Since the last time posting I was at it almost daily but despite my best efforts had very little to show for. However I managed to tackle the inside fo'c's'le bulwark and prepared to openings for the fairleads I did over year ago. In the attempt to achieve a higher degree of an accuracy I keep going back to make adjustments and corrections. I managed to install the aft bridgedeck super structure and glue in next deck level. The sidewalls took some time to paint (still having problems with white paint and required a lot of sanding and redoing). Meanwhile I experimented with building the Anchor chain guide ways. I had to cut individiual supports and glue into the centreline. But eventually I succeeded. I may have to redo some of them as they deformed after glueing and the long guide way from the anchor spill develops a bow not intended. Hope this even itself out once glued to the deck. Although I made up some anchor spills, I tried to replicate the notched grove to fit the chain, I may just redo them again to improve on the appearance. The picture shows them in its raw condition and unpainted.
I have enclosed a few pics to illustrate my story and hope you enjoy reading about my trials and tribulation.
I need to mention that I spent a few weeks in Germany with stays in Hamburg (obligatory visit at the IMM) Berlin, Prag and Dortmund to attend the Inter Modellbau in April. Interesting but I was disappointed about the ships model segment being a bit sparse. Lots of Model rail and R/C trucks.

What ChrisF said. I also would tape it around a dowel or anything fitting the intended bend when drying.

I have known about sacraficial Zinc Anodes be used on parts of vessels around the vicinity of the propeller as the slow process of electrolyse develops between 2 different metals (steel of the hull and bronze of the propeller). Over time they will be eaten away and have to be replaced to prevent deterioration of the propeller. Somebody with the knowledge of chemical galvanization processes would be better capable of explaining it in detail.
Placing copper sheathing on the wooden hull is a different matter and helps keeping mussels and algae attaching itself to the hull.

Sorry Pat I have to correct you on the description of the Alexander von Humboldt. Your original picture shows the first AvH which was decommissioned around 2014 and with its masts removed converted into a Hotel and Restaurant vessel. Your description however describes its replacement the AvH II which was built as you stated in 2011 but has a different hull design without the extended aft to midships superstructure.

Very nice job. It has a distinct 60's look with the turquoise deck. The burgee looks like Swedish flag. Is that because of the Scandinavian heritage of Prince Rupert immigrants?

I would agree with Alessandro on his choices for 2. - 4.
1. I would speculate is the Dar Mlodziezy Polish Flag

Although I did not have a sea-faring career I spent my working life in Ship chartering and shipping project management. As such I had extensive exposure to travel to many parts, some quite exotic, in the world.
My choice of favourable ports/destinations:
Lulea, Sweden - as an apprentice taking the 3 year program for Shipbroker and owner
with a Hamburg Ship Owner we had the opportunity to take a trip on one of our vessels.
I took a round trip from Kiel-Canal to Lulea, Skelefteahamn and Gavle. I loved the Swedish ports and the natural beauty of the Swedish coast line just south of the polar circle.
London - I had many stays in London, the historic buildings and sites and enjoyed visiting the Baltic Exchange, its culture and had the chance to have Lunch there a few times.
Rio de Janeiro - got a bit of a sunburn on Ipanema Beach the morning arriving on an overnight flight from Europe after spending some unexpected delays and travel re-bookings in snow-bound Poland. Had an afternoon of watching a football game at the old Maracana Stadium.
Jeddah - In the late 70's spend a fair amount in Saudi Arabia, operating out of Damman
but travel by plane and car to Riyadh and Jeddah. The old architecture in those early days was straight out of a National Geographic magazine and up the coast to Yenbo gave someone the sense what it probably looked like for the last 1000 years.
Iquitos - Peru. Being only accessible by plane or boat, some of the sites are historically milestones as it went through a very prosperous period during the height of the rubber
boom. A building by Eiffel being the most renowned. On my first visit there we had to fly by float plane to meet the M/V Yacu Wayo (formerly a Horn Line Vsl) at the joint
border of Peru/Columbia and Brazil. Ended up staying in a small hotel on the banks of the Amazon in Benjamin Constant. On a later trip and a different project I had to attend the barge transport from Iquitos (transfer from oceangoing vessel to barges) going up river the Rio Napo into the Amazon forest to the foothills east of the Andes into Ecuador at abt 3knots/hr. Quite the experience without A/C or fresh water.
Aqaba, Jordan - At the height of the Iran/Iraq war in the 80's I had to baby sit a cargo of Ambulances from Canada to Iraq with implication of getting a berth with over 100 ships waiting in the roads for discharge with most cargoes diverted from War bound ports in the Persian Gulf and having the company from Germans being there looking after their companies interests. We even managed to find a friendly restaurant which would make Sauerbraten with Rotkohl for our group. Having to sit around days we took a taxi from there one day to visit Petra. Amazing site.

