Posts by jimkrauzlis

Ahoy, Joachim!
I loved your build of the Sealand Express, a model very close to my heart having been designed by my dear departed friend Barry ... he would have been amazed to see your most amazing build of this model! Such a marvelous and brilliant job in building her ... and at such a miniature scale
So very well done!
Cheers!
Jim

Absolutely superb work on this build, Joachim! I had started this build as well, reduced to 1/600 scale, and found very little problems with the hull construction...Barry did a great job in designing this ship!

I am very much looking forward to seeing this build progress further!

Cheers!
Jim

Hello, Wolfgang:

Fear not, I also built this model, although I reduced the scale to 1/600, and met with many problems as well, particularly with the superstructure fit. I also didn't like the way the bow plating required two pieces, and would have preferred two sides joined at the stem instead. The bow flare on this ship is extreme, as you noticed, but when pressed against the formers the sides seemed to create the required flare. Hopefully the photos will show what I mean.

[Blocked Image: http://img380.imageshack.us/img380/8039/sevenli1.th.jpg]

All in all, though, in the end it seemed to work out.

[Blocked Image: http://img373.imageshack.us/img373/8024/finished4awq0.th.jpg]

I did a build thread on the Papermodelers forum, which contains a few more photos, if you are interested:

http://www.papermodelers.com/f…wa-flota-1-600-scale.html

I think it might be worth a second attempt if you are inclined to try this model again. It does provide a fairly nice and interesting ship in the end.

With my warmest regards,
Cheers!
Jim

Hallo, Jo!

This series of ship model kits, the "Schnellbaubogen" series, are one of my favorite kits available today, and watching your build of this and others always gives me immense enjoyment.

I am very impressed with your skill in building these small ships; when I see the close-up photos showing the very fine joints, for instance the deck coaming on the after sun deck (that is an incredibly small sliver of card which you have expertly wrapped around the edge of the deck piece, joining up with no sign of wrinkle, butt joined so marvelously it looks like a single piece) I can only sit back in pleasant amazement!

Thank you for sharing photos of this latest build! I can hardly wait to see what your next project might be.

Cheers!
Jim

Many thanks for the information, Jo!

I had no idea they could print out their models at whatever scale you desired, that is wonderful! Sure beats tryijng to scan and print it out myself, with possible loss of their excellent graphics.

I have ordered this wonderful lady at 1/600 scale, which is my prefered scale for paper ship models.

Thanks again!

Cheers!
Jim

Very beautiful work, Joachim! I love your build threads at this smaller scale, always a treat to see your projects.
I was wondering where you found this 1/500 scale version; I didn't find it offered on the webpage (unless I missed it or was looking in the wrong place?).
Cheers!
Jim

Hi, Lars!

I definitely see your point on the location of the bollards which are too close to the edge of the deck sheet, they are misplaced and too close to the bulwark supports, actually falling amidst the supporting members...that's not right at all! I guess the designer forgot about the need to install those support frames.

As to the location shown amidships, that's about right, the lead would be at an acute angle, for the spring lines. In the bow (assuming they are not on top of the bulwark support frames!), the placement is also okay, as those would be the bollards used for the bow lines, that also run at an acute angle from the bow deck to the pier bollards forward of the bow. The bollards aft of that location would be used for the bow breast lines, that run more perpendicular to the side of the ship towards shore.

Keep at it, mate!

Cheers!
Jim

Greetings!

First of all, permit me to applaud your wonderful build of this model. I am enjoying your building thread immensely! =D>

As to the placement of the bollards, I would humbly suggest the locations on the deck are not necessarily in error. If you consider how the mooring lines will run from the various points along the ship's deck in actual practice, you would find, except for at the bow, the lines normally run at an acute angle from the ship to shore, and the bollard is placed at best advantage so the line runs fairly straight from bollard, through the bulwark opening and down to the pier. So, for the spring lines that run from areas inboard of the bow and stern, the line would not run straight out from the side of the ship, but actually at an angle; the opening in the bulwark, therefore, would be to the sides of the bollard.

At the bow and stern, however, they run, except for another spring line, at a less acute angle from bollard to shore, so the bulwark openings are more or less closer to the bollard.

The bulwark openings, by the way, normally act as fairleads for the mooring lines, and the use of the bollard needs to be flexible so as to have the mooring lines run in different directions, so they are not lined up with the openings on a typical ship.

I hope this helps. If you happen to see an actual ship moored you might get a better appreciation of what I am trying to explain...a picture is worth a thousand words, they say.

Cheers!
Jim

I was able to work in the port hammock nettings and now they are all done! Same drill as with the starboard side, installed the hammock irons, then the inboard nets and finally the outboard nets.

