Maine Lobster Boat by popeye the sailor - FINISHED - Midwest Products

[augie]

And.......as if by magic ------- they re-appear!

[popeye the sailor]

12 - 29 - 2012

 

While the hull is open,  I thought it good to frame the inner deck.   I am going to leave the sides under the sheer open for storage areas.   even though the stern wall is closed in,  I will not be installing any doors there.  there will be a door on the froe cabin wall......I have to get more hinges to do it.

I was beginning to run low on the 5mm planking.  I even used my stir stick I used for paint...LOL!  I subbed in some 7mm planking.......and having to finish it off with it as well.

[popeye the sailor]

12 - 30 - 2012

 

New years was coming,  and the build was moving right along.   I couldn't wait for the day when both of these builds will be in sync with one another.   then I could work on them together.   the open areas under the sheers are to have a floor,  in order to close them off from seeing the gaps left by the decking.   I had used 7mm planking as borders along the side,  to better gauge the deck planking.   it works out well,  because they will become the sills for these compartments.  I also wanted to paint the inner areas with primer.   if I didn't get paint under the sheers now,  I wouldn't be able to do it later,  with the hull completely closed in.   I will make up the floor pieces,  and then prime.  the bad part was that I was almost out of white primer.......very little was left and certainly not enough.

The floor were installed over the openings.   they were later primed to get some on them as well

[popeye the sailor]

pretty neat,  isn't it augie!  I hope to get it all done soon.   I still have a ways to go,  but I think I'm done for the evening.   I will get one done before I start on another.   thanks for looking in,  my friend!

[Jim Lad]

It's great to see the twins back, Popeye!

 

John

[Sjors]

He Popeye,

 

Here you are.

You where hiding your self for me?

But I find you and will be follow you again.

 

Sjors

[popeye the sailor]

thanks John.......yes.....it's coming back!  I'm pleased to add in everything....even the time line.....I can't wait to be able to merge these two together......then I can post what I consider......the good pictures!

 

glad you found me Sjors......I see you have been up to your tricks here........Anja taking your cannon balls away  LOL!  I will look forward in watching some of the builds you mentioned for the future!

[popeye the sailor]

1 - 8 - 2013

 

The new year didn't stop the build......we turn the page.   time to close up the hull.

With the hull closed up,  sanding and painting can commence.  there was a small problem with the planking process,  due mostly to the lack of ribs,  but I was able to get the job done.  should I ever do another one.....extra ribbing will need to be added to keep the shape.

[popeye the sailor]

1 - 9 - 2013

 

I needed to make the keel fin.  Then the shoe and rudder can be made for it.  I decided to make the fin from strip stock, covering it with flat stock.   I know that down the road,  I will have to sand the entire length of the keel down to even it out and level it with the contour of the hull bottom.

Here,  I cut off the bottom edge of the fin........the shoe will need to be fitted here.

now it is brought down to the laboritory..........are we ready for the operation......we have to decide just how much to take off........

It went well,  but it didn't come without consequence........the belt sander went through the hull in a few spots,  and did sand the fin a bit too much.  after some repairs.....everything was just ducky!

[popeye the sailor]

1 - 10 - 2013

 

After some repairs,  the hull was fine.   more sanding was required to make both sides equal to one aonther.   the shoe and rudder assembly was made at this time.   I have to order a prop and ship's wheel for the pleasure boat......I'm using the kit supplied parts for this build.

the comparison with the cut of the bows is good.

[popeye the sailor]

1 - 13 - 2013

 

The rudder was to be a bit different than the rudder for the pleasure boat.   the rudder on the lobster boat sets back a bit further,  so the shaft is going to need to run through the rudder.  it is made of three layers of flat stock,  the center layer has a slot through it,  making it a two part piece.

This slot will later be drilled out to accept the shaft.

The next step will be to make the helm cabin sides.   they were traced out from the plans,  but will not be made the same way.  I want the helm wall to be shorter,  as well as the roof.

 

1 - 16 - 2013

 

The engine cover is to be made at this point.   due to the lack of basswood flat stock,  I'm having to use the excess balsa from the hull sheeting.   in making this boat......I'm not being exact.......I'm not even fixing some of the minoe imperfections in the hull and on the decks.  I want this boat to look old.....I want this boat to look used.......I want this boat to look like a lobster boat.

the bottom hull was painted with the gray primer......this will turn out to be an achillies heel later on.  I decided to leave the interior this color......it looks aged and old........I like it!

