The Ship Model Forum

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Amen dico tibi, hodie mecum eris in paradiso (Lk 23,43).

Tom,
Well, the quake didn't do anything that I can see, so perhaps we're good for a while!!!

Willie,
Thanks a bunch for the kind remarks!!!

Update:
I did get the a/c installed yesterday - kept kicking the 15A breaker, so I went to a 20A and same thing. Called Black & Decker & Amazon - both said to box it up and return it. So, UPS came today and picked it up. Getting a full credit + $30 promotional for all the fuss. I'll probably reorder a NEW one once the refund has cleared my CC account, but... I'm also taking another look at things as far as brands, etc. Not too many out there in the price range I've set with heat. In the meantime, I'm back to working short stints due to heat/humdity. Did get one of two bookcases assembled this a.m. before noon when I called it a day. Also, built the 2nd slide drawer and this one came out very nice - I may reconstruct the 1st one to match; I had my head screwed on right this morning, so that's why it didn't cause any problems. Will be back out this evening once things have cooled down a bit.

7PM update - After a couple hours of doing further research AND reading a few reviews, it seems that the model B & D port. a/c I had picked out (above) had identical issues by other owners and they really panned the product. So, I'm now looking at a Whynter portable a/c w/heat that is a bit more expensive but has very good reviews, is designed with a larger room in mind (adding a bit of security here). We'll see what happens....

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HMS III
Mocksville, NC
BB62 vet 68-69

Builder's yard:
USS STODDARD (DD-566) 66-68 1:144, Various Lg Scale FC Directors
Finished:
USS NEW JERSEY (BB-62) 67-69 1:200
USN Sloop/Ship PEACOCK (1813) 1:48
ROYAL CAROLINE (1748) 1:47
AVS (1768) 1:48

Hank:

Are you including a "painting booth" area with ventilation? I'm sure the new AC unit will do yeoman duty and be a big plus to enjoyable sessions. Looking forward to when you finally declare the unit in commission!

Cheers: Tom

Tom,
Sorry I missed your painting booth question - No, not at present - I will probably use a 3 section backboard modified so I can add a cardboard floor to it and still close it up and stow it.

Wed. - 8/26/20 - I now have the last (3rd) coat of paint on the floor and things are pretty much complete - with, of course, the exception of having the a/c unit in place. I'm still waiting on a refund for the B&D unit that failed, so until then, I'm working during cooler periods of the day. Here are two shots from today & yesterday evening:


So, once a good vacuuming takes place, I'll possibly be able to add another chair in the sitting area; the shop area needs further arranaging & stowing, etc. so things are slowly progressing. Exterior-wise, I need to paint, but that's not a priority at this point - maybe next month when the weather is more suited. I had planned on a group commissioning but with COVID lurking that may be put off - I may just have to start using the shop without further fanfare; seems a bit inappropriate at this point. sigh....

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HMS III
Mocksville, NC
BB62 vet 68-69

Builder's yard:
USS STODDARD (DD-566) 66-68 1:144, Various Lg Scale FC Directors
Finished:
USS NEW JERSEY (BB-62) 67-69 1:200
USN Sloop/Ship PEACOCK (1813) 1:48
ROYAL CAROLINE (1748) 1:47
AVS (1768) 1:48

Oooooo! Sitting area, how cool! Perhaps a dust curtain to separate the two areas if you end up doing wood working. You could have a commissioning ceremony out on the quarter deck, sort of your ceremonial rose garden so to speak.

Looks great! Tom

Fantastic! I remain ever envious.

_________________
Martin

"Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes into us at midnight very clean. It's perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands. It hopes we've learned something from yesterday." John Wayne

Ship Model Gallery

Tom:
My goodness, what an opening you've left me - esp. with what's afoot these days. Alas....I'll keep a straight face With more plastic models about to commence, I'm not thinking the dust level will necessitate the curtains at this point!!!

Martin:
Thanks so much - I appreciate your comments!!!

It's still quite hot out there and until the a/c situation is remedied, my shop time is limited. I think that situation is closer to being concluded than a couple days ago. Anyhow, day by day things are a bit more ready to do. I'm hoping a couple of the other modelers will be by this afternoon for a visit and if so, I'll be able to get the display case off NEW JERSEY so I can actually make a few repairs, etc. This would in fact then make the shop "in commission"!

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HMS III
Mocksville, NC
BB62 vet 68-69

Builder's yard:
USS STODDARD (DD-566) 66-68 1:144, Various Lg Scale FC Directors
Finished:
USS NEW JERSEY (BB-62) 67-69 1:200
USN Sloop/Ship PEACOCK (1813) 1:48
ROYAL CAROLINE (1748) 1:47
AVS (1768) 1:48

More like Builders "trials"?

Well, that's a good way of putting it. With the temps back up in the high 80's and tomorrow the 90s, I went ahead today and ordered the a/c unit - so, next weekend it should arrive and hopefully this one will work w/o any problems.

In the meantime, I'm continuing with cleanup, arrangement, stowing of modeling "stuff" when it's cooler in the morning and after supper. I've actually started on STODDARD (basic hull work & penetrations location). Also, was working on more CAD drawings for her build today during the high afternoon heat.