I could add more but than we are getting less unusual destinations in South America, North Africa, Middle East or Hongkong

Too bad it didn't have a function for the decks boy to clean up the mess on the deck....

No serious, this is an incredible and amazing job. The detail is just out of this world.

beautiful work Alessandro. They are a piece of art all by themselves.

Doesn't look like the Bugsier 3. Again, I find there are quite a few, what looks like to me, fantacy models floating around.

https://www.loyalhannadockyard.com/GRAUPBUGSIER3.htm

Ich gratuliere und meine besten Glückwünsche und viel Spass auf Helgoland.

Your explanations make very much sense. Just make sure the outboard boats are secured safely to the davits if there is a chance they dip into the water when the boat is listing.

Fantastic work Alessandro. Do I understand you right that after all that great detail work on the interior of the boats you will leave them covered up for no one to see?

Looks to me more of a phantasy model rather than an accurate scale model. The hull and hatch configuration appears to be an approx 2-3000 tdw vessel. The superstructure with 4 decks would be too large for that size. Also suspiciously it lacks lifeboats. The funnel insignia is similar like those of Peter Doehle in Hamburg. Some fittings on deck like pollers are too small in comparison. Have a look at a brochure from PD showing an earlier Bulk carrier with a bucket self unloading system. Could be the builder using the original from a photo as inspiration rather than true scale model.

https://www.doehle.de/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Doehle-Goup-Image-Brochure.pdf

In my exercise in model build learning, experimenting with ideas and realizing it won't work, discovering what works and what doesn't, my patience and endurance gets tested to the limit. In that context and with the inspiration of Alessandro's post about lifeboats, I dared to try again, with new ideas, and renewed my attempt to come up with a way to create the lifeboats in the shape I wanted. I cut out the 'blanks" for the 2 halves and rough shaped them on the sander and refined by hand with sand paper and files. The first attempt seems it is working.
As so often I will put aside one object when I am not happy with the result and go to something else only to go back days later when I have 'recovered' from my 'defeat' and recharged with new ideas.
This what happened the last few days. I see the way forward for the lifeboats clear in my mind and went back to my attempt to fit the handrails (cause of much frustration) for the poop deck superstructure. I am now satisfied I have found the workable solution

In my time in commercial shipping I often witnessed cargo officers after finishing loading operation would hoist using ships gear a piece of equipment (forklift/bulldozer etc) sitting on the pier and thus calculate the ship's stability at how quickly the vessel would right itself. He then would call the vessel either tender (higher point of Meta center) or stiff (lower point of M...)

Yes Alessandro, the boats will only be 53.3mm long. I planned to make it from 2 half's of bass wood (Linde) pre-shaped with a .5mm centreline frame of styrene glued together and then shaped with a fine rasp and sand paper to what it should be based on my best rendition of what they looked like.

Yes Alessandro, the boats will only be 53.3mm long. I planned to make it from 2 half's of bass wood (Linde) pre-shaped with a .5mm centreline frame of styrene glued together and then shaped with a fine rasp and sand paper to what it should be based on my best rendition of that they looked like.

Alessandro, I have enclosed photos of the lifeboats on the GA Plan with shape and dimensions. I may be able to visit Hamburg in the next few month and plan my usual trip to the IMM for some close up shots of the lifeboats I am looking for.

