Billy 1938 by Keith Black - 1:120 Scale - Homemade Sternwheeler

[Keith Black]

 Thank you to everyone for the helpful comments and the likes. 

 

 

The arches and engine room are made and attached. In fact, the side walls and the stern wall including the engine room  are attached to the hull.

 

 I struggled with how best to make the arches and finally decided the easiest way (also the most sturdy) was to drill a hole in a piece of scrap one by with a Forstner bit , cut the hole in half, and then cut the half hole to the correct width. I trimmed off the outside portion of hole to fit inside yet leave enough wood to glue to the side wall. Making the engine room's little side walls was a fiddly process as the boards meet the arch instead of going past the arch. Going past the arch would have been a lot easier but getting the arches to meet top and bottom points were hard enough without trying to accurately make the width correct. 

 

 

 Obviously the name board is missing. It's missing because name board 4.0 is in the works. I'm somewhat skeptical I can do better than 3.0 but I'm gonna give it a whirl. 

 

Back on 2.0 I tried using a Sharpie but the ink isn't true black, there's a purplish tint to the ink. When I decided to go for 4.0 I bought some acrylic paint pens and they didn't work for beans! I was digging around in Maggie's pens and came across a Pigma Micron 03 point archival ink pen. WOW! The ink is true black and it goes down pretty stinkin' nice. 

 

 I needed varied points so I ordered a set of all their points which should be here by Saturday.

 

 https://www.amazon.com/Sakura-Pigma-30062-Micron-Blister/dp/B0008G8G8Y/ref=sr_1_1?crid=VH1AMKAURXO5&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.XgAKBUt_FsCQLR9BQgq5LtTkMEpsjcHyi0Zcdb0sngQx7xLoXrUQG6LaNB62_6JQvt98AF4-oQJ6UaBzDZ08E775U38I24Ko8CxBxOcAa_xpaAklKiMoo8fGbMf7DReAaaM1q9QEg4NWTM2YaZojDFRuXTOCRcQlQ3oCc537ZR1f2O1W0RW-ZncVuX13eX9NJJcwAODDz7lZZ58AG6ZvUEkgCGb7d4XFSkt8dOT-YztJlFqcB3_D-6pMGAlWPdjCxJcQnvka8u5Vy37PFMIJTvQ3YyrvBjZy5H18aRj3nwM.sCsIbeL1WlEJBcmF5Gdmu-RE7k38jxY1rrBUBZXubr0&dib_tag=se&keywords=pigma%2Bmicron%2Bpens&qid=1765503575&sprefix=pigma%2Bmicron%2Bpens%2B%2Caps%2C112&sr=8-1&th=1

 

 And with that it's on to making the five bow walls.

 

 

 Thank you for your support and for following along. 

 

    Keith

Edited Friday at 09:30 PM by Keith Black

[Cathead]

I definitely like how the tricky wheel wells came out. 

 

Did you ever try those dry transfer letters you mentioned ordering?

[Jim Lad]

Looks really good, Keith! A very interesting solution to the wheel arch problem. Can't wait to see her with the paddle wheels fitted.

 

John

[KeithAug]

Keith, Coming together very nicely. Good luck with 4.0 and the Maggie pen.

[Paul Le Wol]

Great work Keith! Looking forward to seeing how the new pens perform.

[wefalck]

I have been using for this kind of 'calligraphy' acrylic artists' pens with a brush-like pen. These contain pigmented paints, not dyes that may look violett in thin layers. Due to the pigments they are also lightfast.

 

[Keith Black]

13 hours ago, Cathead said:

I definitely like how the tricky wheel wells came out.

 Thank you, Eric. It's far from perfect but I'm pleased with the way it turned out. In the original photo I can't see boards in the arches/wheel wells plus it's darker (I think) than mere shadows. It's possible and would make sense that Engel lined the inside of the arches with canvas. Just a thought. I'm leaving the arches white and will weather them with pastels.   

13 hours ago, Cathead said:

Did you ever try those dry transfer letters you mentioned ordering?

 I ordered the transfers on 12-2 and still haven't received them. I called Woodland Scenics  yesterday as the tracking number states the order is sitting in the post office because of a packaging issue. The person I spoke with said the post office was probably behind and the tracking info was most likely incorrect. When I suggested he contact them since they were the shipper I was told I should contact them..........hmmm. 

