Happy Birthday Ken!
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Royal Louis - Mamoli
- Thread starter Ken
- Start date
- Watchers 26
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- Tags
- mamoli royal louis
Happy Birthday, Ken ! 
- Joined
- Dec 16, 2016
- Messages
- 1,241
- Points
- 493
Hello all, thanks for joining me and for your likes and comments.
Following a good session refining the hull I’ve decided on a natural wood finish.
First I gave the hull a good sanding after which I rubbed some coloured wood filler into all the seams, I did this just using my fingers so as not to build up any filler that would later need sanding off. When dry I gave it a light sanding to clean the surface off in prep for staining. I used a spirit wood stain, light teak, this gave it a nice warm tone that I liked. I left it to fully dry overnight then this morning I brushed on some sanding sealer which I’ll need to sand smooth prior to putting on a coat of satin poly. I like the look, it was what I was aiming for The planking isn’t how some of the more dedicated modellers may have done but I’m happy with the result,
After sanding
After the stain and sanding sealer
Following a good session refining the hull I’ve decided on a natural wood finish.
First I gave the hull a good sanding after which I rubbed some coloured wood filler into all the seams, I did this just using my fingers so as not to build up any filler that would later need sanding off. When dry I gave it a light sanding to clean the surface off in prep for staining. I used a spirit wood stain, light teak, this gave it a nice warm tone that I liked. I left it to fully dry overnight then this morning I brushed on some sanding sealer which I’ll need to sand smooth prior to putting on a coat of satin poly. I like the look, it was what I was aiming for The planking isn’t how some of the more dedicated modellers may have done but I’m happy with the result,
After sanding
After the stain and sanding sealer
- Joined
- Dec 16, 2016
- Messages
- 1,241
- Points
- 493
Hi Gilbert, whilst it’s not expected it’s always nice to get a compliment, so thanks.
It looks tremendous, Ken. Lots of color!
- Joined
- Dec 16, 2016
- Messages
- 1,241
- Points
- 493
Hi Ragner. I hope that you enjoyed your build as much as I am and that your memories are mostly good ones. Thanks for your commenting on my effort.
- Joined
- Dec 16, 2016
- Messages
- 1,241
- Points
- 493
Hi Kurt. Thanks for your approval. I did mention that I was going for lots of colour on Louis and not a realistic version of the actual ship. I’ve not done this on any previous models, I have in mind a particular scheme, it’s going to be a bit bright but hopefully not over the top or bling. Ken
Good morning Ken. A very belated Happy Birthday. Man she is looking good. Kudos. Cheers Grant
- Joined
- Dec 16, 2016
- Messages
- 1,241
- Points
- 493
I've just re posted these updates as I seem to have got confused ( age ) and had posted it on another build log ( Wotjass ). I hope that it makes sense.
Good morning, and again thanks for your likes and comments.
I’ve been quite busy working away on the model, I’m wondering where the hours spent have gone as the progress doesn’t seem to reflect the time that I’ve spent on it.
I’ve made up and fitted the rudder, it’s ply sheathed with walnut strip, the hinges are cast and I think are quite nice. I messed up and needed to make a second one. I made up and fitted the forward facia with the provided cast doors. I made and fitted the platform on the foredeck with the vents and capstan, I did this three times! The first time over the plan but when it came to fitting it the cut out in the ply decking was too large for the platform, it just fell through. I made the second using a different shade of strip which when in place looked at odds with the deck planking, I made sure that I got it right a third time. I made up and fitted the gratings, hatches and ladders for the main deck I made sure that I got them right this time. I cut out the upper deck gun ports and finished off the wall heights. During this I also started painting some of the surfaces, I think that you’ll get the idea of my colour scheme. More next time.
Hello. An update on my progress with yet more time consuming re-does.
I made up and painted the grating section for the mid upper deck which included a hatchway for a set of stairs, I’ve just loosely fitted it at the moment. There should have been six gratings but there was only enough parts to make up five, I made the length up by adding a small raised deck at the front.
