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Imai Catalan

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  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Greenville,Michigan
Imai Catalan
Posted by millard on Thursday, May 29, 2014 8:25 PM

I've got to disappoint a few people. I was doing a build on the Imai Mayflower,I have to put it a side for a few months.My youngest son is getting married at the end of August and my future Daughter-in law wants me to build the Catalan for one of their wedding presents for there house.I build one about fifteen years ago and it sets in our down stairs family room and she has always liked it but want one of their own.I thought I would do that build. I have a couple of the Catalan kits I have bought over the years.Not close to the price one guys asking on E bay for,

   The imai catalan ship is based on the model found in  the sanctuary of St Simon De Mataro. If Mataro looks familar thats what this ship is sometimes called, Heller makes a nice kit in 1/75 scale using i believe there Pinta hull for the base. I'll do more on the history of this early Carvel as I go.

Rod

 

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Greenville,Michigan
Posted by millard on Thursday, May 29, 2014 8:26 PM

This is the Imai box art for the Catalan

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Greenville,Michigan
Posted by millard on Thursday, May 29, 2014 8:31 PM

The instruction booklet all in english which is terrific. Imai gives no scale on the but I'say aro und 1/50

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Greenville,Michigan
Posted by millard on Thursday, May 29, 2014 8:36 PM

The starboard hull side and main deck in that great plastic Imai used on most of there kits. its like working with wood. Heavy has strength to it most of the time the mast and the yards don't have to be replaced because they'll take the taut rigging.

  • Member since
    July 2010
  • From: Tempe AZ
Posted by docidle on Thursday, May 29, 2014 9:17 PM

Rod,

First off, congratulations to your son and future daughter in law and of course, your family.  Your future daughter has really good taste in ship models to say the least!

Thank you so much for doing a WIP on this since I have started mucking about with it myself.  I have only done the filling and sanding of the pin marks on the interior as well as replacing some of the trim sanded off.  I actually primed this today but I think I had better stop and pay attention to the Master and learn.

Steve

       

 

 

  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: Greenville, NC
Posted by jtilley on Thursday, May 29, 2014 9:41 PM

This is a fascinating project. I haven't seen the kit, but I'm confident that it's a fine one.

For the benefit of anybody who's not familiar with the subject, it may be useful to clarify just what this kit is. It's a model of a model. The "Mataro Ship" is the oldest known European ship or boat model. As Millard noted, it was found in an old church in the town of Mataro, Spain, and has been dated to the mid-15th century. Just how it wound up in the maritime museum at Rotterdam I'm not sure. (I got a brief look at it it on a trip to Holland many years ago.) It is not, and was never intended to be, a scale model of an actual ship; the concept of scale modeling didn't really exist yet (and neither did scale ship plans). It's presumed to be a "votive model" - an offering prepared by some sailor or passenger to give thanks for something associated with a sea voyage. The proportions obviously are distorted a long way from reality, and the workmanship is extremely crude. (If I remember right, at least one of the spars is a twig with the bark still on it.) It looks as though Imai reproduced the proportions of the original. (Heller didn't. Its "Mataro" is based on one of its other hulls.)

The outcome from this kit is a reproduction of an historical artifact. An artifact of enormous importance. Virtually every scholar who's tried to reconstruct Columbus's ships has studied it intensively. And I agree with the bride and groom: it would be a really classy home ornament.

Youth, talent, hard work, and enthusiasm are no match for old age and treachery.

  • Member since
    August 2008
Posted by tankerbuilder on Friday, May 30, 2014 6:03 AM

Well , Hello Dr . Tilley !

  I want you to know this .Over the years I have built Many IMAII kits . I have always enjoyed the models immensely  .Not only were they easy to work with , but , it seemed everything was crisp and flash free .

 Your " Model of a Model" was just exactly that .A priest at our school who built models , went there and studied it in the fifties . According to him , at the time ,  it had an " Eternal " candle burning in it ! ( This is a candle that burns slow and bright .) It was indeed a Votive candle holder intended to carry the flame of prayer when a crew went on a voyage !

