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LUCZORAMA SHIPWRECK SCAVENGER HUNT GIVEAWAY. 4 Weeks of Fun • 1 Legendary Prize ((OcCre’s Fram Ship)) • Global Crew Welcome!
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Syren (1803) US Brig - 1/64 - Model Shipways - by Cpl Smith
- Thread starter Corporal Smith
- Start date
- Watchers 7
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- Tags
- model shipways syren
- Joined
- Dec 3, 2022
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That is too funny! You made my day, old man! I must now endeavor to acquire this magnificent tome and avail myself of its repartee!
I’d love to know what you make of the book in general. We can make this the Syren Build Log and Book Group.
- Joined
- Dec 3, 2022
- Messages
- 1,461
- Points
- 443
Materials Review
In view of the poor reputation of Model Shipways materials I thought I’d better have a look at the timbers and whatever else is in the box.
The strip wood is basswood but it’s of a reasonable quality, not too hairy and the grain’s tight. However, I do have pear wood and other goodies which I’ll substitute wherever I can. I’d rather let good wood show than have to paint ugly timber.
Cordage is not to my taste. The anchor cable is hairy string at this point though I may be able to improve it with shellac and a candle flame - not at the same time! The standing rigging is too shiny, too black, very obviously artificial. The running rigging varies in shade and shine from reel to reel but it too is a bit naff in my opinion. Other opinions are available. Other thread is available too so that’s an easy fix.
There is a small fret of photo-etched brass (PE). The etching is sharp and the brass is reasonably thick. I have no complaints about this.
I think that’s hideous. The windows to the officer’s toilets. Since it’s such a gloopy casting and since the entire thing is totally different in style to the rest of the more workmanlike boat I’ll omit it. They can poop in the dark!
The rest of the white metal castings are little better. I’m reminded of the cheap toys that we found in Xmas crackers back in the 1960s and this is an expensive kit from 2010. The figureheads is spurious for 1803, not being fitted until much later so that can go too. The long guns are similarly rubbish so my desire to avoid aftermarket is already a thing of the past.
Laser cutting and etching of bevel lines etc is very good. The kerf is thin and the charring, while very black, isn’t deep. The surface layer of the bulkhead looks a bit rough though. Let’s look at some more of the plywood.
Hmm, cracks and open splits in the veneer layer.
A large knot.
What’s going on here?
A void. Avoid using plywood like this for ANY purpose Mr Shipway. And that void was there before and after the laser cutting, clearly visible to the packers too.
And of course with material like this the BF and the bulkheads are all a little warped. The manual says “if your bulkhead former is slightly warped it can usually be straightened out by using filler blocks.” Usually. Later on the book there are photos of the prototype under construction showing bulkheads that fail to align with the template. Apparently, “This isn’t such a big deal.” Makes me wonder why they provided a template at all.
Conclusion. As expected, the quality of the materials overall is very poor. The ‘no big deal’ remark suggests that the designer was well aware of this but didn’t care about the modeller’s experience half as much as he cared about his profit margins. Individually, none of the shortfalls are going to stop me building the model, albeit with wood, cordage and accessories that I’ll have to pay for. The ply can be forced into shape and the visible void filled with a shim. This will be quite easy since it goes clear through the BF from top to bottom. If the Vanguard models that I’ve built got 9/10 for materials quality, this is a 3/10. The problem arises from the consistent lack of quality control and the attitude of the designer who also wrote the manual.
I’m angry. If I hadn’t started this thread I’d probably throw the whole thing away. I’m glad that I bought it second hand from a charity shop. I made a useful donation to a good cause and Model Shipways (was that a p or a t?) received none of my money. I’m also worried. If they were so blasé about the rubbish plywood, how diligent were they when they designed the kit and wrote the manual?
So I now expect this to be a bloody battle of a build. Readers, don’t get too emotionally attached to this one. I may well be unable to persist for a year with a project that makes me this angry on day two. I really do own that large ball-pein hammer I joked about yesterday.
I had another Shipways kit on hand from the same source, the Charles Morgan whaler but I just threw that in the skip/dumpster. I wouldn’t re-donate it to charity - it’s not good enough for that.
AAAAAAAAGH!
In view of the poor reputation of Model Shipways materials I thought I’d better have a look at the timbers and whatever else is in the box.
The strip wood is basswood but it’s of a reasonable quality, not too hairy and the grain’s tight. However, I do have pear wood and other goodies which I’ll substitute wherever I can. I’d rather let good wood show than have to paint ugly timber.
Cordage is not to my taste. The anchor cable is hairy string at this point though I may be able to improve it with shellac and a candle flame - not at the same time! The standing rigging is too shiny, too black, very obviously artificial. The running rigging varies in shade and shine from reel to reel but it too is a bit naff in my opinion. Other opinions are available. Other thread is available too so that’s an easy fix.
There is a small fret of photo-etched brass (PE). The etching is sharp and the brass is reasonably thick. I have no complaints about this.
I think that’s hideous. The windows to the officer’s toilets. Since it’s such a gloopy casting and since the entire thing is totally different in style to the rest of the more workmanlike boat I’ll omit it. They can poop in the dark!
The rest of the white metal castings are little better. I’m reminded of the cheap toys that we found in Xmas crackers back in the 1960s and this is an expensive kit from 2010. The figureheads is spurious for 1803, not being fitted until much later so that can go too. The long guns are similarly rubbish so my desire to avoid aftermarket is already a thing of the past.
