A pleasant surprise. The Bluenose II.

Thought it was about time for an update. 

Well, true to tales of "Artists in the Latrine" kits, I started out seeing a beautiful kit. The instructions seemed great. The wood was beautiful. Parts were laser cut and just popped out easily. Bulkheads slid into place easily and fit was spot on. Deck went together easily and fit was again spot on. Then the storm with the lightning hit.  

Started sanding the bulkheads in preparation for the 1st layer of planking. Had to work slowly due to hand pain so I sanded a little and took breaks working on the deck pieces. It seems that the bulkheads were not solid pieces but plywood and they were splitting as I sanded. That ticked me off as I had to stop sanding, glue them back together and let them sit while the glue set. 

While the glue set, I worked on deck fittings. As i studied the instructions, something didn't look right. Measurements didn't match and placement where they would go on the deck didn't seem to match up. Found the problem. The instructions were not made from 1 boat. They were made from 2 different ships. The bulwarks on 1 ship were Ivory white and the Bulwarks on the other were stained and clear coated so that looking at a small section of the deck to see where a fitting was to be placed, the fitting looked different from one pic to the next. The more I looked, the more I found to prove there were 2 different ships used for the instructions.

After finishing the sanding of the bulkheads, the next step is to install the bulwarks. Well, that's where I'm at now. The notches on the bulwarks for placement do not match up with the step on the deck and the bulkheads they are supposed to line up with. Ah.......there's the other ship again. Well, if I can't make them fit right, I'll just have to make new ones. Luckily I have a large box full of assorted wood scraps from all the kits I've built in the past so I shouild be able to replace the bulwarks. 

I was thinking (can you smell the wood burning?) the other day that I was going to post something about how great the kit is and that we would have to change our opinion of AL kits. Well, guess I'll go wash out my mouth with soap for that. 

Going up to the loft to get some work done tonight. Will try to get some pics up soon. 

Stay safe.

Jim 

Hey JIM!

       That photo really brought back some memories.Ships like her, were for a while considered the "Most Beautiful " tank ships in existence. I have a photo of the original ship they used for the "Texaco Tanker" Toy/Model.

       In my time in service I belive I saw at least four different types in Refueling at sea situations.The most common for a while was a Grey version of the Texaco which I believe was a T3 version. I could be mistaken.       

        i do remember one that was strange In all regards. She was a true Deckhouse aft type, BUT, she sat so low in the water the crew were using Lifelines to move around the deck.When we came along side. The bow wave we made, washed over their deck! When we finished our topping off, She didn't even look like we had gotten anything.

        The oddball part? When we made to move away our overflows spilled oil everywhere including into the sea! The ship it seems had pressurized our bunkers for some reason! We ran at high speed away fron the fleet for twelve hours, coming back only when the pressure had been bled off.

Thanks for the info CapnMac. I made a copy of your post and I'm going to keep it with the Instruction book for future reference. It will come in handy when I'm working on the sails and deciding what I'm going to do with them. It's great having different options available.

Stay safe.

Jim 

fox

CapnMac will probably know if that is correct.

I'm no expert on Bluenose.  I do know that there's controversy about her rig and appearance.

Some of that will be that is was common to change the rig over the life of a ship.

Many of the depictions of Bluenose include a "Fisherman's Staysail" (occasionally called a 'spanker' too) spanning from the foremast to the main topmast, so that the broadside sial plane resembles a near-continuous triangle of sail.  From memory, that's the image on the Canadian coin.

Now, she probably sailed with topsails only when needed.

I know there's debate on whether the fore staysail was fit with a boom, the contemporary images differ.  Having sailed with one of those vile devices, they are more work than they are worth, but, on a working vessel, the one or two hands saved were profit made.

I made a plastic model of the Bluenose a while back (way, way back). I guess it is the original Bluenose. I don't remember the name of the manufacturer. Here's a photo I took last night of it sitting on top of the one I'm working on now. The new one will be roughly about 6 to 7 inches longer.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/mKyDSzt6rw7TnWF28

I also have a print that I've had hanging over my workbench for many years of the Bluenose. I'm guessing that it is of the Original. CapnMac will probably know if that is correct.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/L6WVBSirXtona1Px6

TB, Here's is a photo you might enjoy. It's a print of the oil tanker Atlantic Heritage. It was given to me back somewhere in the '60s while I was down your way attending a fire school. I was in the Fire Brigade at the Phila. Refinery at the time and they sent me down with a couple other members to get some training on fighting oil fires. Don't remember the name of the town but we had to work our butts off at the school and had some great times at night in town.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/mJN5tGNTe8qRBpub7

Stay safe.

Jim 

Tanker-Builder

I didn't know there was even a "Bluenose-2"

If memory serves (and it may not) there's actually a Bluenose III, with Two having been retired after many decades cruising.  I remember some controversy about the rig for III.

Hmmm.

       This is interesting. I didn't know there was even a "Bluenose-2" I guess she was more poppular than I thought. One thing I will say is this. I have always thought that the original was a beautiful ship! Once you get her done you will see what I mean.

This is gonn'a be good.