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Bonhomme Richard Cross Section Interior Upgrade

Good morning Henry. Welcome to SOS. Thanks for sharing you build so far. You are owning this cross section. I really like all the detail you are including - Kudos. Cheers Grant
 
Thanks Grant, Mike, Brad and the others who have responded or given me a Like. Yes, I like to include what paints and stains I use in case someone likes the color and would like to use it on one of their builds. I know I am not a master modeler but enjoy spending part of my retirement building these kits. For people who have expressed interest in my hobby, including relatives, friends, ex-co-workers, etc. and even my hygienist and eye doctor, I make 10 - 20 minute videos with commentary when I post my build log on SOS, to my Drop Box account for them to view. If any of you would like to receive a link to my current video, please send me a direct SOS message with your email address and I will add you to my mailing list. Hopefully I am not violating any SOS rules suggesting doing so.
 
Works in progress beside Bonhomme Richard Cross Section:
Billing Boats Calypso (radio controlled)

Completed
Mamoli USS Constitution Cross Section with sails
Mamoli USS Constitution with sails
Mantua Combat Station
Mantua Command Station with crew
Artesania Latina King of the Mississippi with passengers
Occre HMS Titanic
Occre San Francisco Cable Car with passengers on cobblestone street base

Have but not started
Corel HMS Victory Cross Section with sails
Aeropiccola USS Essex Cross Section with sails
Corel Wasa Cross Section
Aeropiccola Bonhomme Richard with sails
Model Shipways USCG Harriet Lane with sails
Discar Model Navio Rayo Gun Decks
Artesania Latina HMS Victory Cannon
Artesania Latina HMS Victory Carronade
Scientific Robert E. Lee
 
Since my last posting I have completed all the work below Deck 1, the upper or upper gun deck. I am not sure why, as I do not think I made any mistakes, since I used the supplied templates to mark both where the deck support beams and the gunports go; but neither the large nor the small sized cannon would fit through the gun deck (Deck 2) open gunports, as they were too close to the deck planking. Also, the brick oven from the accessory kit was too tall or the space between the gun and upper decks was too small, as one of the upper deck support beams ran into it, instead of above the oven. I checked on-line and found there was a problem with the deck and gunport templates in the initial release of this kit. So, I am assuming I have one of those kits. Luckily, I was able to re-cut the gunport opening upwards 10 mm so the large sized cannon fitted through the opening, as I had not yet glued the outside hull planking. For the brick oven, I cut the middle out of the upper deck support beam that would have gone through it, to be against the sides of the oven at its top. When I plank the upper deck, I will not plank over the top of the brick oven. While not perfect, in my opinion, this solution does not look too bad.

The gun deck has purposedly been partially planked as you can see in the photos below. I placed three of the small barrels on this deck near the ceilings. I have now used all but one of the 48 small barrels the accessory interior upgrade kit made. Next to the barrels, are the cannonball wooden racks. Each of these racks have 10 of the same 3 mm black metal round shot cannonballs made by Caldercraft I previously placed in the shot locker.

The upper deck support beams and ship knees are in place, as well as the 2 mm x 2 mm strips that go through the laser-cut support beams and 8 of the 12 laser-cut strips of upper deck planking. I will add the other four after I do the ceiling between and upper deck and the quarterdeck.

The slats around the mast are in place as is the brick oven and hatchway cover from the accessory kit. The top of the brick oven is painted with Model Expo Primer and their Bright Red paint; while the shelf and its support had the Primer and Model Expo Medium Grey paint.

All the new wood not painted had been treated with the usual wood conditioner, golden oak dye and satin varnish. The gun and upper deck planking have faux nail heads, one above each support beam. They are filled as before with Minwax Walnut Wood Fill.

I added ceilings between the gun and upper decks. They have been painted with Model Expo Primer and their Bulwarks/Gun Carriage Red paints. I painted the faux nail heads of the ceilings with Model Expo Hull/Spar Black paint.

For the cannons, I painted the gun carriage and wheel axles with Model Expo Primer and their Bulwarks/Gun Carriage Red paints and the gun carriage wheels Model Expo Primer and their Hull/Spar Black paint. All the metal parts (gun barrels, trunnions, trunnion covers, nail heads, eyebolts and rings) have been painted with Model Expo Iron/Cannon Black paint.

