I'll look at the local woodworking store. It may be just the answer. Thank you.

Don't know whether you still get them but a fretsaw and table will help.
That's what they used on Marquetry in the old days
Try Hobbies limited or Axminster tools

Looks like a nice, vintage kit. Look forward to seeing more as you progress. 👍
Joe

Good idea - Thank you

If it's standard thin veneer PP, I would use a heavy duty utility knife with a sharp blade, the knives that have a retractable blade👍, a scalpel or modeling knife is a little weak for this job.😊


Cheers, Pete

I'll start with the wood pieces in the hull first and the running gear. The superstructure may wait until the fall. Varnishing I can do indoors, spraying gets done outdoors.
On another note, what is the best way to cut the thin veneer? A scroll saw seems to be a poor choice.

A lovely kit to enjoy making PP, you lucky lad👍
being Billings, it should be good quality wood, it certainly looks that way, nice lines on the hull, you will have fun making this I'm sure.😊

Cheers, Pete

K&Of motors are what got me into the model boats in the first place. The prices of some of them have gotten stupid expensive. A Mercury 100hp model will go for over a thousand dollars... Needless to say there aren't any in my collection.

Those motors look like 1960's. I have a pair of outboard motors by the same maker.
The model looks like it will be well worth the effort.
Looking forward to following this build.
Cheers Colin.

I have that same kit yet to build .... looking forward to it.

The box is a bit worse for wear but the wood looks almost like new. Somewhere along the line a couple of K&Of motors got into the box too. I was surprised to see the hull wasn't drilled for the rudder. It may get twin rudders anyway. We'll see when the time comes.

There may be many model kits of a boat built but I think as builder we make them different to someone else's by the color we paint the boat so in a way it is a one of to us.
Rick

Bad? No. Creative? You bet.

My coworker was going to cut the parts for me but decided to loan me the saw instead. Now I have to clean my bench to make room. Rats.

Aren't models supposed to be an expression of our own ideas? 😊

Puddle pirate, I have been trying to restore an old Sea King for over a year now BUT due to domestic reasons the project has stalled. It was originally built around forty years ago and the parts were cut using a jig saw mounted under a stand (risky to fingers i know).

Bad Boy LOL!!

No not really,
You should do whatever makes you happy.
As you know i try to make my HMS Cottesmore true to original.
U552 is being made as i want it so she is not original.
But i also make strange things or boats that only exist in my head.
It keeps me happy and that is the main thing.

Martin555.

"Why not if that is true to the original!"
Oh dear. I do not think I am capable of making a model true to the original. I am going to put two motors, rudders and shafts into my 46" Crash Tender build just to be different. My Dusseldorf is going to be red. (I just could not find the correct colour. Am I bad?

I take back the never seen it before comment. Should have been " on a pleasure boat". Something to think about on this build.

Thank you for the info on the single rudder concept. Makes sense from the economic standpoint. I had never seen that combination before. I'll post some pics of the kit by early next week. Thanks again.

Hi Ken,
"why twin screws and a single rudder?"
Why not if that is true to the original!
That set up was common on many ships and fast boats. Even navy destroyers, until in the 30s the German navy started a class of destroyers with twin shafts AND twin rudders.
They proved to be more manoeuvrable than a single rudder.
With a single rudder the jury is still out as to whether the props should turn outward or inward when going ahead (seen from astern).
Many years ago a retired RN captain told me to change my destroyer to inward turning to improve the rudder effect. I did and it did!😊
Main reason for the two shafts I guess was that two smaller engines were cheaper and easier to build in than one massive engine, and propeller😮, to provide the same 'shove' and performance. Was also safer. If one drive line fails you can get home on one.😉
Same applies to our models - e.g. if one prop gets jammed by weeds etc.
A larger prop would have it own problems, not least increasing the ship's draught.
Cheers, Doug 😎
PS Can you post some pics of the kit please? There's no data on the Billing site anymore🤔