So this is how it all came out:

[Blocked Image: http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/1894/quarterdeckhammocknettith4.jpg]

And a close up view:

[Blocked Image: http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/2060/closeupofportquarterdecdp2.jpg]

Here's a view from the port quarter:

[Blocked Image: http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/9034/quarterdeckviewfromportms7.jpg]

So, this is what she now looks like, from the starboard quarter:

[Blocked Image: http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/4347/quarterdeckviewfromstaruz1.jpg]

And, finally, a closer view from the after port quarter:

[Blocked Image: http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/8775/closeupofportquarterqk5.jpg]

So, a pretty productive weekend! I realized after going over the model and plans I still have to install the stern davits before I get to work on the channels. The quarterdeck davits will be installed once the mizzen mast channels are in place since they go on top of them. I will also have to put in a few other items, like the bumpkins, which are small spars that extend from the hull and are used for rigging some of the sailing lines, and perhaps I'll get the anchors installed, but then it's on to the masts, yards, etc., and the rigging will begin. Thought I'd never get to this point, huh? Well, it's still going to be a bit slow going, but at least the hull is just about finished.

Till next time, take are everyone!

Cheers!
Jim

Thank you so very much, Hans! I'm so glad you are enjoying this build!

Another update....

I started work on the starboard quarterdeck hammock nettings and was able to complete them tonight.

Just as with the forecastle hammock nettings, first I made a bunch of hammock netting irons using small nicron wire. They are all formed in a "U" shape, with as flat a bottom as I can manage with my sausage fingers. Then I mark their appropriate positions on the top of the bulwarks...there are fifteen irons between the gangway and hammock boards (those little brown colored pieces, one at the gangway and the other further aft on top of the bulwark) with one iron each at each board, on the inside surface. I painted them flat black to replicate the actual oxidized finish they have. This is how they looked once installed:

[Blocked Image: http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/3914/hammockironsinstalledstjl5.jpg]

Next, I made up the hammock nettings using that scarf I bought from a street vendor, mentioned in an earlier posting. Same construction sequence was used, gluing lines at the top and bottom edges, and then they are trimmed to shape to remove the excess netting outside the lines. This is how they looked when done and trimmed for length:

[Blocked Image: http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/9135/hammocknettingwk8.jpg]

Then, they are installed on the irons and bulwarks. I like to do the inboard side first, seems easier to get to doing it this way. Here is how the inboard netting looked once installed:

[Blocked Image: http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/2286/inboardhammocknettingsigo6.jpg]

Then, the outboard netting is installed, in the same way. Here's the finished hammock netting for the starboard quarterdeck:

[Blocked Image: http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/8850/outboardhammocknettingsry4.jpg]

I should mention that I used PVA glue through out the construction, and it works out very well. I find it dries nice and flat, and I can dilute it and it still adheres very well; this is very helpful with the netting since if you used the glue straight it would clog up the gaps in the weave or leave hideous clumps of dried glue everywhere. I apply it with a thin sable brush and then go over all the glued edges before it fully sets to thin down and dilute the glue spots that might crop up during the process. This is particularly useful when gluing the lines on the netting at top and bottom since I found if I run a damp brush over the glue spots that invariably show up when gluing the lines it dilutes the glue fairly well and removes the "blemishes." This works very well when done with the netting on top of a piece of paper towel that soaks up the excess water and glue, removing it from the netting...just a trick I came across in this part of the build.:twisted:

Well, that's it so far! I didn't have to use any of those fancy magnifiers on this part of the build, just my reading glasses (remember, I'm fairly blind without them for close work!:grin: ).

That's it for this installment...I might start a bit on the port quarterdeck hammock nettings, but won't have that done tonight but I'll post an update once that's finished. I already started on the channels, cut the basic parts out for the mizzen mast channels, but nothing worth seeing yet...that's for a future update.

Thanks again for stopping by and having a look, mates!

Cheers!
Jim

Thank you so very much for your very kind words, my friends! I do very much appreciate the interest in this little lady. Of course, one sees mistakes in ones own works, as you all know, but overall I figure it is coming out fairly well given the limits of my abilities.

One of my limits is, regretably, my eyesight...my old eyes have required me to use help by reading glasses since I turned 40 years old, and even then I find I need some extra help to see some of the little thing I have added to this model. This is what I use to compensate for that problem, two different sets of magnifies that clip onto my reading glasses. Since I have misplaced my reading glasses from time to time, I have a few spares which I use at my work station.

