Albatross by CharlesEdward – Constructo - 1/55 –

[CharlesEdward]

September 20, 2026
Finishing manual Page 30 of instructions: Davit’s Installation. The Davits comparison photo.



This photo comments on the installed Davits:



Manual Page 32 of instructions: Foremast and Mainmast channels installation.

Using the 1.5 x 5 mm boards, shape two each of part 40 and part 41, with part 40 being the foremast channels at a length of 30 mm and part 41 the mainmast channels at a length of 26 mm. Notch the five notches on #40 and the three notches on #41 and attach to the outboard bulwark positioned to match the plan.

Photo of the installed channels both fore and main mast.




The port side installed channels, I just used white wood glue and masking tape to set the parts onto the hull. [Photo_10]




Manual Page 40 of instructions: Cap Scuttles installation.

Using 1.5 x 4 mm stock make up parts 54, 55, 56, 57, and 58; cut seven Part #54 from 1.5 x 4 x 28 mm. strip, two Parts #55 and two Parts #56 are 1.5 x 4 x 29 mm. and 1.5 x 4 x 33 mm. Sepelli wood strips, and two Parts #57 and two Parts # 58 are from 2 x 2 x 33 mm. 2 x 2 x 37 mm. Manzonian wood strips. Follow the instructions and illustrations to complete the Cap Scuttles part.

The cap scuttles and helmsman base before the frames are installed.



Framing the cap scuttle.



Cap Scuttle drying.



Manual Page 42 of instructions: Helmsman Base and frames and the included pre-cut Capstan installation.

Very similar to Page 40 of instructions above; Cut Parts 59, 60, 61, and find 62; but this time only three Parts #59 using 1.5 x 4 x14 mm. Sepelli wood strips, then two Parts #60 and two Parts #61 from 2 x 2 x 2 x 13 mm. and 2 x 2 x 19 mm. to form a frame around the base from Manzonian
wood strips. The Helmsman base awaiting framing.


The Helmsman base frames are just 2 x 2 x 14 and 16 mm. This is An extreme closeup showing that the caliper is set to 14 mm. [Photo_08]
An extra photo of the digital caliper reading of the cap scuttle parts before gluing them to each other. [Photo_09]



Coming up next Manual Page 34 of instructions: Fore pinrails, Foremast & Mainmast pin racks.

Thanks for checking in, until next time.

 

[CharlesEdward]

September 21, 2026

Manual Page 34 of instructions: Fore pinrails, Foremast & Mainmast pin racks.

The pinrails and pin racks consist of three different numbered parts; two Parts #42, four Parts #43, and two Parts #44, all made from 1.5 x 4(5) Sepelli with lengths of 11 mm, 32 mm, and 15 mm, respectively. I have the 4(5) mm. listed as such because I could only find the 5 mm wide stock, there was no 4 mm wide stock included in the kit, so I have always been using the 5 mm stock for both 4 and 5 mm parts.

Cut the parts listed above and mark where the holes are based on the plan illustration. Drill 1.5 mm. diameter holes to fit the belaying pins for future rigging of the model. Now to do this correctly I used a 1 mm drill bit to start and used math to drill the holes in the center of each part, then half the distance to mark the next center and fill in the remaining holes based on the plan. I decided to drill all of the holes before I cut each of the pieces to the required length. Finally used a 1.5 mm. bit to make the holes the correct diameter and dry fitted each and every one with a belaying pin.

This photo shows the three parts needed for all of the pin racks, the two smaller parts have four holes but the smallest one should only have three holes, per the rigging instructions.



There are only 47 belaying pins included in the kit so not all of the pin racks will be filled with belaying pins, only the ones needed for rigging.
All four of the Parts #43 showing below.



I broke one of the smallest pin racks and had to replace it.



This magnified photo shows the cut-out I had to make on this particular pin rail to fit on the bulwarks with the rough timbers. I actually did install this one where it belongs along the starboard fore mast.



