Picket Boat #1 by RVB (Rick) - Model Shipways - Scale 1/24

[RVB]

I’m a dentist by profession but I also restore British cars and thru the years I found that pinstripe vinyl tape I use when painting autos works very well in my ship building adventures. The 1/16”  1/8”  and 1/4” are great both for masking and painting water lines. If you first paint down  your water line color, then put the pinstripe vinyl tape down then paint the waterline color over it to seal it, then paint your bottom color over the whole thing when you peal off the pinstripe tape (1/16”or1/8” or 1/4”)  you will have a crisp waterline in the dimensions you need for scale. 

[RVB]

Here is the 1/16” and 1/8” pinstripe tape used to mask barrels for painting the black iron strip on walnut barrels for the Bluenose Launch way. 

 

[RVB]

Time to anchor up for the day until tomorrow 

[RVB]

Been a long day at sea. While sailing I installed and painted the top rub rail with Liquitex Basic Acrylic FLUID—Neutral Gray and finished painting interior decor with Liquitex Basic Acrylic FLUID Alizarin Crimson. 

[RVB]

After a long day and calm seas and fun work it’s time to drop the anchor and turn in for the night. 
As Always. Best Rick

[RVB]

Sun just came up over the horizon and the seas are calm so anchor lifted and setting sail on another workday. Filled the coal bins and airbrushed the coal bin hinges and cleats Liquitex acrylic Fluid Ivory Black to begin my day. 

[RVB]

After filling the coal bins turned my nautical attention to the steam boiler before heading into port for the night. 

[RVB]

The sun is setting and dropping anchor again. 
As Always Best Rick 

[RVB]

[RVB]

After setting sail this AM started working on the steam engine boiler and stained the wood covering with Minwax Weathered OAK #270. The weathered stain gives it a very vintage appearance (years in the weather). 

[RVB]

Thanks Terry 

Do you like the weathered look from the Weathered Oak stain. I compared it to 3 other stains and I think this looked the best. 
As Always Best. Rick

[RVB]

Had a lazy day today and stayed in port and worked on my steam boiler. Tricky day today requiring soldering valves and painting. If you are wondering the matt black is again Liquitex Basic Acrylic Fluid color “Mars Black”. It is a very heavy opaque pigmented black made from iron oxide and gives a great matt finish.  By the way 1-2-3 blocks definitely come in handy. 
Since it is a lazy day and no need to drop anchor I think  I will just lay down and take a nap on the fore deck. 
As Always Best. Rick 

 

[RVB]

For the strapping on the oak wood I plan on using satin black pinstripe in place of painted card stock. It’s on order and waiting for it to come in. 

 

[TerryPat]

On 11/21/2025 at 4:38 PM, RVB said:

Thanks Terry 

Do you like the weathered look from the Weathered Oak stain. I compared it to 3 other stains and I think this looked the best. 
As Always Best. Rick

 

Yes! It's the same shade as the wood on the boiler of my steam launch. Looks great

 

You say you restore british cars?  I fully restored a 73 Triumph TR6 a few years ago. 

It was a fun project. Model ships take up far less space though.. lol

[RVB]

I had a full shop at my house. I have 14 British cars from Healy’s Triumps  MGS Jaguars but my favorite is a 97 Land Rover Defender. I don’t do it anymore since I am 77 and can’t get off the floor Glad to see you restored a TR6. I am sure you enjoyed it. I got most of my cars when people just said get them out of here. I find collecting cars art and ship building an affliction! Guess I should see a shrink. I won a bunch of shows and people wanted me to restore their cars. I REFUSED!!  A soon as you take money the fun is gone!

We ha a lot in common. Building model ships and car restoration are both creative and give a great deal of pleasure and pride. We also like the stain color. 
Thanks Terry I will have to look up your steam launch build. 

As Always Best Rick

[RVB]

I’m up Suns Up Anchor’s Up and setting sail on another day of boiler and steam engine work. Without the engine and no wind and occasionally getting caught in the irons (with a very demanding 20 year old granddaughter) work must be done. Turning my attention to finishing the steam boiler! 

[TerryPat]

Here's my Midwest steam launch.  Long been discontinued I believe. Same type of wood boiler wrap as yours. Not as detailed though. This engine runs

 

[RVB]

2 hours ago, TerryPat said:

Here's my Midwest steam launch.  Long been discontinued I believe. Same type of wood boiler wrap as yours. Not as detailed though. This engine runs

 

Beautiful Terry

Too bad it was discontinued I would like to build to go along with the Picket 

How does the engine work! I just found it online and is called the Fantail Launch. Going to put it on my list to get. 
 

