It's almost finished but it's already beautiful.

Bot nad Jump👍Bot nad at all😍
Safe journey and don't forget the travel report and pics.
(We'll need 'em to check your expenses Admiral😁😂)
Bon voyage.
FLEET.😎
PS If my memory serves me; Pacific Trader was one of the 'baddie' ships in the Australian TV series 'Sea Patrol'.

Just before getting on the road…here’s my C-2 freighter “Pacific Trader” so far. Winches and more railings are next.
😉

Jealous! I was a caddie for 11 years and as a result an obsessive player. Never got my handicap below 8, but the first time I broke 80 was one of the happiest days of my life.
Sadly drifted away from the game to chase skirts. But, never forgot my old looping days.
😉

More ships and golf and ships and just golf ⛳️

Staying at a BnB along the northern shore of the St. Lawrence River we are seeing various vessels plying the waters. This morning were these two heading towards the mouth of the river.

Thought of your freighter, though not the same design .

These are AWESOME Ronald! I like that they are riding high!!!
Thanks so much for posting them.
😊👍

BTW: This one may end up on my "bucket list" someday...
https://www.dumasproducts.com/?product=great-lakes-freighter-kit-1264

Staying at a BnB along the northern shore of the St. Lawrence River we are seeing various vessels plying the waters. This morning were these two heading towards the mouth of the river.

Thought of your freighter, though not the same design .

I have used auto pin striping and even that can be tricky.
In relation to having photos printed in magazines, I have been lucky to sell quite a few to yachting magazines both in Australia and South America, mainly to do with the Etchell class. It is amazing to see the difference in quality between different productions. All about the almighty dollar.

Just a quick note while she rests in the shop for the small stuff. The optics between my iphone, the pool water, and the bright sun have skewed my waterline in the previous photos. I can assure you all that I wasn't tipsy when I applied the tape!
🤣

She’s a beauty Roy! Excellent!!!

And agree on the model magazine printing and mass produced printing in general. Maybe poor quality is the reason it’s going the way of the dodo. They just aren’t putting in the effort.

re post 223, I have at last got my Fairwind picture up-loaded. This picture got onto the magazine front cover without anyone noticing the floppy stanchion wire!
This was the review article for the kit, I had to give it back afterwards and just received money per page of the article.
However back then the magazine pictures were printed on glossy paper and looked good.
Todays magazine pictures look so dull, maybe it is cheaper and maybe we would not buy the magazines if printed nicely, due to cost.

Good old days are gradually going.
Roy

Hi Commodore, when sticking anything to a smooth surface I give the surface a quick rub down with Methylated spirits, the mauve stuff in a bottle.
Roy

Hi Jump me too with the small blocks. I use a needle threader, a fine wire loop that goes through the block and opens out to take a fine rigging wire or thread back through the hole.
Works a treat.
Roy

Good decision, a touch of weathering here and there is enough.

Putting on tiny details can be problematic. Nothing messes up a nice model like glue “ squeeze out” around small parts. I’ve seen it so many times. You put what you think is a small dab of glue, place the part and the glues squeezes out making a mess that impossible to correct. When possible I prefer to use double face tape. You need to get good tape. The good stuff is really thin and sticks “like crazy”. There are a lot of good products out there. My aged, elderly, old hands, are not as steady as they once were either. Neither are my eyes so sharp. Good lighting is critical. I often use forceps. Peel off one side of the tape stick to the part and trim carefully. You have only one chance to get this right. The first placement is strong if you move the part around it is not as good. If you feel you are not steady take the time to set up some blocks to steady yourself. You can practice placing the part before you peel the second side with tip of hobby knife. Don’t touch the sticky surface.

Commodore! Actually, I've developed quite an affection for this gal and I will go easy on the weathering. Maybe just a little that would signify one or two voyages.
😉

I will go high gloss beauty on the big Chris Craft and the Bluebird K-7. Yachts and Hydroplanes should always look pristine!
👍

I will seriously consider smoke, but will probs pass on the sounds and lights. Just starting to add the chocks and bits and things...just very uneasy about the rigging. Both my hands are slightly arthritic and super small blocks have caused me a bunch of aggravation. We'll see.
🤔

I don't think this model needs any rust. I like my models to look shiny crisp and new. I model my ships as though they just came out of the shipyard.
A smoke machine might be a nice touch. It's easy to do, just buy one and hook it up.
I often ponder what operating features my boats should have I like a few lights, not lit up like a Christmas tree. It's easy to buy stuff like sound machines but do I need this thing to make lots of noise or is a quiet boat OK?
🤔

ARRGGG Doug,
Yep Screech is NOW made in Jamaica, but it did not use to be. Until around 1960-70 it was made in house. AND it was not 80 proof, just a tad more, Something like Sunset, made in St Vincent 180 proof. I think there is an entire story about how the name came about, something about a USN Admiral at the start of WW2.
Either way, Jump needs to learn his rums if he is going to skipper some tramp steamer...🤣🤣🤣🤣
Even if he does build a nice lookin' tramp.

