The Modeler's Forum

Howdy
   For the little diorama / layout extension I need a 2nd boat for the harbour.
So again I'm using foam for the hull, balsa for the deck, and a variety of balsa, styrene, card and scrap box bits for the rest of it.

I really want to go heavy with the weathering on this one, so it will be rough & rusty, and will look like it's been cobbled together from scrounged parts the the captain found "lying" around.  Bits of old wood, tin sheets etc for repairs, what ever he could get his hands on.... cheap.

So first off I again cut the deck out first, and used this as a template to cut the foam hull to shape.  Then glued them together.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1641-020225042114.jpeg)

Lines for the decking boards done with the back of Exacto blade.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1641-020225041932-53877204.jpeg)

They should mandate boat hulls made of that stuff. A titanic novel idea.

Nice work Rob!

Rob, I think I'm going to enjoy watching you build and weather the heck out of it.  ;D

Howdy Rob, I"m looking forward to another fun boat build. With all that foam it is sure to float  ;)  Have fun, mike

Thanks Philip, Rick & Mike

So I firstly clad the sides with thin stiff card like on my other Mexican boats.

But this time I wanted the look of overlapping boards.
So I then cut the individual  planks from manilla folder, and laminated them over the other card, and then roughed them up a bit with a blade.

(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1641-020225041932-538792100.jpeg)

(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1641-020225041932-53880759.jpeg)

Howdy Rob,  

The shiplap made from a manilla folder captures the look of real wood.  The wood grain really comes through.  Nice job.  

Have fun,
mike

Ron, great job of getting the paper to look like wood.

 8) Neat

Thanks Mike, Rick & Philip.
I think the woodgrain will be OK.  We'll see how much shows up once I start the heavy weathering.

Anyhow, for now I've added the gunwale to the top edge.  Used picture mounting board for this.
And have also added the ribbing inside the hull using basswood strips.

(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1641-020225041932-538812018.jpeg)

(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1641-020225041933-53882505.jpeg)

I think I'll paint the hull next to see how it looks.

Looking good Rob.

Thanks Rick.

So next up finally getting that hull and deck painted with the heavy weathering.

First up painted the deck and interior of the sides with some thin raw umber washes.
Then for the gunwale, I did this in a metal colour,  to represent metal trim so I can later go heavy on the rust
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1641-070225004932-54156744.jpeg)

(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1641-070225004932-541581995.jpeg)

I then decided the metal gunwale was a bit too thick, so took it back to just the top 1.5mm thickness by repainting the top board. Then onto the weathering.
The whole hull was given a coat of white.
Then the rest of the painting was done with a mix of brushing and sponging.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1641-070225004932-541591482.jpeg)

(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1641-070225004933-541602012.jpeg)

(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1641-070225004933-541611527.jpeg)

I think it looks decrepit enough.

Robert, decrepit, looking enough?, if it looked any worse I would be afraid to put in into the water.

The weathered paint on the sides look fantastic.

Howdy Rob, that boat is looking old and tired.  Are you sure it will float?  Nice work as usual.  Have fun, mike

Rob great looking boat.  But you get in first!!  ;D

Jerry

Rob,

Great looking old gal. She will fit right in with the rest of the fleet. Love the weathering.

Tom 

Rob, excellent painting and weathering.

Looks like that ol' tub is gonna several gallons of rust remover before fishing season starts up again!

You've created a real fixer up scow, great work Rob..... 8)

Rob,

What the other guys have said. Looks like something you'd find on the beach.

Bernd

Thanks Ron, Mike Jerry, Tom, Rick, Dave, Greg & Bernd, for all the comments.

Yep, she's pretty rough & ready and will definitely will need a good sanding if Pelado ever gets around to painting it. At least the boards are intact to keep her afloat.

Looks creek worthy to me!  :)

Got any oar's yet?

Thanks Philip.  Will need more than a paddle to get out of that mess. ;)

So following on from the decrepit hull, the cabin is also doubtful.
Story goes that Pelado went to the chandlery to get some marine ply to repair the cabin.
The price was way too much.
They suggested he could use some old tin signs they were throwing out.  Free if he took them straight away.
So with a smile on his face, he & a compadre loaded them up and made the cabin "watertight".  Not pretty but it will do.