Since I have installed the two fore pinrails and one of the Main / Fore mast pinrails, There are only two Parts #44, (15 mm length), and three remaining Parts #43, (32 mm in length), ready for installation along the bulwarks. The Part #43 required 11 pin holes at 1.5 mm diameter.



The fore pinrails shown installed, however the port side one broke in half when I tried to twist the belaying pins in the holes. I actually repaired it with superglue and at the same time installed the three belaying pins required for the rigging later. I had forgotten how hard these sometimes are to rig being so small.




The installed Part #43 on the Starboard Foremast, I used a drop of super glue to the ends but white wood glue to all of the between areas.




An unmarked photo of the Part #43 to be installed next time.



Next up the completion of installing all of the pinrails and pinracks along the bulwarks.

Thanks for checking in, until next time.

 

[CharlesEdward]

September 21, 2026 – Second Posting

Completion of Manual Page 34 of instructions: Fore pinrails, Foremast pin racks and Mainmast.

So what I decided to do with the remaining pinrails and pinracks is to glue pieces of wood along the bulwarks where the pinrails will be installed, instead of cutting out 1 or 2 mm notches to install the part. This proved to be much easier and does the job better as it extends the pinrails out about 2 mm, which will make it easier to rig up the belaying pins when needed.



A photo of all of the pinrails / pinracks installed, (Parts 42, 43, and 44), onto fill-in wood pieces for easier and stabler installation, and ready for rigging.



A closeup of the Helmsman base installed under the tiller as well as the stern pinracks Part #44.



Installed Parts #43 along the Mainmast area of the model.



Installed Parts #43 along the Formast area of the model, as well as the fore pinrails.



Coming up next, I will show the installation of all of the deck furnishings that are required by the manual instructions.

Thanks for checking in, until next time.

 

[CharlesEdward]

September 23, 2026

All Deck Furnishings Installed onto the Main deck.
As promised in the last post, the installation of all of the deck furnishings that are required by the manual instructions, up to this point.

The final deck furnishing is the Logbook Cupboard, which includes a pre-cut Part #63, using several 0.5 mm Sepelli veneer board to plank all of the sides, a couple of base frames made from 2 x 2 mm boards and roof pieces made from 1 x 3 x 24 mm Manzonia board.

The Logbook Cupboard under construction, showing the base pieces and the drying glue waiting for me to place the roof assembly on the right of the picture.



The finished logbook cupboard installed in place on the main deck of the model near the Helmsman base. Also a look at the life boat davits, stern pinrails, tiller and aft grating hatch.



A view of the installed capstan, Midships grating hatch, Main pinrails, main mast deck hole and Cap Scuttles.



The installed Foremast Pinrails, anchor davits, Fore pinrails and forward grating hatch, with the foremast deck hole.



Overhead angle of the current main deck furnishings layout all installed for better or for worse.


Manual Page 46 of instructions: Mast pinrails, both Fore and Main pinracks installation.

Consists of Parts # 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, and 73; using 3 x 3 mm stock make up parts 68, Pin rack columns, (length of 10 mm – eights pieces required), 70, Bitt Uprights, (length of 16 mm – four pieces needed), 71, one Bitt Cross, (length of 29 mm), and one 73, a longer Bitt Cross, (length of 18 mm), and finishing using up the 1 x 3 mm stock left to make six Parts #69, Mast Pinrails which will need three 1.5 mm holes in each of the six parts for the belaying pins to be installed later. This time because the six parts basically use all that is left of the 1 x 3 mm boards included in the kit, I cut them all first and checked the length of 14 mm, planning to drill the holes later. Part #72, Bitt Curve, is precut and in parts pack #4.

NOTE: There is a final part #114 that will use almost all of the remaining 3 x 3 mm board as it is 16 mm in length and there are eight pieces required, (total 128 mm.), so a total use of approximately 319 mm of wood stock, which is just about the size of the last 3 x 3 mm board included in the kit.

