Redshift

Looking superb!

Last update before turkeyfest. Added the decks and fitted the prop and rudder tubes. Managed to forget that the rudder post needs to be fitted before the deck, so there is now an unsightly access hole, but this will eventually be covered by superstructure. More in the new year. Merry Christmas to all!

Looks fantastic. Very realistic weathering down the sides.

Yes, the ribs and frames are laser cut and just need fettling with sandpaper. The only extra tools I bought are a mini plane that uses razor blades and an electric plank bender, but neither are essential. Not sure I'd recommend this one for a first wooden model, something like the Boulogne Etaples trawler might be better as the instructions are more comprehensive. And its half the price!

Starting to look very good indeed. I have to ask, where on earth do you keep and display your finished work? I'm running out of shelf space and my models are only 2 feet long, not 7!

Welcome aboard chaps, mind the mess. This won't be a quick build, I only get a couple of hours at weekends as work is keeping me on my toes, but the whole point of this is for relaxation and the enjoyment of the build as much as the end result.

Forgive the indulgence, I know this is primarily a plastic forum, but I do like getting to grips with a pile of wood and making something recognisably boatlike out of it. This build is of a Billing Boats "Nordkap", a North Sea trawler from the early '70s. I remember my Dad making this model about 30 years ago and me being impressed by it compared to my pile of airfix spitfires. Anyway, I have once again commandeered the dining room table as a workshop and started sawdust production in earnest. First things first, the keel. Add some ribs, then realise that while the keel was cut to the length from the instructions it is 4mm too short when measured against the deck. Measure twice cut once? Where's the fun in that? This is the third Billings kit I've done and is easily the best quality in terms of fittings and wood parts; not up to Amati standards, but pretty good. Luckily I had read up about the kit and had been warned that the instructions were more like outline suggestions than a detailed how-to guide. I was wondering about doing some weathering and making it look like a working vessel, but that was vetoed by the boss if I want to have it out on display, so shiny and shipshape it'll have to be.

Ok, thanks. I did a tamiya harley flh 1/6 which is a lovely model. Used to own an xl1200 and a fxdb 1584 once upon a time

Ooo! A 205 gti kit, I used to have a 1:1 scale one of those. And that alfa 8c looks gorgeous Nice selection. Have you ever come across a kit of a suzuki bandit? I used to ride a gsf1250s until it had a high speed refurbishment and I quite fancy making a mini version but I cantfind any models of one.

superb finish on this bike, looks like its just got back from a thrash round the back lanes. The only thing is, every panigale I've seen was polished to within an inch of its life! This looks more real than a real one.

I agree with the diy approach to cases, there are firms that do cut to order acrylic sheets at reasonable cost.

Very very impressive

Thanks for the advice, I'm exposing my woeful ignorance of naval etiquette!

Thanks, I'll correct it.

Thanks, and thanks for the flag advice.

Quite a quick build by my standards, three weeks start to finish. My first model using resin and photoetch and I'm still in two minds over doing another. I prefer the feeling of actually creating something by doing a wooden plank on frame model. However, the end result is pleasing

Finished. Quite pleased with the end result, I just have to not keep looking at the mistakes. More pics in Ready For Inspection

7Phew! Those railing test the eyesight a bit. Anyway, its almost RFI

Nearly there...

I'd also recommend the better quality rigging threads as suggested above. My amati ship came with 0.1mm threads as the finest size and they had no stray hairs or fuzziness. Ratline knots were sealed with CA applied with a pin, but dilute pva applied with a brush works well too. No need for wax.

Bit more progress today, I was waiting for a new can of paint to touch up some errors then started assembling the main components: