Request Critique on My Shipyard Build

JohnM · December 2014

Two fairly full days of modeling but not too much visible. The foundation, seen on the left is earth color as stipulated but does not show as such in this photo. The main dock underbody was completed and 67 pieces of decking prepped and stained. Lack of rail is keeping me from putting down deck planks. Micro Engineering themselves would not deal with an order as small as mine - they suggested I did not have a possible solution. Two days of subsequent off & on internet trolling found a Canadian dealer who will sell the rails individually for $.88 each . . . I will have to do my own weathering. Might someone suggest how to do it?

Working around that, I completed the Sales Office dock, though shown here with only the front lattice work being glued in place.

All docks are now complete and all sequential steps in Brett's manual complete to this point - nothing skipped/omitted exclusive of main dock decking when the rail shipment arrives next week.

On to the derrick dock storage shed now while awaiting my big order of rails - need two - bought six . . .

Thank you for looking in.

Respectfully,
John

Karl.A · December 2014

Everything is coming along great John, the view of the dock joists and beams is really nice. Everything is straight and square, construction shots to be proud of.
It's always so satisfying I think to look at things at this stage, just admiring the intricacy.

Looking forward to seeing the derrick dock shed...

Karl.A

JohnM · December 2014

Thanks Karl,

Waiting for the rails - the dock wood is already stained. The derrick storage shed walls & roof are done, awaiting being glued together. The longer walls kept bending after flattening with weights so I added reinforcing pieces on their inside and am waiting for them to cure before glueing them up. I need to build the over door light & shade.

Working on the upper yard storage shed now. Ought to have something to show in two or three days.

Respectfully,
John

JohnM · December 2014

I have been modeling several hours a day for over a week now and as you'll see, not much to show for it. Very slow progress. In essence, both small buildings with illumination. The rails arrived while I was working on the buildings which were in progress and will return to the rails next. Micro Engineering turned me down for rails with no suggested solution because my order was too small. (Debbie?) A couple of additional days on internet located a third party reseller in Canada and I was able to buy a handful of rail and spikes.

While waiting for the rail, I built two over door lamps. Believe it or not, I find it to be almost a days work to make one.

I can't photograph through the microscope so this is the best picture I can get.

Once the derrick shed was complete I took some pictures.

It looks like the roof needs some TLC. To the left of the door I attempted a thermostat but it does not look nice. Any ideas?

And last, the upper storage yard shed.

Now the pieces are starting to stack up a little.

With the rails in hand, the next task is returning to the main dock. All the decking has been colored and the rail cut so that might not be too long a project.

Merry Christmas everybody - I hope each of you received at least one kit to go on your shelf.

Respectfully,
John

Ojaste · December 2014

Boy! Those sheds look really good with the lighting. The heavy weathering shows the abuse that they get.

Marty

MitchN · December 2014

John,

Love the lighting on the out buildings. The scratches on the small shed are jarring. Maybe a little chalk and alcohol to tone them down. The large shed roof looks great.

Best regards,

Mitch

KKarns · December 2014

John, as Marty and Mitch...love the lighting. I'm going to have to a start researching this aspect as it really gives a wonderful look and feel. Nicely done.

I agree with Mitch on the Derrick Dock Storage Shed, not sure what look you were after but the scratches are hard for me to visualize happening. However, your Upper Yard Storage Shed roof looks good and plausible. Be careful making too drastic of intentional construction errors like the spacing of the tarpaper. Subtile spacing irregularities look great, like a slipped piece that hangs down or slight difference in the spacing between rows, etc.. I assume you were looking at giving the impression that the roof was originally wood shingles (shakes) with the tarpaper covering that and you're showing the tarpaper worn and coming off exposing the wood? If so, your bottom row edge should be under the paper, if I'm thinking it out correctly...which I could be way off. If so, disregard.

Savor the moments John. No sense hurrying through any of this stuff, and nothing unusual about a good build taking a bit of time. Take the cost of one of Brett's kits and divide it by the hours you lovingly put into the build and you'll be shocked at the value you get. Love this stuff don't we....

brownbr · December 2014

The LED's are fiddly, but you will be glad you put them in.

JohnM · December 2014

Thanks Marty . . .

Mitch & Ken, the derrick dock roof looks pretty bad to me also, of course worse to the camera . I shall deal with that & I'm unsure how it came about initially. Ken, I see what you mean about the shingle detail. In retrospect, I probably should have done that effect at the very bottom - mid-roof, I was concerned that doing it visually correct would feed water under the tar paper. Lesson learned.

Thanks Bryan & Ken, yes, I really like the effect that lighting creates. I have been feeding the wires through the .020 tubing prior to bending and that helps a lot. Ngineering's suggestion to bend with the .018 steel wire inserted works but not as well for me as pre wiring.

Today I began the dock. After the long search for track I have used brass track from my son-in-law because it already looks old & weathered. I messed up with a continuous line of epoxy oozing out under the rails so I dusted it with 408.3 while it was wet and that worked well.