So I made the front out of styrene and balsa, and angled the walls slightly to give it some character.
The side walls are styrene with grain carved in.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1641-100225045905-54229300.jpeg)

Gave it a base coat of Tamiya desert yellow.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1641-100225045905-54230945.jpeg)

close up to see the grain detail
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1641-100225045905-542311635.jpeg)

Painted all the framework is a faded green, and white for the wood panels.
Then added the old tin signs for the repaired panels.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1641-100225045905-542321486.jpeg)

I did one panel just in rust.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1641-100225045905-542331652.jpeg)

Then I decided it still wasn't decrepit enough.  So made up some more rusty panels for the roof.
I used some burnt orange copy paper and did various brown washes and some sponging of metal colour to achieve the rusty look.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1641-100225050204-542341027.jpeg)

Then clad the roof and the little cabin is done.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1641-100225050204-542351659.jpeg)

(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1641-100225050204-542361878.jpeg)

The roof panels
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1641-100225050204-542371669.jpeg)

(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1641-100225050204-542381376.jpeg)

Trial placement on the deck.  I think the cabin suits the hull quite well.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1641-100225050248-542391977.jpeg)

WOW! Does that look good.
Outstanding painting, weathering and rusting.
Rob, great job!

Hopefully there is an extinguisher on board for that fire hazard.


Very creative idea for using "old signs" for the cabin panels. i have never "scene" that before in any scale.

Rob,

I love the use of the signs. Just what a Mex  would do to fix his boat using metal signs he "borrowed".

Tom

"Then I decided it still wasn't decrepit enough."

Nothing beats a model with a contrived whimsical back-story.  But then executing it...

Mister Goslin?  Wow.

I would like to swim to Australia to shake your hand and operate your railroad.  I shall bring decent cask-aged tequila.

Not settin' foot on that boat's deck, though, nor going near its cabin.  Kind of afraid of hepatitis.

Howdy Rob, you are quite the artist.  Congrats on such wonderful models.  Have fun, mike

Thanks Rick, Dave, Tom, critter & Mike for your nice compliments.
I'm really happy with how the cabin came out. I love rust.

And always like like to tell a story, to put it into context. When exhibiting, it's always good to have a back story of why something looks the way it does.  I usually get a good laugh from folks.

Regarding the use of old signs for repair jobs, I have seen it done prototypically, usually on an old door.
Here's an example of a door repair from great Aussie modeler Richard Ginyer.

and the second shot is a loco roof from brilliant California modeler Gary Beatty.

I also love the use of old signs.

It's exactly what anybody hurting for cash and needs shelter would do.  Decades ago, I rented a house that had an existing homemade lean-to shed constructed largely with old wooden storm windows.  The landlord was a wealthy realtor, I already learned he wouldn't put a dime into any repairs.  I was using the shed regularly, so when the lean-to started leaning more than originally designed, I repaired it in the same style, using lumber gleaned from cast-off large factory pallets.

My temporary tarp was a cast-off vinyl billboard, available for the asking if you caught a sign crew swapping one out. 

Nowadays, one can buy these used billboard tarps from several vendors. When my own flat roof blew off a few years back, I found more than one company that heat seams them together into almost any size.  While waiting for new trusses, I used 2 of these seamed together tarps to cover a 35' by 45' building, after the Menards tarp the insurance company threw up disintegrated in a month.  I actually could have ordered a single seamed tarp big enough, but it would have weighed 160 pounds, twice what each smaller tarp weighed at 80 pounds, tough enough for me to take up a tall ladder nowadays.

Several years back, I started but never finished a model of this building in its flat-roofed configuration.  Maybe I ought to finish it and model it during its repair stage coved by the billboards for hot tubs and Viagra? 
 

Interesting story Mark

I have now made the hatch.  Don't ask what they store under there. ;)

Used a piece of balsa with plank lines and grain carved in. Then framed it with styrene angle to represent metal framing.  Then suitably painted & weathered.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1641-120225005701-542501920.jpeg)

Now onto the mast & boom.  The mast is 5mm wooden rod, and the boom is a 3.5mm skewer.
Various metal components made from styrene and rusted with a sponge. The pulley is also scratchbuilt.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1641-120225005701-54254629.jpeg)

(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1641-120225005701-542551614.jpeg)

Now I can set it in place and start on the rigging

Rob, new additions look excellent especially the painting and weathering.

Way cool update Rob! !

Thanks Rick & Philip for your continued interest.

So I got all the rigging done last night. Whilst rigging always looks good, it sure is fiddly to do.
And today after work, I decided to add the tyre bumpers. They still need final weathering.

(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1641-130225041710-542572100.jpeg)

(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1641-130225041710-54258674.jpeg)

Have trial fitted the cabin on the deck to see how it all looks.  Very happy with the run down look.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1641-130225041711-542591112.jpeg)

(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1641-130225041711-542602073.jpeg)

(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1641-130225041711-54261190.jpeg)

(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1641-130225041734-542622384.jpeg)

So now I can start getting together, and painting any detail parts needed to really junk up the deck.
So just about there.

Ron, doing that rigging would be a severe test of my patience.
Your rigging looks amazing.
I'm impressed.