Hi Commodore TD,
Actually I've been to Newfoundland several times.
Contract negotiations with Park Air Engineering at St Johns airport.
Tried all 3 varieties of Screech. Very nice, but doesn't it actually come from Jamaica?
Very difficult to find here in Germany☹️
There's a similar dark rum here, Pott 40 or 50 proof made in Austria, which is fine for making my Cuba libres.
But my favourite is Bacardi Gold (Carta Oro).😋

Also; Commodore, I shall overlook your impertinence this time you young whipper snapper.
On the grounds that you were probably incapacitated due to having been 'screeched in'.
"Indeed I is, me ol' cock! And long may yer big jib draw!"😉
Hope the cod was fresh🙊😁
BTW "Her prop tip may have actually broken water if she were light loaded."
You're right. On visits to S Korea (Daewoo shipyard) I've often seen super tankers in ballast with nearly half the screw out of the water.
Down the hatch gents, FLEET😎
PS Pott with pineapple is good too JP👍

Jump, Don't listen to that old codger. he may out rank you, but anyone who tips Capt. Morgan's rather than NewFoundland Screech does rank at all🤣🤣🤣
He is right on one point though, she looks really sweet!
Great job. Now comes the fun stuff. (That's what you need the Screech for).
Oh, yea, don't forget her Plimson Marks. Her prop tip may have actually broken water if she were light loaded. Remember those Liberty's that preceeded her😀

Thanks for the kind words Doug!
Myers and pineapple for me!
👍

Hi JP,
Re " I am still a bit high."
Harrumph Mr Vice Admiral😠Once too often to the Cap'n Morgan well?
We'll turn a blind eye this time🙈
and put it down to promotion celebrations!

BTW; ship looks good. Congrats👍
Cheers, FLEET😎

Hi Ron!
Yes, I am still a bit high. The top 3mm of the prop is above the water. When all is said and done and she's under power I may add another bit of weight. At least now I can equally balance fore and aft.
If I ever run up against this issue again I'm going to go bottom/keel heavy and not be too dependent higher up in the hull. You live and learn.
👍

Is the prop well below your visible “water” in the pool? The model is sitting nicely as an unloaded freighter.

Send me a PM regarding your work and the PJ glass house. He was one of many my students covered in our Technological Design class.

Ballast Success at last! I think. Here she is in my boss’s pool again. I feel as if now I can get back to the scale gingerbread bits.

No matter what, she’s not ever going to see a windy day at the lake. But, then again I will be cautious as “still waters run deep.”

I might be psyching myself out about Davy Jones! Pay no attention to the man inside the locker!

😂🤣

PS: For the architecturally curious. The house in the background is a famed Phillip Johnson "glass house." It's known historically as The Wiley House. It was built in 1952 and was his second glass house. I am the property manager and oversee restoration and construction etc. Best retirement job I could have ever asked for.
👍

"think some research is in the offing!"
That is what it is all about. Get cracking!
The units have gotten a bit better than the old Lionel units we use to use....😀

I have no experience with smoking units. But, think some research is in the offing! And there will be rust, tons of rust.
😉

Hello Jump
Yes, a smoking unit wouldn't be bad.
You've really built a nice ship. I'm a little envious.😍😍😍👍👍👍

Jump,
You are doing her proud. Are you going to install a smoke unit in her? That would look really nice. The small Harbor Models unit would fit in your superstructure without issues.
Now about those rust stains....😉

You guys make my day! Thank you for the kind words!!!
😊

Beautiful ship, actually stunning.
It is fantastic on static display but even more so in the water.
It deserves more than one photo though.

Beautiful job. A classic brought back to life.

Thank you TD!!!
And yes picked the ticks are going to be everywhere! Cleaned out a culvert above the cabin last weekend and picked one up on my pants already. So, it’s another year of body checks whenever I am clearing brush and loaded questions to the wife.

“Honey, you got a minute?!”
😉🤣🤣🤣

Jump,
She is looking sweet!
Our Maine winter was messy as well. Our spring consists of rain, rain and more rain. But, on the bright side we have a great crop of Ticks this year.😁😁😁

Ok, another trial fitting before she goes back to the boss's pool for my last (I swear my last) ballast check. I've had to find another part of my shop to mount her against the plans to assist in placement of the scale details...rigging the booms is freaking me out and transporting this gal when the time arrives will be a beast!
Much left to do, but I've been sidetracked of late reopening the cabin.

