I had a very lucky xmas with my two daughters each buying me a Deans Model - the MA/SB and the larger of the two picket boats.

The only problem that presented me with is if I start to build one and not the other I will hear a cry of 'why arent you building mine first?'. Even though I am 3/4s way through a non Deans Build of HMS Yarmouth I have been asked already 'when are you going to start my boat?'.

So this week I made a start on both with the aim of building both side by side to protect sensitivities. For each I will do a short build thread.

Starting with the Picket Boat, the contents were checked and everything was present. Castings were quite good with no complaints at all and the hull had no blemishes or air pockets to speak of so very pleased there.

The one criticism I would make is the instructions are very poor on first reading. I have to be honest and say that the one niggle I have with Deans is sometimes the instructions can let down the product but I know that the newer models and the updated ones have had vastly improved instructions. This is apparent when comparing the MA/SB instructions. The MA/SB instructions are what instructions should be. Clear and informative and nothing missed with good colour pics. The picket boat has huge gaps, nothing to deter someone who has built a model or two but for a beginnner it can be difficult. At times there are no instructions at all - the main gun isnt in the instructions at all. It would hae to be entirely guess work. The deck merely says to fit deck. No mention of deck supports or anything like it. However a call to Ron and it was remedied by an updated instruction sheet for the gun. I would guess that the picket isnt one that has had the benefit of an instruction or plan upgrade yet. Anyway the hull was started.

Rubbed and washed and holes made were necessary. First snag was the plan, instruction and hull marking for the rudder were all in different places!! So logic was applied and a place found that was right using the spacing required from the prop end for clearance and the opening in the deck. Tacked in with superglue then clear slow set expoxy applied. Same for the shaft.

When this dries FG paste will be used to set it fully and secure it.

Meantime because it was cold in the garage and I had the day to myself today I have gone out of sequence and started on the vac form engine casing, main cabin etc. This model does lend itself to be made out of sequence.

The engine casing is a straightforward cut out from the vac sheet as are the other vac form parts. The main caibn goes together very well and the parts are accurately marked. The cabin roof is a bit of an effort with a fair amouth of fettling and sizing required and having to glue it in stages to ensure it stays as it requires some shaping to meet the cabin sides at the top.

Well a bit more work from the last week. The funnel is rubbed down. Started the detail on the engine casing and it is coming together nicely I think. The roof of the Cabin is now sanded to the right shape which was a bit of a pain as the vac form does require a fair bit of manipulation but got there in the end. Also started the 6pounder - just two more bits of white metal fittings to go. The deck side supports are now set in place and currently drying with the usual bulldog clips to keep in place while setting. The engine mount has been lined up and is set in place together with the battery tray. Later this week I will then move to the servo as it does need a bit of thought as to placing it. The instructions totally conflict on the rudder placing - neither of the places seems appropriate but then the instructions dont even mention deck beams apart from one cursory reference.

Looks like an interesting (two) builds, but I can't enlarge the pics to see, at my age you need nice big pics



Alan

Hey guys, in regards to your photo sizes, should you wish to post images at full size then during the normal photo upload when selecting the image to upload, use the 'RESIZE IMAGE' drop box and select NO, the default for photos to be uploaded is '800px', by selecting NO this will not RESIZE the image and you should with a bit of luck have larger images on your posts providing you have not compresses or re-sized the image before uploading to the forums photo host.

Oops sorry guys. My fault. I had posted these pics to the Deans site and they have bizarre limits on size so I resized then after posting onto the deans site.







Hows that now?

lovely work and nice clear pics now too thanks matey

The deck has been cut to size and it was surprisingly accurate as printed. Just required a little trimming to fit accurately. However the pre printed decking is less accurate!! Not sure what kind of measure was used by the 'computer generated printed self adhesive deck' but it wasnt imperial and wasnt metric!!! Its about 3 inches to short in length and at least half an inch too narrow in the beam on each side. Of no use whatsoever!! I have contemplated using real planking but this would mean I need to remove the deck supports and reinstall them lower as in their currrent position the deck with planking will then cover the two hawse ports at the bows. So its gonna be deck painted and then planking lined on.

Have put her together now as a dry fit of deck with engine casing and its looking not too bad. All internals including servo are fixed firmly in place - shes been float tested and is water tight I now just need to install and test the servo linkage and do a motor run before sealing the deck into place. Once I have done that I will then spend some time on the MA/SB so that they are both ready to paint at the same time. I have yet to decide whether to paint the picket boat in Home Fleet or China Fleet colours. China Fleet does look nice for a change but humming and harring a little bit as black does hide the dirty from being sailed and white will be hard to keep clean. Hey ho save that for later!!!

Yes I agree. To be fair to Deans everytime I have a problem with a missing part from them they are on the nail in getting it right. However for the printed deck even though I can let them know and get them to send a replacement I would rather now just paint it - its not much extra effort and at least it wont eventually peel off.

Have been working on the internals which are now fully fitted (just got to tidy the wiring up). All working fine althought the servo and linkage to the tiller arm was a bit of a trial and error to make sure nothing fouled the cabin when its inserted into its space. A few wear words were expended but eventually all working fine.

The deck has been fixed and when its dry there are a few small gaps that need filling as is usual. I willl then make the coaming for the engine casing. After that I will take a break from the picket boat and concentrate on the MA/SB.

getting to look a very nice model indeed...

missed this before, as anything normally flagged up as "deans" I run a mile from reading the thread, sadly.......but I like this...........my kind of model..very interesting and a classic shape too.

neil.

Nice to have a compliment from such a luminary as you Neil. I'm not worthy!!!!!!

c'mon guys..........I'm not that luminary...you make me into something I'm not..........I really get embarrassed, honestly.

neil.

Im luminary, I used to work at Selefield , now I shine in the dark.

Sorry, Ill get my coat.

Alan