ALABAMA is done

Nope.  The boats are stock britannia castings with laser-cut floorboards, thwarts, seats, decks, and breasthooks from 1/64" plywood.

Al;

These pics are phenomenal! Thanks for posting them. Are the boats resin cast?

s73.photobucket.com/.../FINISHED%20ALABAMA

Al Ross

Thanks Al. I'll give Nick a call next week when I get back.

Steve

Yes;

And the other was as simple as oars in a rowboat . They stored them that way if the ship was ported for a while . Why ? So rain and snow or ice wouldn't build on them while not being at sea .

     I learned that years ago at a marina where they had a" mini" Brig and they left the yards up and A-cockbill .That's what the reply was .

    I was told that this kept the elements from weakening the spars by getting in the inevitable cracks from use and forcing the wood fiber to deteriorate ! Everything just ran off !

      I just removed my Booms , covered them on deck ,  and snuggled down in my cabin . Reading or Model Building whilst Mama cared for the children and knitted . We would take this time to plan our next trip . Big Rule though , Never let snow or ice accumulate on cabin roofs or the decks .That's a marine accident waiting to happen . It's cold in Victoria in the winter ! Well , it was colder then , I think .

Stunning work.

BJ sells a CD with a bit over 100 images of the kit being built and as finished.  Images range from basic construction i73.photobucket.com/.../Bilgekeelpositionmarking_zps5cb06faa.jpg  to details i73.photobucket.com/.../DASHposedonadime_zps1ab0001c.jpg   to overall finished model  i73.photobucket.com/.../Aftstarboardquarterview_zpsb7cdd411.jpg.

Yards a cockbill - one use is to show mourning while another is to act as cargo booms.  The port anchor on the display model is a cockbill. 

Al

AL ;

  Is there any way I can get a whole set of pictures of the GEARING - FRAM ? I am to busy to build one and too broke to buy B.J.s . Oh , howcome ya'll didn't install the spars " Acock-Bill " like they used to when in port ? You do know why they did that don't you ?

No.  It's more of a special request thing.  You might call Nic (the owner) at 1-800-448-5567 and see what he can do.  The existing frets are all earmarked for the kits, so it might be a bit before they are available for purchase.  BJ is closed tomorrow (blizzard's acomin') but will be open probably sometime Wednesday.

Al,

It is a very beautiful model and yes I would be more than willing to purchase e entire fret of PE. Is it available on the BlueJacket site?

Steve

Maybe the 2.0 improved ones are on the way!

Al;

Thanks for posting the pics, which I got a very short glimpse of before they disappeared from the postings.

?????

Can you re-post them please.?

That's what you get when a steel navy guy (me) does a stick and string model... :-}  Topsail yard is on a truss.  The drawings and some of the paintings in Bowcock's book show a sail on the fore lower yard, but not on the main.

It looks magnificent, Al. Congratulations.

One small question. The topsail yards are in their raised positions (with no sails), while the topgallant and royal yards are lowered. What was the basis of that decision?

One other question. Did this ship ever carry sails on the fore and main lower yards? It's tough to imagine what they looked like - and I don't think I've ever seen a picture of her with courses set.

The last time that old Revell kit was reissued (by Revell Germany), the instruction book included some photos of a finished model that apparently had been built by somebody who didn't understand how sailing ships work. Revell included vac-formed topsails and topgallants. This idiot had put the topsails on the lower yards and the topgallants on the topsail yards. Looked utterly ridiculous. But the Revell version was from a different planet in the universe of ship modeling than this beautiful Bluejacket offering.l

By rails do you mean the curved tracks on the deck?  Those are part of the photo-etched fret, so you would have to buy the entire fret.

Al,

Are the rails for the swivel and bow guns going to be available as a separate item one of these days? I would love to pick some up.

Steve

Nope, mind is still there (sorta)... :-}.  We're going to do the neutral backdrop photo session of the finished model Monday or Tuesday.  Nic or I will put up some overall shots then.

Al

Al;

No doubt your days are very busy, but could I urge you again to post some profile pics. If you are as prone to senior moments as I am, this may have slipped your mind.

Well, thank you.  It's been a fun 20 or so years; might have a few more to go.  Putting out these kits is definitely a joint effort.  BJ has a couple wizards in the casting and laser areas that make my job a whole lot easier.

Al Ross

Al Ross;

   You Make me sick ! Literally sick !  Why , Well look at all the beautiful ships you get to play with and the tools in the shop to do it with and you do such a damn good job too . I was a little upset with you when you did a Gearing FRAM .Why ? well I started out on commissions on just that kind of ship .

     Plain and simple I am extremely jealous of you for having the job I wanted to have years ago ! So do me a favor Please ? Keep up the good work and the nice ships coming down the hawse to us , okay ? Tanker - Builder

Well ;

    In this case you do " gets what you pays for " . I have bought their kits for some time now . Well actually others have bought them for me , on and for Birthdays and Christmas .

    I will say there was a time I could afford to buy when I wanted to . I can't now .Besides I have to stick with subjects that have no spars . That way they can be put on shelves 6" maximum in my room . I have a 1/96 Arleigh Burke that is taking up a lot of that room right now too ! I build a lot of their smaller craft for friends .They buy them , And I am the guy that gets the enjoyment of building an outstanding product .

      As to the ALABAMA - Thanks AL ! She's a fine looking ship .

I have to say that I think Blue Jacket does indeed know its fan base, or they wouldn't be posting here.*

*[this was an unsolicited endorsement from an avid fan]

Fantastic work sir!  

Ahhhhhh, high end stuff... Well it sure is beautiful.

As much as I'd love an accurate Kearsarge, anywhere near $700 is out of the question. I hope Bluejacket knows its fan base. Sorry to say, I can wait.

And Kearsarge in the works.

That looks like it is going to be one fine kit.  Glad to see a new POB offering from BJM.

No, this is an entirely new POB wooden kit.