Painting the Queen Mary

[Drains]

Yo peeps. I've been bustin a gut for the last month getting paint on the big project (and having a ******** back, which really hasn't helped!). Today has been a good one and she's really starting to take shape. Most of the undercoat is on now so I can finally get an idea of what the boat will look like when the topcoat goes on (we start tomorrow if the weather's ok) - darker blue and creamy white - not the loudness you'll see below.

So i'm showing off my wee girl to you lot... here's some pics, from primer to undercoat.

btw, excuse the mess - I didn't get a chance to tidy up (read:- messy ba5tard!)

 

[Ratty]

Boat looks champion Si, some project - I look forward to seeing her finished and afloat.

btw, excuse the mess - I didn't get a chance to tidy up (read:- messy ba5tard!)

That looks like my studio! Even worse today cos I'm clearing half of it to get a new floor laid - chaos ). I'm taking up some floorboards to extend the area where I weld, one of which was over 20' long, a ba$tard to get out the door! They don't grow trees like that anymore. More to lift......Man arrives in morning to put down epoxy screed. Yup - epoxy Haze..oh oh oh. Aaaah.

 

[snowcat]

looks like a hell of a project, is it my imagination or is there blue sky in the background of a couple of those pics.

 

[Welderpaul]

..oh oh oh. Aaaah.

hehe my sort o girl!

 

[Drains]

looks like a hell of a project, is it my imagination or is there blue sky in the background of a couple of those pics.

It was sunny today!

Fortunately for me i'd already got the first coat of white undercoat on , so even in the sun it didn't get hot and I could do the second coat.

AND, although there was a hot, bright an beautiful sun, there was also a very nice cooling onshore breeze. Max about 21 degrees in the shade today. Lovely. You poor sweating b'tards down in England. S'not often I get to gloat about the weather....

 

[Welderpaul]

Looks good Si. How do you know it will float? Have you had a trial run yet?

 

[Drains]

"hehe my sort o girl! "

Are you sure???? (jam jars)



"Looks good Si. How do you know it will float? Have you had a trial run yet?"

Will it float? Dye pen says yes. I might have to ask Ratty about underwater curing epoxy though!

 

[Drains]

Boat looks champion Si, some project - I look forward to seeing her finished and afloat.

That looks like my studio! Even worse today cos I'm clearing half of it to get a new floor laid - chaos ). I'm taking up some floorboards to extend the area where I weld, one of which was over 20' long, a ba$tard to get out the door! They don't grow trees like that anymore. More to lift......Man arrives in morning to put down epoxy screed. Yup - epoxy Haze..oh oh oh. Aaaah.

What timber are your floorboards made from? Are they T&G? Did you take them up nice or break the tongues?

 

[snowcat]

Looks good Si. How do you know it will float? Have you had a trial run yet?

Whats with the jam jars? no actualy i dont want to know.
Glug Glug Glug Glug....

 

[weldequip]

Looks bloody ugly to me... the lines of a house-brick!
weldequip

 

[Welderpaul]

Yerv probably answered this before, but did u build the boat from scratch?

 

[Drains]

Yerv probably answered this before, but did u build the boat from scratch?

If I had a quid for every time i've answered that question.....

More or less. All the plate started as a cnc cut kit, then there was all the angle, bar etc as well. So yes, from scratch. Everything, myself, no cranes, no forklifts, no other people. Just me, a few tools and a lot of head scratching. Oh, and pain. Lots of pain. And swearing. LOTs of swearing

All I have to do now is buy a bunch of Iroko and knock up the wheelhouse and four windows. Glaze the lot, Complete the documentation, and launch!

And have a party. I was going to invite Weldequip but he wouldn't feel safe floating in a brick, so i'm thinking better of it...

 

[Welderpaul]

Fair play to you. thought it was a refurb job. Proper Fred Dibnah styleee!
Which rods do you need for Iroko?!

 

[Welderpaul]

Everything, myself, no cranes, no forklifts, no other people. Just me, a few tools

...and a hairy dog.

 

[weldequip]

I was going to invite Weldequip but he wouldn't feel safe floating in a brick, so i'm thinking better of it...

I've been on relatively sleek racing machines & s**t my pants! so your offer of a ****-up on 'the brick' is no problem... shall I bring a bottle of Champers for the launch? (that'll test your welds )
weldequip

 

[t'rusty duck]

Oh no!
hasn't Weldequip realised that a spot of keel hauling could be on the agenda to liven up the launch party, with anyone who'd criticised the sleek lines of your fine craft being first in line?
Ken.

And have a party. I was going to invite Weldequip but he wouldn't feel safe floating in a brick, so i'm thinking better of it...

 

[Ratty]

What timber are your floorboards made from? Are they T&G? Did you take them up nice or break the tongues?

Very old pine, (1906 prob - we celebrated the buildings 100th birthday last year in great style)) not t&g hence piles of dust and dog hair. They are nailed to the substrate which is some peculiar material - looks like a mix of clinker and bitumen. Just had a horrible moment, removed last 2 boards and discovered nasty white fungus ..think it might be dry rot (anyone know for sure wot it looks like?) so have sloshed the area with dry rot killer - dust, dog hairs an all, treated the boards and taken carefully outside and have stopped to take stock and a beer. This was supposed to be a simple job! I already spent half the day attacking a small but resilient area of concrete (agricultural - need I say more) to level it with the floor.

..and w'eq - you have no appreciation of dignity and purpose, just cos it's not a flashy gin palace..pah!

 

[Ratty]

Blimey - just seen the second page..from scratch, wow. I'm DEAD impressed. Speechless.

 

[Drains]

Blimey - just seen the second page..from scratch, wow. I'm DEAD impressed. Speechless.

Why, thankyou all for your comments. But I wouldn't have put it up here if it wasn't a welding project!

Just a little thing I knocked up, dontcha know

 

[Ratty]

Why, thankyou all for your comments. But I wouldn't have put it up here if it wasn't a welding project!

Just a little thing I knocked up, dontcha know

There now see? you've gone and spoilt it. Sarcasm and false modesty. Shan't show you my macramé pot holder project now so there.