Skiff by jcurtis55 - Midwest Products - 1/12

[jcurtis55]

I finished the Lowell Grand Banks Dory a month ago.  I planned to work my way through the Model Shipyard Shipwright series. I got my credit from Model Expo for the Dory build and ordered the Norwegian Pram.   

 

However, during the Dory build I couldn't help perusing eBay and I picked up several Midwest Model kits for what I considered really good prices.  The Dory had some issues, so before diving into the Norwegian Pram, I decided I would build the Midwest Skiff first as a confidence builder.  As you can see from the box photo this was a pre-Model Expo kit but I have no idea if Model Expo made any updates to the rereleased Midwest kits.  I will say the instructions are very good for a beginning ship modeler.  From reading through the instructions, this appeared to be an easier build than the Lowell Grand Banks Dory.

noto say the

[jcurtis55]

The parts appear to be die cut and there were no clean up like there would be with laser cut parts.    The parts were quite easy to separate from the wood sheets, so no wood burrs to clean up either.  I started by removing the bottom plank.   I marked the center line and the positions of the cleats.

 

The instructions said to use slow CA glue but I used Aileen's Fast Grab tacky glue.  The stem and transom knee are both two identical parts you glue together.   I glued the knee the transom and the stem to the bottom plank.  The I glued the transom to the bottom plank.  Here was my first problem.  Somehow, I managed to not get the transom flush with the end of the bottom plank.   Here's why I used white glue as I was able to use alcohol to undo the joint and correct the fit of the transom.  This would be my only time to undo a glue joint.  

 

Cleats and frames where added and I gave the glue time to dry.

[JacquesCousteau]

Looks like a fun build!