Benjamin W Latham by Caferacer - FINISHED - Model Shipways

[Caferacer]

Garage season is over, and 100+ plus degrees here in Arizona, so back to inside activities!

Since last update I have added the top rail and the monkey board.  I used Sculpey to to make the curved section where the monkey board meets the top rail.  I've used this material before and it's a great solution to hard to form parts, or where tiny details are needed.  I used it a lot on the Sultana.

[Caferacer]

On 5/18/2024 at 6:17 AM, Bill Saindon said:

Beautiful work. I think the Latham will be my next build. Your metal work is incredible. 

Thanks for the kind words! 

[Caferacer]

As an aside, here is how I have used Sculpey in the past; for the cheeks on the bow of the Sultana and the decorative windows.  The cast pieces didn't look great nor did they fit against the hull properly, so I used Sculpey to fit them and bring some detail.

[Caferacer]

Working on several aspects at once in a way.  Finishing the top rail details, and adding the chainplates. I'm also picking away at the hull painting.

 

[Caferacer]

On this build, I have discovered just how much bend you can put into wood, with proper prep and some patience.

I honestly figured "I'll give it a shot" and dang it worked great.  I added the boom buffer early, because I wanted to be sure it fit under the plate, and I painted most of it in advance. While some seams might show, I think adding these strips later, was easier than over sizing the top plate/monkey board, and getting the profile uniform and even.

[Caferacer]

I'm trying to foresee what rings or other rigging features are needed on the deck or rails before adding the furniture.  I just know once a place a piece of furniture I'll need to drill a hole somewhere nearby, and it'll be blocked.  So to that end I started the gammon strap, This is a good time to do it as well because I haven't finished the bow where it meets the bowsprit so fitting the gammon, especially before painting the bowsprit will save rework or damage.

Once I got the first one where I liked it, I made a mirror version, wiring them together to even them up with a file and ensure the holes were drilled properly.

Edited June 2 by Caferacer

[Caferacer]

Would the scuppers be the deck color or the hull color? I glued the seine roller mounts in place, you can make out one pin in the mount now, the other mount has a through hole. Once the deck and rails are painted fully I can fit the roller (painted black) into the mounts.  Still contemplating the deck finish, I won't finish it until the furniture is in place, as I want to be sure I have good adherence (maybe over abundance of caution).  I'm thinking of something simple like thinned down poly, or danish oil, something that will seep into the joints and darken them, but leave the top fairly blonde.

[Caferacer]

I stained the deck with Danish oil and a little stain as pigment.  I think next build I will try to darken the plank edges with a pencil, I didn't get as much staining in the joints as I would have liked, but overall I'm pleased.

[Caferacer]

Details keep coming, just when you think you're done.  It took me a while to figure these catheads out, but here we are.

The drawings were confusing me until I realized the swing out.  I'll be leaving them in the "parked" position as the anchors will be stowed.

I didn't have wire small enough to create rings for the chains, so I seized them with some thread.  I mocked it up with the line, arranged about how it would be on the model and painted it. 

The windlass drove me a little crazy to be honest.  I couldn't seem to resolve all the dimensions between the bowsprit, windlass position and the other parts.  The windlass would have fouled on the top rail if it were farther forward, or the Samson post needed to be farther back.  I'm only guessing but I think it's tolerance stack up between all these parts and the contour of the top rail/hull.

[Caferacer]

Catching up on some updates; Masts are up, and the ladders are on.  I used some temporary lines to get the foremast into position and then used the ladders to actually draw the mast tight.  There isn't an glue in the sockets of the masts, I decided this for a few reasons, I wanted to be sure to get them in the right position based on the rigging plan, I also didn't think of a great way to glue them and make sure I could take the time to get them in the right position before it set up.  Anyway, the deadeyes are tight and seized, I'll go back and paint the ladders flat black to knock the shine off of them. The rat lines are also on the bowsprit.  My granddaughter is visiting (she does every summer) and has kicked me off my hobby bench, so I'm at the kitchen table

 

[Caferacer]

Some catch up..

Lots of rigging..  However not as much a I was expecting, all of the booms and yards were pre-made a while go, so it's all assembly.A

[Caferacer]

I didn't know what to do with the seine boat until, I saw another model with had it hung on the side, I like this look, as I'm striving for a more static than active model.  The barrels are not attached, I'm still thinking about that part, I'm probably going to mount them more in a storage location maybe against the rail, than an active location as it they were being filed.

[Caferacer]

Well, we are complete.

On to the next project!

[jwvolz]

Just caught up on the log. That finished up very nicely. Excellent work!

[SiriusVoyager]

Very nice looking model!

[ccoyle]

Looks great! Congratulations!

[Ronald-V]

That is a nice ship! You can be proud of that!  

[clearway]

[Knocklouder]

Well done, congratulations    

Bob M.

[Capt. Kelso]

Impressive build.

[Paul Le Wol]

Caferacer, congratulations on finishing your Benjamin W Latham. Beautiful work and great presentation!

[JacquesCousteau]

Very well done, congratulations!