It is strange that this ship created such a stir when re-discovered some time back  .Here's proof of an exaggerated version of what ships looked like back around the time it was made ." Artist's interpretation " I bet !

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Greenville,Michigan
Posted by millard on Sunday, June 1, 2014 11:58 AM

Steve terrific we can build along together.I too am filling the ejection marks on the inside of the hull.I sanded down the mast and the fake wooldings and will wrap them with scale rope.

Jtilley you are right on with your statement this is a model of a model. I liked to hear more of what drawings or material available on this subject. I use Bjorn Landstom book for some of my reference " The Ship" I find  that several of Landstrom drawings match Imai models for detail.I don't know if Imai used Landstrom or not.My believe is they did because the models came after Landstroms book.

Rod

  • Member since
    March 2012
  • From: Marysville, WA
Posted by David_K on Sunday, June 1, 2014 5:33 PM

Rod,

I'm sure no one will be too disappointed that you are putting the Mayflower on hold for awhile...especially for what's taking its place.

For me, I'm super excited to follow your Catalan build!  The Imai Catalan is the last model on my wish list that I don't yet have....mainly because it's so dang spendy!!  I call it my "Unicorn"...

Please share your progress with us!

And congrats to your son and his soon-to-be wife!  (by the way, if she asked for a Catalan Ship Model as a wedding gift, she is most definitely a keeper!  haha)...

What an interesting kit!  Can't wait to see what you do with it, my friend!

David

        _~
     _~ )_)_~
     )_))_))_)
     _!__!__!_         
     (_D_P_K_)
   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    ~~~~~~~~~~~

Current Project:  Imai/ERTL Spanish Galleon #2

Recently Finished: Revell 1/96 Cutty Sark

Next Up:  ???

 

  • Member since
    February 2011
Posted by cerberusjf on Wednesday, June 4, 2014 8:46 AM

I'm certainly goign to follow this build (I have the plastic kit and a wooden kit by Imai).  A bit of the history of the Mataro model can be read here

www.iemed.org/.../anau.pdf

  • Member since
    July 2010
  • From: Tempe AZ
Posted by docidle on Sunday, June 8, 2014 11:02 PM

Rod,

I am not sure about doing a parallel build with you since I "did" one with Dave on the Imai Chebec.  He not only finished before me but also did an AWESOME job on her!  However, as I said, I have been tinkering with her as well as trying to finish my Chebec, so I will post a WIP on her if no one minds that I might get the two finished by the end of the century!?

Steve

       

 

 

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Greenville,Michigan
Posted by millard on Wednesday, June 11, 2014 8:56 PM

This is the main mast. I sanded off the fake woolding. Then painted the mast using burnt umber oils over MM wood acrylic paint.I use CIM rope from Cottage industry's for my rigging. I really like that rope.I soak the rope in a india ink denatured alcohol solution.I think it gives the rope a weathered look.I get out a needle and start wrapping the wooldings took about 15 min.The rope is a .030 size.

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Greenville,Michigan
Posted by millard on Wednesday, June 11, 2014 8:58 PM

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Greenville,Michigan
Posted by millard on Wednesday, June 11, 2014 8:58 PM

Sorry about that forgot the pic.

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Greenville,Michigan
Posted by millard on Wednesday, June 11, 2014 9:08 PM

The main deck. I used MM wood acrylic for the base color then I used a #2 pencil to draw in the caulking seams and I also hi-lighted the bolt heads with the pencil.I know the planks were probably put down with tree nails.Since there are hundreds of the bolts I selected to lightly enhance them.I then applied a coat of Zar Teak Natural wood stain over every thing. I usally wait about 48 hours tan apply and acrylic flat over it all.I have different cans of stain.The older the can of stain is the dark it gets.i try to use a new can for decks because its lighter in color. Rod

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Greenville,Michigan
Posted by millard on Wednesday, June 11, 2014 9:12 PM

Another view of the deck

  • Member since
    July 2010
  • From: Tempe AZ
Posted by docidle on Wednesday, June 11, 2014 11:59 PM

Rod,

That deck is beautiful!  Do you have to go over the pencil lines again after the stain or do they pretty much hold up?