I don't know what's happening on edit when I added some text it was not accepted:
I have a general idea of the shape of those boats but would prefer to have line drawings if I can find them. Dimensions I have from the original GA plans.

Thank you very much Alessandro.
You are of course right as to the open boat type in those days. I am quite familiar with the photos of the Esso Deutschland by Auke Visser and they have been a standard reference as I progress in the built.
I have attached 3 pictures of the professional built model in 1:100 by Christel Stuehrmann in Hamburg from 1963, which was exhibited in the Maritime section of the Deutsche Museum in Munich but for the purpose of reorganizing the entire section has been removed. Sadly, as you can see, it is in a deterioated state.
You may also have a look at the web site

https://modellreederei.de/Modellbauer/Firma-Christel-Stuehrmann,-Hamburg/

I like your attention to detail and the final product shows its quality.
On a separate post, you describe the different styles of work/life boats over the past centuries. Unfortunately it does not let me respond with my question, so I am posting it here. I am looking for my project of pictures/drawings of the typical lifeboats used on commercial ships from the 1960's. Did you come across in your research any you may remember? Any links are appreciated.

I had to have a cancerous kidney removed. Surgeon is confident he got it all and I should be able to finish the model 🤔 which requires at least another 5 years.

I have seen Krylon in the stores and certainly will give it a try. I have to give it a rest for a few days as I have to into surgery tomorrow.

Thank you Alessandro.
Having advanced to the first Deck structure I had already cut out the deck material from Arborite. For you Modellers a very unusual choice but I like its finish, hardness
and virtually indestructibity. When I did the back (foc'sal), midships, main and poop (aft) decks the Tamiya paint, I had chosen for colour preference, not adhering and easily chipping off. I then painted all decks with standard Hardware shop spray paint first and second the Tamiya on top which worked great.
I tried the same when finishing the styrene deck walls for the first deck (white) but noticed the regular spray paint seems to react with the styrene giving it a rubbery feel
and in some places. After sanding it and reapplying I wasn't at all satisfied with the result. As I couldn't get Tamiya white in the rattle can bought Revell acrylic with disastrous effect. The paint's texture seem to become mottled although I had sanded all surfaces. Does anybody have any experience with painting Styrene. I also can't find Tamiya white at my local stores and I am not sure using the Revell. I could resand everything and try the Revell again since I already have otherwise I need to find Tamiya
somewhere else around town.

Since my Summer break, I have been working on the aft superstructure. Before I can proceed I have to finalize the porthole. I was unable to find anything I could use on the model supply market suitable as the port holes on the original are flush with the hull and just the window recession. To simulate I thought to drill the holes in the 1mm siding with the acrylic glued in place. This imposed problems as I found out as there is not much space to properly place the acrylic and secure in place. Next option was to construct port holes from alu tubing, filed and sanded to 1mm thickness. I used a tool to cut 3mm holes in leather belts to cut out the acrylic windows which I superglued to the back of the port hole frames. As some drill holes were not quite properly aligned, I had to drill them I bit larger to adjust position and for that expanded the porthole frames with a larger ring of aluminum tubing into which the smaller ring with the acrylic window would fit. A tedious operation with many duds redoing numerous pieces. I had to strengthen some of the siding when the larger port holes didn't leave much material in between. After many attempts, failures and frustration I managed to get them to the point I was finally able to move on to the next stage.
More to come shortly

Thanks for all your replies. It doesn't leave many options unless I can find one maybe second hand in Canada.

Metal lathe is one thing on my wish list for my building project. These Myford lathes look beautiful but too cumbersome for limited space and maybe a bit over the top for my needs for doing small scale fittings. My brother used to have an Emco back in the fifties which was also nice to work with. I wonder if some of the cheaper Chinese made 12 volt table models would be useful for mostly use of Aluminum for material.

What an amazing trip this is going to be. I am envious. Take lots of picture's.👍

Wow,😋 a flashback from the 60's. Opel Caravan?