Some favourites ...

Here are some of my favourite photographs from the build, of some of the various people involved:

Tony Bate has just completed the main section of the counter ...

And here's Tony again working on the portholes ...

And here's Graham checking the size of the portholes ...

And on those 'damn' wooden handrails ...

And here's Glyn on the handrails again, and the fake portholes ...

And what a team at Norton Canes ...

And here's a couple of Dick Goble, who has been such a help with the engine ...  

And here he deserves a minute with a cup of tea ...

And here's Rob working on the final cabin finish ...

Maiden voyage ...

Well not quite the maiden trip, but some pictures of our first major run down to Shackerstone ...

Finish ...

Well you never really finish of course, but see below a few pictures of the completed product ...

Boat lettering part two

See the images below of a second full day of shadowing work on the panels ...

In this first image you can see that, whilst it was good already, the dramatic effect that letter shadowing has on the panel ...

And of course it is all repeated - and incredibly in an identical form - on the other side ...

Just look at that finished main panel ...

And the boat name panel ...

Boat lettering part one

There was only one choice for us for the external lettering (or signwriting) of the boat, and that was Dave Moore.  There are a small number of good signwriters out there but Dave is a master and absolutely second to none, and it was a pleasure to have him letter our boat.  See below some of the progress on day one ...

In this picture, at about 8am on a day between Christmas and New Year 2013 Dave makes a start, with marking out and taping-up of the general style that we wanted.

You can see some of the panel here start to take shape, with the wonderful scroll-work in the top corners ...

Just look at the painstaking nature of the work ... here he starts on the script-style lettering which will says "Canal Carriers" ... 

If you look closely at this picture of the boat name panel, you can see the pencil sketching of the lettering ... 

See the completed panel on one side, but note no shadowing at this stage ...

And once one side is done, he makes a start on the other ...

And as it gets dark and late, he nearly completes the second side ready for shadowing tomorrow ...

End of day one ...

     

Fit-out progress ... fifteenth instalment (pre Christmas 2013)

Wonderful progress on the internal and external finishing, as set out in the images below:

The front doors with the side cupboards, looking forwards into bed area under the tug deck ...

And the wonderful boatman's cabin, what can you say ....

And a couple of views from the bow, with the scalloped finish to the front bulkhead ...

Courtesy of Procast of Notts, the bullseye on the rear cabin roof ...

And two views of the marvellous kitchen which Rob has produced ...

And the stern view ...

Fit-out progress ... fourteenth instalment (December 2013)

It is mid-December 2013 and the fit-out and external painting is nearly complete, as set outn in the pictures below:

The above shows the boatman's cabin with the cushions - which we obtained from JH Trimmings of Ashridge Basin, who were superb - installed and neatly fitted.  The additional two pieces which form the bed are stored in the bed 'ole cupboard.    

Externally the shell looks superb, in the green and red livery which we have gone for with some FMC-style features.  Rob truly is a master painter and craftsman.
 

Below shows the porthole bungs which we also bought from JH Trimmings, which fit well and are a nice alternative to curtains.

The rear of the boat with the painting well-progressed, with the red panels being eventually to be bordered by yellow lines.