Royal Louis - Mamoli

[Ken]

Hello all and thanks for following.

I’m not sure where to start with this latest update, I’ve been happily working away on it, making quite a lot of progress, intending to post the work as I went along but I never got around to do so. I’ve decided rather than explain what I’ve done bit at a time I’ll just tell you all in one go where I’m now at.

I made up and fitted the bow platform using the grating comb strips provided. I made the steps for the side of the hull and at the bow bulkhead. I’ve done two bitts and two pin racks, the cat heads, the cast decorations on the bow cheeks, some eye rings on the main deck, finished off the capstan area, and fitted the head rails which turned out rather well, probably the best on any model that I’ve made. I’m now in the process of panting the figurehead. If you look at the pictures you’ll see all of these things done. I'm loving this build.

 

[dockattner]

A very distinctive RL, Ken! I can see how much you are enjoying this build!

 

[Tony H]

Hi Ken your RL looks fantastic it makes me want to start mine straight away. Did you have any trouble fitting the castings, did they require much bending. This has given me some problems in the past.
Tony

 

[Etwas_63]

Great nose figure! Great build. Always looking forward to your posts.

 

[Jack Jäger]

Looks great Ken. The paint work and particuarly the choice of colours make her stand out.

Love it JJ..

 

[WojtasS]

-

 

[Ken]

Hi Ken your RL looks fantastic it makes me want to start mine straight away. Did you have any trouble fitting the castings, did they require much bending. This has given me some problems in the past.
Tony

Hi Tony. You'll have no trouble shaping the cast parts, they are nearly as soft as lead.

 

[Ken]

A very short update today. I've painted the figurehead but just loosely fitted it for the moment. It isn't as finely defined that some of the newer kits provide but for its era I think that it's very acceptable.

 

[Ken]

Looks great Ken. The paint work and particuarly the choice of colours make her stand out.

Love it JJ..

Hi Jack. Thanks for your kind comments. The colours were a bit of a gamble but I think they worked for the effect that I wanted

 

[Ken]

Good morning, thanks for being here and giving me your likes and comments. I've pretty much completed the bow so now my attention is turning to the stern. I've shown the area that needs to be built up using the cast pieces that make up the transom galleries and the pieces supplied to do the job. If you can recall the film Apollo 11 where the crew had to assemble a device to absorb the carbon monoxide from the air using only what bits were at hand, that's how I feel about these galleries right now. I've identified the parts and their positioning, cleaned them up, made and fitted mahogany inserts for the lower parts and fitted the simulated window panes. The windows aren't ideal but at this scale they'll do for me. Newer kits would no doubt have PE. frames but again for its era it's very acceptable.

 

[Ken]

Hello again. Here’s my latest progress update. I’ve managed to put together the puzzle that the castings for the stern galleries presented me with. The drawings only provided a view of the finished galleries but didn’t show how to actually do them, they only said that they were difficult and that I should study the parts carefully to get an understanding of how they might be assembled. The facias for the stern cabins were easy enough but the side galleries with balconies proved to be quite a challenge. The castings although malleable were almost impossible to bend into the required shape, they needed bending around but also needed tapering in at the top and sort of splayed out at odd angles towards the bottom as did the railings, however after much filling I got an acceptable end result, though the swear jar is now full. I added the cast decorative figures then finally painted it, it looks okay unless you get up very close so I’ll accept that. I then made up and fitted the hand rail at the rear of the quarter deck as well as fitting the smaller strakes along the rear part of the hull. To finish off I fitted the two boat cradles. I think it’s starting to look quite good.

 

[Tony H]

Hi Ken
The stern gallerys look very impressive, I'm not looking forward to this part when I get around to making my RL.
The speed at which your models progress is way out of my league.
Tony

 

[Ken]

Hi Ken
The stern gallerys look very impressive, I'm not looking forward to this part when I get around to making my RL.
The speed at which your models progress is way out of my league.
Tony

Hi Tony, Thanks for the compliment. When you get to the galleries give me a PM. Having done them I would be able to give you a few tips, knowing how they were done would make them fairly easy. I wouldn’t have any difficulties if I were to make them again. I’m not really a very fast builder, I’ve been retired for a number of years and I tend to build models as if it were a job so spend many hours most days at it, it passes my time pleasantly, especially in the winter. Ken