Howdy Rob, the boat looks fantastic.  Your design came out perfect. Have fun, mike

Rob,

Fantastic and masterful craftsman "ship".  ;D

Tom 

 8) Sweet Home Alabama! Nice work!

Thanks Rick.  This rigging is fairly basic, compared to my trawlers, but is enough to be convincing.

Thanks Mike, Tom & Philip.  As they say south of the border, Mucho Fun. Olé.

Getting all the details (junk) ready so should finish this boat this weekend.
Then onto doing the diorama.

What a great looking boat!  Nice work on the weathering.

Jeff

Thanks Jeff.  I'm really happy with the weathering.
Whilst all my boats have some weathering done to them, for this one I was really happy to go to the extreme for a really run down look.

So I have got all the detail parts ready.  Painted etc.

(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1641-150225042738-543091709.jpeg)

Then installed on the boat.  Mostly in the middle to bow area.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1641-150225042738-543102369.jpeg)

(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1641-150225042738-54311337.jpeg)

(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1641-150225042738-54312862.jpeg)

(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1641-150225042738-543131037.jpeg)

here you can see the life ring attached to the cabin.  And he's lost one of the tyre bumpers.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1641-150225042937-54314605.jpeg)

(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1641-150225042937-543151047.jpeg)

(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1641-150225042937-543161496.jpeg)

(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1641-150225042938-543171507.jpeg)


I will paint up a couple of figures tomorrow, and must give the boat a name.

Perfect!

Coast Guard needs to see your bill of lading. That coffin shaped package is suspect?  ;D

Nice work Rob!

Hello Robert, all I can say is Wow. What a fine job on your boats and structures. Very fine modeling.

Excellent job Rob..... 8)

Excellent , love every bit of it.

Howdy Rob,

The boat is amazing, it looks so real and credible.  Congrats on this fantastic build.  So...what's next?

Have fun,
mike

Rob that is just excellent.  Beautiful detailing and rigging!

Jerry

"La Calamita."  We'll christen her by breaking a scale bottle of Modelo across her bow.

Thanks Rick, Philip, Jeff, Greg, Jan, Mike, Jerry & Critter,
for all you nice comments.  Have really enjoyed doing this one.
So not quite finished yet.

I've got the name printed and attached to the hull now.  Just finishing up the figures, so hopefully finished by tonight, my time.

Story goes that Pelado was looking for a name for his boat. So he asked around.
Someone suggested he call it El Mofeta.  Pelado wasn't familiar with that word.
So they told him if meant handsome. He liked that so went and painted it on his boat, but doesn't understand why everyone keeps laughing. Of course beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Reality is, it means The Skunk, but no one's been willing to tell him since.

So I made up some signs in Excel.  The green background is a close match to the stripe.
Then cut to fit. There are no visible seam as the sign is the height of the green plank and the end cuts run from the tyre bumper to the front of the hull.
Then sanded the paper fairly thin, glued on and weathered.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1641-170225042352-54350470.jpeg)

(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1641-170225042352-543511271.jpeg)

Again the sign on the stern runs all the way to the boat edges, so no seams.
I also added an exhaust pipe protruding from the deck. Rusted of coarse.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1641-170225042352-54352821.jpeg)

Here is Pelado and his compadre sitting on the deck.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1641-170225042352-543531085.jpeg)

(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1641-170225042352-54354331.jpeg)

(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1641-170225042537-543551581.jpeg)

(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1641-170225042537-543562203.jpeg)

I added a steering wheel inside the cabin.
I made this from a small thin metal washer and 0.5mm styrene strip for the handles.
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1641-170225042537-54357955.jpeg)

(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1641-170225042538-54358609.jpeg)

Rob,

The "Skunk" just  gets better with each post. Love it.

Tom 

Rob, good back story on the name and an excellent job of camouflaging the name on the boat.
Figures look good too.

Smiling like a little kid, here.  What a charismatic model.

Hello Rob, the boat just keeps getting better and better.

Howdy Rob, I think I said it all already.  The boat is simply fantastic, amazing, outstanding, impressive, phenomenal...  Have fun, mike

Awesome!

Thanks all for following along.  I really appreciate all the comments and encouragement.
Always good to have a funny backstory, no matter how improbable.

Here's some final pics on the Mini layout.  Although this boat will actually reside on the extension, which I will now start posting over on the diorama forum.

(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1641-170225042538-54359461.jpeg)

(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1641-170225042702-543602428.jpeg)

(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1641-170225042703-543611652.jpeg)

(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1641-170225042703-543622259.jpeg)

here it is next to the other fishing boat, recently completed
(https://modelersforum.com/gallery/1641-170225042703-54364121.jpeg)