The Flying Fish - A Restoration from Hell.

I asked the owner if he wanted it correctly restored or just "fixed" up using the OB "things".  Lucky me he went for the correct version. The only problem is I have to set the Chebec on the side for a few months

  I only looked at the "deadeyes" ( dialup doesn't load pictures very quickly ), if you are going to replace just them with "the correct version", you have a job on your hands! When I spoke with the ruler of hell about this restoration, his response was " Oooh, that's evil, I wish I had thought of it!"

Yeah,

I'm going to have to take her all the way down to fix these screws ups. Oh well as long as the check clears the bank.

Jake

Nothing personal Jake, however I don't quite see your dilemma of a "restoration from hell". Looks like a competent attemp by the original builder to me. I am currently building a 1/8 scale scratch of the Flying Fish  based upon the original MS plans of 1953/1979/1982 and the Ben Lankford revision of 1993. I have also done a few restorations in my time. Your project appears by the photos to have been a respectable presentation, althought not standing over it with calipers in hand, I can not be positive. It appears the original builder was somewhat knowledgable of how to read plans. The original MS "yellow box" kits were very basic compared to todays kits, which made the job a great deal more scratch built  than something from Revell.

Best wishes on your commission and I will be watching for your progress on your album.

Yankee Clipper

The comment was made  a little "tongue in cheek" because the modeler used yards and other parts from the Revell Cutty Sark and the issue of the shrouds just means that I need to redo everything from the hull up thats all.  I've never seem the "Yellow Box" kits get a mixed media quite like this thats all.

Jake

I've downloaded your pictures and yes, this model seems to have suffered a bit.  But these are mainly due to dirt and cigarette smoke accumulating on all surfaces.

I'm actually building the FF from a recent kit by Model Shipways, and what strikes me when I look at your pics, is that there must have been quite a few changes made to the plans over the years.  So I sincerely think that a "thorough" restoration would bring you too far (it would be easier to rebuild the kit - which certainly is no easy task at all.  Next to that, I think it would be wise to replace all deadeyes (which actually should be rigged with tan coloured thread), maybe replace the ship's boats aft, which indeed look like Revell boats (an option would be to remodel these boats' interiors.

Youi could have a look at some (partly) built FF on  WWW;modelshipworld.com, galleries, Flying Fish.  You could also download the FF building manual from the Model Expo site.  It is in pdf format but of course, you cannot download the plans, which they sell separately.

Now, the tim you would save by not doing a THOROUGH restoration would obviously be better spent by buildiing a case for this very handsome model.