Model Cargo Ship "CAPRI" - the Argobuilder; Craftsmanship, Adventure, Enjoying Life!

The Cargo Ship "CAPRI"

Artesania Latina, Cargo Ship "CAPRI"

This model was purchased and built nearly to completion, by my father in the 1980's when we were living in the Netherlands. Now in April 2018, she resurfaced in Wisconsin during an attic cleaning effort, and sailed into my hands. On looking at the partially completed subassemblies, I was intrigued to see that the model was nearly finished, and I was also very impressed by the finish-quality. The pieces were sanded and primed, and my Dad had used an airbrush which in conjunction with fine sanding skills, resulting in pieces with an above average smoothness of finish. I decided to finish it, which is documented below.

Here's the model kit box, found in the attic. It is a Spanish made kit from Artesania Latina.

I found this plan sheet and 4 pages of text in Spanish. It is a simple stout model meant to be fitted with a motor and controls and launched in the water. I will finish the model, but will not fit it with a motor or controls....I love sailing and boating, but in our short summers I prefer to use the open water for being on a boat myself, not operating a model boat....to each their own. Fall, Winter, and Spring are great seasons to build models in Wisconsin.

Here are the sub-assemblies as-found in the attic. The mast on the superstructure had snapped off in storage, so prior to this photo I glued that back in place.

Another photo of sub-assemblies, as found in the attic.

Acquired paint and nice model three-strand rope along with some other hardware to finish the model. Everything laid out on a work surface.

There were some portholes in the superstructure that needed to be drilled, per plans, so I did that.

Drilling holes for eyelets in the booms.

Brass eyelet superglued into boom-ends.

The hoist mast was nicely built, but still needed the final mast-top per plans, so I added that.

Finish coat of orange paint on mast and booms.

It is not part of the standard kit , but I thought it would be nice for the boom hoist lines to run through blocks rather than the standard eyelets. I had some model blocks left over from other models and will use them here.

There was a stout little plastic propeller pressed onto a steel shaft in the kit.

Three coats of metallic bronze paint; I think the propeller will look better in the model finished like this.

Cargo Ship CAPRI, in process. The components were primed but not finished when I found them. Truth be told the airbrush finish of the components was better when I found them, than the brushed-on finish I am applying. But my brushed on finish looks good to me. Here the hull is masked off and the red has had one coat. The blue hatch is on its second coat.

The lifeboat was carved and done, I only needed to add the securing eyelets to the top, per plans.

Masking and painting superstructure.

Cutting doors, needed to complete the superstructure. I cut these from a 1/16" thick sheet of basswood that I had left-over from a previous project.

Doors ready for priming and installation.

Doors installed, and also blocks on the control mast. Those were not per plans, but I thought it would be good to mount blocks there instead of just eyelets. Continuing masking and painting of the smoke stack.

Bending lifeboat booms from brass.

Lifeboat support booms painted orange.

Cargo hip CAPRI hoist anchor points mounted to hoist mast base.

Eyelets mounted to hoist mast head.

Painting the deck of the Cargo Ship CAPRI. The photo on the cover of the box showed the deck black, but in a slight deviation from stock, I went with dark grey.

Display base for Artesania Latina Capri. I made it custom to fit the hull shape. The wood is hard maple from a tree I cut down in the yard about 16 years ago. Green felt will be glued to the surfaces where the boat will rest.