 

12 hours ago, Jim Lad said:

Looks really good, Keith! A very interesting solution to the wheel arch problem. Can't wait to see her with the paddle wheels fitted.

 Thank you, John. Yes, I to look forward to the paddle wheels being installed as that will be the last major hurdle to cross. 

 

7 hours ago, KeithAug said:

Keith, Coming together very nicely. Good luck with 4.0 and the Maggie pen.

 Thank you very much, Keith. 

 

4 hours ago, Paul Le Wol said:

Great work Keith! Looking forward to seeing how the new pens perform.

 Thank you, Paul. I checked and the pens are supposed to arrive today. Hopefully I'll have photos late4r this evening. 

 

4 hours ago, wefalck said:

I have been using for this kind of 'calligraphy' acrylic artists' pens with a brush-like pen. These contain pigmented paints, not dyes that may look violett in thin layers. Due to the pigments they are also lightfast.

 Do you have a particular brand you prefer and the reason for that choice, Eberhard? 

[wefalck]

I gather, everyone has the tendency to go for domestic products (though the are often now in reality made somewhere in the Far East). I have a whole selection of Faber-Castell Pitt Artists Pens Brushes in different colours: https://www.faber-castell.com/products/PittArtistPenBrushIndiainkpenblack/167499. I wouldn't know about their availabilty in the 'Western Hemisphere'.

 

[Keith Black]

1 hour ago, wefalck said:

I gather, everyone has the tendency to go for domestic products (though the are often now in reality made somewhere in the Far East). I have a whole selection of Faber-Castell Pitt Artists Pens Brushes in different colours: https://www.faber-castell.com/products/PittArtistPenBrushIndiainkpenblack/167499. I wouldn't know about their availabilty in the 'Western Hemisphere'.

 

 They are readily available from multiple suppliers here in the US. Thank you, Eberhard. 

[Keith Black]

 Thank you to everyone for the likes and your comments.

 

 I guess my aspirations of becoming  a miniature sign painter for fun and profit will come to naught. 

 

Name board 4.0

 

 Name board 5.0. I had such high expectations yesterday when I started on 5.0 that once finished I was so disappointed with the results I didn't even put it on the model.

 

 Name board 6.0. I've attached 6.0 to the model in anticipation of it remaining there till CA do us part. I am far from happy with the results but at some point I have to move on. If I every get my order of dry transfers I'll see how those work out but my thinking is 6.0 is as good as I'm going to be able to do.  

 

 

 It's past time to move on to the fore walls.

 

 Thank you for your support and being part of the journey.

 

   Keith  

 

Edited Saturday at 08:38 PM by Keith Black

[Jim Lad]

Your practice with the miniature lettering is showing clearly in the very much improved sign 6.0, Keith.

 

John

[Keith Black]

23 minutes ago, Jim Lad said:

Your practice with the miniature lettering is showing clearly in the very much improved sign 6.0, Keith.

 Thank you, John. Maybe if I did two a day for the next month I might get to a point where I'd be satisfied with the results but unfortunately I don't have that amount of time to devote to this small part of the build. 

Edited Saturday at 08:52 PM by Keith Black

[BANYAN]

Ver 6.0 looks pretty good to me Keith, I think the scale (including scaling the tones etc of the paint) look about right, certainly it is very acceptable.

 

cheers

 

Pat

Edited Monday at 11:49 PM by BANYAN

[tmj]

V6.0 looks really, really good! The scale is there, font looks proper, it's sooo dang close! Looks can be deceiving. I think you are there! simply darken the interior of your letters and if you want to get 'real' picky crisp up the outer edges of those letters just a teeny-tiny bit (don't clean up the edges so much that it looks professional) and you'll be spot on, just like the photo! 

[Knocklouder]

Great sign   ,,  

Bob M.

[Canute]

I think you've successfully captured the look of that hand-painted letter board. 👍

[Keith Black]

20 hours ago, BANYAN said:

Ver 6.0 looks pretty good to me Keith, I think the scale (including scaling the tomes etc of the paint) look about right, certainly it is very acceptable.

 

 Thank you kindly, Pat. 

 

19 hours ago, tmj said:

V6.0 looks really, really good! The scale is there, font looks proper, it's sooo dang close! Looks can be deceiving. I think you are there! simply darken the interior of your letters and if you want to get 'real' picky crisp up the outer edges of those letters just a teeny-tiny bit (don't clean up the edges so much that it looks professional) and you'll be spot on, just like the photo! 

