Neal's O scale Build for the Romantics and the Madmen

vietnamseabee

There are Seabees and then there are seabees

Seabee Terry

Robert.G

This build moves on like a stampede !! Great looking walls you've got there Eric !!

EricMG

Terry, I know the difference. The magazine came out in 1947. When did the Seabees begin?

EricMG

Can I glue the mylar between the two window frames? Seems more real that way.

EricMG

Robert, the build is easy since much of the weathering is complete. It's really a lot of fun actually even if I don't read the instructions, I do look at the pictures!

Oh. oh, more Maine humor!

EricMG

Carl, the pickle mix is simply fine steel wool immersed in white vinegar for between 24 and longer hours. It will get browner and darker as time goes by. If it gets too dark, add more vinegar. But NOT your wife's prize balsamic that her beloved sister sent her from Italy!

EricMG

Pickle mix must be in a plastic container as it will eat through a coffee can, drip out and it chemically STAINS all wood forever. Now I have to refinish the dining room hardwood floor says my wife Amanda (the room is 25 by 18 feet!). But she is correct. Those spots DO NOT come out.

I mist it on in a plastic spray bottle on big cardboard sheets. Ruined my studio rug with the overspray, but that's my room! But it will do 100s of Brett's sticks in minutes. Stir the sticks, spray again. Each coat gives a darker gray. Too much steel wool in the mix and it goes brown (add vinegar). But a friend bought a HUGE six foot trestle at a train show. 1000s of individual sticks beautifully crafted. Only issue? Raw yellowy wood, never stained. Enter pickle spray. It blew me away how good it came out. The few glue spots? Colored pencil. Build first, spray later. Actually, I spray first, build, then tune with colored pencils.

admin

EricMG said:

Can I glue the mylar between the two window frames? Seems more real that way.

On the main building no. since there is no interior it doesn't matter what the view from inside is. The double layers look very realistic from the outside the way I cut them. Pay close attention to the instructions (uh oh) as to which layer is glued on top... important.

Now on the welding shop the interior is visible so the mylar is indeed glued between like a sandwich. Looks good from both inside and out!

Keep at it, wood coloring looks great!

vietnamseabee

MG....U.S. Navy Seabees were formed March 5, 1942....right after Pearl Harbor
Terry

BILLR

Eric,
If I recall correctly didn't "Jane's world of aircraft" in the 1950's list your seaplane as an Italian design. Sorry, I don't recall the designer but it was ahead of its time.
Bill

EricMG

My father, Marshall Green, MG, wrote the article based on a model plane he built, and he obviously thought the Seabee was a good design.

EricMG

My father was three times Canadian model aircraft champion, so he obviously knew what he was doing.

EricMG

EricMG

sdrees

Eric,

The texture and weathering look great

EricMG

If you don't want to use nippers, it is very easy to cut the board ends this way: score across the face with a straight edge protecting the good part. Cut off two end boards as a guide. Turn over. Now with the two cut-off boards as a guide, align straight edge and cut through rest. I used an X-acto knife. Matter of 15 seconds.

This not to do. DO NOT COVER MYLAR WITH GLOSS MEDIUM! It seeped through the cut parts of each window and bonded the paper backing to the mylar. TOTAL mess! And then I used one of Amanda's favorite plates to soak it all in hopes of rescue. Second error. Wasn't drinking enough to lubricate the brain properly. Then used warm water. Mylar warped insanely. Just kept getting worse, but a Celt never quits. Photos soon.

admin

Modeling rule 1a. There are NO MODELING SUPPLIES in the kitchen. Nothing good ever comes from raiding the kitchen.

Modeling rule 1b. Eric, Read the instructions... Nobody here, least of all me, expects you to follow them which is totally cool, but at least read them.

admin

I should comment on 1a above. It applies only to married modelers. Single modelers will find a wealth of incredible supplies in the kitchen.

admin

I should comment on 1b above... Texas humor.

vietnamseabee

Everyone stand back....Maine humor is being mixed with Texas humor...a volatile mixture for sure....luckily there’s no humor in Florida
Terry

EricMG

Thanks, guys. That delighted this Mainer. Once Amanda returns from the divorce lawyer, I'll see if she'll take some photos of all doors and windows in. I hated that plate!

EricMG

Closer:

EricMG

EricMG

No one is going to ask me about the sliding doors?

Robert.G

Nice looking carpentry. Did u use different thicknesses of planks? Looks that way.
I don't know if you did this on purpose , but I like the way the half open window tends to be hanging lower on the opposite side of the supporting stick.

btw, that's a killer car. Makes me feel 007 is around

EricMG

Robert, I did use different size sticks as per Brett's instructions which I not only read but memorized. Both windows are out of plum because of being propped by a stick. Thank you for noticing!

007 did drive this exact same car except mine is a convertible.

mikemettelka

Nice A! I've worked on many of them at work.

EricMG

Mike, I know! I e-mailed you about that, you didn't respond. My father bought a 1952 coupe from Ferry in 1951. I grew up in a 356. Know them too well.

EricMG

Ken, I found this HO model I made in I believe 1977 or close. I just dusted it off, didn't change it, but was wondering if you might want to incorporate it into one of your masterpieces. You could improve it, of course.

EricMG

I think this shows the old glass effect pretty good. Work?