For the bitts and blocks, I painted the little bit of wood between the corresponding holes in each row of pre-drilled holes, with the Model Expo Iron/Cannon Black paint, to represent the pulleys.

The two ladders going between the gun and upper decks are in place between the hatchway cover and the I-shaped bitt. Due to the issues with the upper deck support beams, the top of the ladders stick a little above the framework at the upper deck level that goes around the stairwell opening.

All comments or questions appreciated.

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Since my last posting I have completed all the work below Deck 1, the upper or upper gun deck. I am not sure why, as I do not think I made any mistakes, since I used the supplied templates to mark both where the deck support beams and the gunports go; but neither the large nor the small sized cannon would fit through the gun deck (Deck 2) open gunports, as they were too close to the deck planking. Also, the brick oven from the accessory kit was too tall or the space between the gun and upper decks was too small, as one of the upper deck support beams ran into it, instead of above the oven. I checked on-line and found there was a problem with the deck and gunport templates in the initial release of this kit. So, I am assuming I have one of those kits. Luckily, I was able to re-cut the gunport opening upwards 10 mm so the large sized cannon fitted through the opening, as I had not yet glued the outside hull planking. For the brick oven, I cut the middle out of the upper deck support beam that would have gone through it, to be against the sides of the oven at its top. When I plank the upper deck, I will not plank over the top of the brick oven. While not perfect, in my opinion, this solution does not look too bad.

The gun deck has purposedly been partially planked as you can see in the photos below. I placed three of the small barrels on this deck near the ceilings. I have now used all but one of the 48 small barrels the accessory interior upgrade kit made. Next to the barrels, are the cannonball wooden racks. Each of these racks have 10 of the same 3 mm black metal round shot cannonballs made by Caldercraft I previously placed in the shot locker.

The upper deck support beams and ship knees are in place, as well as the 2 mm x 2 mm strips that go through the laser-cut support beams and 8 of the 12 laser-cut strips of upper deck planking. I will add the other four after I do the ceiling between and upper deck and the quarterdeck.

The slats around the mast are in place as is the brick oven and hatchway cover from the accessory kit. The top of the brick oven is painted with Model Expo Primer and their Bright Red paint; while the shelf and its support had the Primer and Model Expo Medium Grey paint.

All the new wood not painted had been treated with the usual wood conditioner, golden oak dye and satin varnish. The gun and upper deck planking have faux nail heads, one above each support beam. They are filled as before with Minwax Walnut Wood Fill.

I added ceilings between the gun and upper decks. They have been painted with Model Expo Primer and their Bulwarks/Gun Carriage Red paints. I painted the faux nail heads of the ceilings with Model Expo Hull/Spar Black paint.

For the cannons, I painted the gun carriage and wheel axles with Model Expo Primer and their Bulwarks/Gun Carriage Red paints and the gun carriage wheels Model Expo Primer and their Hull/Spar Black paint. All the metal parts (gun barrels, trunnions, trunnion covers, nail heads, eyebolts and rings) have been painted with Model Expo Iron/Cannon Black paint.

For the bitts and blocks, I painted the little bit of wood between the corresponding holes in each row of pre-drilled holes, with the Model Expo Iron/Cannon Black paint, to represent the pulleys.

The two ladders going between the gun and upper decks are in place between the hatchway cover and the I-shaped bitt. Due to the issues with the upper deck support beams, the top of the ladders stick a little above the framework at the upper deck level that goes around the stairwell opening.

All comments or questions appreciated.

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Congratulations Henri, This is charming model. I like it a lot.
Reading your blog there seem to be a lot of challenges in this kit but you have persevered and created a unique and interesting X-section.
 
It's a joy when you get to this point and start "decorating" your build! The colors, barrels, etc are really giving it character. Please keep us posted on your progress!!

I blew up a photo of your hatch cover. With a bit of sanding or filing of the beam circled, I bet it would fall flush with the deck. I love those curved ladders, they look awesome!!
hatch cover.jpg
 
Hi Brad,

I will be able to fix that as I took these photos before actually gluing the stairwell frame and the ladders in place as I have one more coat of varnish to put on the stairwell; but wanted to make my posting prior to taking time off for the holidays.

Thanks to everyone for your encouraging words.

Henry
 
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