Laser cutting and etching of bevel lines etc is very good. The kerf is thin and the charring, while very black, isn’t deep. The surface layer of the bulkhead looks a bit rough though. Let’s look at some more of the plywood.
Hmm, cracks and open splits in the veneer layer.
A large knot.
What’s going on here?
A void. Avoid using plywood like this for ANY purpose Mr Shipway. And that void was there before and after the laser cutting, clearly visible to the packers too.
And of course with material like this the BF and the bulkheads are all a little warped. The manual says “if your bulkhead former is slightly warped it can usually be straightened out by using filler blocks.” Usually. Later on the book there are photos of the prototype under construction showing bulkheads that fail to align with the template. Apparently, “This isn’t such a big deal.” Makes me wonder why they provided a template at all.
Conclusion. As expected, the quality of the materials overall is very poor. The ‘no big deal’ remark suggests that the designer was well aware of this but didn’t care about the modeller’s experience half as much as he cared about his profit margins. Individually, none of the shortfalls are going to stop me building the model, albeit with wood, cordage and accessories that I’ll have to pay for. The ply can be forced into shape and the visible void filled with a shim. This will be quite easy since it goes clear through the BF from top to bottom. If the Vanguard models that I’ve built got 9/10 for materials quality, this is a 3/10. The problem arises from the consistent lack of quality control and the attitude of the designer who also wrote the manual.
I’m angry. If I hadn’t started this thread I’d probably throw the whole thing away. I’m glad that I bought it second hand from a charity shop. I made a useful donation to a good cause and Model Shipways (was that a p or a t?) received none of my money. I’m also worried. If they were so blasé about the rubbish plywood, how diligent were they when they designed the kit and wrote the manual?
So I now expect this to be a bloody battle of a build. Readers, don’t get too emotionally attached to this one. I may well be unable to persist for a year with a project that makes me this angry on day two. I really do own that large ball-pein hammer I joked about yesterday.
I had another Shipways kit on hand from the same source, the Charles Morgan whaler but I just threw that in the skip/dumpster. I wouldn’t re-donate it to charity - it’s not good enough for that.
AAAAAAAAGH!
Last edited:
- Joined
- Dec 3, 2022
- Messages
- 1,461
- Points
- 443
When I was an immature boy of 27, I half jokingly proposed marriage to a similarly naive girl of 21. To my amazement she said yes and I thought to myself ‘What in heavens name have I done?’ I didn’t love her and years later she admitted that she hadn’t loved me either. She wasn’t the one. I hardly knew her. We’d known each other only a matter of a few manic weeks and she was entirely unprepared for my depressions. I think we were both bored and lonely and getting married seemed a bit exciting. Then we told everyone and the process became unstoppable. Neither of us had the moral courage to own up about our reservations. We got married out of a misplaced desire not to let each other, and families down, not to appear foolish. I guess we both needed to grow up.
The marriage was of course a disaster made worse and made into a life sentence by children. Ironically, the people we were trying to please, our families, each detested their kid’s choice of spouse. In trying to avoid looking silly we made great fools of ourselves.
All by carrying on with a long term project entered into with great enthusiasm and immediately but secretly regretted.
You can tell where this is going can’t you?
I’m wiser now, just a bit. Wise enough not to marry myself to a model that I only own because of a past manic impulse to buy a bargain from that charity. A model in which I have no historical interest whatsoever. A model which will infuriate me repeatedly instead of providing a pleasant way to pass one of my remaining 12(?) years. That bloody battle with the kit would be likely to provoke more depressive episodes than pleasure.
And finally, I’m smart enough not to stick with it merely to avoid disappointing you guys. I’d fail anyway. I’m sorry but that’s the way I am.
So the Syren will follow Charlie Morgan into the bin first thing in the morning and that’s the end of my stash and the end of ship modelling for me.
I’m not angry anymore. I’m relieved!
(And I didn’t absquatulate either. I’ve said my farewell.)
The marriage was of course a disaster made worse and made into a life sentence by children. Ironically, the people we were trying to please, our families, each detested their kid’s choice of spouse. In trying to avoid looking silly we made great fools of ourselves.
All by carrying on with a long term project entered into with great enthusiasm and immediately but secretly regretted.
You can tell where this is going can’t you?
I’m wiser now, just a bit. Wise enough not to marry myself to a model that I only own because of a past manic impulse to buy a bargain from that charity. A model in which I have no historical interest whatsoever. A model which will infuriate me repeatedly instead of providing a pleasant way to pass one of my remaining 12(?) years. That bloody battle with the kit would be likely to provoke more depressive episodes than pleasure.
And finally, I’m smart enough not to stick with it merely to avoid disappointing you guys. I’d fail anyway. I’m sorry but that’s the way I am.
So the Syren will follow Charlie Morgan into the bin first thing in the morning and that’s the end of my stash and the end of ship modelling for me.
I’m not angry anymore. I’m relieved!
(And I didn’t absquatulate either. I’ve said my farewell.)
I believe that's a new record, Smithy! I confess I'm disappointed. I'm not much for posting but I am a bit of a voyeur of your writing so now I'll have to peep through someone else's curtains... Won't be the same...
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