This section has proven to be quite difficult and some of it is caused by the kit including impossible widths of wood stock to drill three 1.5 mm diameter holes into all six Parts #69. The length required in the instructions are really NOT helpful and I should have bashed the parts with a better piece of wood, after all I have loads of lumber I purchased from some online ship model lumberyard that was going out of business years ago and was having a big sale of almost all of their remaining stock. This includes 2 x 3 mm boards that I had to substitute for the Foremast Pinrails piece that I destroyed, so I have to replace it. This wood board could handle the three 1.5 mm holes much better than the original 1 x 3 mm boards that I used following instructions. I split almost all the cut boards while drilling only the starter hole of 1 mm drill bit size. Fixed most with liberal application of superglue, but the broken foremast pinrails was just not usable anymore.
It took most of the day to cut all of the necessary pieces per instructions and shown below are all the pieces cut. I should have added a tad more length to two of the Part #69 to make room for the three 1.5 mm diameter holes since those pieces are short and therefore crowding out the two outer holes making it harder to rig those belaying pins.



I was thinking about the belaying pins included in the kit only number 49 or 47 parts, not enough to put a belaying pin into every pin hole on the pinrails, so I studied the rigging plans and found out that the Mainmast Pinrails would only be using the below pins for rigging, not the entire 9 holes that I drilled. This would have been more helpful if I noticed it before I made the parts.



The Mainmast Pinrails may only use five of the holes for belaying pins for the rigging plan, however the Foremast Pinrails need to use all nine holes filled with belaying pins for rigging. Knowing this now I thought about how to make this next Pinrails part and decided that, besides substituting 2 x 3 mm boards for Part #69, (1 x 3 mm boards), that I would make one of the pieces, the piece that is at the bottom or top, (depending if you see an upside down ‘U’ or a normal ‘U’), of the U-shape piece should be a little bit longer in length. This would not IMHO cause it to look too big for the Foremast plus give me more room to drill the 1.5 mm holes in all of those parts.



Per the instructions I have to cut out recesses in Part #70 to fit both of the Bitt Crosses. I will do this by sawing the 3 mm notch and then use a series of needle files to square out the notch, I am not sure if it wants me to do the same for the Bitt Crosses, but it would make sense to do so. [Photo_09 showing notched Bitt Uprights and Bitt Crosses?]



The installed Bitts and Pinrails on the main deck of the model, the Bitts are not yet glued to the deck, I have to check the position of both of those parts before I glue.



Next up, the continuation of the instruction manual Page #46, finishing and installing the mast pinrails.

Thanks for checking in, until next time.

 

[CharlesEdward]

September 24, 2026

Here are some extra photos that I took while constructing the Bitts and others, just wanted to share in the spirit of full disclosure.

The two Bitt parts completed, the one on the left is the Bitt and bitt cross, while the small one to the right is the Bowsprit Bitt and cross Bitt.



The terrible looking mainmast pinrails are just not as good as the replacement part for the broken Foremast pinracks. I almost want to rip out the main mast pinrails to recreate that piece in a better-looking form. After seeing this photo, I would make the side pinrails about 2 mm longer to look much better and have more space for the pinrails columns, the rigging of those belaying pins will be much easier.



An overview shot of all of the current deck furnishings laid out onto the main deck, I used the main, foremast and bowsprit for reference to the placement of each piece.



The Foremast pinracks, anchor bitt and bowsprit bitt in position but the two bitts are not glued yet, just dry fitted for the final placement of them.



The cap scuttle mainmast pinracks, midship grating hatch, capstan, aft grating hatch, the logbook cupboard, and the Helmsman base and tiller on deck.



Starboard side view of the deck furnishings before I finished the two pinracks and Bitts.



Starboard side view of the two added pinracks using the masts and bowsprit as position reference.



The two Bitts again, just a clean photo of the two parts before gluing onto the deck.



The tow bitts accurately positioned onto the deck with the glue drying.


The full view of all of the deck furnishings sans the masts for a better view, the bowsprit is still for reference positioning.



Next up, the installation of the deadeyes onto the Main and Foremast channels.

Thanks for checking in, until next time.

 

[TexBilly]

Nice work and progress. Looking great.

 

[CharlesEdward]

Thank you for your kind words.