Stuart
Superb stuff. The deck looks to me as if an army of Matelots has been scrubbing and holystoning. See what you mean about the staircases.

Regards

Andy

I attempted tp photograph the 'figurehead' area as best I could if it's any help... noticed after I looked at the pictures on the computer that the bits the anchors rest on have a lions face on the ends!

Well Mick!

What can I say?
I don't know whether to kiss you or kill you!!!!!!

Thanks so much - it was one of the areas I was having to guess at. I'm REALLY looking forward to reproducing that lot - you didn't notice what colour the lion's eyes were did you?

All the best

Stuart

Hi PDs!

Well today I completed a job that ALWAYS takes forever on any model of a large vessel - the handrails. I have fitted them all and now just have to sand the capping strips and paint all of the stanchions and horizontals.
It has not been easy and, I have to admit there are one or two that despite my best efforts look just a little  'off' BUT I have decided that on her last voyage Connaught experienced the full savagery of the Irish Sea - and they got bent - so there!
Next up - I really suppose I should tackle the bow detail!

All the best

Stuart

It's amazing what a difference the stanchions and handrails make....

You have just one or two that are a little off, I'm lucky if I get one or two that are right!

Eddy

This may sound a little sad but i really enjoy doing the railings ...when they go in straight lines ...curves and bends .. Nightmare!!!
Well done Stuart a cracking job!
Kim

...."experienced the full savagery of the Irish Sea" ...it is so true Stuart..... ....thirty odd years ago....the Iron Somersby [Harland & Wollfe Belfast] sailed to OZ for her first 100,000 of iron ore from Pt Headland for Kembla.....however she suffered a cyclone of Pt Headland

By the time she reached Kembla hundreds of meters of hand rail & hydraulic deck piping were in shreads

The power of the sea  .......Derek

As always quality,  she is really coming alive now the details are appearing.    have one on me.

Thanks for the great comments Guys! 

I've spent most of today painting all the handrails black - boring!

more soon

all the best

Stuart

Hi PDs!

I have at last finished painting the railings ! I've spent the rest of the day cleaning and dusting Connaught in preparation for more of the detail work. One job to do is to make use of Kim's (Talisman's) photoetching service and get a fret made of all the filigree work on the bow and stern. I have made a start on the Anchor Bitts and have even worked out how to reproduce the Lions heads (more later).
Having now got to what I consider the turning point where Connaught has started to become a miniature model ship rather than just a ship model I thought it would be nice to take a series of photos (in no particular order) to try and capture what I hope is the character of the vessel.  Apologies for the lack of photography technique - I hope you like the shots. This may seem immodest and if it does I apologise but I really am chuffed with the way she is turning out and I'd like to thank you all for your encouragement, information and interest through the build.

All the best

Stuart

Quote from: Stuart Badger on March 17, 2010, 02:35:42 AM
Hi PDs!
This may seem immodest and if it does I apologise but I really am chuffed with the way she is turning out

Stuart
I don't see how you could possibly try to be modest about an achievement like this. She is a thing of beauty from stem to stern. I like the photography too.

Regards

Andy

She is absolutely stunning, Stuart....fantastic work.
neil.

She is indeed magnificent!!

Andy, your one extremely lucky man to be owning her, and I'm as jealous as hell 

Regards
Eddy

simply beautiful
 

Quote from: Eddy Matthews on March 17, 2010, 04:56:46 AM
She is indeed magnificent!!

Andy, your one extremely lucky man to be owning her, and I'm as jealous as hell 

Regards
Eddy

Ahhhhhhhhh! The cat is out of the bag! I'm still trying to come to terms with this Eddy.

The more I see of this build the more terrified I become of the responsibility of becoming custodian of a true masterpiece of paddle steamer modelling. It's a bit like being a third rate Knight of the Round Table, bumping into Merlin one day and hearing him say " Oh by the way we would like you to look after the Holy Grail"!!!!

On the other hand I can just picture her sailing with the Maid of the Loch in the background, perhaps with Lachie Stewart's Caledonia or KG V in formation. An historical contradiction I know but  Stuart will approve as I sent him the attached computer generated pic by email and received a positive response.


http://www.paddleducks.co.uk/smf/gallery/3/1550-160310195139.jpeg

Andy