Best Rick 

[TerryPat]

It's available? Great! I'd like to see you build it. 

It's a very simple working steam engine. You solder some of the major parts together.  The intake and exaust ports open and close as the cylinder rocks side to side. Very clever. You fill the boiler with water and put a few drops of oil in the water and light the sterno chunks that you put in a cup under the boiler. As i recall,  the engine was a separate kit way back.

[RVB]

Getting late in the day and the sun is in the far west above the horizon. Worried steam pressure may get too high and explode so worked on the steam gauge. To give the glass look on the face of the gauge I copied the card stock gauge image (that comes with the kit) onto photo paper. I encased the wood plug body that comes with the kit with 2mm wide brass strapping then cemented the photo image to it. I also cemented a piece of wire in the back in the 12 o’clock position to aid in mounting it to the boiler dome.  Getting time to anchor up and admire the gauge. 
As Always (until tomorrow) Best Rick

[RVB]

11 minutes ago, TerryPat said:

It's available? Great! I'd like to see you build it. 

It's a very simple working steam engine. You solder some of the major parts together.  The intake and exaust ports open and close as the cylinder rocks side to side. Very clever. You fill the boiler with water and put a few drops of oil in the water and light the sterno chunks that you put in a cup under the boiler. As i recall,  the engine was a separate kit way back.

Terry it said the engine kit was separate and gave a # for it. 
Best Rick

[RVB]

[RVB]

[RVB]

[RVB]

If anyone from MSW tries Michaels Liquitex Basic Acrylic Fluid on their model builds please let me know what you think of it. I personally find them far better and considerably cheaper than marketed “bonifde” hobby paints Tamiya etc.  As I said previously they are professional artist paint and very high quality. 

Best Rick

Edited Monday at 09:51 AM by RVB

[TerryPat]

There's only a Hooby Lobby close to me. I bought water based acrylic pre thinned for airbrush there. The brand is CreateX. This will be my first time working with water based acrylics. Since this is my winter project it's essential that i use a paint that won't gas everyone out of the house.  I have high hopes. I've done winter painting outside before but only when low wind and sunshine. But that's rare. I bought a small portable spray booth that I'll use to capture the spray mist. If there was a Michael's close I would have bought those paints.

 

 

[RVB]

Hi Terry

I airbrush them and they work great. No odor, easy clean up with isopropyl alcohol which can like water also be used as a thinner. They also sell Liquitex airbrush thinner (12oz for around $13). They also have setting time and hardener mediums. 
I order online sometimes and you get the paint in 1-2 days. Also  if you sign up to be a Michaels member (2 minutes ) you will get 30-40% off coupons every day. Also online they have an extensive amount of colors to pick from. The paints are $6.99 and with the coupon around $4.50 for 4oz. 
Best Rick I 

[TerryPat]

14 minutes ago, RVB said:

Hi Terry

I airbrush them and they work great. No odor, easy clean up with isopropyl alcohol which can like water also be used as a thinner. They also sell Liquitex airbrush thinner (12oz for around $13). They also have setting time and hardener mediums. 
I order online sometimes and you get the paint in 1-2 days. Also  if you sign up to be a Michaels member (2 minutes ) you will get 30-40% off coupons every day. Also online they have an extensive amount of colors to pick from. The paints are $6.99 and with the coupon around $4.50 for 4oz. 
Best Rick I 

 

Excellent ! Good to know you have succes with spraying those acrylics. I'll look into Michael's online.

Thanks!

 

[RVB]

Terry.  I forgot to mention that they spread like whip cream with a brush and when they dry they don’t leave brush marks. I paint almost all wood with a brush. Today I am going to paint the rudder. I primed it with Liquitex gesso which is a great primer and it sands smooth and I’m going to paint it with Liquitex Basic Acrylic Fluid—Alizarin Crimson Hue. When I post the pictures you can see how it looks. 
Best Rick 

 

 

[RVB]

Got up this morning and headed out to sea. Boat was not steering well so headed back to port to fix and paint the rudder and rebuild the tiller. While in port waiting for the paint to dry headed into town to pick up some supplies and found 2 shovels for my granddaughter to load the steam boiler with coal. Were both tired so retiring for the evening and looking forward to head out to sea first thing in the morning. By the way painted the rudder to match the boat trim with Liquitex Basic Acrylic Fluid— Alizarin Crimson Hue. 

As Always Best until tomorrow Rick