Jim Dabrowski

A preview of things to come. Many, many months down the road.

Step D is complete! 

I added several upper-deck-like things and a few walls. 

Not entirely sure what’s up with the staining of the decks. I’m using the same stain and the same wood planking as the other decks but these turned out significantly lighter than the others. I’m OK with this since this is supposed to be a ghost ship so overall it’s supposed to look worn out, beat up and spooky. Hopefully the mis-matched deck staining will just add to the charm. 

Next up, Step F where I start to put on some walls! 

Stay tuned. 

JIm

All trimmed and sanded and dots poked in them. Now to varnish and stain and put them on the boat.

Even the desert can be full of foliage.

Planked up several sections of deck. Here is what they look like front and back. Next step, clean and shape them up.

Putting my copy of LOTR to good use weighing down some planking while the glue dries.

Step D is complete. 

For this step I had to attach cross-pieces to the bulkheads (you can see them through that big rectangle hole in the deck), then cut out and install the upper deck. Before doing that, the center portion had to be planked just like I planked the lower deck. Lots of 65mm long pieces of wood all glued down. The portions in the front and back of the ship aren’t planked because those will be rooms and you won’t see inside them when it’s all finished. Finally, I stained the deck with Judea Bitumen just like the lower deck. Actually, staining the deck is part of Step F, but I learned from doing the lower deck that it’s better to do that while it’s not attached to the boat. I think this staining job went much better than the lower deck. 

Here’s another view, more from the side. 

That’s it for now. Stay tuned for Step E where I attach some of the upper-upper-decks and even some walls! 

JIm

Wow, step C completed. I’m moving along quickly here. 

Got the entire lower deck glued in place and added a few small details. A couple of stairs/ladders, and a capstan. 

This is a bit better view of the details (forgive the crappy lighting, you’d think I’d have better lighting here where I work on building this). 

Next up, a little bit more work on the lower deck and then the upper deck. 

Stay tuned! 

Jim

Step B is complete. 

This is going to be the lower deck of the ship. Those five pieces are of plywood and I had to cut each one out, then cut a whole bunch of 65mm long strips of wood and glue them on. The lines between the planks and the dots are all made from pencil drawing along the sides or poking holes in the corners after they’ve been glued on. Then some sanding and finally a coat of clear, satin varnish. 

The next step, step C, I get to put those on the bulkheads and add some details. Stay tuned! 

JIm

From Terri Kanefield’s blog:

Here’s the thing to remember about democracy in America: We’ve never had a truly representational multicultural and multi-racial democracy.

During the past few decades, we have been moving toward one and this has triggered a powerful backlash. What we are seeing in the Republican Party is the backlash.

I think this is true. I hope we get to one.