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Hi Barrie, don't worry mate, it gave me a good excuse to go down the model shop and pick up a copy. The write up is very interesting - and I wish to God I'd had it a few months ago!!
You've got to laugh really, haven't you?!!!! There are definately a few little ideas in there I could've done with knowing before - my version deviates from Michael Bloss' one in a few little ways here and there and I think Michael's way is better. The way he put the mahogany down using epoxy, so that any leaks are hidden when he puts the epoxy on the outside, or the way he's painted the red stripe on AFTER the resin, for example. He's obviously been doing this a lot longer than I have though.
Ah well - que sera. :)
BTW, the off-centre rudder is correct.
Despite having a rough day with the Slo Mo yesterday I did persevere last night and put the 1st coat of epoxy resin on the outside. The fella in MMI thins his down with acetone, but 1. I didn't know to do that, and 2. I haven't got any anyway, so there you go. Surprisingly, despite following the instructions very carefully, I'd only been going about 10 minutes when the stuff started to harden on the brush and get extremely hot. I'd only done half the hull! So much for slow curing! Also, take a look at what has happened:
It looks like there's been some sort of reaction somewhere, between the epoxy and 'something unknown' on the hull - perhaps the glue. I hope you can see properly on this picture, I tried as well as I could to show the problem reflecting in the light. It looks 'mottled' - I think that's just about the best way to describe it. Some areas are misty grey too, sort of smokey, and there are areas which look like they have repelled the epoxy leaving bumps and 'dry' areas. I just asked the guys in the model shop and their suggestion was that it is the residue from the glue I used to stick the mahogany down with (wood glue and cyano). Also there's a line along the edge of the red stripe where the masking tape was, which has accepted the epoxy better than other bits, so obviously the adhesive from the masking tape soaked into the wood.
I have no idea what to do about this. All I can think of is that I'll try to flat it all back as smooth as I can, and put another coat on - hopefully it'll be ok. I need to totally sand away the smokey areas though, I'm not leaving it like that.
It's quite demoralising, really. After all this work, this blo.ody boat is fighting me all the way. I know I can't expect to get this thing to a professional finish - I'm not a professional for one thing - I have no workshop, just a corner of a tiny lounge I can use when no-one's in, I have to paint outside getting attacked by ants and dust, cut things with a big whopping leatherman due to having no proper tools, etc etc. And all the time I'm reminded how little I actually know about boats!!
This is only my 3rd model, and although I knew I was possibly biting off more than I could chew with it and I didn't particularly want an 'easy build', I've found this thing damned frustrating at times!
I'm having a little break in a few days - going away with my family, I'll see a good friend from Germany too, and relax away from work. I'm going to try and put this beast out of my mind and hopefully I'll come back to it in a couple of weeks with more enthusiasm for it.
Meanwhile - any and all advice about the resin problem will be very gratefully accepted!
Thanks everyone,
Julian.
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