I was unable to give a report on progress last night due to an inexplicable loss of t'internet! The colonial seaman is starting to look pretty good, so I think I will call him done. I've started another member of crew; this time a bare-chested chap holding a combined Mop and Rammer. Traditionally, after each firing, the Gun was mopped out with water to eliminate the chance of any red hot embers igniting the next powder charge. As wood wasn't easy to come by on board ship, many mops were given a thick rope handle, which when tarred, was a pretty solid handle. The box-art shows this crew man wearing some rather fetching Red and White striped trousers! I think mine may be a little more subdued. (
the picture below is from the box-art and is not my model)
View attachment 527977They do make a rather colourful addition though. I spent the evening cleaning up the various pieces and attaching the legs to the body. Everything has been primed with Vallejo's acrylic primer, a product I think most modellers will have in plentiful supply. The biggest embuggerance so far encountered with this model is the feet. They are cast to fit into a matching indentation in the bottom of each trouser leg. They do not, however, fit and need a considerable amount of fettling to get right. I had to use a flat-based dental burr like a router to carve out a millimetre at a time, before I could get a satisfactory fit!
The hands are pre-moulded onto the role handle and are cast in white metal rather than resin. I cannot, for the life of me see the reasoning behind this, but hey-no that's modelling for you. I'm working again Tonight and Saturday Night, so things will not progress until Sunday.
Smeggers out.