[Blocked Image: http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/5904/magnifiersee3.jpg]

The one on the left usings a clip-on magnifier that says it's 400 power. I have another that is 200 power, which is easier for general use since at 400 power you have to be a bit closer to have things in focus. The one on the right uses a 3x magnifier (whatever that means) for really close work...this is what I used to put the belaying pins into the fife rails and to thread the boat tie downs on the main hatch...it is a very strong magnifier but requires you to practically put the work right up to your nose to put it into focus! Of course, good lighting is essential for any of this work and I use two lamps, one that is a full spectrum unit that gives me good true lighting, and the other is a desk mounted magnifier with a fluorescent tube that I can move around for better lighting when needed.

Matthias and Michael, here are a few pictures I have of the real thing...hopefully this model will end up looking something similar to this when I'm done. Still undecided whether to add sails or not, because unless done right it just doesn't look very good. I might settle upon furled sails, like in the bottom photo....

[Blocked Image: http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/7562/sail200fek0.jpg]

[Blocked Image: http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/3213/sail200cap1.jpg]

[Blocked Image: http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/9106/08ussconstitutionch7.jpg]

Thanks again for stopping by and having a look!

Cheers! :prost:
Jim

Greetings, my friends!

I was able to do a little bit more this weekend, adding the tie downs for the Captain's boat stowed on the main hatch and putting in the final deck fittings for the mizzen deck area, including the mizzen fife rails.

Here's what the Captain's boat now looks like with the tie downs added:
[Blocked Image: http://img122.imageshack.us/img122/3358/sboattiedownshx0.jpg]

I used my fly tying silk attached to card battens that span across the top of the boat's gunwale, and the ends are tied to eyebolts along the main hatch coamings. I'm glad to finally get that part done!

Next, here is the mizzen fife rail now installed to the deck. I added the base of the mizzen mast, which is called a mast boot, to the opening in the deck where the mizzen mast will eventually go because it would be difficult to add this later on. The mizzen has an interesting set up, which will be seen later in the construction, in that it is fitted with a spanker mast abaft the mast rather than having the gaff and boom rigged directly to the mizzen mast.

First, a view of the installed mizzen fife rail:

[Blocked Image: http://img122.imageshack.us/img122/6430/mizzenfiferailshl1.jpg]

Here is another view of the mizzen fife rail, in which you can see the mast boot which as a step leading aft for the spanker boom (it's that white thing glued to the deck in between the fife rail stanchions):

[Blocked Image: http://img122.imageshack.us/img122/5102/quarterdeckdetailsch1.jpg]

You might also be able to see the boom traveler which is the fitting just before the transom, running athwartships, with the cleat just forward of that for securing the boom sheet.

Next on the list is to add the hammock nettings along both sides of the quarter deck bulwarks; this will entail mounting the hammock netting irons, then the netting itself, just like I did along the forecastle bulwarks earlier. I hope to be able to at least start that this weekend, but I will post another update once that is done. Pretty soon I'll be making up the masts and spars, the channel (those platforms along the ship's sides where the lower shroud deadeyes are attached) and beginning the rigging...but that's still a ways off.

Well, that's about it for now. I know the progress has been slow, but it is moving along. Thanks for stopping by again and taking a look!

Cheers!
Jim

Wow, thanks so much, guys...I really appreciate the very kind comments! Those tweezers are a pair I picked up somewhere along the line, have had them for too many years that I care to remember. It does feel good to be working on her again, now that I've got a better idea of where I'm going with the rigging, for the most part....:roll:

Just a quick update to show what I was working on yesterday. I built up the mizzen fife rail, again using scaled down templates from a more accurate configuration I have. The kit has a simplified fife rail which is a bit out of proportion for the model and did not have enough locations for the belaying pins, so I built it up from scratch.

This is the scaled down fife railing which needs to have the holes drilled out for the belaying pins. I first poked the holes in the template using the pin drill, and then laminated the piece to another piece of card stock and, using the first series of holes, drilled down into the laminated piece. I then trimmed it to final shape.

