I started building the boat on the 20th of September. I decided early on to stick with Chuck's instruction as they were clear and concise. Your instructions are vague in spots and the detailed instructions by Chuck led me in an orderly fashion to build the boat. When I was not working on the boat, I am a professional large scale (1:20 to 1:32) custom painter and builder, so I am used to working with my hands and with my huge tool collection. I have built close to 4000 models in 56 years from detailed kits to complete scratch building.

I enjoyed applying the copper plates, cut to scale length, to the hull; carving out the bulwarks, and building the ship. I worked on the model after working all day custom painting trains or making custom decals as it helped me to relax.

It soon became apparent that I needed to build a Jig to make my deadeyes and chain plates, so one was built after considerable study of the market products offered my Model Expo. What I built was a combination of the tools on the market, adding my own touches. I wanted It to be expandable so I could rig deadeyes and blocks not only on 1:96 or smaller models, but also 1:32 models. I added a magnifying glass which I mounted to a base as my 59 year old eyesight could not see the parts with my eyes nor with the use of my magnifier.

It soon became apparent that blocks, deadeyes, and the holes within were going to be a problem. I made my chain plates and I started buying parts from you and Blue Jacket. Rather then rig the lower deadeyes to the plates, I put this off until it was time to rig the shrouds.

I aware the extra details that I added using Chuck's suggestions were not what Mr. Lankford intended as I soon ran out of belaying pins and deadeyes. So I made my own from wire and the extra nails that came with the kit. I ordered extra cleats and blocks( turned out I bought BIGGER triple blocks then I needed) from Model Expo, so they are in my extra parts bin. I bought some parts from my local hobby shop that were closer to the scale size blocks, but not quite as small as the kit provided, but I could see them.

About the middle of October, I built the launching ways kit and applied it to wooden base. While putting the TRAVELER in place with the tiny blocks, I began to break blocks, so while visiting a local hobby shop (Fischel's Hobbies in Dubois, PA), I bought extra blocks of various sizes and the plastic people To use as my crew later In construction. I applied all the deck furniture and painted the various pieces.

By now it was nearly Christmas and it was time to rig the bowsprit. I followed Chuck's article to the letter. The tiniest metal parts became apparent added parts, such as on the bowsprit. I drilled every hole required before assembling the part. The model was more of a challenge when I had to rig it, but it was worth the effort to try and get every line where it belonged..

I missed on a few points such as :

Some blocks are too big, but I could handle them. Many blocks broke when trying to tie a string around them, so I opted to use 32 gauge wire for tying these blocks to the mast or boom. I bought tiny beads to use for Parrels, but they were too big. I did use them on the mainmast, but skipped them everywhere else. I had to buy extra dowels as I broke a few along the way. I cut very thin vinyl strips on my vinyl cutter and used them for the mast hoops and the metal bans on the boom. I made the boom too long and discovered this after I had all the fittings in place, so I cut an inch out of the middle of the boom and pinned it back together adding a band where the seam was.

I used the Knoxx super glue (fantastic glue that I am now using in my custom train business) along with Jet super glue to assemble the model and in the rigging. It took about 10 days to rig the model. I noted that the drawings showed the ship name, but that the kit was lacking lettering. As I am a custom decal maker for the model train industry, I printed up some "PHANTOM" decals with my Alps printer and applied these to the bow and stern of the model.

I painted all the parts with Polyscale acrylic paint and decided to paint the masts brown. I did not understand about the mast hoops until after I finished the kit as I glued mine at intervals shown on the plan, which I now realize were if the ship had sails. I also have not figured out to make coils of rope around the belaying pins. Once I figure this out, it will be added to the model.

I added a crew to my boat as it then looks like something is happening.

For the cost of some of these tiny pieces, I thought you could have provided extra belaying pins, single and double blocks, cleats, eyebolts. I found 6 deadeye strop rings, but neither set of instructions explained how they were used, so I left them off. I had way too much wood and if I were to build another " Phantom ", I would have hollowed out the interior and made the cabins to be hollow.

The plans were very well done and quite helpful as was the cover of the box for inspiration. I think you should get someone like Chuck to write detailed instructions on building your other ship models. As I was building the " Phantom ", I picked up some other Model Shipway's kits including the tug "Taurus" (to use a basis to scratch build a 1:29 model for my large scale model railroad ) as I had built the kit 35 years ago when MS was located in N«w Jersey. I also bought the "Dapper Tom".

I recently swapped a $600.00 Aristocrat* 1:29 Mikado steam locomotive for Mamoli's 1:55 "Roter Lowe" and Corel's "Amphion" as both these ships are in a larger scale that I am used to working in.

I hope my pictures show enough of the ship for you to judge my workmanship. I also included pictures of my scratch built 1:29 scale blast furnaces. These took about 45 days each to build. Good thing I am retired teacher as now I have time to work on models all day long.

Sincerely yours, Jeffrey W. Damerst

The ship with all the detail added, including custom printed name decal on my ALPS printer, a scale size crew, and the launching of ways.


3.75 view of the bow and various fittings and lines in the bowsprit


Top close-up view of the deck and the furniture details


Overall view of the Phantom from the starboard overhead view, showing mast details with blocks and rigging. My sailing crew is busy at work as well. Since the shiop is tiny, some details are hard to see.

While Chuck Passaro painted his blocks black, I opted to leave them natural, but did paint the deck as well as the launching of ways. The base is made by an associate in my custom large scale train business. I opted to leave the other flags off the model.