Laminate, sanding, laminate, sanding... And the crew is getting older..
I had to diversify the endless grinding and laminating with the helmsman and the waiting crew. (Unfortunately, neither of them has any idea that they will have many more months in port ahead of them.)
Good Morning Gang:
Thought you'd like this as it made me think of my (still to be be fully completed) freighter "Pacific Trader."
I found this large and very nice piece on the floor in a nice little antique store yesterday. We don't often see freighters depicted in such a fashion; it's an original too. It depicts the MS Finnforest.
So did a bit of research and found out that she was completed: in 1963 by the Emden, Rheinstahl Nordseewerke G.m.b.H. Shipyard
Weights and dimensions: 9 674 / 7 610 DWT, 6 500 BHP, 139.72 x 18.74 x 8.34 / 7.29 m.
Her tabular records are listed as...
1963.6.28: FINNFOREST, homeport Kotka. Enso-Gutzeit Oy, Kotka (Finnlines). Finland - USEC service. 1968.8.23: lengthening completed by Rheinstahl Nordseewerke: 11 510 / 8 190 DWT, 152.32 x 18.74 x 8.58 / 7.11. 1973: Chartered to Atlantic Gulf Service Ab Göteborg. 1976.12 Charted completed.
1978.9.6: BRADEVERETT, Everett-Orient Line Inc (Everett Steamship Corp S.A. Tokyo), Monrovia.
1988.5.24: demolished Kaohsiung, China
IMAI CHEBEC (Xebec) – 1/80 Scale Plastic Sailing Ship Model
IMAI CHEBEC (Xebec) – 1/80 Scale Plastic Sailing Ship Model
Rare Vintage Japanese Kit – Long Out of Production
This model was built from the highly regarded IMAI No. B-296 CHEBEC kit in 1/80 scale. Produced in Japan many years ago and now long out of production, this kit is considered one of IMAI's finest offerings and has become a rare collector's item.
IMAI was famous for the exceptional quality of its molds and engineering. Although this is a plastic kit, the parts were molded with such precision and detail that they convincingly reproduce the appearance of a finely crafted wooden ship model.
The Chebec (or Xebec) was a fast and elegant Mediterranean vessel used extensively by Barbary corsairs during the 17th and 18th centuries. Its sleek hull, pronounced overhangs, and distinctive lateen rig make it one of the most beautiful and exotic sailing ships ever designed.
This model is fully rigged and armed with:
• 20 deck-mounted cannons
• 20 swivel guns
• Detailed anchors, yards, spars, and standing and running rigging
One of the most striking features of the kit is the elaborate decorative carving along the port and starboard bulwarks and across the stern. To highlight these intricate ornaments, I carefully hand-painted every detail using my finest brushes.
The flags were custom made from the lead foil wrappers found around wine bottle corks. After flattening the material, I hand-painted the Algerian corsair designs and shaped them to appear as if they were fluttering in the wind, adding a dramatic and highly realistic touch to the finished model.
Additional features include:
• Ship's boat mounted amidships
• Ornamental stern gallery with gilded relief work
• Open deck grating and finely detailed deck furniture
• Hand-painted decorative motifs throughout
Even after many years, this remains one of my favorite builds. The combination of IMAI's superb engineering and the unique character of the historic Chebec resulted in a model that captures the grace, power, and mystery of the legendary Mediterranean corsair vessels.
Please find enclosed some pictures taken last Wednesday by a Professional Photographer from Maghull that was visiting the lake (Southport Model Boat Club) - courtesy of Mike McMullin
If it wasn't for the 'fixed' people on board you could almost imagine these as full size boats. Just the odd exception with a rather disproportionate bow wave!
I'm a little late posting this photo but on Aug.21 the Confederation Marine Modelers had a event at 9AM at Spencer's pool for working boats so my Fireboat Edward M. Cotter had a sail for the first time in 2025 It's the red Fire boat. Just thought I'd add a real photo of the Buffalo N.Y. fireboat that visits Port Colborne, Ontario Every Aug. first weekend. There was more working boats but to take a photo with a I Phone 8 and sail a model is kind of difficult.
Looks to me like one of the nicest ponds for model boating. Visibility like a swimming pool. Would make it great to spot a sunken vessel. Likely a good training ground for novice submariners!
When member's make Fleet Admiral and Admiral's with 8 boats in two years or less...ya that's working the system or cheating. See a photo of the current Admirals and Admirals to be who have not created anything but spam and who have accomplished high ranks attached. Alessandro, Roy, Southport(soon to be), EDw, Nickthe steam(soon to be), I am sure there are a few more. Congratulations boys. Contact me for your mail in University degree in any masters you like. Just $10. You can be anything you could never achieve in real life. Well like my dad always said... " the best Captain is always standing on the beach"
You are missing the point. It is about all the fodder that some post here who are insecure and need a title other than ODD. If you want to post photos of farm equipment then do it on a farm site not on one that says Model-boats.com. If you really feel the need to share your photos from Elbe, make more friends on FB.
I understand it already.
I'm not on Facebook and the like.
It's even worse there.
I'm in this forum because everyone here respects each other and doesn't insult each other. That seems to be over. What a pity.
I have registered in many modelling forums and can only say that it's not just about modelling everywhere.
Nevertheless, I will not insult or judge anyone here. We are all unique and that's a good thing. Otherwise it would be very, very boring here on the globe on which we live.
As I said.... nobody is forcing you to read anything and if it is approved by the administrator, it won't be so wrong.
By the way, if I post something about the Elbe, it will definitely be about a ship.
And now settle down again.
If Professor Pat can do it...so can I...lol.. The history of boating spans millennia, evolving from dugout canoes and rafts in prehistory to sophisticated vessels powered by steam and advanced engines. Early boats, appearing around 10,000 years ago, were used for fishing and coastal travel, with Egyptians developing reed and wooden boats for transport and trade by 4000 BCE. Over centuries, innovations like the Viking longboat, the Chinese junk with its rudder, and the Dutch yacht transformed seafaring, eventually leading to the Age of Exploration and the flourishing of yachting as a recreational pursuit in the 17th century. Modern boating integrates electronic systems, computer-aided design, and emerging eco-friendly propulsion, reflecting its continuous adaptation.