For all intents and purposes, the shop is now "functional" and I will update this thread with major developments as they occur. I hope to do exterior painting (siding/trim) this fall once the weather is cooler. A commissioning party will probably not occur any time soon, so we'll consider the shop "In Service, Pending Commission"

Hank

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HMS III
Mocksville, NC
BB62 vet 68-69

Builder's yard:
USS STODDARD (DD-566) 66-68 1:144, Various Lg Scale FC Directors
Finished:
USS NEW JERSEY (BB-62) 67-69 1:200
USN Sloop/Ship PEACOCK (1813) 1:48
ROYAL CAROLINE (1748) 1:47
AVS (1768) 1:48

Just think back to Stoddard's days in the Pacific and watch standers at GQ all buttoned up! Maybe the whine of a ventilation fan will bring back fond memories?

It will .....I mean, IT WILL!!!!!!!

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HMS III
Mocksville, NC
BB62 vet 68-69

Builder's yard:
USS STODDARD (DD-566) 66-68 1:144, Various Lg Scale FC Directors
Finished:
USS NEW JERSEY (BB-62) 67-69 1:200
USN Sloop/Ship PEACOCK (1813) 1:48
ROYAL CAROLINE (1748) 1:47
AVS (1768) 1:48

Hank:

Is the shop done, rigged, painted, dusted and put in it's case, or will we get some more updates?

Tom

Tom,
Did you mean NEW JERSEY (done, rigged, painted, dust and put in it's case)? Or the workshop as a whole? I'm guessing you meant NEW JERSEY. She has been repaired and the display case put back in place, and she's now in the front area in her "homeport" on top of 3 bookcases.

The shop (as noted in my last post a few days ago) is "In Service, Pending Commission" - I've started on STODDARD, and am currently doing a bit of work on my Curtiss WASP engine kit in order to get in further towards completion. I hope to get that kit back in its box and the workbench cleared later this week so I can continue with my STODDARD project. The a/c unit should arrive this weekend and I hope to have it up and running on Sunday (fingers crossed!!!). The weather has been in the 80's this week and upper 70s tomorrow, so that's a big help.

Hank

_________________
HMS III
Mocksville, NC
BB62 vet 68-69

Builder's yard:
USS STODDARD (DD-566) 66-68 1:144, Various Lg Scale FC Directors
Finished:
USS NEW JERSEY (BB-62) 67-69 1:200
USN Sloop/Ship PEACOCK (1813) 1:48
ROYAL CAROLINE (1748) 1:47
AVS (1768) 1:48

Hank:

The AC will arrive just in time for the cool weather! Some basic life rules never change. I guess you could say that your workshop is undergoing "builders trials".

Looking forward to model progress updates! Tom

Yes, it did and Fall is upon us. I now have the attic access door in place and both attic areas closed off. I've only got some touch up caulking/painting, trim work to do and we'll call this "done"! Here is the how the two attic closures look now:

and the access door over the loft:


I ran the a/c yesterday and it seems to be functioning as described - dropped 1° in about 20 minutes or so in the sitting area so I know that closing off these attic areas was the main problem. I now consider the shop as "In limited operations, pending Commissioning". Further exterior painting/roofing work will occur as time/money are available and too interior work as needed. Still stowing and putting things up and so forth, so it's an ongoing process. Should be a fun Fall to be back to ship modeling!

Hank

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HMS III
Mocksville, NC
BB62 vet 68-69

Builder's yard:
USS STODDARD (DD-566) 66-68 1:144, Various Lg Scale FC Directors
Finished:
USS NEW JERSEY (BB-62) 67-69 1:200
USN Sloop/Ship PEACOCK (1813) 1:48
ROYAL CAROLINE (1748) 1:47
AVS (1768) 1:48

I could only dream about having a workspace as nice and roomy as this.

Commissioning should be soon, I would think.

Thanks Dan for the kind comments!!!

Well, that depends on when I can get the crew over for some snacks and have a "commissioning party". Aside from that, I'm in there and slowly getting things working again. It's a bigger space than I've ever had before so takes some thinking as to how to use it all wisely!!

Hank

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HMS III
Mocksville, NC
BB62 vet 68-69

Builder's yard:
USS STODDARD (DD-566) 66-68 1:144, Various Lg Scale FC Directors
Finished:
USS NEW JERSEY (BB-62) 67-69 1:200
USN Sloop/Ship PEACOCK (1813) 1:48
ROYAL CAROLINE (1748) 1:47
AVS (1768) 1:48

Sublet

Hank:

As you see already starting to begin, is you will always expand into 120% of the available space! The theme, already begun, is to have a number of projects going at once. In many ways a good way to work, helps avoid burnout.

Very nice! Tom

Tom,
Yes, I've got the B-2 model underway - another 10 year stashed kit in progress now, and STODDARD is moving to the front as the bomber gets closer to its finish.

May get out today to do the attic painting, in order to let Dan K. sublet the upper area when he visits from NYC!!!!

Hank

_________________
HMS III
Mocksville, NC
BB62 vet 68-69

Builder's yard:
USS STODDARD (DD-566) 66-68 1:144, Various Lg Scale FC Directors
Finished:
USS NEW JERSEY (BB-62) 67-69 1:200
USN Sloop/Ship PEACOCK (1813) 1:48
ROYAL CAROLINE (1748) 1:47
AVS (1768) 1:48