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Hemingway's Pilar by General Nuisance

GeneralNuisance

GeneralNuisance

Joined
Feb 23, 2026
Messages
19
Points
48

Pilar Box.jpeg

I really sat for some time debating this one but finally settled on getting it as the part of my mind that wants to justify spending the money suggested I just sell it to a local bookstore that has a Hemingway display (I'm in Michigan so we have dozens of stores like this) and if no one's interested, well I guess I just get to keep it or donate it... what a terrible loss lol.
 
GGibson said:
Have this Pilar on my shelf, GN! I've been watching Grex and his build. Looking forward to watching your Pilar, as well. Y'all may convince me to pull mine off the shelf quicker than anticipated. Thumbsup
Click to expand...
Honestly it’s competing for my attention with my Endurance build. I had planned to wait but this thing is just so pretty.
 
I struggled with numbers also, they should change the font at least. If you read through my build you see a few mistakes i made and noted it might help you avoid them. The latest mistakes i made were because the kit doesn’t have them included.
1. There’s a bell hanging under the roof near the cabin door. I didn’t realize till after I built the roof. I’ll try and get one mounted if I can.
2. The a kit doesn’t show/have the side bumpers on the hull, they are obviously there on the real boat so I’m adding them.
 
A few modifications in mind as I look ahead, thanks Grex110 for the suggestions and inspiration:
  1. Add bell above the cabin door
  2. Add side bumpers/gunwhales on hull
  3. Fabricate my own mast
  4. Add grooves and indentations on deck beneath chair where engine compartment rests on actual boat
  5. Add trim along outer cabin hull
  6. Make seat cushions out of hunter green leather or other material
  7. Add lighting to inner hull so there will be some glow from the lower windows.
Undoubtedly more things will come along as I go
 
These are pictures that Patrick Matthews has in his build log:

A page from one of Wheeler Yachts' first brochures highlighting the Wheeler 38.

235b-brochure.JPG​

In this picture from Bimini, you can see the front cabin area in Hemingway's boat.

239c-pilarBimini.jpg​

Although the exact year of the change is unknown, at some point Hemingway had the front cabin area remodeled and the roof extended, presumably to allow for more bunk space underneath for he and his guests on longer voyages. This is what you now see with the boat displayed in Cuba.

I love how Patrick Matthews made this front cabin area look on his RC boat. I am going to attempt this duplication on my Pilar (whenever that is going to be!).

387c-w20200828_172000.jpg​
 
Last edited:
Got the initial sanding done (what? Sure I cheat and use an electric sander but what’s that to you?) now for the start of the planking.
IMG_2417.jpeg

Cat tax included.
 
Interesting GN. Never knew that they cropped an ear. My old Mootsie was semiferal (I guess she was dumped off very young) and wound up on my doorstep. What a character! She died last year at around 18 y/o. A real devil
 
Hey Punchie, I can’t thank you enough for the photos- they’ve solved several questions about the cabin arrangements I’ve been wondering about. The Pilar instructions and so-called instructive photos in the kit from MS is very poor about the cabin set up and if you ask me as a fisherman I kinda know what I would want even in 1938 so I’m improvising. Anyway if you look at photos over time there were modifications and
 
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