[Blocked Image: http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/2389/mizzenfiferail13gb.jpg]

Next, I created the pedestals using thin wire to which I glued some stock to create the top and bottoms; I found it easiest to glue the wire off of a strip of card, sandwiched with another strip on top, and did the same for the bottom. I then built up the middle using PVA glue, painted it when thoroughly dry and then trimmed them to shape:

[Blocked Image: http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/1686/mizzenfiferail23dx.jpg]

I had to cut a number of small pieces of thin wire for the belaying pins; it's amazing how even the slightest difference in length shows up as oversized or undersized pins! So, I cut a whole bunch (the mizzen fife rail uses a total of around 23) and picked the best matched ones from the lot:

[Blocked Image: http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/3776/mizzenfiferail36zk.jpg]

Then, I built up the forward parts, which are like knightheads with a iron cleat that runs athwartship about 1 mm from the top (again, using a pin drill for the hole and thin wire for the cleat), and glued it all together. I found coating the part with thinned out PVA made final touch-ups a bit easier with an emery board and judicious use of a hobby knife. I then added the belaying pins, which was an eye straining affair...I have an magnifying lens that clips to my reading glasses which really magnified the part well for this task...it was like seeing the parts in micro world! I find using slightly watered down PVA glue makes gluing these small parts a bit easier than glue straight from the container; the glue needs to seep into any spaces, like the holes for the belaying pins, and the raw glue just bunches up on the surface. I gave the finished part a few coats of thin paint...you have to be careful, when using acrylic paint, because the paper will soak up the paint and start to soften and deform if you apply it too heavy...you can see a bit of warping at the knighthead joints, but that will sort out when the part is glued to the deck. This last photo shows the almost finished piece...still needs a few touch ups on the pins but I wanted to let it dry very well before doing any more painting before installing it to the deck:

[Blocked Image: http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/4673/mizzenfiferail40ws.jpg]

I need to first put in the mizzen mast footing, as it would be difficult to try and manuveur the piece into place with the fife rail blocking access to the area, so that's the next step....

Thanks again for stopping by and having a look!

Cheers!
Jim

Well, my friends, it's been a while ... quite a while, actually,... but, being New Year and all, I figured it was time to get back to my Constitution.
Actually, I have been looking up the rigging plan, just to be sure before I got into the masting and rigging. For now, however, I need to finish up the hammock nettings and the mizzen fife rail, before moving into the channels and masting.

So, I am continuing with the hammock netting. You might recall I was using a silk scarf I found in the Big Apple at a small Kiosk close to where I used to work. After finishing the port side forward netting I figured there was a quicker way to put the netting together.

I decided to use a wax paper covered card on which I drew parallel lines that matched the height of the finished netting. I also soaks some fly tying silk thread with PVA, which I used for the top and bottom lines of the netting. Here's a photo of the card set up with the netting in place with the glue soaked line on top and in place:

[Blocked Image: http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/9025/constructionphotos2629su.jpg]

I also used some fine annealed steel wire for the hammock irons, just a matter of bending them into the right shape and gluing them to the top of the bulwarks. In this photo you can see the trimmed hammock netting and to the left is one of the hammock irons ready to be installed:

[Blocked Image: http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/4768/constructionphoto2632la.jpg]

Here's the starboard side forward bulwark with the hammock irons glued in place:

[Blocked Image: http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/7277/constructionphoto2644zq.jpg]

This photo shows the netting glued in place...I thought using a white card would help show the netting better, but it didn't come out as clearly as I planned:

[Blocked Image: http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/5425/constructionphoto2653ma.jpg]

Here's the way it all ended up...I still have to touch up spots here and there, but it's pretty much done:

[Blocked Image: http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/8092/constructionphoto2660ee.jpg]

This view shows how the irons sit on the bulwark with the netting on each side:

[Blocked Image: http://img250.imageshack.us/img250/4567/constructionphoto2674sn.jpg]

And, a final view:

[Blocked Image: http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/5482/constructionphoto2684cr.jpg]

Before I work on the quarterdeck hammock nettings, I need to finish up the mizzen fife rail, otherwise I can expect the netting would be banged around a bit when working in and around the deck area...I hope to show the mizzen fiferail in the next installment.

Thanks for stopping by and having a look...I'll try and keep the delays between updates a bit shorter next time.:grin:

Cheers!
Jim

Greetings, Hans Gerd!

Your work on the launch and ground tackle/anchor are wonderful! I only just now noticed the rivets around the base of the bollards on the foredeck...excellent detail that makes your build of this model stand out very nicely. I find myself spending quite a bit of time examining the photos for more of such interesting little details!

I'm looking forward to more!

Cheers!
Jim

Greetings, Hans Gerd!

This is an amazingly detailed build which I am enjoying so very much.
I admire the intricate craftsmanship you have displayed in building this model, with great attention to details. A very interesting subject, which you are so faithfullly creating for the enjoyment of all of us.

I look forward to seeing more of your build.

Best regards,
Jim

Well, I think it is clear to all who look at your photos the jig wasn't a complete failure, the mast work and rigging looks splendid!

I am embarassed to tell you how many machines or other gadgets have blessed my work area over the years that did nothing better than collect dust, being totally useless for the advertised purpose...live and learn! The Unimat is a nice piece of equipment for certain work, such as the sanding job and maybe even some very light lathe work, but it is indeed a costly piece of equipment.