 Thank you, Tom. Once the name board has been attached due to it's size, there's no additional work that can be done to the lettering. It is what it is. My dry transfers have finally started moving the the USPS system and should arrive sometime this week. Since I've had a day I see the possibility of a 7.0. 

 

19 hours ago, Knocklouder said:

Great sign

 Thank you, Bob.

 

2 hours ago, Canute said:

I think you've successfully captured the look of that hand-painted letter board.

 Thank you very much, Ken. 

[KeithAug]

On 12/13/2025 at 8:26 PM, Keith Black said:

I am far from happy with the results but at some point I have to move on.

It's just a bit rustic - more in keeping with Billy than the original in my view. In fact the original looks more suited to a William than a Billy.

[Keith Black]

22 minutes ago, KeithAug said:

It's just a bit rustic - more in keeping with Billy than the original in my view. In fact the original looks more suited to a William than a Billy.

 I needed that, thanks, Keith. 

[Keith Black]

 Lucky number 7!

 

 When I threw my little tantrum with myself on 5.0 I immediately set it aside due to my disappointment for it not being "perfect". After looking at 6.0 for a couple of days I revisited 5.0 and reworked the lettering. Name board 7.0 is actually 5.1 but it looks ever so much better than 6.0, IMHO. I am at peace with 7.0, I am really done with the name board this time, once again it's far from perfect but I can happily live with it.

  

 

 

 I am real pleased with the scaling, note where the letters are in relationship to the two windows below. 

 

 I want to thank you guys from the bottom of my heart for not giving up following along and for your enthusiastic support during the trials and tribulations of making the name board. You guys rock!

 

   Keith

[wefalck]

I don't want you spoil your efforts, but could you make the letters in BILLY a bit bolder still? They have the right shape, but look a tad skinny. Otherwise, no one will ever know, unless they had the picture for reference ...

[Keith Black]

9 minutes ago, wefalck said:

don't want you spoil your efforts, but could you make the letters in BILLY a bit bolder still? They have the right shape, but look a tad skinny.

 You're a hard taskmaster, Eberhard.   As I said, it's far from perfect but as I also said, I'm done, no mas. 

Edited Monday at 05:40 PM by Keith Black

[wefalck]

Fair enough, forget, what I said. I fully understand that version 7 is enough.

[Keith Black]

1 minute ago, wefalck said:

Fair enough, forget, what I said. I fully understand that version 7 is enough.

 Eberhard, you deserve an explanation as to the why of it.

 

 I am using 6X glasses to work by but those letters are very small. While the pen points are small landing the pen points exactly where they need to land and not be on either side of the line but dead center is difficult even with as steady of a rest as I can make. As is I had to trace the letters with a dull point where the pen tip had a channel to follow and I still ran off course occasionally. For myself, there comes a point where it's okay as is, better leave well enough alone. I would rather the lines be less than perfect width wise and somewhat straight than try to make them wider and in the process have wiggly lines. Does that make sense?

[tmj]

Looks really 'GRAND' Keith! I don't think that even alcohol and fire could have produced finer results than that! 😏

[vvvjames]

2 hours ago, Keith Black said:

once again it's far from perfect but I can happily live with it.

 Perfection is an illusion, often chased, never caught

Wise words to have, and all the more helpful that it's on your signature so as to be reminded frequently. That sign looks fantastic Keith, I doubt version 700 would look much different! Love following along.

[Jim Lad]

A great example of perseverance to achieve the desired result. Good on you, Keith!

 

John

[kurtvd19]

The sign looks great Keith.

[Keith Black]

1 hour ago, tmj said:

Looks really 'GRAND' Keith! I don't think that even alcohol and fire could have produced finer results than that! 

 Thank you, Tom. During the making of the name board there were times when a alcohol fire sounded like a fine idea. 

 

1 hour ago, vvvjames said:

Perfection is an illusion, often chased, never caught

Wise words to have, and all the more helpful that it's on your signature so as to be reminded frequently. That sign looks fantastic Keith, I doubt version 700 would look much different! Love following along.

 Thank you for the kind words, James

 

46 minutes ago, Jim Lad said:

A great example of perseverance to achieve the desired result. Good on you, Keith!

 John, thank you ever so much.

 

30 minutes ago, kurtvd19 said:

The sign looks great Keith.

 Thank you kindly, Kurt.