BSC 2025 McMordain's Pirate Skyboat

[snitcythedog]

I see a two part rivet mold in the GSW lineup, not sure if that's the same - the listing doesn't actually give any details, just "20 options".

That's the one.  Four rivet or bolt types in five sizes each.

Of course, Green Stuff World being who they are, if they have a product, that means someone else invented it and GSW just copied it and undercut the inventor's price, so it might be worth a bit more web searching to see who else does rivet/bolt molds...

Interestingly enough, I think those molds are organic.  I have not seen similar anywhere else and I tend to be a tool hoarder. 

[tomrommel1]

very nice progress

[McMordain]

I see a two part rivet mold in the GSW lineup, not sure if that's the same - the listing doesn't actually give any details, just "20 options".

Of course, Green Stuff World being who they are, if they have a product, that means someone else invented it and GSW just copied it and undercut the inventor's price, so it might be worth a bit more web searching to see who else does rivet/bolt molds...

snitcythedog is right, that's the one I have. I missed it last time, when I was searching for it on their site it seems.  As for the company I'm not a fan, but this and their corrugator tool was too good to pass up. I couldn't find better options at the time.

Early this week I finished the port side engine pod.

and you can see now the brass rods keeping them firmly in place.

I also hid the uneven top of the bow gun position with a strip of plastic glued to the main deck hole. Also added a chain to hold the anchor, but it is not permanently fixed yet.
Got the packages I was waiting for as well. From EurekaUK I got the driver-gunner pairs from their Mad Maximillian range. I was searching for inter war pilots and someone in a thread, here on LAF was mentioned them as a good option. They look great and the female gunner works really well in the gun position, but they are bit larger than the pulp figures I have. The other problem is, now that I have the figures/weapons, I'm not convinced that two Lewis guns are good enough as a main weapon for the ship...



The Lewis guns will be useful for some additional armament at the stern of the ship. I got a pack of 3 from Warbases, along with the wheels and some horses (and a couple of other useful things) for the eventual carriage building  Thanks again for the tip guys!
Though I have to mention when I got to the post office for the package, they handed it to me in a sealed plastic bag. The carton packaging was soft as a pillow... It got soaked somewhere along the way. Nothing was missing, but the two sheets of wheels soaked and warped as well. If I was working on the carriages instead, that would have killed any motivation to go forward with it... Fortunately that is not the case and a nice flat surface, some weighty rule books and a warm room helped with the warping. The sealed bag prevented the mdf to dry warped, so I got lucky 

The cabin sides are done as well. Nothing fancy at the moment just to strips of plastic cut into shape, with washers as windows, like on the cabin door.


I had to work yesterday so I could only do a little building at the evening. Hopefully I will able to do more today. I feel like I'm really behind schedule...

[Lost Egg]

Ooo that does look posh! Maybe the gunner is just tall and strapping to cope with the big guns?

[McMordain]

Ahoy!

Sorry for the lack of updates. Work was stressing me a lot and then I got sick and couldn't do much during most of last week... which was stressing
And now I have to deal with the work load that was a lot before and got even bigger during my leave... life is hard

Anyway here is what I managed to do since the last update:



I added the other half of the inner rim to the bow gun position and made a little insert to which I can attach the main gun. I found a pintle mounted autocanon from a HH Malcador kit that looks good enough for a 20 or 30 mm cannon. I will use that for now.
The insert will not be glued in, so it will be possible to add a different gun later, if I choose.

The bottom of the ship was to simple for my taste so I added some panel lines.


I also painted the parts that will be difficult to reach once things gets glued to the hull (no pics of that).
Then glued on the top of the cabin with a hole added for the support of the balloon.

I was thinking about making it removable, for transporting or making a sail version, but I will skip this (more on this later).

Here is a wip setup for the ship armaments.


The above was all done before I got sick. I was feeling better last Tuesday and started to work on the balloon as I could do that in my room which is better heated than my workshop.

The base is lego box cardboard, about 1,5 mm thick.




Once I put all the discs and the ribs together I started to glue on small bits where they join to hold them in place. This made the whole structure really sturdy.
After that I cut long, 4 mm thick strips of a thinner cardboard and glued it on the edge of the ribs so it has more surface to hold the outer cover which will be made from textile. I made a template for that. Hopefully it will work.

So obviously I'm really behind schedule. I was, even before I got sick, but losing a week made things worse. I scrapped a lot of optional stuff but I still have a long way to go.
I need to cover the balloon (and if I mess that up somehow, I'm really out).
I need to finish bow of the ship.
I need to start the stern of the ship which includes a helm.
The cabin needs tiding up.
The ship needs a rim all around and a lots of additional details everywhere.
The engine pods need the extra support.
The balloon will need extra anchor cables, and I would like to do the side anchors like sailing ship shrouds.
For this I have 5 evenings (not counting today) and 1 Sunday as I have Saturday booked already and I can't cancel that.
So while I will try my hardest, it's most likely I will not finish this on time.   

[Wirelizard]

That zepp balloon looks awesome, fantastically clean fabrication in heavy card, which can be a bit of a sod to work in.

Hope you can get this done in time, it's looking really cool.

[snitcythedog]

Looking real good.  The panel lines do break up the bottom.  Glad to see that it is not completely on the back burner. 

[Ragnar]

Marvelous work.  I especially like the work on the balloon.

[Codsticker]

Impressive cardboarding!*

*Oxford take note - new word!

[Lost Egg]

Cracking work, the zeppelin is particularly pleasing.

[anevilgiraffe]

Bloody hell, that zepp is impressive.

[McMordain]

Well the balloon cover is mostly done.





A nose and tail cover is still need to be done.
Also the fixing points for the anchor cables will be added as well.

[snitcythedog]

Very well done!!

[McMordain]

The weekends result:
I need to cover the balloon (and if I mess that up somehow, I'm really out). - Done

Nose and tail cover is done, and I'm pleased with the overall result.
This is how the balloon and the ship looks together at the moment:


I need to finish bow of the ship. - Mostly done, some details are needed.
The cabin needs tiding up. - I consider this done.
The ship needs a rim all around and a lots of additional details everywhere. - First part done.




I need to start the stern of the ship which includes a helm. - Done. I will glue it in place after painting it.


The engine pods need the extra support. - This will be the last thing I do.

The balloon will need extra anchor cables, and I would like to do the side anchors like sailing ship shrouds.
This is the plan for the above:

The ones on the side will be either plastic or brass rods for additional support. The ones at the bow and stern will be made with thread if I find the one I bought for ship modelling. If not those will be plastic as well.

I also added "roof" to the cabin door.


So I have tomorrow from about 16:00 to midnight to finish the build. Technically I have till 9 am, but I have to go to work on April 1st and I would like to sleep before that 
I think I can manage it without rushing just to finish the build.

[Lost Egg]

I'm digging the detailing McMordain, lovely work.