One of my nine-year projects is coming to an end. I am sad to see it completed in some ways, overjoyed in others. Many projects have been begun and shelved over those nine years; some are in the trash now.
What is known is the 213' WMEC-168 Yocona is hit or miss whether my attempts to waterproof a static hull will be successful. So on hold or a side project.

The Gunboat Philadelphia is on-going at work between shifts.

PBY that doesn't Fly I will place on hold, pending possible actual flight. (That will put three aircraft inline to be completed.)

The battleship North Carolina....Big. Not so complex as physically large undertaking.

SO, begin at the beginning as I tell my students. I pondered purchasing the laser-cut kit from Canada, but it is just frames, deck, and pilothouse. Yes, it is 1" to one foot scale, and would match my 44' MLB perfectly, but $286 plus shipping? For me too much, I will build at 1/24th scale for now. Small enough to store, big enough to detail and outfit with running gear.

My 44 MLB, is a leaky, but I am installing an automatic bilge pump. I get so much joy out of running it, and I will have the tri-fecta of MLB's 36', 44', and 52'. The 213 should be complete around the time I finish, so four CG projects in a years time, plus the Philly is a quick build. So, it is a year, year and a half plan.

This will be a slow one.

Non Boat picture is project that is almost complete.
Kevin

The 213' will be a lost cause as far as R/C, I will live as a display only. PBY project has sacrificed wood for the 52' MLB project. Final parts came in for my nine-year-old project, and surgery recovery has kept me home for the last five days.

So, I began this today as the sun came up.

1/24th scale (I did toy with the idea of doubling it.)

3mm Basswood keel and frames.
Twin Brushed 380 motors from another scrapped boat project.
Plank on frame 1/8" Balsa planks.
Fiberglass the hull.
Moving radar.

Build as 52312 MLB Victory.

Why do people build from kits? I know why, this can be so tiring. Still taking my time on this one. I want it to be as much a display piece as it is drop in the water and enjoy. All the while, as you can see on the computer, learning about battleship gun manufacture. I anticipation of the North Carolina build.

See you Sunday on the pond, just not with this vessel quite yet.

There are a lot of frames on this bad boy. It is going to be heavier than I expected. I am going to get more done Thursday through Sunday as I recover. Hoping to begin planking. Have to verify placement and height of the frames, deck, then plank.

Well throat surgery frees up time for boat building. I had to wrangle and shim some frames, but the overall effect is one I am happy with. this will be the lower deck; I will be constructing the upper works from styrene. Motor and steering get fitted next before planking the hull begins. I am shooting for August mid-time for completion of this one.

Took less time than expected. Looking forward to planking this Queen of the Fleet.

Picture is worth ten words.

I do not know how much I will get done this weekend, but in two weeks we are going down to four-day work weeks, and that will help. I was gifted a large quantity of balsa wood, and need to get this done so I can use that to revitalize a project that would not fit here as it is a Flying Boat. Still looking at August for 100 percent completion on this one.

I did get quite a bit done. Let the sanding begin!

Well, slow going on my unusual plank job. But all is going well. Still no hurry, this hull will be waterproof and smooth.

Still more filling and sanding, I anticipate 5-6 hours and then I will be ready to fiberglass the hull.

Plan is to have a smooth hull, paint it entirely with stripe and the lettering, so from the bottom up it is complete. Concentrate on the superstructure, masts and deck fittings. I plan on navigation lights and a rotating radar.

As you see from the plans under the boat in the pictures there are more Coast Guard vessels to be constructed. Or........A battleship?