The re-do took both time and effort it was a spur of the moment decision that could have become a bit of a disaster. I decided that the lower hull somehow didn’t look right, it looked too rich a colour, a reddish mahogany which may have looked good on a piece of furniture but didn’t suit a ship, why did I think it would look ok, I’m just making too many mistakes at the moment. I’d used a penetrating spirit stain which went right into the wood, on top of that I’d applied a coat of sanding sealer so it wasn’t going to be easy to change. I spent a few hours sanding the hull back to as near bare wood as I could get, I couldn’t get all of the colour out so decided on a darker stain, American walnut. I used a water based stain this time, one that I hadn’t used before it wasn’t a great success. It went on a bit like paint, it didn’t really penetrate the wood except in the grain and dried blotchy, leaving me with no choice but to sand it back again, a complete waste of a day and I was now officially worried, had I ruined the hull and was it retrievable. For my next try I used my favourite spirit dye, this time Teak and to my surprise it gave a very acceptable finish, with the residue of the other stains still effecting the wood grain it gave a sort of old weathered look but still with a hint of richness to the wood, I was both pleased and relieved at the outcome. It was a get out of jail moment, I hope there aren’t many more for this build.
I haven't photographed the finish yet, just the sanded hull.
Good morning, and again thanks for your likes and comments.
I’ve been quite busy working away on the model, I’m wondering where the hours spent have gone as the progress doesn’t seem to reflect the time that I’ve spent on it.
I’ve made up and fitted the rudder, it’s ply sheathed with walnut strip, the hinges are cast and I think are quite nice. I messed up and needed to make a second one. I made up and fitted the forward facia with the provided cast doors. I made and fitted the platform on the foredeck with the vents and capstan, I did this three times! The first time over the plan but when it came to fitting it the cut out in the ply decking was too large for the platform, it just fell through. I made the second using a different shade of strip which when in place looked at odds with the deck planking, I made sure that I got it right a third time. I made up and fitted the gratings, hatches and ladders for the main deck I made sure that I got them right this time. I cut out the upper deck gun ports and finished off the wall heights. During this I also started painting some of the surfaces, I think that you’ll get the idea of my colour scheme. More next time.
Hello. An update on my progress with yet more time consuming re-does.
I made up and painted the grating section for the mid upper deck which included a hatchway for a set of stairs, I’ve just loosely fitted it at the moment. There should have been six gratings but there was only enough parts to make up five, I made the length up by adding a small raised deck at the front.
The re-do took both time and effort it was a spur of the moment decision that could have become a bit of a disaster. I decided that the lower hull somehow didn’t look right, it looked too rich a colour, a reddish mahogany which may have looked good on a piece of furniture but didn’t suit a ship, why did I think it would look ok, I’m just making too many mistakes at the moment. I’d used a penetrating spirit stain which went right into the wood, on top of that I’d applied a coat of sanding sealer so it wasn’t going to be easy to change. I spent a few hours sanding the hull back to as near bare wood as I could get, I couldn’t get all of the colour out so decided on a darker stain, American walnut. I used a water based stain this time, one that I hadn’t used before it wasn’t a great success. It went on a bit like paint, it didn’t really penetrate the wood except in the grain and dried blotchy, leaving me with no choice but to sand it back again, a complete waste of a day and I was now officially worried, had I ruined the hull and was it retrievable. For my next try I used my favourite spirit dye, this time Teak and to my surprise it gave a very acceptable finish, with the residue of the other stains still effecting the wood grain it gave a sort of old weathered look but still with a hint of richness to the wood, I was both pleased and relieved at the outcome. It was a get out of jail moment, I hope there aren’t many more for this build.
I haven't photographed the finish yet, just the sanded hull.
Loopks better, Ken. More brown, less red. I'll bet changing that color was a lot of work. Stains don't like changing.
- Joined
- Dec 16, 2016
- Messages
- 1,241
- Points
- 493
Hi Kurt. Yes a lot of work but it was worth it. It actually looks better than in the pictures. The planks are now all the same shade and the darker aged look disguises the not so perfect tapering at the bow. I doubt that I could repeat this look if I tried, sometimes luck plays a part.
- Joined
- Dec 16, 2016
- Messages
- 1,241
- Points
- 493
Good morning and once again thanks for taking an interest in my build and for your likes and comments.
Another small update, this time the completion and fitting of the two companionways. These were made up from several pieces of castings which were quite reasonable, I doubt that I could have made them myself to look as good.
I’m also showing you a close up of the finish that I ended up with on the hull, I’m sure that you’ll understand why I was so pleased with the result,
Another small update, this time the completion and fitting of the two companionways. These were made up from several pieces of castings which were quite reasonable, I doubt that I could have made them myself to look as good.
I’m also showing you a close up of the finish that I ended up with on the hull, I’m sure that you’ll understand why I was so pleased with the result,
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Wow. Those railings are nice.