Picket Boat #1 by k-slak - Model Shipways - 1:24

[k-slak]

Next boat on my bench is Picket Boat #1. I have many to choose from but most are tall ships. I thought this would be a good way to practice and develope better planking skills along with some other unique/different features. 

For those that will follow along know this build log will be slow as I can only really work on it during weekends and we just started car show season (we have some 1950's cars). I'll try to post as I make progress and hope to share a little more frequently than I did with my first build log. 

 

We got this kit in a trade a while back. After laying it out about a month ago I found I was missing two lazer cut pieces. Nothing huge to keep me from starting but I delayed and reached out to Model Shipways. Took a little biut got the parts in and that motivated me to start. So with new sandpaper on the block and pulling out the files the dust started flying and glue flowing. I find early that, like many logs have mentioned, while the instructions and drawings are great compared to other brands, it is still written so that the reader/modeler needs some background or knowledge of ship building. 

 

The section that tripped me up the most was the center keel assembly. It mentions on the drawings to reference a template but in my review of the plates I did not locate a template. So using a different image I traced the center keel and made my own template then carved away. Picture below shows the plate in the set. Then picture of keel as O carved.  

 

I wrapped up my bench session with the bulkheads, shaping them and then putting in place and ensuring they were 90 degrees off keel. Overall made some progress and its not going back in the box anymore :). 

(I drew the lines on the wrong side of the bulkhead as this won't be visible I opted to not erase)

[JacquesCousteau]

Great start, looks like an interesting kit!

[k-slak]

Good session today of building the bulkheads and benches. Small annoyances with instructions and figuring out there is a "right side" to pieces and a not so right side with the slightest bevel on the edge. 

 

To start the day i completed the fill piece next to the rudder shaft passage at the stern. I ended up using section from the plywood sheet instead of the 1/8 square strip stock. It was the right thickness and trimmed it to the right size. 

In the process I definitely cracked the stern clean off. Thankfully the supporting structures around it were solid and I was able to glue it back in place but that was a rough way to start. 

 

Then I identified the floor and seats and remaining bulkheads. Per instructions I  decided to paint and stain before installing. Due to the note about the bulkhead pieces being fragile i opted to sand and paint with them still in their sheets. Then i used knife to cut the tabs close and used a small file to remove what was left. 

 

I made an error in staining the floor and benches of stern by staining the wrong side. Figured that out after going to install. Restained, checked fit and glued. 

 

I made a decision in this placement noticing there was a gap if you line the seats up with the bulkheads. It looked like moat people half the gap but I will end up doing a gap fill once things dry. I pointed it out here. 

I also glued everything togather in this section and placed file and my small metal planer as weight for the dry time. 

Lastly for todays session I completed the install of the rest of the bulkheads gluing even numbers first usinf the floor to help position and checked for 90 degree off the keel. Half hour later I installed the rest (odd numbers) and put floor back in. Next time Ill pull the floor again, stain, and then glue into place.