I had made up some decals for the both of them.......their names have been decided.   the pleasure boat will be  'The Phylly C'  and the lobster boat will be 'The Denny-Zen'.  the hull also got the bottom paint.....dark drab.

 

[popeye the sailor]

meanwhile......on the other side of the Wharf.......

 

 

I had made some decals for these two.  I showed them before,  but here is a close up of them.

The white strip along the sides of the hull was masked off and painted.

[popeye the sailor]

1 - 17 - 2013

 

Meanwhile,  on the other side of the Wharf.........

 

The Denny-Zen was getting ready for the upper paint.  the admiral picked this color......figures.....it's the one that I have only one bottle of.  OK........if that's what your want,  My dear......

The Denny-zen got the sheer deck painted a flat white.

 

 

[popeye the sailor]

progress comparison - 1 - 17 - 2013

 

The two were then brought together again for another comparison.

 

They are close.......but they still have a ways to go before they can be considered  'in sync' with one another.    the build continues.........

[popeye the sailor]

1 - 18 - 2013

 

The Denny-Zen has out grown the  build slip and graduated to the stand I had made for him.  I took the both of them and added a name plaque,  and painted them up in the process.

The helm walls came next........as mentioned,  they were done in balsa wood.  any imperfections will be left there.   the windshield was made from basswood though......I wanted this part to be stronger.  there will be some form of framework added to the helm cabin as well.

Due to the use of balsa.......I've reinforced the roof frame as well.

The fore cabin roof was fleshed out as well.

The portholes still needed to have the window maker applied to them......time to prep them for the application.

[popeye the sailor]

1 - 23 - 2013

 

This session was more of a fabrication session........the fore cabin roofs,  grab rails,  and helm roofs were fleshed out and assembled.   I also needed some sanding sticks,  so I made some of different grits.

I did repair some of the imperfections in the hull.......after all, it does need to be water tight.

The windows were framed,  so they couid be installed from the outside,  unlike his counterpart. the build continues..............

 

[popeye the sailor]

1 - 24 - 2013

 

The helm walls are to be painted at this point.   I found that the gray primer was very hard to cover over using a brush........I ended up using the airbrush.   painting the cabins on the Phylly C,  I got some overspray on the interior.......I tried really hard not to copy the masking problems.

I had decanted the gray paint from the spray can,  but it was left in the cellar,  and the cold ruined the paint......I got a less than desireable job.  lucky for me, the paint from my F-15 build was very close to the primer color.

I ended up painting the cabins with the Billing's primer........I got my paint shipment in....hourah!  the helm was masked up with extreme care to guard against overspray.   I also added curved extensions to the helm's side walls.......just to give it a little character.

 

1 - 25 - 2013

 

 

[cog]

A few more steps and you have them a runnin' synchronous.

[popeye the sailor]

1 - 26 - 2013

 

The fore cabin roofs can now be cemented in place.  there are to be hatches located on the fore cabin roof.  all that was to be done,  was to simply cement the hatches in place.   I think there's room for expansion here........I made up two pairs of slider tracks for the hatches and accented them off with handles.

The prop was also added to the Denny-Zen.   The Phylly C got the same step of assembly.

........just a spark,  that signaled that they were becoming one with the build.   They would drift apart one more time,  but I found that making a part for one,  I would be making the part for the other as well.  soon they will become the dual build.

[augie]

Oh boy.......if I recall correctly, one of my favorites parts of these builds is coming up soon ------ the handrails.   :)  

[popeye the sailor]

almost Carl...........almost.   they need a little bit more history.    thank you!

 

1 - 27 - 2013

 

The development of the Denny-Zen continues.   The buoys supplied in the kit are like way out of scale,  so I won't be using them.   I will make some of my own.......I just need to know how many I need.

applying the window maker in the portholes is a waiting game.   It was applied to each one and set right side up to dry.   I didn't want the window maker to flow into the porthole,  or bow outward.  I had to set them in a way,  so they wouldn't do that.  hopefully I can show you just how transparent this stuff is.

you can see the top of the glue bottle......not crystal clear,  but clear enough that it will allow light to show through,  without showing the inside of the vessel.   this is good in the event that the inside of the cabin is not finished in any way.   the starboard side is now installed.

