David G.

Indeed it does, thank you Alan. =D-

Hello Everybody! These are the last of the photos for this build... I promise. I think the scratch built ratlines make a big difference. This will be the cover shot. There's not much deck detail, but there it is. This is my traditional Display Case Photo, but it seems out of place with all these cars. My plan is to keep it in the curio cabinet. I think it looks much better here... right next to the catapult. As always, thanks for taking the time to look and thank you for your support patience. Please feel free to share any comments you may have. David G.

Thank you very much Carl. =D-

Thank you kindly Larry. =D-

Thank you Joe. I'm truly flattered knowing that I can impress such a highly skilled builder as yourself. Thank you Jim. This is my first ship model and I probably won't build another one soon. So yeah, I know what you mean. They're a whole different type of adventure and I have a lot of respect for those builders who can tackle those large wooden ship models. David G.

Thank you Keith, I'm glad you like it. =D-

Thank you Jim. I think that's why they put all that ballast in the bottom. Thank you very much Brian. Thank you most kindly Alan. David G.

Hello Everybody! This one is finally completed and I've begun posting photos in the Under Glass section. Here's the link. As always, thanks to all of you who supported me through this build with you kind comments, suggestions and tips. David G.

Hello Everybody! This kit is supposed to be a rendition of the Golden Hind captained by Sir Francis Drake in the 1570s. The actual ship which inspired this kit no longer exists but a few replicas have been built and this kit holds little resemblance to any of them. The kit seems to be based on an entirely different style of ship. It's probably the standard base master from which all the other ships in Lindberg's series were derived. Needless to say, I'm not particularly concerned about the historical accuracy of this build. For those who may be interested I have a complete WIP thread that details the whole build process. That being said, on with the show. This kit was more of a challenge than it had a right to be. Using wire and string, I fabricated the ratlines to replace the clunky plastic ones that were missing from the kit. The deer silhouette on the stern is cut from photo paper and painted gold. There are a few other photos I want to post and I still have to get my traditional Display Case shot. So until then, thanks for taking the time to look and please feel free to post any comments you may wish to share. David G.

Wow Chris, I'm really sorry to learn of your health issues. I have a few of my own so I can understand the frustration you must be feeling with the limitations they impose on you. The hot rod is coming along quite nicely. You came up with a neat solution to the rear axle assembly. David G.

Impressive work with the Sharpie pens! The chrome ink looks much better on the car than I thought it would. I'll have to keep this method in mind if I need an alternative source for chrome treatments. Thank you for taking the time to share it with us. The build is coming along quite well. Given the quality of the kit itself, you have it looking much better that it has a right to. David G.

Thank you Peter, I'm glad it turned out to be worth the effort. David G.

Thank you most kindly Joe. =D-

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.