Either way, I christen her "Pacific Trader" and thank her for keeping me busy during this awful Connecticut winter.
😉

I used some black round section cotton covered elastic about 1mm dia for the stanchion wire on a yacht. It was for a magazine and was the cover picture and the elastic was taught when we first started the photography session and floppy at the end.
My daughter was dating the company photographer (Rolls Royce engines) and he took the photos.
When the magazine was published I could see the floppy line. No one seemed to notice! I should have a photo somewhere.

I use non stretch line for models and where necessary run the line through a piece of beeswax to get rid of the tiny hairs sometimes protruding.

HI I have at last got my floppy elastic photo up.
Roy

"The stretchy black elastic also stretches if it gets wet."
Roy, You are talking about rigging line, yes?😂😂😂

The stretchy black elastic also stretches if it gets wet.
Roy

Dammit! Nightmares abound! 😉

TD,
Re "She is looking really nice ( for a target😁)"
I'm already 'tooling up' my Type 1A U-Boat😉😁

😎

I too learned that the hard way TD🤔
So the rigging and antennas (Antennae?😁) on my Graf Spee and HMS Belfast are unhook-able.

😎

Stretchy black thread is great, BUT, be aware that over a short period it will lose it's elasticity if left stretched. I would suggest being able to unhook/unload any such lines so that they rest in a relaxed condition.
Guess how I know...😊

On my Scout( it was lost in house fire from Lipos) I used stretchy black thread. Used for making bracelets. I had a metal pin hook at end. That way the antennas n such can unhook to take superstructure off. FYI Tnx all

Thanks so much TD. I will give the Heller ones a shot, if they fail me I will come hat in hand! I'm not shy. 😂
😉👍

Jump,
I "inherited" a bunch of BlueJacket metal blocks. They are all too small for my use( 1/48 scale) so if you would like them, you are welcome to them. Most fit 1/16th and 1/96th scale in various sizes. PM me your address and I'll send them out by snail wagon train.😊

Morning H.
I just run a basic 35T brushed motor with a 6 cell Nicad. In this case I pirated most of my electronics from a busted up Kyosho Viper that I stumbled upon; just didn't use the original Kyosho LeMans motor.

I will do the same with my Chris Craft Corvette kit, but will go Lipo with an EDF on my Bluebird K-7 kit. The Bluebird is a dream project that is (for the most part) 3D printed, although an EDF on water may be an exercise in terror. More on those later this year.

When I get the ballast sorted I will test run, before I finish up with the railings and rigging. The problem with the rigging is that the original white metal blocks are absolute crap. So I found an old Heller 1/100 scale Soleil Royal parts box and plan to use all those blocks instead. That's if my eyes hold out!

😂

What battery did you use?

H, sorry to read about your Uncle, but truly appreciate the sentiment and his inspiration to you. Thank you for sharing.
I am sure your uncle would be as gung-ho as we will be for you to sort his old Scout and get her on the water and hopefully the hatches are not battened down too much. Take pictures!

When I got my Scout home I moved a pound of ballast forward from aft.
I will put her on the water again next week and will bring extra ballast to trim her up proper.
Time will tell. 😉👍

I have no doubt that the first mate rigged that line...😂

Funny you should show the Scout. I built one and my uncle who was with me in the Navy built one too. Mine was burned in a house fire. My uncle passed day after 96 birthday may Aunt wants me to take his home when we visit next. I set mine for RC but never got to float it. I don’t think he motorized it. I hope he didn’t glue the access. He taught me to build models when I was 10. One summer I lived at my grandmas n stayed in his old room. He had converted a closet into a workshop. I tried building some kits he left. Didn’t do it well. Those kits would be worth big bucks n his O&R engines too. I was with him at the end. He was breathing on his own n looked like he was ok. Sleeping! He was my inspiration in the hobby, getting me in the Navy ( he was my boss on the ship, I built a model of it for him). He went up ranks in reserves to CWO. He was in middle of building a new $800 old full rig sailing ship. Instructions on a CD not paper threw him. I saw a single mast that took him a month with all the rigging n sails. His gran son will try to finish that ship. Anyway it was funny I was thinking of the Scout n there it was today on this site thanks to all of you who are keeping the hobby alive! My uncle and I a few months ago n our ship. He navigated and I steered it. Fixed the radar n sonar too