Vasa 1:75 - Billing Boats by Robp1025

[Robp1025]

So I will preface this by saying that there is a kit out there I said I would purchase and am still very much in want of that kit. So please do not think me starting this log is in no means me not still wanting to purchase the kit.

Now onto the start of this post here.

So some background... I am a member of Model Ship World as well and have been keeping my eyes open for kits or tools as I have just started out about a year ago with full ship model building. As it turns out, someone who was 20 minutes from me retired from making ships and gave away a free kit that was started which was on my list of ships I would like to do.

You see there is a lot of people who do the victory or the constitution but not have done the Vasa...the marvelous ship who was gorgeous in looks and that's about it as it sunk in 30 minutes of casting off lol. But I love the look and beauty the ship has and am quite drawn to it for sure.

So I picked up the kit and got to meet a fellow shipwright who is in the area and I can chat with and meet at events and such which is really a blessing in it self. So these are some photos of the kit I got and all the parts so we have a starting ground

 

[Robp1025]

I am going to do another post as a catch up because I have done some work but not a lot of work becaus life has been absolutely mad crazy so bare with me lol

 

[Robp1025]

Ok so after a day or two of measuring and checking over how off the ship was to the plans I found that while there was a couple mm here and there for the most part everything really was for the most part right on point.

Now my next decision was where the heck am I going to start because as I have checked over the model I have realized that the ship didn't have a complete step besides the planking being finished. So I put a list of wants to see first.

Deck staining
Gun ports
Transom
Railings

So first idea is ok let's tackle these gun ports and going through these I got one side cut out and measured using a piece of balsa with a gunport glued on the end to make sure it fit.


And I thought hey this doesn't look bad so let's go with this and do the other side.... Yea then I go an itch with the fact of what I didn't like. So I tried the good ol wood filler and sanding method and found I liked it A LOT better then the other side
So yep the other side needed the same treatment
And this is what I ended up with after painting and a lot of sanding and shaping to get it nice and flat.

 

[Robp1025]

Next I said ok let me try to do some work on the transom which was not too bad. Just some measuring and sanding and I was able to get them pretty well situated. Only issue is that the Wales were cut a little too much so I will have to tackle that after I get the rest of it built up and see what space I'll have left over.
I made sure the are 90 degrees to the hull and equidistant in length to make sure everything will line up correctly when I add all the bells and whistles.

 

[Robp1025]

And then I got a itch that would not go away... The grating on the deck has been a place that I have felt I might just compromise since it's already fully built and glued and painted even....but I couldn't let it be because it just was a very visible place of opportunity for improvement.
This photo shows it the best you can see it was not cut right and the grate and frame needed to be flipped. So yea this is what it was
And now it's this
I also used a micron to do the planking lengths and treenail marks. I won't be able to actually make the treenails and all because I would not be able to get in the sides of the deck because of the railing so my idea is to finish the whole deck and then sand it to make it not so visible and then stain with a dark walnut and it should blend in pretty well to look right.
Currently testing the method apart from the ship to make sure the stain I'm using works alright and does not hide the micro too much after setting and all.... And this is where our live adventure begins....hopeful I can make a ship half as good as docks and the others that I have seen and I am 1000 percent up for help and pointers and tips for going forward. If you have questions feel free to reach out and let's all have fun and enjoy the road

 

[Heinrich]

Hi Rob. A big welcome from my side on SOS and thank you for starting this log You will find that there are a number of excellent VASAs doing the round here - just look for the models of @PeterG ; @Daniel20 and @dockattner.

But now of course ... I have to ask ... what other kit is it that you are looking to buy?

 

[Robp1025]

@Heinrich thank you for the welcome!! So I am also going to be getting a Montanes from someone here on the forum who has been patient. As I mentioned in @dockattner vasa build log I have been going through my own trials as well these past couple months so he has been showing me some grace.

But yea I have seen @Daniel20 and also @PeterG builds as well which is where a lot of my questions have been answered so far

 

[Heinrich]

Great stuff Rob. I am very proud of the camaraderie and friendship that exists between many of the members on SOS and I am sure that evryone will chip in if you have any questions to ask. Also, I have seen many an occasion where the less-experienced members teach the old dogs a thing or two - so everything is reciprocal and that is what makes it so great.

