David G.

Thank you kindly Alan. =D-

Wow Tom, you've really been making some great progress on this! I may not comment very often but I still like following along and keeping up with your impressive engineering and fabrication skills. David G.

It took a good bit of time and effort but I'd say you found an excellent solution for the window trim. It seems that you have the polishing down pat too. Well done David!

Hello Everybody! After several build sessions, the ratlines are done! They turned out almost as good as I had hoped. I think they look better than those clunky plastic ones that were missing from my kit. Another couple build sessions and I have the sails attached most of the rigging... rigged. After I finish the rigging, touch up the paint and install the anchors, this one will be complete! Ad always, thanks for taking the time to look and please feel free to comment. David G.

Hello Everybody! I've been on kind of an obsessive bent with this build. Well I guess nearly every build I do gets me to that stage at some point. But it's been very slow-going on this one as I scale the learning curve that it's one is throwing at me. With the masts securely glued in place and the cannons mounted to the deck, the next step is the ratlines. I found some old steel bead wire I plan to use for the runners. After drilling holes above the blocks and one in the mast it was time to start running the wire. The cross lines are black thread soaked in diluted PVA. Once this mess dries, I'll trim the loose ends and paint the whole thing black. The aft set is nearly done and almost ready to be painted. The set amidships has six lines. Unsurprisingly, with twice the lines it's showing itself as more than twice the challenge. But I was able to get it strung and it's now awaiting a trim. The fore section only has five lines so getting the six-line set in place should teach me all I need to know to tackle that one. I also made a golden hind for the stern just to dress the space up a little. I cut the silhouette from some photo paper and painted it gold. I'm sure my methods of building the ratlines are grossly incorrect and all the model shipbuilders are cringing in horror but I justify my actions based on the lack of detail and accuracy of the base model! Seriously though, thanks for taking the time to follow along and please feel free to post ant comments you may have. David G.

I have to say, I've never seen a Sharpie leak... ever. 😮 Have you tried using a black Sharpie to go over the silver spillage? One pen's ink should act as a solvent for another's. At the very least, painting the black ink over the silver would dilute the silver and/or replace it with the black. You may even get the black pen to act as a sponge-mop drawing the silver ink up onto the nib of the black pen. I would try it with a rolling motion turning the pen as I go using it as one would a cotton swab. It would likely ruin the black pen, but if it saves the model... Having the spare car bodies is most fortunate, but I would also weigh the time and effort against what it would take to get one of the spare bodies to a similar state as this one is now. In either case, best of luck. David G.

Thank you Alan, that's good to know. I just didn't want the lines to be the first thing noticed on the model. Thank you very much Michael. David G.

Hello Everybody! I painted the crown on the lion and the lines on the sails. The lines are a little too dark for me so I'll probably lighten them up during the cleanup. This of course calls for a celebratory test-fit! I've lightened the ropes a bit too. As always, thanks for taking the time to look and please feel free to post any comments. David G.

Thank you Alan. =D-

Thank you very much Daniel! David G.

Nice work, love all the detail painting. David G.

Hello Everybody! It's taken me about twelve hours spaced over a number of build sessions but the detail painting is done! Oh yeah, I finished the name plaque too. I still have a little more painting to do on the sails but the hull is finished. Using pastels I also did a little light weathering on the decks but they're finished too. Except for the deck cannons. There are eight cannon for the deck, each about 7mm long. I'll mount these right before I start on the rigging. As always, thanks for taking the time to look and please feel free to post any comments you may have. David G.

Thank you James2, I will endeavor not to disappoint. Thank you Bill. I've learned so much from this community, it's nice being able to give a little back when I can. Thank you Michael, always one of my favorites too. David G.

Hello Everybody! Here's the final set of photos for this build. The gravel guards are black BMF. The foil was a little too shiny so I sprayed it with some Tamiya flat clear before I applied it. Right front 3/4 view. Here's the cover shot! Last but not least, my traditional Display Case photo. Thank you all for your kind comments and support. David G.

Thank you Carl. =D-