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Model Shipways FAIR AMERICAN 14 GUN Privateer 1:48 SCALE

lakedaisy

lakedaisy

Joined
Jan 9, 2022
Messages
948
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353

Location
Winter Haven, Florida
I have 3 kits on the shelf to build.
Hayling Hoy 1760 1:48 Pearwood version. Waiting for missing parts from manufacturer Hayling Hoy
Model Shipways Fair American 14 Gun Privater 1:48 Fair American
Pavel's San Bartolome 1:48 San Bartolome

Just completed Pavel's Santa Maria. Great kit. Santa Maria

Thought I would build something a little less complicated from the Santa Maria. Decided on the Fair American.

There are several good builds on SOS build log site to review as I am building. SOS build logs

Fair american.jpegFair american2.jpeg
 
lakedaisy said:
Thank you Jeff. Came close to putting everything out on the street, but guess I'm glad I didn't. Hope I learn a few things building the Santa Maria that will help improve the Fair Ameican build.
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well, I think your abilities are beyond mine, but if there is anything I can do to help, I'm glad to. Even willing to make the drive again. :)
 
I fitted all the bulkheads. Like I see in other builds, the bulkheads don't reach the bearding line. I was going to redraw the bearding line to meet the bulkheads, but after looking at other builds I didn't see where anyone did this. So... I'll trim the bearding line as drawn by Model Shipways. I'll think about adding shims to the bottom of the bulkheads so they reach the bearding line, then sand the shims to blend in with the contour of the bulkhead.
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A gentleman with the screen name GenericDave (not sure if he is on Ships of Scale) created some build log blogs on several ships, including the Fair American and the Bluenose. I found his blog work to be indispensable when I built my Bluenose.

Here is the link to his Fair American blog - https://suburbanshipmodeler.com/category/fair-american/

Although it doesn't look like he ever finished his blog here, I hope some of it is helpful.
 
Thank you GGibson. Appreciate the post. Yes, I have those in my folder. I've read all his work on the FA.

I found 15 build logs. Some here on SOS and some on other sites. Plently of info to look at. I also have Bob Hunts Practicum on the FA and plan on putting in the cabin and opening in the hull showing fake bulkheads like one would see on a Plank on Frame.
 
I sanded the rabbet. Was easier than I thought it would be. The keel is 3/16" thick. One must remove 1/16" from each side up to the bearding line. I cut a very shallow groove in the keel in each side leaving 1/16" uncut in the center as this needs to remain unchanged. The dark part in the center is 1/16". The groove is about 1/16" deep.
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Next I sanded each side down from the bearding line down to just touching the 1/16" dark area in the center. 2.jpg
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The next step is to cut down the top part of the keel at the stern to make the floor of the cabin. And to trim the deck curve on some of the bulkheads to the level of the new keel dimensions, making a level floor for the cabin.
 
Thank you Corsair. Just reading your message now. I had asked google last night. Google said to dampen the concave side with hot water and weight it down. I did this. Just checked. They are now flat!!
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I cut out the inside parts of the cabin bulkheads. The bulkheads are ready to be mounted now. And I will attach the stem, stern, bottom pieces to the main keel.
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Next will be to remove part of center bulkheads where the exposed 'fake' frames are visible after the hull is planked.
 
I just remembered some about the stem piece from Namabiiru's build HERE post#6. He made his own figurehead. That's above my skill level.

A notch must be cut into the stem piece. I took the metal figurehead out of the parts bag. It's pretty pathetic compared to the stem it sets on. Looks so tiny next to the stem piece it sit on. I will seach the internet to see if I can find a decent 1:48 scale figurehead. I noticed there isn't a hole cut into the stem piece for the lashing that holds the bowsprit in place.
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Plans show notch cut into the piece. And it shows the lashing hole which isn't there.
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Here's an image from the plans showing the figurehead setting in the stem. The supplied figurehead looks nothing like this.
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Not sure what I'll do. Here's the figurehead laying against the stem.
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Belive I'll stop here and figure this out. I want to glue the keel pieces to the main keel before attaching the bulkheads. This way I can lay all the pieces flat on the bench when gluing to make sure they are evenly positioned. I may even cut new keel pieces from a better wood. I intend to use different woods for the hull and deck than those supplied with the kit.
 
Here's a couple images from another website. When I was holding the figurehead up to the stem piece I had fogotten that the stem is sanded much smaller/narrower. Maybe this will work.
Screenshot 2026-04-26 at 9.51.41 AM.png
Screenshot 2026-04-26 at 10.08.58 AM.png

Here's an image where the figurehead wasn't even used.
Screenshot 2026-04-26 at 9.56.52 AM.png
 
I have holly, swiss pear, boxwood and other nice woods. I plan on using these to build the ship as woods in the kit are mostly basswood. I'm thinking eiher pear or boxwood for the hull and deck planking. I'll be cutting the outter pieces of the keel from these woods.

There's an awful lot of RED paint in these builds. Not sure if I can do that! I prefer the look of natural and stained woods. We will see....

There are so many beautiful builds on SOS and other websites. I'm so hoping I can do a nice job here. I have the tools and woods. Now I just need some skill!!
 
lakedaisy said:
About 1/2 of the bulkheads are slightly bowed. They are 3/16" plywood. Does anyone know if I can make them flat by soaking them and weighing them down until the dry?
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You can brace them with timbers cut accurately to the inter bulkhead distance or use them as templates to cut from fresh stock.
 
I haven't worked on the FA for a few days. I've been finishing up painting the exterior of my house. It's been 10-15 years since the last time I paintted it. But, it's pretty much finished now.

I had bought a CNC machine during the Christmas sales and haven't reallly done much with it. I was considering either a CNC or 3D printer. I chose the CNC fo now as I want to cut some wood things for model ships. I'll likely get a 3D printer later. I made a few small things right after I got it. They were about 4x the size I wanted. I made the at about 100mm when what I wanted the final to be about 25mm. Then other things happned and the CNC just sat on the desktop.

I tried to make something yesterday and couldn't remember how to work the software and CNC. So I spent yesterday and today trying to learn just the basics of creating someting and then sending the code to the CNC. I finally made someting that was pretty simple to create on the software and then cut it out.

It's the name that goes on the stern of the Fair American. It needs a little soft sanding and will likely adjust a few things when I get the stern built. I really want to make the stern windows, but that's out of my reach for right now.

This is to about scale per the kit drawings or close enough for a test ...

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