When you start with the Montanes, we will be there as well!

 

[dockattner]

Excited to see you have started your build log Rob. There will be many people who will be eager to help you along the way. Looking forward to continuing this journey with you.

 

[Daniel20]

Hello Rob, welcome to the world of Vasa shipbuilding. It would be interesting to know what year that Billings version you have came out. Good luck and keep us posted on your progress. Feel free to ask any questions. I still have a couple hundred questions about this ship as well

 

[Robp1025]

Hello Rob, welcome to the world of Vasa shipbuilding. It would be interesting to know what year that Billings version you have came out. Good luck and keep us posted on your progress. Feel free to ask any questions. I still have a couple hundred questions about this ship as well

So from looking it up my kit was made in 1982 so Its not to to old lol also thank you for the welcome.

 

[Robp1025]

So going through my process I decided it's staining time for the deck. Did a quick sand and wipe down then used my pre stain and tested one more time each color and was very tentative...but I think it came out really well!!

Then I decided to do the red to start getting everything to the right color. And I just used cadmium red but it was so dark it didn't look right.

So now I'm putting a coat of gesso and then doing white banisters and red on the sides
As you saw in the stain post I was testing to see how everything would look and looking at past posts this is what I decided.

I hope you guys are having a wonderful time and thank you for all the likes and comments

 

[PeterG]

Hi Rob,

Welcome aboard SOS. You have accepted a challenge which will take a long time but be very rewarding- Good luck. You have made a great start.

As Heinrich said, there are currently some excellent Vasa builds currently on SOS and if you need any help/advice, please ask. Vasa is an unusual ship in that we have such great resources available in the research and the actual ship, so excellent detail can be provided. The Vasa Museum is also a great resource.

So enjoy, take it slowly and reach out if you need something.

Regards,
PeterG

 

[Robp1025]

Hi Rob,

Welcome aboard SOS. You have accepted a challenge which will take a long time but be very rewarding- Good luck. You have made a great start.

As Heinrich said, there are currently some excellent Vasa builds currently on SOS and if you need any help/advice, please ask. Vasa is an unusual ship in that we have such great resources available in the research and the actual ship, so excellent detail can be provided. The Vasa Museum is also a great resource.

So enjoy, take it slowly and reach out if you need something.

Regards,
PeterG

Hey Peter,

Thank you so much and yes I have been in conversations with some people already. I know I will need some help in the future and also would love to get to know you guys! Also if anyone wants to know things about me I'm pretty open and a good guy. Talk to you soon

 

[dockattner]

I know you were considering some options for the deck staining. I think you have chosen well - your deck looks very nice with the darker hull and I think you have successfully toned down the 'treenails' so they look less prominent. Thanks for sharing your work with us.

 

[Heinrich]

Very nice work Rob! I am very glad to see that you have already had some contact with our VASA builders on SOS. Even though I am not building the VASA, I can tell you that each and every one of them is a great guy and well worth getting to know - as much as it is a pleasure getting to know you!

 

[Robp1025]

Very nice work Rob! I am very glad to see that you have already had some contact with our VASA builders on SOS. Even though I am not building the VASA, I can tell you that each and every one of them is a great guy and well worth getting to know - as much as it is a pleasure getting to know you!

It's been a pleasure reading all the logs and interaction across the board so I'm excited for sure. I welcome none Vasa builders as well cause I only have 1 ship (that's almost there but my lovely birds decided to break into where I was storing it and do some work on it so it has stalled out of pure frustration and waiting for parts) under my belt so I'm still fresh to the hobby and want to learn as much as I can

 

[Robp1025]

So got some more paint and all done. I am liking the color after I gesso so for sure a much better way about going with the color and all so will be doing that from now on. Just need some touch up and then on to the next side.

 

[GrantTyler]

Good morning Rob. Great Vasa thus far. It seems this is a popular ship on SOS and there are fantastic guys building the Vasa here. Enjoy your journey. Cheers Grant

 

[Heinrich]

Good morning Rob. Great Vasa thus far. It seems this is a popular ship on SOS and there are fantastic guys building the Vasa here. Enjoy your journey. Cheers Grant

You are very right Grant. I think the decision as to which kit to choose is a particularly important one when it comes to ships like the VASA, Victory, SR and ST.