King of the Mississippi by Knocklouder - Artesania Latina - 1:80

[Knocklouder]

Last night May 24,2024 I open the box of my latest build. The king of the Mississippi  by Artesania Latina. I was hoping that the instructions were better than the last several ships that I have done. But in fact, they are worse 😕.  You only get a CD to install on your computer. It does show you how but with no part numbers, and three bundles of  wood, you have to figure out what size and separate them all.

The C D comes with a paper that says there are mistakes on it. And you have to go download the correct way.  Plus no part numbers makes it hard to follow along. I found this  diagram for the wood planks.  It helps.  I almost put it all back in the box and said I am selling this and buying a Dutchess of Kensington by Cris Watton of Vanguard Models. I just have to finish this one and I can buy it lol.

 If it was not for the fact that I will get lots of help here on MSW,  all the King of the Mississippi logs here show how it is done. So I decided ,I want a river boat to add to my collection and I am up for the challenge.

But if anyone wants to send me some info on part numbers, I  will gladly appreciate it. Even the  instructions  as well. 

 And for my first change to the plan , I have lots of walnut planking left from previous builds that I am going to plank the bottom with that because no one will see it but it will look nice. Then I will have enough planks for sure. 

So now it is time to start glueing the hull together.  I will square up all the bulkheads and flip it over and start the planking.

Tally Ho on to my next build, wish me luck, I am going to need it on this one. Lol 😆. 

Bob M.

[Bob Fraser]

Following along!  The original had walnut as the hull planking. Major differences are the PE parts and the "engine room" having the choice to motorise the paddle. And looks like no walnut at all!

They do have a set of figures available now too. 

Edit -

Found the original instructions and picture booklet for 20505.

I think the instructions were A4 size. 

20505 Mississippi Instrucciones.pdf 20505 Mississippi color.pdf

Edited May 26 by Bob Fraser
Added info

[Knocklouder]

@Bob Fraser thank you so much. These will help. The older kits have a reference # 20505 and the newer ones have #20515..

Last night I found 20515, so far I only see a few changes, one is they plank the side of the boat , not just one piece #12.

My apologies for my little rant about the instructions,  I just had to look harder for them, but between  what Bob has sent me and what I have found, this will be a fun build.. 😄 

  I want to slow this build down if I can, the Drakkar Viking boat and the diorama  took only 21 days. After studying the plans and finding the part list, and I also found 10 videos on this build by Artesania Latina,  all 10 have no words just someone building it. 

  I have started looking at logs here at MSW, I can see by alot of them that this will become a fun good looking model when I am done I hope.

Above I have walnut on the bottom,  mahogany pile is on the top, and kit supplied wood in the middle. 

 My thought are to use the mahogany for the bottom,  walnut for the sides and trim work later. And use the kit wood for the

floor decking. I cant see using walnut were you wont see it.lol.

 

So with all the enthusiasm I can mustard  😋,  I am about to start glueing. 

Thanks for being patient with me  lol. I hope to make it look just like the picture on the box. 

So with out any more   hesation,  let's start glueing.     Bob M.

 

 

 

[mtaylor]

No rush. Bob.  Steady as she goes.   Also, see the quote in my signature.  I think most of us either consciously or subconsciously do this.

 

[Knocklouder]

Things are happening,  lol. I have been  moving things around in the shipyard and found out today I put the computer in the wrong place.  This I found out when I spun around  in my chair and over she went. On the floor and in peices.  . A call to tec support  and we were back, Two hours later yep over she gos again, this time the monitor wire now shorts out and I need a new one.. The kid says do you really need one. YES the plans for The King of the Mississippi  are only available on  line and the First Mate  wont let me print the instructions  lol.

So glueing is coming along nicely. 

Once I started glueing  and formulating   what I want this boat to look like started to  studying the logs, parts are not the same. My boat , got planked on the sides , other's have a peice  put on then the planking gos on . Some logs have dark hulls other's light stain. 

