Heller 1/50th. Chebec

[Big Jake]

I've been working on this one for about 12 years between other models and client models as well as a job. I retired in Feb. and promised myself I'd finish her up this year. and drop her in a case. I bought the kit back in 1999 and although Katrina wiped us out, I was able to salvage about 90% of the unbuilt ship models from the ruined boxes (less rigging and decals of course). these pics are after we moved into the new house, and I decided what the new house really need was a 1/50th Chebec . I cataloged and washed the kit parts and started the assembly. The pics are me washing the dried Hurricane Katrina mud from the parts. (LOTS OF MUD). I'm going to try and update the post a few times a week until I upload all the pics. I'm at the point of wrapping the wooling around the three Lateen yards now.

 

[Big Jake]

This is the second group of pictures of the various steps of deck detail painting. Because the deck detail was so rich in wood grain. The technique I used was a base coat of Testors Flat Black then Testors Armour Sand and then used 000 fine steel wool to remove a bit of the Tan. I used #2 mechanical pencil to "caulk" the planks then a water-base black wash to bring some relief. The other wood tones are Floquil Rail Brown and Roof Brown.

 

[europapete]

looking good! That's quite the rescue and restoration.

 

[Big Jake]

Next batch is focused on Cannon and Trucks and rigging them in. I drilled the touchholes in as well.

 

[Big Jake]

Painting and detailing the various hull parts for assembly.

 

[Vfordyce]

This is the second group of pictures of the various steps of deck detail painting. Because the deck detail was so rich, I used Flat black them Armour Sand and then used 000 fine steel wool to remove a bit of the black, I use #2 mechanical pencil to "caulk" the planks then a water-base black wash to bring some relief. The other wood tones are Floquil Rail Brown and Roof Brown.

View attachment 335040

View attachment 335041

View attachment 335042

View attachment 335043

View attachment 335044

View attachment 335045

View attachment 335046

View attachment 335047

View attachment 335048

View attachment 335049

View attachment 335050

View attachment 335051

View attachment 335052

View attachment 335053

View attachment 335054

View attachment 335055

View attachment 335056

View attachment 335057

View attachment 335058

View attachment 335059

View attachment 335060

View attachment 335061

View attachment 335062

View attachment 335063

View attachment 335064

Interesting looking deck.

 

[Big Jake]

Interesting looking deck.

Yep, it is. The heller kits are known for they detail, some good, some bad. The wood grain detail does help the model stand out. The small gratings are separate parts, so it made painting easier for sure. The only part of the kit that everyone seems to scratch their heads in is the rear transom - looks like a bust of a woman. Heller would have no designed that had it not been at least close to accurate but it's still a weird design.

 

[Bonair1]

Awesome, love it!

 

[Big Jake]

Thank You, I'm wrapping the yard wooling's now, Once finished the will get a darker brown wood tone with dry brushing.

 

[Vfordyce]

Those lateen sails can be challenging.

 

[Big Jake]

Those lateen sails can be challenging.

I have not made up my mind as to whether I'm going to add sails or just have furled sails to the yards as of yet. I'm looking for a local seamstress to run a set of sails under a machine.

 

[Vfordyce]

My Admiral just made me a beautiful one. I’ve read how several of the guys went out and bought a $100 machine and practiced until they got it right. I find that making a furled sail is harder to get looking right. And what do you do with the lines? The biggest challenge for me on the lateen sail was to measure it correctly so it would sit right on the yard. Do you have some cut already? If you can’t find a seamstress, pm me if you want.

 

[Big Jake]

Well, I was going to do a general measurement based on the yard size, IF I do unfurled, I need to have the seamstress sew in a small diameter wire in the aft and bottom edge so I can shape. this company offers a set for the kit, but they are in Ostrava, Czech Republic, so i was concerned on the shipping.

ebay item number 223573393840

 

[Vfordyce]

Well, I was going to do a general measurement based on the yard size, IF I do unfurled, I need to have the seamstress sew in a small diameter wire in the aft and bottom edge so I can shape. this company offers a set for the kit, but they are in Ostrava, Czech Republic, so i was concerned on the shipping.

ebay item number 223573393840

I got some flags from HISmodel. No problem.

 

[Big Jake]

I'm thinking real hard about using furled sails on my Chebec. Partly because the full sail will look a bit strange in a case, puffed out IMHO, SO I'm trying to see what others might be doing and what material you've used to make your sails from in 1/50th. scale. I've rigged the block as shown (pulley B, and C's) but I'm trying to see how this will rig out if I furl?

 

[Big Jake]

DO we have any members who can sew a set? I can precut the size and sew on the bolt rope. Thanks

 

[Vfordyce]

My opinion, for what it's worth, is that full sails look great on a ship with lateen sails. I think they're a little easier to rig than a square sail. Furled sails are not that easy for me. You probably would need some very thin material.

 

[Big Jake]

I'm willing to do a set of sails, just trying to get the scale and material right, the set I found on eBay just don't look right, too transparent? and they ship from the Czech Republic, so I'm not sure how long they would take.

 

[Vfordyce]

I got some flags from Czech Republic and received them right away. You’ll probably put something on them to color them up a bit. And they probably won’t be against a black background.

 

[Big Jake]

I got some flags from Czech Republic and received them right away. You’ll probably put something on them to color them up a bit. And they probably won’t be against a black background.

Thank You