looks, I painted under it with black.

[GrandpaPhil]

Looks good!

[MrBlueJacket]

Painted the inside of the cabins flat red, per the instructions. Next step is to paint the outside dark brown.

[Louie da fly]

Making good progress, mate.

[MrBlueJacket]

So after a few months, painted the outside, and trial fitted the deck. big problem - the deck has a lot of shear, so I have to pre-bend the deck to get it to fit. Here's the first attempt, but it didn't bend as much as needed.

[MrBlueJacket]

So, wood bending V.2

 

Again I wet the underside, but used a Monokote iron to steam out the wood while bending it over an old coffee can. Ended up working perfectly.

[MrBlueJacket]

So I also had to warp the bow area. Some rubber band coaxing, and the deck is now married to the port half.

Edited November 7, 2023 by MrBlueJacket

[MrBlueJacket]

Marrying the other half was a bit more difficult, the deck AND the keel needed to line up. but in the end, it worked.

[Ferrus Manus]

51 minutes ago, MrBlueJacket said:

Marrying the other half was a bit more difficult

The average experience. 

[Ferrus Manus]

Nice job on the wood deck, and getting it to fit properly! 

[MrBlueJacket]

The keel needed some putty to fill cracks between the two halves.

[MrBlueJacket]

Here's the windlass and anchor rope

[MrBlueJacket]

The Forecastle deck in place. I also mounted it on a workboard with pedestals.

 

[MrBlueJacket]

Assembled the cannons. The tie ropes was my idea

[MrBlueJacket]

Cannons installed. plastic model cement works for plastic to wood bonding.

 

[MrBlueJacket]

Next is to add the lower deadeyes, then I can put the afterdeck in place.

[MrBlueJacket]

So now I have added the two rear decks.

[MrBlueJacket]

Busy holiday season, but I managed to put in bulkheads and ladders.