Steve

       

 

 

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Greenville,Michigan
Posted by millard on Friday, June 13, 2014 2:08 PM

Steve for the most part they hold up.

Rod

  • Member since
    July 2010
  • From: Tempe AZ
Posted by docidle on Saturday, June 14, 2014 3:06 AM

Thanks Rod.

Steve

       

 

 

  • Member since
    March 2012
  • From: Marysville, WA
Posted by David_K on Sunday, June 15, 2014 8:13 AM

Awesome!!  Just awesome!

        _~
     _~ )_)_~
     )_))_))_)
     _!__!__!_         
     (_D_P_K_)
   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    ~~~~~~~~~~~

Current Project:  Imai/ERTL Spanish Galleon #2

Recently Finished: Revell 1/96 Cutty Sark

Next Up:  ???

 

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Greenville,Michigan
Posted by millard on Sunday, June 15, 2014 4:13 PM

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Greenville,Michigan
Posted by millard on Sunday, June 15, 2014 4:18 PM

I had to clamp the hull pretty tight,there was a little warp in the hull.Some place didn't take the liquid cement very well so I had to Super glue those spots. Rod

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Greenville,Michigan
Posted by millard on Sunday, June 15, 2014 4:20 PM

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Greenville,Michigan
Posted by millard on Sunday, June 15, 2014 4:22 PM

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Greenville,Michigan
Posted by millard on Sunday, June 15, 2014 4:48 PM

I have the main deck in place.With this hull I wasn't able to do what I like to do in building.I like to glue the hull together put the stern on then do the hull painting. Then slip the main deck in.The way this hull is molded there's no way of doing that without ruining something.I painted the inside of the hull with my darker stain and used burnt umber oils on the bracing. I'll start sanding and filling the keel to take the seam out tonight. I normally like to fill the inside of the hull along the seam with 5 min. epoxy . It helps hold the seam together and gives the model a little ballast. I've also put in my bolts in the hull for my display. Rod

  • Member since
    March 2012
  • From: Marysville, WA
Posted by David_K on Sunday, June 15, 2014 7:44 PM

You're cruising right along, Rod!  She looks good!

That kit has a really intriguing shape...

        _~
     _~ )_)_~
     )_))_))_)
     _!__!__!_         
     (_D_P_K_)
   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    ~~~~~~~~~~~

Current Project:  Imai/ERTL Spanish Galleon #2

Recently Finished: Revell 1/96 Cutty Sark

Next Up:  ???

 

  • Member since
    July 2010
  • From: Tempe AZ
Posted by docidle on Sunday, June 15, 2014 10:47 PM

Rod,

I agree with Dave, that model is coming along beautifully.  I need to remember to really clamp the keel when I glue the sides and lower deck together.

Steve

       

 

 

  • Member since
    March 2012
  • From: Marysville, WA
Posted by David_K on Monday, June 16, 2014 8:06 PM

Am I understanding you correctly Rod, that the deck has to go in before the hull halves are glued together?  That's a good thing to keep in mind for any future builders of this kit (like me, hopefully!)

        _~
     _~ )_)_~
     )_))_))_)
     _!__!__!_         
     (_D_P_K_)
   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    ~~~~~~~~~~~

Current Project:  Imai/ERTL Spanish Galleon #2

Recently Finished: Revell 1/96 Cutty Sark

Next Up:  ???

 

  • Member since
    September 2012
Posted by GMorrison on Tuesday, June 17, 2014 2:37 AM

millard

Nice collection of clamps!

What a fun model!

I am really enjoying this build because I cannot get snarky about historic accuracy. Very imaginative.

 Modeling is an excuse to buy books.

 

  • Member since
    August 2008
Posted by tankerbuilder on Tuesday, June 17, 2014 9:12 AM

Whoo :

   That is one nice staining  job !

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