I positioned the track end inboard from the dock end and created a rough log bumper. The dock planks are being spaced with a piece of black paper. Many of the other surfaces I have done ended up with the planks tightly adjacent and I definately wanted plank spacing for the dock surface.

A Sunday morning's work.

Respectfully,
John

PaulSmulders · December 2014

Looking nice John, the LED's are adding a really nice effect. Not sure how I'll be lighting the rest of my Shipyard. I wouldn't worry about the epoxy oozing out the bottom of the rails, just wipe as much as you can off, the planks will cover the base of the rail (at least I cann't see the base of the rail on my dock).

Paul

JohnM · December 2014

Thanks Paul. I'm watching your photos every time I get to a new area. Your post today with the earth/water start is great . . .

ohn

Karl.A · December 2014

Continued good progress John, the lights cast a great mood. In your last picture I specifically picked up on the colour variations in your decking boards, really nice.
Keep up the work everything is coming out great.

Karl.A

JohnM · January 2015

Thanks Karl. I have been engaged with planking on the big dock for a week, only getting a small number of planks/day with my present technique.
John

JohnM · January 2015

Thanks, Karl. I got a little bogged down on the main dock - my technique didn't allow for many planks at a time. Today I got the final decking in place. The dock is still attached to a half inch glass plate until I ascertain the reasonableness of un-mounting it.

I got a little creative and fore shortened the track a little to be able to place end of track bumpers - or whatever they are called. I still need to deal with the dock edge planks and study the peculiar color along the track base. I don't think I see that by eye. I also want to look back through some of your other threads and see how to put an oily smudge between the tracks.

Additionally, I am at the early stages on one of Bob Hunt's admiralty style plank on frame models at 3/8 scale.

A bit of touching up, the two small buildings are complete so on to the open sided saw shed tomorrow.

John

MitchN · January 2015

John,

I was wondering where you have been. I see you dabble in ships too.

The coloring of the dock looks good.

I would make a suggestion on the track though. It looks like the rail has not been weathered like the rest of the project. At least that's the way it looks in the last picture. A suggestion if its physically possible. Mask off the wood on each side of the rails and carefully paint the rails a rusty brown or some other color that suits your eye without painting the wood you have so carefully weathered and assembled. If you do not think you can do this without painting the wood too then do not try it. Sitting here I do not know if there is enough room to do it and how steady your hand is. If there is not room to do it then its no big deal because everyone will be looking at all the other work you have done on the model.

Best regards,

Mitch

James · January 2015

very nice work - the LED lights as you've down is the way to go. I've only done a couple but once the fussy business of the hoods and conduits (gooseneck etc.) is dealt with the LEDs are very easy to wire and in theory should last for decades (which is a good thing as changing one of them could be a major headache).

Karl.A · January 2015

Great looking progress John, the deck/dock boards look superb, great variation but nothing too harsh. Love the light/dark tones you have. Really looks great.

Karl.A

JohnM · January 2015

Mitch, I have a very tiny tip brush and will attempt to follow your advice. If I begin with only a very small run it won't get me in trouble should it go astray. Good comment - thank you . . .

James, thanks for commenting on the LED's. As with you, I feel like it really adds a great deal to the overall effect. I like Paul's illumination over the table saw and intend to profit from his experience. Version 2.0 always gains from the experience of Version 1.0. That shed looks to be my next assignment . . .

Karl, thank you for your color comment. I do like the variation myself, which is unusual. I hoped to have a difference from the buildings. Today I repaired the dock plank ends and separated the deck from my glass plate. On to the saw shed next!

Thanks again everyone for looking in and taking the time to comment . . .

Respectfully,
John

KCSTrains · January 2015

John, great progress. I may have to come to Seattle to get a lesson on LED lighting. It looks difficult. Phil

JohnM · January 2015

Your visit would occasion a trip to the Wooly Toad, Phil. The lighting is a non event. You could come up to speed in minutes, given the right explanation.
Respectfully,
John

KCSTrains · February 2015

John, I'll let you know. Phil

PaulSmulders · February 2015

Nice progress John, looking forward to your start on the ship. Paul

JohnM · February 2015

Paul, thanks for looking in. I have been absent since completing the main dock getting a second project underway - actually a plank on frame admiralty style build at 1:48 - the PATRICK HENRY. Within the week its frames should be at a stage where I'll begin to split my time and become traditionally active here. Now to look in on your work with anticipation!
Respectfully,
John

GregInOz · May 2015

G'day John, I have really enjoyed your photos, I hope you don't mind but I have saved them to my computer as a colour to aim for, I prefer the newer better cared for look to wooden structures. Thanks a lot. Greg in Australia.

Bill · May 2015

I'm glad Greg bumped this thread up to the top. Any progress to report on your Shipyard, John?

bbrockel · May 2015

John, great work on both the Sierra build and Bob Hunt's POF build. I'm working on a cross section of the Triton and anxiously awaiting my Sierra West Shipyard kit to arrive.

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Request Critique on My Shipyard Build

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