Fair American 1:48 by Model Expo

[Namabiiru]

LOVE IT! I wanted to add hair because the real Lovely Renee has awesome hair, but I coouldn't think how to do it. You did a brilliant job! I don't know what the flat lower front is meant to be. I know I filed it down so it would fit in the given notch rather than on the front of the stem so they were largely obscured and I did the whole figurehead in gold. I'll check my references for the Rogers' collection model. If there is any thing interesting, I'll share it with you.

Perhaps your decision about where to mount her is a bit unorthodox, but - go for it! She's lovely!

Blessings.
Chuck

So, I figured the kit must depict the figurehead that way for a reason, which is undoubtedly reflective of the Rogers Collection, but nearly every figurehead I have seen was either entirely below/forward of the stem or straddling it.

I had found this depiction of the figurehead in the plans, which is clearly more robust than that provided in the kit and obviously and a better fit for the notch


After the mod I found this depiction of the figurehead, which seems to show it as straddling the stem

Unfortunately, pretty much everything below the waistline is missing and beyond my ability to replicate.

All that is to say that, yes, in relation to other FA builds, mine is certainly an unorthodox approach; but I think in light of what the kit provides for a figurehead, my depiction is pretty consistent with prevailing practice. At least that’s what I keep telling myself!

Anyway, I provide all this mansplaining for the benefit of some future builder. Considering what a puzzle it’s presented for me, I haven’t seen any other build logs that make any mention of it.

Anyway, I’m awfully glad I got it sorted (one way or the other) before mounting the stem

 

[Namabiiru]

I think I did stars over red and white stripes on a single shield. Not realizing at the time that the Fair American herself probably pre-dated the Stars and Stripes motif! I can't, for the life of me remember what's on the original.
Pete

I thought about doing her in gold as I have seen on many builds, but I’m currently leaning more toward going full color. Considering that the MSFA is a model of a model of a ship that changed hands multiple times I am not sure anyone could say that any given approach is not correct.

Hopefully nobody will be offended if I depict her in a topless state, which is how she appears to me in her unpainted condition, not to mention it’s how sailors of the day would have wanted her depicted