Getting somewhere at last, I have 2 wheelhouse sides basically cut out to shape and am building the wheelhouse three front panels like you would build window frames. I have the glass in the rear panel and the window frames fitted.
The interesting bit will be gluing and fitting the six pieces together to form a perfectly formed wheelhouse.
Looking at the plan and comparing it with the height of the deck, wheelhouse and accommodation block a height variance is apparent, but it looks right. When looking carefully at the finished 1/12 build in Model Boat Int. the wheelhouse looks proportionally higher than I would have expected, but again looks right. I have done a load of accurate measuring and calculated heights and sizes with 1/24 scale and all seem have an acceptable tolerance.
I shall go ahead as I am, if it looks right then by golly it is right.
Regards ChrisG

I was hoping that this was to have been a progress report but there has not been much of that over the last 11 days.
At one stage the choice between throwing scrapped mahogany away and buying a wood burner was hard to make.
I am not going to own up to the number of attempts at an acceptable wheelhouse that I have made suffice it to say the attached photos are the best of the bunch. I have two sides, a back and the three pieces which form the windscreen glazed and made but not yet glued together.
Drilling the holes in the hull for the portholes (12) has also been a bit fraught, the cedar planking does not like to be drilled to size (10mm) even with the sharpest new drill bit so I have resorted to drilling small bore holes and filing them to size. Cedar when dry seems very fragile, I will be re-thinking my planking wood in future builds.
Hopefully my next blog will be more cheery but it is so nice to see so many successful builds progressing on this website.
Keep up the good work, Regards Chrisg

From the keel up, anti fouling finished including the prop shafts, brass props fitted and the single rudder also fitted and painted.
The hull has had another two coats of Humbrol white with a P1200 wet and dry rub down between coats, I love that Humbrol paint and for someone who seems unable to spray paint the finish if carefully prepared is as good I wish for.
She also now has a beautiful varnished mahogany transom.
I have fitted the 19 portholes and am pleased with them.
The deck has had just 3 coats of thinned varnish again with P1200 wet and dry between each one, at least another 3 coats before finish. I am aware that decks should not have a shiny finish but this is destined to be a display model and I like it that way.
I continue to struggle with the wheelhouse, the back and two sides are built but I continue to

screw up

the construction of the 3 windscreen sections, getting annoyed now with patience wearing thin☹️
The cockpit sole is fitted with stairs to fore and aft accommodation, and I have started making the on deck furniture, benches and lockers all in mahogany.
Still thoroughly enjoying the build, more to come.
Regards ChrisG

Well here is a little more but I`ll admit not much to show for two weeks enjoyment, so much has been scrapped as I have not been happy with it.
I have finished the wheelhouse sides, back and front and all seems to fit and look as I had hoped it would, roof yet to do. The wheelhouse furniture, chart table, bench seats etc are made and fitted although not upholstered and no instruments fitted yet.
Deck furniture built and the side rail stanchions also to be fitted after painting white.
None of this has been easy especially in 1/24 with my dainty fingers 😊
The list of bits to buy that I am unable to make continues to be endless, fenders for example, she sports 14 in total
which I have managed source without first having to consult the bank, I think the other items are out there but the time it takes to find them online can take hours.
I am really in no hurry to finish as I will then have to decide on another lovely project and at the moment have no idea.
Regards ChrisG

The skipper on Bluebird can now keep dry under the new wheelhouse roof complete with sliding hatch, made with 3mm ply, mahogany beams and trim and painted white, I am quite pleased with it but not convinced enough to glue it permanently in place. I am afraid a lot of the build is awaiting final fixing including, rear cabin, wheelhouse, mast, stanchions and deck lockers. But you bet your last shilling the minute I do fit them permanently I will remember something crucial that I have forgotten.
There is still much to do including approximately 40 stanchions to be fitted with middle rails and wooden capping as well as lots of

pretty bits

, the build continues to be a fun challenge.
Regards ChrisG

There was me a couple of weeks back bemoaning that it is upsetting coming to the end of a build yet despite my best efforts I have achieved very little since that statement. I have done some bits and pieces but the big one, the handrails has had me pulling my hair out and there is little of that left. I was even making handrails above the steps down to the forward and aft cabins, the front one went well but at the crucial moment I dropped the rear one down the steps into the cabin which I cannot get to. I gave up at that.
As for the handrails, I have had little success steaming mahogany 3mm x 5mm into a finished shape so I put a help on this website and a kind gentleman Ron from Canada has made several suggestions, all positive and non rude I may add, which I am hoping to use to achieve the result I seek.
Regards ChrisG

Well the problem I was experiencing I think has been solved and Ron`s suggestion that I laminate thin mahogany strips has worked admirably so I now making and fitting the handrails.
This has all been a bit traumatic with much gnashing of teeth etc.
Thanks to all for the advice I received photos will be on the next blog.
Regards ChrisG

I now have a handrail nearly all of the way around Bluebird thanks to the help, advice and suggestions from many of you.
The 1mm x 4mm strips of mahogany laminated to give 4mm x 4mm finish has allowed me to achieve and retain the curves I needed as well as laminating straight sections to ensure all handrails are made of the same wood and all look the same.
At the time of desperation with this part of the build when I was about to change timber type I was advised not to add too many wood types in the build. I am glad that I took that very good advice, the handrails still need a rub down and several coats of varnish to finish but I am sure they will look more in keeping in mahogany.
Another lesson I have learned is to mask up when rubbing down something I neglected to do a couple of days ago and my weak chest is feeling the effects, no damned excuse either as I have a box full of masks from our Covid period.
Take care and best regards ChrisG

Happy holiday in UK.
I believe I have about finished Bluebird of Chelsea and it has been an interesting and challenging experience perhaps more so than any of my previous builds.
I am very pleased with her but as with most builders I am sure can think of many ways I could have made her better. One real niggle I have is that I neglected to clean the inside of the portholes before gluing the topsides and some sawdust charged with static has clung like the proverbial to a blanket 😠
Next winter I might challenge myself to build a small dinghy to hang onto the rear davits which I have not yet fitted. I do hope that you enjoy the photos of the build and it is, I agree, a shame her bottom will not get wet.
Take care and best regards to all ChrisG

I would like to thank you for the kind words about my building of Bluebird of Chelsea, the encouragement and words of advice received from other modellers makes this a very rewarding hobby.
Doug, I will ty to find a suitably distinguished looking captain for her and will of course make some anchor chain and warp available
where he can get at them instead of in the bilges where these things are often to be found festering and going smelly and green 🤣🤣
As for motorising, no chance without major demolition of the topsides which I will not be attempting plus I have seven motorised models and three sailing craft that I rarely see afloat for a variety of reasons.
My next decision is what to build this year.
Colin, I hope you quickly get over the problem with your specs, looking forward to seeing your clinker rebuilt dinghy.
Regards to all ChrisG