Princess Elizabeth build...

[mjt60a]

Looking great Mick.

Thanks, I can just look at it for hours sometimes in wonder at how it grew from a pile of scrap 

[mjt60a]

Well, that all seems OK  
Even with quite a lot of meccano pulleys inside plus the lump of lead, it was still floating (well below the intended water line but I thought that would hold it down...) so I had to hold it down by hand while inspecting the portholes with a miniature flashlight, I didn't stand there for an hour this time but didn't see a drop of water get in!

[mjt60a]

Not very much progress lately - I knew this would be the case as I'm back to work now - but I have built a little bit more of the forward superstructure and sub-deck and started looking into how some of the fittings will be made....
....also had a go at building a windlass/anchor winch for the 'Alumchine' model, which was virtually completed last year (to sailing condition) but still lacked some of the fittings, so with nothing new to show on the Princess Liz, here's what the windlass looks like at the moment (still needs a couple of bits fitted and some more paint!)...

[mjt60a]

If anyone's interested, this is how I made the 'chain pulley'...
cut four discs of styrene sheet as in the picture, glued them together forming a pulley and drilled through the centre to take the shaft. Then filled the 'groove' in the pulley with model filler (milliput is good for this) and using a thin piece of plastic, pressed it into a V-shape. Before it sets, lay the chain into it with the links 'vertical and horizontal' and press it into the filler then remove the chain.
Chances are it won't perfectly line up and the last of the impressions of the horizontal links will fall too far from the first one (or may overlap it a bit) but as it isn't a working model I'll just have that bit right at the bottom of the wheel.
Probably won't see this component very clearly anyhow once the chain is on it!
(oh, by the way, the 'rope pulleys' are actually drawing pins! - I might fill them too and shape them with a suitable piece of tubing to give a more curved surface)

[Stuart Badger]

Nice one Mick!

Stuart

[mjt60a]

After much trial and error and cutting and filing/sanding I finally have something that should work as the front of the superstructure. This was the most difficult part yet as I have no plan to work from and only a vague idea of how it should look, but I'm happy with it now and I'm sure that when painted and planked it'll be fine. Just a few bits t add before painting it 

[Eddy Matthews]

I'll bet that superstructure was fun to make Mick - I can see lots of swearing and cursing going on while that was done!!

Eddy

[mjt60a]

first thing I found out was that the cut-aways where the stairs go are not rectangular but have a curved lower edge, quite a bit higher on the outsides due to the shape of the front wall... that's when I realised nothing about this part would be straightforward!

[mjt60a]

Now it's painted white, it looks pretty good...

[ancoaster78]

Looks better than 'pretty good' to me, looks like a very nice job coming on!! 

[mjt60a]

Not much progress as I was out most of the weekend, started making the sponson decks (at main deck level) front ones are ready to be weathered once the back ones are made (to save on weathering liquid) - which I should do in a minute or two soon as I get off the computer....
Other than that, painted the 'two tone' front wall on the superstructure, also I intend to have the doors open at main deck level (waverley and balmoral always seem to have them open as does just about every photo I've ever seen of a paddler sailing) so some interior detail will be needed and I made a start on painting the internal walls, both these areas need another coat yet, photos when they look presentable 

[mjt60a]

cut out the sponson decks, drew lines (planks) on them and weathered them today, now waiting for them to dry before fitting...

[mjt60a]

...I'm guessing they're wood planked but can't be 100% certain, in this 1st pic (freeze frame from a home video) they are a different, brownish colour compared to the edge of the sponson.....
Second pic shows the actual colour of waverleys deck and is what I try to recreate on a model...

[Talisman]

Looks like a neat job, just out of interest what pen / ink / method did you use to make your lines?
Kim

[mjt60a]

...so, first I poured a cup of tea and keep the tea bag until it cools....
then wipe it all over the deck to stain it brown, then let it dry.
next I make up some very weak black poster paint (ie mostly water) and paint that all over the deck to give a sort of brownish grey colour to it. when it's dry it will be given several coats of sanding sealer before fitting to the model.
It isn't exactly the colour of weathered wood but I prefer it to leaving the wood bare (looks too white to me) or using stain/varnish (ok for a luxury yacht I suppose where the rich owner might have that done on the real vessel)