Looking forward to further updates on this brilliant build!

Cheers!
Jim

Hi, Radek!

You are doing a superb job of a very difficult and sometimes confusing mass of lines...I like the mast jig, just curious what the steps are for and how you figured out the appropriate rise of each step.

Great job of laying the shrouds over the mast head and flaying them one on top of the other, really looks quite authentic. I can't wait to see the next installment, particularly how you tackle the ratlines.

All my best,
:prost:
Jim

Hi, Radek!

Looks like a great start on the rigging!

Looking forward to more as you continue to rig this beauty.

Cheers!
Jim

Hallo, Peter!

Ein wundervoller Bau dieses Modells!

Schöner Aufbau und leuchtende Einzelheit!

Dank für das Teilen der Fotos Ihres erstaunlichen Baus.

Beifall!
Jim

:usenglish:
Hello, Peter!

A wonderful build of this model!

Beautiful construction and brilliant detail work!

Thanks for sharing photos of your amazing build.

Cheers!
Jim
(Just to be safe, would someone check my translation...thanks!)

Greetings, my Friends!

Thank you so very much for the kind and generous words about my little lady! I have to say many of the things I used to build her I learned her from many of you, and for that I must thank you all again. One of the many joys of having a forum such as this is one can see how others tackle similar problems in a build and try to use or adapt them in ones own build, which is what I did with this ship...not to mention the huge inspiration I get to even consider trying a project like this from seeing all the superb models everyone builds here. I only wish I had more time in the day not only build models but to visit this forum more often...alas, the limitations of a 24 hour day and the need to work, eat, sleep and enjoy my family. :]

@ Jörg: Thank you, my friend, I do appreciate the very kind words...the rigging didn't quite come out like I wanted it to, however...I was trying to give it a bit of slack like on a real ship and I fear it looks a bit unshipshape as a result, but many times we second quess ourselves a bit, so if you think it looks nice, that pleases me very much.

@ Michael: You are so right, mate, it seems with each new build I learn something new, and gain some new ideas that I can use on the next build...and this is no different with this build. Although the railings gave me a bit of a problem at times, it was a good exercise in getting using a technique I tried a few times before, just on a smaller level. I did learn, unfortunately once again, not to rush in the build because I really should have added some railings to the house before I went forward with the cargo booms and such which blocked access to those areas later...live and learn! While I would love to build a merchant fleet, and have every intention of doing so, it may be a while before I try something at this scale again, and I want to try and keep my ship builds in the scale of 1:600 as much as possible so they can each be compared to one another size-wise...so, a small fleet is definitely in the works, just not this small.

@ Herbert: Thanks, my friend, I am so happy to hear you enjoyed this thread and perhaps some of my other builds...only wish I could build more frequently than I do now, but I am firmly taken by this paper model bug so rest assured I will do some other builds shortly, and hopefully finally get back to my Constitution which has been sadly sitting idle for too long a time while I tend to other projects, work, etc. I have some long term plans on other ship models, even one scratch build that I have been playing around with off and on for a few months now, but I am still a bit away from getting that one underway.

At the moment, besides getting back to Constitution, I have a few WWI airplanes in the works that I want to build, in 1/72 scale, and a few merchant ships from JSC (that I want to reduce to 1/600 scale) to build as well.

Thanks again to all who stopped by for a visit! I appreciate your coming by...

Cheers!
Jim

Well, after a bit of a delay, she's finally done...at least as much as I plan to do with this build.

It took a while to get the railings worked out, and I should have put some rails on the house area, but there's just too much rigging in the way. So, I just added the railing to the stern area. Here's a look at how the stern section came out:

[Blocked Image: http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/9805/viewfromsternfeb2620066ci.jpg]

Here's a view from the starboard bow showing the finished model:

[Blocked Image: http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/818/viewfromstarboardbowfeb2620068.jpg]

This is how she looks from the starboard quarter:

[Blocked Image: http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/715/viewfromstarboardquarterfeb262.jpg]

I really had a lot of fun playing around with this small lady, and I hope you enjoyed seeing her develop along the way. This is the final picture, showing how she came out overall:

[Blocked Image: http://img506.imageshack.us/img506/1643/mskrefeldcompletedfeb2620067br.jpg]

Thanks to all who stopped by to take a look!

Cheers!

Jim

Hi, Radek! :]

Beautiful build! She is really looking superb and your fine attention to the details, including the recoloring of the decorations, is awesome to behold.

