Hi, Gang! 
This is another diversion project whilst I idle away the hours tying up gun tackles on the Constitution...besides, I had the urge to build something besides little carronades. :lol:
One of the great bonuses with the JSC kits is how they sometimes include more than one model in the issue. This is the case with their publication No. 42 of the SS KOSCIUSZKO passenger steamer...they also provide a cute little steamer called KRAKOW. What caught my eye was the neat, thin stack this ship had, and the interesting single cargo boom set up that was apparently common at the turn of the last century, i.e. in the early 1900's. There are not a lot of parts to this kit, so I figured it would be a fairly simple build, but I then noticed the print was uncharacteristically out of alignment on some the sheets (normally I have found JSC to be very good print quality-wise, so this came as a little surprise), but luckily it was not that far off.
Anyway, in looking over the kit it seemed to be just what the doctor ordered for a quick but satisfying build...I'll try to tackle the more complex KOSCIUSZKO at some later date...so I scanned the pages I needed (all of two parts sheets and one illustration sheet) and went to work.
First thing I noticed was this hull does not have any hull former supports. Those familiar with the JSC line know their construction method is a bit different from the common ship kit, they basically call for the creation of an inverted shell in the shape of the hull with an open bottom (no base plate is used) with cross formers to help stablize the sides of the hull and to support the upper part of the sheel, what is the underlying deck plate. Now, depending on the shape of the hull this is accomplished in many different ways by JSC designers, but this is the first one I came across that had no hull formers, just the deck (stepped for the forecastle and quarter deck) and the side hull sheets...the printed hull sides are then glued to this inner hull sheet. I would have prefered some internal supports besides what the kit desided, but I decided to give it a go and see how it worked out. The trouble with this type of construction is the tendancy to have the hull corkscrew if you are not real careful...I normally try to glue the opened bottom hull shell to a forecore base...just because I need the added assurance to avoid the warping. Ah, but I didn't do that this time around...and I was surprised the hull built up fairly flat. Of course, I used a bit of trickery, I left the hull under the weight of various tools whilst the glue set overnight, and the next day I was rewarded with a fairly straight hull. One of the other problems I face, and always seem to forget, is that at the break between the forecastle and quarter deck the construction design is simply a double fold or step in the main deck, no support or other aid to keep the step square to the deck and sides. Next time I think I will try to remember and put some support under that step because invariably a slight difference or warping appears across that step from side to side. It's slight, but annoying nonetheless.
The other problem, and one of my own doing, is the joint at the transom where the ship's name appears. There was a little gap because I just was not careful enough to make sure the piece was snug up to each other...had I done it right, the name would wonderfully appear as if one continuous name, instead of the stutter name I ended up with. Oh, well, live and learn. :roll: I do hope to remember to do it better next time.
Anyway, less talk and more action. I got so far as to make up the inner hull former and then covered the side plates, added the decks. So far, so good...and pretty sturdy, to my surprise. I actually added more than the photos show, I just haven't had the time to download them all yet, but I will do so later...along with a way to make funnel vents to replace the 2D versions the kit provides...I hate those flat funnel vents on a model, don't you? :lol: Hopefully, you will feel the replacements are a bit better...but that's next time. For now, here are photos of what she looks like so far.
More later....
Cheers!
Jim
This is another diversion project whilst I idle away the hours tying up gun tackles on the Constitution...besides, I had the urge to build something besides little carronades. :lol:
One of the great bonuses with the JSC kits is how they sometimes include more than one model in the issue. This is the case with their publication No. 42 of the SS KOSCIUSZKO passenger steamer...they also provide a cute little steamer called KRAKOW. What caught my eye was the neat, thin stack this ship had, and the interesting single cargo boom set up that was apparently common at the turn of the last century, i.e. in the early 1900's. There are not a lot of parts to this kit, so I figured it would be a fairly simple build, but I then noticed the print was uncharacteristically out of alignment on some the sheets (normally I have found JSC to be very good print quality-wise, so this came as a little surprise), but luckily it was not that far off.
Anyway, in looking over the kit it seemed to be just what the doctor ordered for a quick but satisfying build...I'll try to tackle the more complex KOSCIUSZKO at some later date...so I scanned the pages I needed (all of two parts sheets and one illustration sheet) and went to work.
First thing I noticed was this hull does not have any hull former supports. Those familiar with the JSC line know their construction method is a bit different from the common ship kit, they basically call for the creation of an inverted shell in the shape of the hull with an open bottom (no base plate is used) with cross formers to help stablize the sides of the hull and to support the upper part of the sheel, what is the underlying deck plate. Now, depending on the shape of the hull this is accomplished in many different ways by JSC designers, but this is the first one I came across that had no hull formers, just the deck (stepped for the forecastle and quarter deck) and the side hull sheets...the printed hull sides are then glued to this inner hull sheet. I would have prefered some internal supports besides what the kit desided, but I decided to give it a go and see how it worked out. The trouble with this type of construction is the tendancy to have the hull corkscrew if you are not real careful...I normally try to glue the opened bottom hull shell to a forecore base...just because I need the added assurance to avoid the warping. Ah, but I didn't do that this time around...and I was surprised the hull built up fairly flat. Of course, I used a bit of trickery, I left the hull under the weight of various tools whilst the glue set overnight, and the next day I was rewarded with a fairly straight hull. One of the other problems I face, and always seem to forget, is that at the break between the forecastle and quarter deck the construction design is simply a double fold or step in the main deck, no support or other aid to keep the step square to the deck and sides. Next time I think I will try to remember and put some support under that step because invariably a slight difference or warping appears across that step from side to side. It's slight, but annoying nonetheless.
The other problem, and one of my own doing, is the joint at the transom where the ship's name appears. There was a little gap because I just was not careful enough to make sure the piece was snug up to each other...had I done it right, the name would wonderfully appear as if one continuous name, instead of the stutter name I ended up with. Oh, well, live and learn. :roll: I do hope to remember to do it better next time.
Anyway, less talk and more action. I got so far as to make up the inner hull former and then covered the side plates, added the decks. So far, so good...and pretty sturdy, to my surprise. I actually added more than the photos show, I just haven't had the time to download them all yet, but I will do so later...along with a way to make funnel vents to replace the 2D versions the kit provides...I hate those flat funnel vents on a model, don't you? :lol: Hopefully, you will feel the replacements are a bit better...but that's next time. For now, here are photos of what she looks like so far.
More later....
Cheers!
Jim
