This model is being built to the original Lyle Hess lines at a scale of 12"=1' and is 14" long. The model will be painted BCC ivory with dark green wale and boot stripes.
Nov. 29, 06 - Last night I cut out and laminated the backplane for this model. This morning I attached the station frames and deck and glued the sheer and waterline planks onto the model.
Dec. 3, 06 - Yesterday and today I worked on planking this model. This afternoon I finished the planking and am now ready to start fiberglassing the hull. That generally takes three days, so my next update will be around the 7th of December.
Dec. 7, 06 - Since my last update I have fiberglassed the hull and built the rudder. That process takes several dats because I use epoxy, which takes overnight to cure, and I do the hull, deck and transom separately to get sharp corners. The next step is to fill and fair the surface of the model to get it ready for painting. I started that process this afternoon.
Dec. 11, 06 - I am almost finished filling, fairing and priming the model in preparation for painting. Yesterday I put the first coat of primer on the model. This first primer coat serves to highlight flaws in the surfaces, which I spot fill. This morning I applied the first spot filler and will sand and reprime the model this afternoon. I have also cut out and started varnishing the mahogany mounting board. Please note that the mounting board is square, the distortion is from my digital camera.
Dec. 13, 06 - The picture shows the model after the first coat of topsides paint. The mounting board has three coats of varnish. After taking that picture I sanded the mounting board and put the 4th coat of varnish on. Tomorrow I will put the final coat of paint on the topsides. I plan to paint the boot and whale stripes on Saturday and the bottom on Sunday or Monday.
Dec. 15, 06 - I made some significant changes to the mounting board yesterday. As you can see, I cut the board down from 9" wide to 7" wide. I have also put the final ivory paint on the topsides. After I took this picture I cut the propeller aperture into the keel deadwood. Tomorrow I will paint the boot and whale stripes. I plan to paint the bottom on Monday.
Dec. 18, 06 - This model is now nearly finished. Today I painted the bottom. Unfortunately the masking tape putted a bit of paint off the boot stripe resulting in the ragged top edge of that stripe, so I will be repainting the boot stripe tomorrow. The picture shows the mounting board after I sanded it in preparation for the next-to-the-last coat of varnish, which is now drying. I expect to put the final coat of varnish on the board tomorrow.