I like Hajo's ideas on building the triangular blocks (not sure if they are called deadeyes as they are later on when dealing with the round ones, but it might be the correct term even at this early stage), I have been trying to figure out a similar approach on the Constitution build. I found the same problem when using a drill, and the idea of treating the card with CA is a good solution, I believe. I have also tried using a small set of micro punches (they are actually a set of hard steel mandrals that fit into a guide made of plastic which sets up to a steel base with matching diameter holes). The set I am referring to is by Waldron Model Products, and it is the sub-miniature punch and die set. It works great with paper and card as the guide keeps the mandral square to the paper and you tap it with a small jeweler's hammer, the mandral punches little discs out of the card as it passes through the steel underlying base. I actually use it to make small discs for scratch building other items, but the holes are wonderfully round and precisely made. The trouble is being able to place the card correctly under the plastic top guide as it has a bit of distortion caused by the thickness of the clear plastic guide, but I found using a pin prick in the center of the hole I want to punch helps in placing the mandral at the right location. You can probably make up something similar using pins and a home made plastic guide...it is about 2mm thick, the plastic top guide. I often use it with just the plastic guide and my cutting board as the base, and it works fine too, you just lose the disc into the cutting mat this way.

I hope I do it right, but attached is a picture of what this tool looks like.

Hope this helps.

Cheers!
Jim

One word...OUTSTANDING!!!

Can't seem to get enough pictures of this superb build, bazzer!

The windlass might seem a bit uninteresting, but as you probably also feel, without it something just isn't right with the forecastle if you don't include a build of it.

Looking forward to the next update.

Cheers!
Jim

Ach! That is a fantastic little model, Josef! :]

I am delighted to see a kindred soul who likes to build micro models. And you have a wonderful talent, not just with this hawker hurricane, but I also love the way you built the deck guns and other little details you showed up previously.

You are a true master of the miniature! =D> =D> =D>

Looking forward to more!

Cheers!

Jim

Indeed, bazzer...she is getting better and better with each update! :]

Keep at it mate, we are all enjoying this thread very much.

Cheers!
Jim

Here's another view of the railings showing the opening for the ladder...that was a bit difficult to account for, but it is what it is at this point.

[Blocked Image: http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/9670/anotherviewofforecastlerailing.jpg]

Maybe from this view the set up on the forecastle is a bit clearer:

[Blocked Image: http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/7099/railingsonforecastlefrombowson.jpg]

This view is just for the heck of it!

[Blocked Image: http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/7263/viewofforecastlerailingsfrompo.jpg]

Well, that's all I was able to accomplish so far. I think I will have to make up another jig's worth of railings to finish this one, so it's going to take a bit longer than I figured on to get there.

Anyway, thanks for stopping by and taking a look at how she's going...slowly but surely.

Cheers!

Jim

Hello, everyone!

Well, maybe the rail installation is not going to be done so quickly as I had hoped...it took me a few evening sessions to build up just a few lengths of railing. At least I seem to be learning from my earlier models and have stopped trying to wrap the thread around the jig but to use glue stiffened threads...it does make it easier to position the rails components and everything doesn't spring from the jig when I cut them off. It was a bit more difficult to get the paint on the thread without clogging all the little holes between the threads, but using thinned out paint helped a lot.

Anyway, here's a look at the jig used for the railings with the railings all painted up and ready to be removed from the jig:

[Blocked Image: http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/1701/railingjig7ls.jpg]

And having spent about an hour putting on the railings on the forecastle, this is what I have to show for my efforts:

[Blocked Image: http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/417/railingsinstalledonforecastlej.jpg]

It was a little difficult positioning the railings just right, and measuring off the right lengths, but fitting before gluing is a big help. Here's another view:

[Blocked Image: http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/2182/railingsonforecastlefromstarbo.jpg]

continued....

This pic shows the midship house from the starboard side:

[Blocked Image: http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/417/closeupofmidshipareajan2520065.jpg]

Another view from a little above, this time from the starboard bow:

[Blocked Image: http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/2829/viewfromstarboardbowjan2520066.jpg]

Looking at her from the starboard quarter:

[Blocked Image: http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/5002/viewfromstarboardquarterjan252.jpg]

And, finally (wake up!), another overall view:

[Blocked Image: http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/6453/anotherviewmskrefeldsofarjan25.jpg]

I'm still playing around with making railings, but it's slow going, so it might be a while before those are in any shape to consider putting on the model. I'll post more when those are done, which will probably be the end of this build.

Anyway, thanks for coming by and taking a look, and I hope it was worth your while!

Cheers!

Jim

Hi, everyone!

