1805 Virginia Swift by AL

Rob444 said:
I would junk both (or how many there are) smokestacks and use wood dowels. Two thirds of the way up I would use a miter box and cut them at a 30 degree or so bias and then use another piece with the same bias as the top part to produce a bend in the "pipe".
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I ground down a piece of wood sprue and made a first attempt at a smokestack. It broke while sanding. Second attempt is just carving from a piece of wood sprue. My total life experience at carving consists of the bow/stern of this model and this smoke stack. I'll give it some more sanding and maybe paint it to see if it is acceptable. See below.IMG20240216060647.jpgIMG20240216060659.jpg17080962234203292376227964963273.jpg
 
Here's the finished smokestack.
My Bluenose kit is being delivered today.
With all the poop problems I've had with poor and disentegrating materials on this kit, I feel like I m polishing a turd. Having been a remodeling general contractor for years I'm fairly experienced at turd polishing but the luster is soon gone 1708110452675776316014335033622.jpg
 
I'm attempting to make part 102 of the attached photo. I amealed the brass strip but was not able to get the bends tight enough. Right now I'm using a file to thin the brass strip. Any suggestions that might help are appreciated. IMG20240218092402.jpg
 
Although you may at times feel like you're "polishing a turd", the positive spin I put on it is simply to look at all the things you've learned in the process of building this kit. Those skills will come in handy in future builds, and also give you insight into how to approach and navigate other challenges you'll face in assembling other kits. FWIW, I think you're doing just fine, and in the end you'll be your own most harsh critic. Others viewing your finished model won't see or even notice a quarter of what you personally perceive as flaws. Keep up the good work! You've inspired me to tackle my Swift as well, and I may create a build log as well. That would be my first on this site, but perhaps I'm long overdue to do just that.
 
seadeep said:
Although you may at times feel like you're "polishing a turd", the positive spin I put on it is simply to look at all the things you've learned in the process of building this kit. Those skills will come in handy in future builds, and also give you insight into how to approach and navigate other challenges you'll face in assembling other kits. FWIW, I think you're doing just fine, and in the end you'll be your own most harsh critic. Others viewing your finished model won't see or even notice a quarter of what you personally perceive as flaws. Keep up the good work! You've inspired me to tackle my Swift as well, and I may create a build log as well. That would be my first on this site, but perhaps I'm long overdue to do just that.
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Thank you for reminding me that this is for fun. I am gaining valuable experience and having a blast

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Almost finished. Need to rig four 170871697513193164046540540107.jpgpairs of deadeyes and ran out of stock for the smaller line. The total amount of scrap is surprising small. Photo attached. I got so frustrated that I actually measured the cutoffs and found that I would have been short two sets of deadeyes with no waste. I guess I'll go to Michaels and JoAnns and try to fond something that'll match.17087172558533607487404883018828.jpg
 
I've been moaning about how shoddy this kit is, but in fact, Im very grateful for every defect. I bought this kit as a tuneup for a legitimate project. I got more than my moneys worth. I have learned so much more by having to solve problems every step of the way. Today The line running short resulted in a trip to JoAnns for some thread. Found Gutterman thread17087311267633879267357258227918.jpg there and made my first rope. $4.00 for 30 yards ouch. It will get this Swift kit finished and I'm pleased.
 
Whopie, The Virginia Swift is finished. Awaiting better light to take the final photos.. on to the awaiting in Bluenose project.
 
My congratulations already without seeing the final result - hope the weather conditions are changing
 
Also found the instructions for the canons. They are not included in the new version from Model Shipways.1714846926008732841474413672227.jpg17148469465535354279807911817104.jpg
 
Ted Robinson said:
Also found the instructions for the canons. They are not included in the new version from Model Shipways.
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I "think" my first version of the Swift included a cannon as well, but I don't remember there being any supplemental instructions on how to install it, or to cut out a cannon port in the bulwarks. Then the second Swift kit I purchased a couple of years later (the one I'm currently building) has no included cannon. Really strange decision AL made with the kit. If they included two cannon, one for each side, I could potentially see some rationale behind it... but to only include one is a bit odd. At least odd as I see it. Then there's the whole "where the heck to I place it" consideration. It's a pretty tight deck layout, especially with the dual cabins. The only possible place I could think of situating them would be on both sides, immediately aft of the entrance to the fore cabin. Either that, on both sides immediately in front of the fore cabin. It would be getting pretty close to the location of the foremast wales. Regardless.... a bit of a moot point as you don't plan to install them, and I'm not going to purchase a couple to install on my kit. Maybe some future builder will incorporate them into their Swift. Great progress with your build... I'm just getting ready to install my rudder at this point, so you're way ahead of me.
 
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