I have discovered a few things that I will just have to decide which way to go,  but over all, I think with all the logs and help I am getting  here  it going to be built. 

  

As you see here I used the kit supplied wood.  I did start planking it with walnut,  I had the back done, moving on to the sides I realized that I was going to have to make a lot of small strips and that's was not going to work. Quickly I removed the walnut,  and measured the mahogany and same thing. But low and behold the kit supplied wood fit just like the picture does. 

 I made the stand for the boat , and will use it more or less for a building  stand.

Pretty sure it will be on a river diorama,  after all its a river boat.

Moving on to more glueing  the deck is up next. I am going to put the stables together,  to see if I have to move the slots or has A L fixed that , we will see. Lol.

I also have to check to see if my boat has sprail staircases or straight,  I haven't looked that far into the box yet 😅. 

 So this build will be my interpretation of the plans that I have, I can't wait to start glueing the siding on, and then more glueing of the next deck, I am starting to  miss ratlines  . But I am Grinning  😀. 

There is lots I don't understand,  but sorting it out. Lots to do before that.

 Thanks for looking. 

Bob M 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 28 by Knocklouder
Typos

[Keith Black]

 Bob, the hull looks great. 

[Knocklouder]

Thanks Keith, I have stain the hull it looks good. To me 😁 

So far it seem every thing lines up, all the slots are in the right place so far.  So Artesania Latina has fixed that problem . 

I decided to go as far as the second deck, it all fits, a bit of sanding , good to go.

Stained the hull Golden Pecan, after staining it I added the tin to my ever growing collection. 

It looks a little browner than the box but I am going with this .

 

 

So a bit of sealer  Shellac, on to start planking and planking  lol.

Yes I check the staircases they are sprial,  can't wait for that. 

 The First Mate would like to start her garden, and we are off to a wedding in Saskatchewan, for a week trip so progress will slow. But I have told her that my Glue is going to be by its best use before date, I can't stop. Lol. She said buy a new one on the way to the wedding. 

  The more  I think about what it will look like, the more this kit is becoming enjoyable to do, I know the kit will look as good as the builder can make it. So far pleased with the kit.

  Later my friend's, I be lurking but not building  lol 😂 🤣 

Bob M.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 29 by Knocklouder
Typos

[Bob Fraser]

Liking the light hull finish.

Can't find my printed instructions, but have found the 1-1 scale drawings.  If you would llike them, pm your postal address and I'll mail them across for you.

I found they helped with some of the positioning of posts, ropes, eyes etc, but as each model has its own quirks I found you can't rely on them for exactness of heights.

[Glen McGuire]

Got my popcorn ready!  Can't wait to see you bring this one to life, Bob!  

[Knocklouder]

Got back from Humboldt Saskatchewan great wedding, Good time was had by all.

  Today it was back at'er, lined off  the main deck, and drew out the herringbone for the second deck. Then started to plank, first I had to blacken the edges then start cutting.  

 I  marked the nail holes, filled them with plastic wood , sanded then stained it with thin grey stain,  followed by two coats of  shellac .

I also gave the hull a coat of amber shellac  to darken it just a bit. Then I had to plank some more. .

 

 Going to start planking the rooms tomorrow ,  need to study the door plan a bit, I believe that I am going to change the corner molding to walnut,  instead of the kit wood, only because I got lots  lol. So now I will be planking for the next few days and  buildig the doors, while listening to the Doors, lol 😆 

It is so much fun being in the ship yard, there are not enough hours in a day, it's to bad we got to sleep lol. Later my friend's. 

Thanks for looking. 

Bob M.

Edited June 4 by Knocklouder
Guessing typos lol

[John Ruy]

16 hours ago, Knocklouder said:

I also gave the hull a coat of amber shellac  to darken it just a bit. Then I had to plank some more. .

Great job with the Shellac. Gotta pull up a chair and watch this latest creation of yours take place. Carry on… 😉

[Javelin]

There he goes again. Interesting choice of subject! 