Gosh, no, Raimund...don't think I can get that small! Well, what a minute, maybe I can try? No, on second thought, this is small enough and taxes my eyesight enough.

Well, here's an update...

I installed the life boats and bollards. Took a bit of doing as I added to the lifeboat davits a bit, made the tackles and boats, which took a little time.

This is what she looks like now:

[Blocked Image: http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/9436/mskrefeldsofarjan2520069hx.jpg]

Here's a view from the port bow, hopefully you can see the bollards which were added:

[Blocked Image: http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/633/viewfromportbowjan2520069mf.jpg]

This is a closer in look at the midship house area, hopefully giving you an idea of what the life boat tackles, etc., look like:

[Blocked Image: http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/8012/portsidecloseupjan25200631hg.jpg]

Here's another view, slightly from above, to hopefully reveal the bollards a bit better:

[Blocked Image: http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/9044/starboardoverheadviewjan252006.jpg]

continued....

Wotcher, bazzer!

Your photos surely show the wonderful job you did on the coloration of this design. She is looking more splendid with each update, and your work on the details is great.

Keep at it mate. Slowly or not, it's a treat to watch your progress.

Cheers!

Jim

continued...

Here's a view from the starboard quarter:

[Blocked Image: http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/381/viewfromstarboardquarterjan192.jpg]

This is a close-up of the midship area, trying to show the radio aerial...hope it comes through clearly:

[Blocked Image: http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/1048/closeupofmidshipjan1920068lb.jpg]

Here's another view, this time from the port bow:

[Blocked Image: http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/7379/viewfromportbowjan1920062rx.jpg]

And, finally, a look at her from the port quarter:

[Blocked Image: http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/9971/viewfromportquarterjan1920067n.jpg]

Hope I'm not putting anyone to sleep with so many photos, but I figured you would like to see her from different views.

Next up, the lifeboat stations, the bollards and, unless I can't get it to work, some railings...but that last one is a big IF because it might be a bit too small to render properly. I fear it might come out too bulky, so if I can't figure it out, no rails.

Anyway, thanks again for stopping by and taking a look!

My best to you all!
Cheers!

Jim

I was able to get a little more done yesterday, and the cargo booms are now rigged. I used a little jig to set up the lines and glue on tiny discs to represent the blocks, then painted the blocks while still on the jig.

First, I set up the heavy lift cargo gear, using a simple jig again for setting up the line and blocks. I added a small hook and then painted the assembly before installing on the heavy lift boom. This is how it came out:

[Blocked Image: http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/3226/heavyliftcargoboomandgear4la.jpg]

This is the jig I used in setting up the cargo rigging:

[Blocked Image: http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/5008/cargotacklejig5sc.jpg]

Pretty simple concept, actually, but I found using the strip of paper on the end to glue the line to first really helped keep things tight. Then it was a simple matter of adding the little discs, and finishing with acrylic paint.

So, this is how she now looks as of this afternoon:

[Blocked Image: http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/3999/mskrefeldsofarjan1920067tt.jpg]

Here's a closeup of the starboard bow showing the forward cargo area:

[Blocked Image: http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/4176/viewfromstarboardbowjan1920068.jpg]

You'll notice I added the radio aerial too at this point.

continued....

Many thanks to all who have stopped by and provided such kind comments about my little ship.

No, Herbert, I could only wish I were as skilled as a jeweler, but am only a lowly Maritime Attorney...not as much modeling time as I would like, but making ship models when I can helps me to relax a bit.

I have been thinking of trying to reduce all my future model ships to the same scale just for sake of comparison, but after this one I don't think I will adopt the 1:1000 scale! More likely 1:600 seems to be a nice size for a collection, I think.

Thank you, Jurgen, and I hope this update does not disappoint.

I finally got the cargo booms on the ship, except for the heavy lift boom at number 2 hatch (that should be in the next update). I also added a little more detail, this time putting in the radar mast and the like.

This is what she looked like yesterday afternoon...I had trouble with my host server for my photos, so these are about 24 hours old.

[Blocked Image: http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/3402/krefeldsofarafternoonjan162006.jpg]

Here's another view, from the port quarter:

[Blocked Image: http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/1290/closeupfromportquarterafternoo.jpg]

Here is an attempt to provide a close-up shot, but it's not as sharp as I would have liked...hope you can see the radar mast in this one:

[Blocked Image: http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/1025/closeupofmidshiphouseafternoon.jpg]

And, a final shot, from the starboard bow:

[Blocked Image: http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/7797/viewfromstarboardbowafternoonj.jpg]

I've already started to work on the cargo rigging, so hopefully by next installment I can have something worth looking at. In the meantime, thanks for stopping by and taking a look.

