The Model Boatyard

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March 14, 2017

With the hull essentially done except for painting, I have lately been working on the deck furniture. I have the parts for the hatches and dredge post made but, as yet, unpainted. This morning, I finished the forward deckhouse. There are brass portholes to go in, but at the moment, they have ModPodge in them that is still drying. The ModPodge is a good way to simulate the glass. The doorknob was turned from a piece of 3/32" brass rod. I wanted it to have the look of weathered brass.

Forward Deckhouse

Doorknob

April 1, 2017

I've spent much of the past couple weeks working on the main deckhouse although there was about a week when I couldn't do much. I had a slight altercation with my table saw and the blade got in the way of where my thumb wanted to be. The resulting bandage made it a bit tough to do much. It's on the mend now. Still bandaged but usable. As of today, I got the main deckhouse walls assembled and primed. Just for grins, I stuck it on the hull to get an idea of how it will eventually look. There is still a ton of work to do on the deckhouse. There are windows and doors to construct and install, a ships wheel and other fittings to make for the interior, there are the roofs and all that goes on them, and ladders and hand rails for the outside. So I am still several weeks away from finishing the main deckhouse. As well, lawn mowing season starts tomorrow, so yardwork will intrude on some of my modeling time.But I keep plugging away at it.

Deckhouse Primed

Deckhouse on Hull

April 11, 2017

Work is progressing slowly but steadily on the deckhouse. I have all the windows in and I'm starting to detail the interior. I'm not quite sure what the control is in the pilothouse. I suspect it's an engine speed control, but I have not yet confirmed this.The new deckhand, Ned, hadn't yet gotten his sea legs when a storm came up. He lost his footing and banged into the mirror. His head is fine, but let's hope he doesn't have 7 years of bad luck!

Edit: 5/16 - Made a trip to Deltaville today and found out that the control lever is for forward and reverse.

Pilothouse Windows	Control
Bunk in Aft Cabin	Table in Aft Cabin

April 17, 2017

Still plugging away on the deckhouse. The wheel is installed and I hung a chart of the Chesapeake Bay on the bulkhead behind the bunk. Still a few more interior details to make before I am ready to add the roof and start working on exterior details.

Wheel

Chart

April 19, 2017

Spent the entire day today making doorknobs for the main deckhouse doors. It took a good while to figure out the best way to machine them on the lathe so they would all look about the same. Once I got it it all figured out, I was able to turn out one knob every 6 minutes. Of course, I only needed 6 knobs although I made a couple extra just in case I lost one. Which, I did. I wanted them to look slightly tarnished, so I used some Jax Flemish-Gray blackener on them.

Doorknobs

Doors

April 25, 2017

A few more details added in the interior of the deckhouse. Also made the grabe rails for the outside of the three doors. The cavity in the searchlight will be filled with Mod Podge to simulate glass.

Fire Extinguisher	Stool
Port Grab Rail	Searchlight

April 26, 2017

Things are starting to come together now. In this shot, nothing is permanently attached. I just wanted to get an idea of how the boat will look when it's finally done. This is still plenty of work to do to finish. There are many details to add to the outside of the main deckhouse including running lights, ladders, doors, exhaust stack, and more. The hatches all need lifting rings and none of the dredge hardware is in place. And, obviously, there is no mast or rigging yet. So still some months to go. But it's looking like a boat at last!

Progress as of April 26, 2017

May 30, 2017

Still plugging away although I went through about a 2-week period where I didn't work on the boat at all. So not a huge amount of progress. I made and applied the name boards, made the mast and boom, and got the mast rigged.I'll be working on completing the deck details next. There are lots and bits of pieces to add to the main deckhouse (most of which are already made) some work to do on the hatches, rigging the boom, and a few other odds and ends.

Rigging	Rigging
Rigging	Rigging

June 5, 2017

The deckhouse is finally finished and installed on the hull.

Deckhouse	Deckhouse
Deckhouse	Wash-down Hose

June 7, 2017

I spent the day yesterday making blocks and today finishing them. I also made rope today and got the running rigging done. In the overall pic, you can see a couple of clips down at the cleats on the mast. They are holding the line straight while the glue dries. They will, of course, come off.

Rigging Overall	Masthead
Blocks on Boom	Block With Hook

June, 2017

I know there haven't been any updates in a while. The boat is finished, but I haven't taken final photos. I've gotten busy with some projects around the house. In the mean time, here are some pics of the model sitting on the workbench. I hope to take some decent pics soon!

Finished	Finished
Finished	Finished
Finished	Finished
Finished	Finished
Finished	Finished
Finished	Finished
Finished	Finished