[Knocklouder]

A little bit of progress.  I made sure everything was pointed in the right direction and I began planking the stable.

I soon ran out of the planks I had cut up,  so I blackened some more with my 6B pencil.

After the next batch was cut up and put on, I had 3 and a half left. 

Plus, I started a little scrap pile, the small peices that I will need later lol.

The stable doors are built.  I just have to hang them and put the handles on.  The same with the boiler room doors; they are done, I just got to frame them up and glue them on.

The feeders are done and put on , got the vents to do, plus the corners, but we are closing in on putting the next deck on.

So far the build is turning out to be a lot of fun.  My next challenge will be what color goes where and what stain, what gets painted  that sort of thing. 

  I believe I'm going to start calling this boat  Two Phantoms.  It turns out Mr Samuel Clemens changes his name to an old river boat term. When the crew would measure how deep the water was, they would yell out  "mark twain" which means  two phantoms  or 12 feet.  That's research for you.  I never knew that.  lol. 

 So that's how he became  Mark Twain. And here I thought he needed a pen name because Sammy is kinda sucky lol.

  Back to cutting up some planks for the next deck, right after I finish the corners.

 Thanks for looking.     

Bob M.

Edited June 7 by Knocklouder
Guessing typos lol

[Glen McGuire]

Looking good so far!  Haven't seen your inspector show up for duty yet.  Is he on vacation?  You didn't let one of those rats get hold of him did you?

[Keith Black]

 The build is going well, Bob. Great progress. 

[Knocklouder]

The herringbone deck was fun to do. My little scrap pile is getting larger. It seemsed to take a lot of planks to get it finished, but it is.

After the second deck was on, I fitted  the next deck. It all lines up great so far. So now I have to decide which way to go,  build the paddle wheel, or build the sprial staircases. Or maybe make all the doors and windows for the main cabin. So much to do, and it's all fun, so far lol. 

 

So, I guess I will prime the paddle wheel,  and find all the pieces for the staircases.  I will take them as far as I can then I will. do the windows and doors. I do not plan on motorizing the boat nor will I put any led lights either. But it will be on a river.

This is how she sits tonight,  a couple of things I may replace,  but over all I am pleased with the build..

 Got another round of procedures  to do, plus several more Dr  appointments  so progress may slow a bit , I hope not, but time will tell.  

Thank you so much everyone for following along,  and helping me learn to build ships.  And boats lol , 😆 

Stay safe my friends. 

Bob M.

 

 

[John Ruy]

WOW! Great progress Bob. Looking good. 👍 

[Knocklouder]

Not much building this weekend,  but I did manage to paint the paddle wheel, I used a rattle can that I had left from another job..

 But today I felt better, got the wheels done, black trim and the dots. The plan said to paint  those gold, but I don't have any so I used flat brass, looks just as good.

well the black was drying,  I made the sprial staircases,  well they were drying  I painted the spots.

Then I painted  the side of the stairs white, I will have to wait till the paint is good and dry before I attempt to glue them on. Then I have to glue the wooden hand rail on the stair rail, tiny, tiny little holes, time for magnification glass.lol.

 

 I couldn't find the hand rail pieces so I gave up. I cut the planks for the paddle wheel and installed it on the boat. It went well, but I broke the peice of pewter metal that holds  the drive arm on the wheel. To be consistent I broke both sides lol. I can fix them with a little  filler and paint ,no one will know.

  So the paddle  wheel is on,  minor thouch ups, on to the stairs tomorrow  🤔 

Thanks for looking, so far so good, looking at the doors and windows for the main hall room they look flimsy to me, we will see how it goes, I have to plank it first  then we will see about the windows  🪟 and doors. Talk to you soon my friends    

 

Bob M.

 

Edited Tuesday at 03:36 AM by Knocklouder

[Glen McGuire]

That paddlewheel paint job looks great!

 

And did you replace Marvin with a new ship inspector??

