Muscongus Bay Lobster Smack by Scott Crouse - Model Shipways - 1:24

[Scott Crouse]

Not quite finished the Pram yet, but there is a group build underway on Youtube for the Lobster Smack being run by Olha Batchvarov (https://www.youtube.com/@OlhaBatchvarov/streams).  There are several builders all working on it so jumped in to learn with them.   After week one, the skeleton is put together.

 

I actually won this kit in a raffle and it comes with many tools, the paints and extras, decent little setup.

[Scott Crouse]

Productive morning.

 

Finally got to use my useless plane scribing tool for something it seems to do well, simulating planking;

 

Interesting gap left behind, but the seats will cover it, but will probably put something in there to less the visibility.

Before putting the deck on, put some of the other pieces on while everything is exposed.

 

and put the deck on.   Not a ton of room for clamps, nor do I own many but managed with elastics and some angles.

 

 

 

[Bryan Woods]

I’ve been watching her lives also. It’s encouraging seeing someone of her skills misplace things, and everything else I experience at my much lower skill level.

[Scott Crouse]

28 minutes ago, Bryan Woods said:

I’ve been watching her lives also. It’s encouraging seeing someone of her skills misplace things, and everything else I experience at my much lower skill level.

I enjoy how she mumbles and talks to herself in confusion, shows I am not the only one who has to scratch my head and figure out what instructions and drawings are really telling me haha.

[Scott Crouse]

Tiny update, this weeks class was about sanding the ribs to shape them for the planks.

 

After putting too much finger pressure in the wrong spot and having to repair my ham fisted approach, all fixed and the first plank put in place

 

And I need more and bigger clamps!!!!!   MORE CLAMPS!

 

[Scott Crouse]

Slowly plugging away but not getting too far ahead of Olha's build as I am enjoying watching and emulating her techniques (for the most part)

 

Planking on this thing involves 4 large sheets of balsa.    After shaping the ribs, soaking the first board and bending it into shape, the biggest issues is that clamping this shape is difficult to say the least and discovered that one of the ribs, despite sanding, just did not allow the board to sit right.   Cut that part open and added a piece to the rib and I am much happier.

 

CLAMPS, CLAMPS AND CLAMPS!   Trying to get these pieces in place for future filling, sanding and shaping.    I know the Shipways version of this kit has moved to a more traditional style of planking which I think would have been easier.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Scott Crouse]

Trimming, sanding and more sanding and even more sanding and some filler for a few gaps.

 

[Scott Crouse]

It has been some time since I last updated, need to get into the habit of doing my logs.   My learning experiences continue;

 

Could they make these blocks a bit bigger please?   I love cutting and sanding

 

Wood filler time.   Lots of folks seem to cover the entire hull in various putties and fillers, which I thought was kinda silly for a turn of the century ship, but boy did that come back to bite me in the ***.

 

Made the homemade bender they have in the instructions.  It kinda work haha.

 

Bending done with the homemade candle/soap can.

 

Came across a 3d print file for a waterline marker, don't need it yet but saved a few bucks.

 

So it appears that my sanding is a bit aggressive, and I can see the light.   It will be fine with some primer, just be careful right?

 

WRONG!   as soon as you put primer on a soft spot, it bubbles.   I put filler on, some putty and the result just coming out the same, you could visibly see and also feel that soft bubble.   The noob in me hates to touch it but I need to learn so.....

 

I cut the thin spot out and extended it rib to rib to have something a new piece could attach to.  I should have saved the piece, I swear the paint was thicker than the wood was.  Just about cried seeing this hole in the boat and all I could think of was turning it into the Minnow from Gilligans Island.

 

But we recovered with a piece of scrap wood and more wood filler.

 

Next problem, priming.   I HATE primers.   On plastic models I gave up on them years ago.  Tamiya paints really do not need them but when it comes to wood, it most definitely needs a primer.   I have a bottle of Vallejo primer that does nothing but clog up my airbrush and splatter all over the place.   Tried using it first and got so frustrated with the crap that I threw the bottle in the garbage - horrible stuff.   Then I noted that OCcre has a primer, what the heck, bought it and gave it a try - I think I have found a primer I like.   Spays nicely, sticks really well and smooth as a babies bum.

 

Sanded the boom, mast and gaff - that gaff is very thin....gonna have to be careful.   The hole sizes the instructions call for are too scary to drill in that fine width so went smaller for now.

 

Started with the Occre ochre - I hate this colour, nope.

 

Changed it to deck tan.   Still not loving it.   Since I knew I was going to paint over it, decided to check some hull colours, some greens, blue, grey...... I like the blue.

 

Changed the deck again, a mix of deck tan, yellow and white.   I like this colour better.   The blue on the hull is ok but needs some highlights to offset how dark it is.

 

Masked off all the rails and side strips and airbrushed some white paint.   Pops a bit more now.   Also dug out the brass black and started darkening up the brass pieces.

 

Next steps is to get all the hardware on the spars, mark the hull for bottom paint with my fancy dancing homemade 3d printed hull thing-a-bob and get the last of the paint on.   Meanwhile the spars are drying after a couple of coats of varnish (going to move to shellac for future builds)  but all is going well

 

Cheers.

 

 

 

[palmerit]

1 hour ago, Scott Crouse said:

bottle of Vallejo primer that does nothing but clog up my airbrush and splatter all over the place

With regular Vallejo air paints I have my airbrush at 25psi or so. With Vallejo primers, cranking up to 40psi works for me. I also thin both paints and primers by 50% with a 7:3:1 combo of flow-improver:thinner:retarder. 

[Scott Crouse]

44 minutes ago, palmerit said:

With regular Vallejo air paints I have my airbrush at 25psi or so. With Vallejo primers, cranking up to 40psi works for me. I also thin both paints and primers by 50% with a 7:3:1 combo of flow-improver:thinner:retarder. 

yes completely agree, the only way I have ever gotten it to work is to use my .5 needle, jack up the pressure, thin at least 50% and add flow improver.   But even then, takes forever to dry and I am not a fan of the texture it leaves behind.  Their model air colours are much better and the model colours are the same as the primers, need a lot of love and mixing.  I know others who love all of the Vallejo products but I just find them so inconsistent compared to Tamiya or Mr Color etc.....   But I do recommend trying this Occre one, dries quickly and very nice and the brush seems to like it.  Down side is that it is expensive.  

[palmerit]

1 hour ago, Scott Crouse said:

Tamiya or Mr Color etc.....   But I do recommend trying this Occre one, dries quickly and very nice and the brush seems to like it.

You used these in your airbrush?

 

Are these (like the Vallejo) acrylics? Or enamel? Since I paint inside the house (with an airbrush booth) I’ve avoided enamels. (The only exception is that I’ve used Tamiya enamel primer - from shake spray can - on PE because the Vallejo primer peeled right off PE.)