Cheers!

Jim

Hello, everyone!

Barry, you are, as usual, right on! Those are indeed the cargo winches. I find it easier to build such things in a sequence, giving me a better chance to have them all turn out looking about the same.

Here's a view with them installed on the mast houses and on the deck.

[Blocked Image: http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/249/viewfromstarboardbowsofarjan15.jpg]

Having them on the strip makes it a lot easier to build, I have found...and fewer end up on the floor!

[Blocked Image: http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/9982/cargowinchesandventsinstalledo.jpg]

This view shows a bit of the forecastle, where you may see I added the forecastle access hatch.

[Blocked Image: http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/3277/forecastledetails79sy.jpg]

This view shows her from the starboard quarter.

[Blocked Image: http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/5849/viewfromstarboardquartersofarj.jpg]

And this is an almost bows on view...starting to look more like a freighter, I hope.

[Blocked Image: http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/7672/viewfromportbowjan15200690wi.jpg]

This view of the stern area hopefully shows the emergency steering station on the poop deck.

[Blocked Image: http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/1980/afterendsofar0uv.jpg]

Now it's time to start fitting the booms...which should be in the next update.

Raimund, I will try to include a few better close-ups in the next installment, but as I have found those type of pictures are difficult to get in proper focus...but I'll try and see what I can do, my friend.

Thanks so much for stopping by and taking a look!

Cheers!

Jim

Hello, Achim.

Excellent set of photos of a superb model!

You did a brilliant job on her, very nicely done.

Thanks for posting your photos of the finished model!

Cheers!
Jim

Well, I got to do a bit more today, so here it goes....

This is what she looks like at this time...I put in the rest of the cargo masts and most of the vents, as well as the forward cargo hatches and mast house.

[Blocked Image: http://img363.imageshack.us/img363/4033/sofartodayjan15200610jp.jpg]

Here's another view from the bow:

[Blocked Image: http://img363.imageshack.us/img363/4792/closeupofforwardarea29fi.jpg]

And from the stern:

[Blocked Image: http://img363.imageshack.us/img363/8080/afterareacloseup31re.jpg]

Now for the question of the day...can you tell what these are?

[Blocked Image: http://img363.imageshack.us/img363/219/canyouguesswhattheseare45qh.jpg]

Well that's it for now...just moving along here. I should have another update soon, as well as the answer to the question.

Thanks for stopping by and taking a look.

Cheers!

Jim

Hi, Achim!

I am looking forward to seeing the final photos!

I built this ship a while back and can tell you honestly your build came out so very much better than my poor effort!

Superb job!

Best regards,

Jim

Hallo, Achim!

Ich freue, die abschließenden Fotos zu sehen!

Ich errichtete dieses Schiff eine Weilerückseite und kann Ihnen erklären, daß ehrlich Ihr Bau aus so sehr viel besserer als meine schlechte Bemühung kam!

Großartiger Job!

Bester Respekt,

Jim

(once again, if someone would kindly check the translation, I would be very happy.)

Hello, Pappenbauer!

What an excellent model build!

I have tried without success to figure out how to order from this publisher at their webpage. I would love to learn where I can get some of these excellent merchant ships from them, so if anyone has any ideas I would be very grateful.

Superb build!
Thanks for posting your photos.

Cheers!

Jim

Hi, Gang!

Just a few more photo updates. Not much time for modeling lately, but this weekend looks to be a great one for indoor stuff, what with the rain storms and threat of a snow storm on the horizon.

I added the two aft hatches, some cargo masts and vents. I also played around with an anchor winch with chain in the forecastle. Not sure if it looks as realistic as I had hoped, but it was fun to fool around with anyway.

So, here's what she looks like so far:

[Blocked Image: http://img429.imageshack.us/img429/614/krefeldsofarjan1420062ei.jpg]

This is a quartering view just to give another perspective on how she's coming along:

[Blocked Image: http://img429.imageshack.us/img429/5225/krefeldstarboardquarterjan1420.jpg]

Looking from the other side, she's getting there slowly but somewhat surely:

[Blocked Image: http://img429.imageshack.us/img429/5019/krefeldportbowjan1420063ro.jpg]

Here's a look at the forward area, and the forecastle. As you can see, still a bit of a ways to go, not the least of which is figuring out how I might do the cargo booms and lines, but it's really a lot of fun working on her.

[Blocked Image: http://img429.imageshack.us/img429/7246/krefeldstarboardbowjan1420068p.jpg]

We'll see if there is more to show this weekend, but thanks for stopping by in the meantime.

Cheers!

Jim