[Knocklouder]

12 hours ago, Glen McGuire said:

 

 

And did you replace Marvin with a new ship inspector??

 

@Glen McGuire  I guess I did. Meet Private  Gnomer Pile. His favorite saying is "Why Holllllly ". I held auditions ànd he won. Taz was a close second,

But as Gnomer pointed out he can't  even go up the spiral staircases. Lol So Gnomer it is. I am going to paint him up with army speed paint. But first things first.  

 A very special thanks to , @Bob Fraser for sending me this 1:1 scale plan for the  King of the Mississippi. It is not quite the same as my boat but it will help lots with placing the posts and rigging lines, thank you so much Bob. Greatly appreciated.  Thanks. Now I can measure things lol.

Gnomer says I should finish the stairs, fit them, paint and then install them. But, I have not planked anything for days, going to need a refresher  course from the article data base lol.And since I am bigger than Gnomer, planking  it is.  

Have to take time off the build tonight,  the last NHL game is on tonight. So see you tomorrow  lol. 

Thanks for following.    

 

Bob M.

 

 

Edited yesterday at 12:33 AM by Knocklouder
Posted before the first Mate could edit it. Lol

[Keith Black]

 Bob, I really like the stairs, they turned out well. 

[Glen McGuire]

1 hour ago, Knocklouder said:

Meet Private  Nomer Pile

LOL!!!  🤣🤣🤣

[Knocklouder]

To up date, Private Gnomer Pile (Newly appointed Ship Inspector). Has been primed and ready for speed paint 🎨. 

 

The sprial staircases are finished paint and ready to install. I must have lucked out on the staircases,  I just have to  shim them just a little to make them fit right. One post is a little short but it is an eazy fix  I am happy about the fact they are close to being just glued right in.

I also put on all the dowels to see if they line up, they do . 

It seem Artesania Latina have corrected all the mistakes,  from all the other logs here that show slots that dont line up, dowel dont line up from one deck to another.  Nothing like that, it all fits nicely. A big thanks to @Artesania Latina for fixing that, my only complaint is small but would add to the benefits of future builders is please add a part list that has the names of the parts, and a 1:1 scale diagram for the boat.

 I was very fortunate that  @Bob Fraser sent e one, Thank you Bob. Now I can measure things for better accuracy. 

 

So with that, now I am takeing the dowels off, put the staircases away for safe keeping, and start planking the main room,  and figure out what to do about the widow and doors for it.

 But first, Private Gnomer Pile  needs a paint job, well he is drying going to do a clean up of the shipyard, I have not been  feeling  all that great so I have let cleaning thing up slide. To the point that I can't find thing I just had in my hand lol.

 So latter my friends  work to do, and I was mistaken about the NHL game, apparently there will be one more.lol.

Your greatful shipmate  Bob M.

 

Approved  by PGP

Edited 23 hours ago by Knocklouder

[Knocklouder]

Well another 8 hrs shift in the old shipyard comes to an end lol. Most of the day was spent on cleaning  up, And painting  Private Gnomer Pile . He is holding  a KB Lantern,  so we can always see what we are doing even if it gets late at night.

I painted him and showed him the boat. He says Whhy Hooolly we got work to do. And immediately  pointed out that the shop needs cleaning up lol.

Yes, I could see his point.  So I cleaned it up.

He's happy now,  😊. And we stared to plank the main room, got to the vents on both sides, and primed the vents so I can paint them tomorrow. 

 Looking for some livestock for the stable, PGP says the horse has to go but the mule  can stay, so I have my first animal ready to be painted.

Maybe they will look better brown, if I don't like them ,vents, I will  build some from left over grills I have collected over the past 3 years. Talk soon my friend's. 

Bob M.

PGP                    

Edited 11 hours ago by Knocklouder

[John Ruy]

Wow! Great progress Bob! The King is looking quite Regal. 🤴 I like your helper’s Blue Jacket. 🍻