More pics for anyone interested. Not far off finishing now. Tacking the rigging line to a thin piece of wire solved any block threading problem.
The worst thing with this kit is the myriad of small bits you have to tack on everywhere. Superglue is fine for some of them, but I prefer good high-tack PVA glue. It gives you time to fiddle.
Now the rigging is done, we are on the final lap. Paddle wheels and rudders and a few other finishing touches and we are done.
As to the rigging, opening the tiny holes up on the tackle blocks is vital. As is.....superglue! And superhuman patience.
I did all the railings by eye. I think you can tell.
Then I found a set of positioning templates in the kit. Not mentioned in the instructions, but shown in the parts list! Grrrrr..
Still we do what we do......that's the trouble with these photo instructions!
I also found that there wasn't quite enough chain. Amazon and some 1.5mm chain sorted that.
Another would-be problem was the braces that pass through from the top deck downwards. Make sure the holes for them are opened up to fit BEFORE you try and force them in. I didn't......
Monday 22 June
5
Finished at last!
And the lights work! The switch is on the deck the other side. I'll disguise it when I feel the need.
Final pictures of the completed model are somewhere above. It fought me to the last.
The paddle cranks were made with a smaller diameter than the dowel for the paddlewheel.
Also the diameter of the supplied brass wire was useless as crank rods. Cut down bolts of the right diameter did the job in the end.
More fiddle-farting and rude words.
Still it looks the business. And the Boss approves. She'd better. She bought me the thing, bless her!
A tough kit for me, but we got there.
A final word to the kit maker, Artenisia Latina. I lost some etchwork parts during the build. Expecting little, I mailed them for replacements. They couldn't have been nicer. All I needed appeared by return of post.
Excellent service.
