TWILIGHT 2007-2009 by MAGIC's Craig - Scale 1:16 - RADIO - Pacific Northwest cruising powerboat

[Keith Black]

Congratulations on the brief but successful sea trail, Craig. 

 

 That's a stunning image. 

[MAGIC's Craig]

2 hours ago, Keith Black said:

Congratulations on the brief but successful sea trail, Craig. 

 

 That's a stunning image. 

Thank you, Keith for the compliment.  We are both pleased that the model came so close to representing the craft which we had hoped to own. She probably would have been at home in the Pacific Northwest waters, with that Gardner diesel quietly pushing her along.  

[Keith Black]

5 hours ago, MAGIC's Craig said:

We are both pleased that the model came so close to representing the craft which we had hoped to own. She probably would have been at home in the Pacific Northwest waters, with that Gardner diesel quietly pushing her along.  

 I'm very impressed with the views watching Nick's Argonaut II adventures on YouTube. If I had life to do over again.......

[KeithAug]

10 hours ago, Keith Black said:

That's a stunning image. 

I have to agree, it is hard to fault. At a glance anyone would think it was the real thing. Excellent work Craig.

[MAGIC's Craig]

10 hours ago, Keith Black said:

 I'm very impressed with the views watching Nick's Argonaut II adventures on YouTube. If I had life to do over again.......

We were lucky enough to visit ARGONAUT II some years ago under a previous owner. Her Gardner is a sweet sounding engine.

Also, the former Mission hospital ship, COLUMBIA III, running with a gleaming 60+ year old 8L3 Gardner, still works under the careful custodianship of Ross Campbell as a Mothership for kayak trips in the northern BC waters.

 

I believe that Nick is currently cruising as crew with Leo Goolden on TALLY HO making the passage down the Mexican West coast to Panama.

It is a surprisingly close bunch of folks who manage to keep these old girls running.  TWILIGHT probably would have fit right in.

[MAGIC's Craig]

8 hours ago, KeithAug said:

I have to agree, it is hard to fault. At a glance anyone would think it was the real thing. Excellent work Craig.

Thank you for those kind words, KeithAug.  As I contemplate the upcoming construction of the interior joinery for the main cabin, you are setting quite a fine example of what I should strive for with your project. Whew!!

[Keith Black]

17 hours ago, MAGIC's Craig said:

We were lucky enough to visit ARGONAUT II some years ago under a previous owner. Her Gardner is a sweet sounding engine.

Also, the former Mission hospital ship, COLUMBIA III, running with a gleaming 60+ year old 8L3 Gardner, still works under the careful custodianship of Ross Campbell as a Mothership for kayak trips in the northern BC waters.

 

I believe that Nick is currently cruising as crew with Leo Goolden on TALLY HO making the passage down the Mexican West coast to Panama.

It is a surprisingly close bunch of folks who manage to keep these old girls running.  TWILIGHT probably would have fit right in.

 That's way cool that you and Vicky got to visit aboard Argonaut II. I love the sound of her Gardner and watching Nick fire her off is a trip.  Argonaut II is supposed to be coming out of the water in Port Townsend for major hull work. Pete Stein will be the lead shipwright with Patrick (worked on Tally Ho) will also be working with Pete on the hull. I thought she would have been pulled by now, I keep checking for YouTube updates but nada so far. 

 

 I'm positive Twilight would have fit right in.   

Edited December 8, 2025 by Keith Black

[MAGIC's Craig]

To continue:

I decided to begin the main cabin joinery by constructing the galley which is tucked into the the aft starboard corner.  The two main components in such a small space usually are the harmonious locations of the stove and the sink.  So, I constructed a 4-burner LPG stove with oven, patterned off of drawings available online by the manufacturer of a stove we were familiar with. 

A block of basswood was carved to the basic shape of the stove. The oven "glass" door was cut from 1/16" poly and 1/16" brass rod was soldered to a brass surround to make the grill top. Pan head screws served as the burner shapes while the heads of brass nails became knobs. Silver paint and touch of varnish on the wooden oven door handle finished it up.

Card was used to pattern the galley countertop layout and I found that a copper tubing end fitting could be easily cut down to serve as a 7" deep round sink. With the help from a couple of spare blocks, the layout was firmed up.

A template was also made of the various elements around the perimeter of the cabin sole and its necessary access hatch into the motor/battery space below.  This hatch required that the stove and the 4-drawer cabinet forward of it be mounted atop a 1/16" ply base as a removable module.   

The top for the galley cabinet was cut from a piece of 3/32" AYC stock and a forward storage cabinet which would be permanently glued in was built up from 1/16" birch ply, mahogany "doors" and a AYC top.

Brass tubing was bent and slightly flared on the end to serve as sink faucets for both fresh and salt water . Foot pumps were soldered up and fitted to the bottom of the sink cabinet while the top-loading hatch to the refrigerator/cold box was delineated and given a simulated button release. The galley joinery was check fitted together on the bench, varnished, masked and then painted before final installation.

After some discussion, we decided that when TWILIGHT was to be on display in the house, we would prefer to set her with the port side towards us.  In order to make it easier to see the helmsman, I decided to cut open the upper panel of the pilothouse's portside door. Multiple careful passes with the #11 blade finally worked through the glued mahogany panels and the upper half-door was then re-installed in the open position. Varnish followed a few days later.

The 2-seat dinette had been designed to fit in the forward port corner of the main cabin, but due to its width athwartships, it also had to be built up as a removable unit because it overhangs the sole hatch.  I went back to an earlier design of mine for the layout of some very comfortable seating shapes. The supporting framework for these two seats was constructed from 1/16" birch ply with added panels of mahogany veneer.  The slats which will support the cushions were made 3/64" thick AYC.  A table made from 1/16" AYC is supported by a pair of 9/32" brass tubes.

Some additional detail cabinetry remains to be created in the upper corners of the main cabin and I will then focus on the fore cabin's bunk area.  Also, it's probably time to start creating the model's in-house display base.

Until next time, thanks again for your interest and comments.

 

Craig

 

[Paul Le Wol]

Craig, that is some fine looking galley and dinette. Wow!

[MAGIC's Craig]

Thank you, Paul for your kind words.  I'm delighted the way it came out.

 

[Keith Black]

WOW WOW and about a hundred more WOWS. That is absolutely amazing work, Craig. I am blown away. 

[Jim Lad]

What a beautiful fit out, Craig!

 

John

[MAGIC's Craig]

1 hour ago, Keith Black said:

WOW WOW and about a hundred more WOWS. That is absolutely amazing work, Craig. I am blown away. 

Thank you, Keith for all of the wowowows!! 😄

 

Made me laugh - and I'm honored by your praise.

[MAGIC's Craig]

51 minutes ago, Jim Lad said:

What a beautiful fit out, Craig!

 

John

And thank you, John as well!  I realized after I posted this update that I have been at this project for 2 years now. Time can certainly fly when one is having fun. Great group of supporters and teachers here.

[Dr PR]

Nice interior detail Craig. Like building a floating doll house. It is fun to add interior detail that will not be seen with a casual look. But peek in at just the right angle and surprise!