The grab rails and the mast collars are to be done next.  the mast is to be located on the port side of the deck.  as I am told,  this mast keeps the boat from rocking while the traps are being worked.

The winch platform is almost ready to install.   the crane also needs to be assembled.  I don't like the way the kit portrays the assembly,  so I'm going to make my own.

The bow post was also made........I made one for the Phylly C as well.

The trim is also being cemented around the cockpit as well.

The crane starts out as a section of dowel,  cut to an angle and cemented together.  Supports are added to the base and the hardware is to be installed.

 

[popeye the sailor]

1 - 28 - 2013

 

The work continues on the Denny-Zen.   Other decals were made for the boats as well......waterline striping.   decaling was done at this time.

The port side portholes were installed.

Engine identification and specification placards were also made up......might as well try to be real about it.

I finally cut down the bow stem......taking offabout a quarter of an inch.  the bow post was added as well.

the slatting is added to the build at this time.   it was added down the starboard side and spilled over the stern.   it stops short of the mast assembly.

The parts I had made for him was stowed away.......it was time to bring his sister out to work on her for a while.

[popeye the sailor]

1 - 29 - 2013

 

The funnels are to be made for these two.   I don't have enough brass tube to do them,  so I'm going to have to rely on wood dowel.   I drilled out the centers of some 5/16 dowel,  making sure that the outer walls are quite thin.  cut on an angle,  the stack ant the spout was cemented together.

I had to make a special sanding stick for the job......made from a smaller dowel.

The grab rails for the Phylly C was sanded and prepped for assembly.

Now.......what do you suppose these parts are for.......?

[cog]

Don't you need an emergency stop button, or on/of swith for the crane? I love those added details by way of the decals.

[popeye the sailor]

1 - 30 - 2013

 

Those parts you saw earlier,  are the beginning of a pair of fittings for the deck.   Someone mentioned something about seats......I think that's a very good idea.  I had a meeting with the fashion designer,  and we came up with an idea for them.......although she wanted prints.......I was just as happy with plain fabric.

I was having to glue pieces of flat stock together to make larger pieces.......I was running low on wood.  I keep putting in my requests......but they keep getting kicked back!  DOOOUGHH!  Stupid cost overruns!

 

[popeye the sailor]

1 - 31 - 2013

 

I did the decal work to the Phylly C.........not exactly what I wanted to do,  but it works just as well.

[popeye the sailor]

2 - 2 - 2013

 

The glass work was done to the Phylly C.   I was constantly interupted today,  so I didn't get too far....... although I did get to make a part that will really dress up the helm area.

looking in,  you can see out through the other side window.

the helm console is made up of small pieces of flat stock.  there was some trouble to get the wood to make the curve......but a quick repair later,  and it ws back on track.

the second one came out much better.

 

Edited February 20, 2013 by popeye the sailor

[popeye the sailor]

2 - 5 - 2013

 

It was time to install the helm roof to the build.

I was asked about the window maker,  so I thought I would show what the bottle looks like.   This stuff is great for installing clear parts like windows and canopies.....it doubles as a glue.  I use it for that purpose,  but I also use it to make small windows and fill in light glass......it is also paintable.

I had made some brackets to hang the console.

[riverboat]

Great!! Popeye.

Frank

[popeye the sailor]

2 - 6 - 2013

 

With some of the window glass installed at this time,  it was time to install the funnel and the roof.  The hole for the funnel was drilled before the roof was cemented in place.

The hole location wa marked with a pin.

I made sure the hole was close to one of the beams.

I couldn't find the right center for the funnel........it kept moving off the mark.  I later put a brad in the base of the funnel,  and this solved the problem.

collars were made for the roof and the engine cover.

The funnel was then cemented in place.

I wanted to make shields for the funnels.   I began to do this by hand,  but it was very slow.   I got out my battery drill and it sped it up a bit.

The shields were sanded to knock the impressions down and then curves with the use of a dowel.