This kit was reviewed at Modelwarship.com and a fine rendition of this diminutive ship was built by model chum Peter Fulgoney

Now then...--and having read contemporary descriptions of these vessels and having studies countless photos of early steam driven merchant ships- and having studied the fine and inspirational models of merchant ship master Bob Wilson

It is my contention that .....

although the General Arrangement ( GA) plans often show these vessels with sailing rig... that in reality sails were seldom used for actual propulsion.... steam having quickly become reliable by this time.

HOWEVER... I reckon that in a rolling beam-on swell sails would often have been used for their steadying effect to inhibit excessive rolling....

I used this valid (in my view! ) pretext when I built the BFM Tramp Steamer SS Drumgeith.

This little project is also intended as a distraction from the 'serious' business of trying emulate every minutia on some obscure warship-- ....as is my usual wont...

So rather than slavishly building a replica of SS Pearl--which Peter Fulgoney already has done rather well ... I shall use the kit as my basis for a bit of freelancing--or in common parlance:

.....making it up as you go along!!

Firstly I reshaped the stern with filler to make a more elegant counter; and also will induce a more pronounced sheer line; this has been achieved by gluing small blocks of styrene for and aft--when pulled done in the centre with the to-base securing screw it will give a more accentuated and in my view rather pleasing sheer line...

Not working to exact plans and photos to try and recreate a 1:1 scale ship, but rather giving reign to my whims is a new experience for me ...( in model shipbuilding anyhow) .. !! we shall see if this will all work out!!

Progress has been satisfyingly brisk!

I added some underwater hull on the starboard side so that the vessel could heel a little in the breeze and beam-on rollers

The ship was mounted using a screw to pull down the amidships section and create the desired sheer line

I cut off some of the wt doors and substituted some PE from Voyager.

I made the traditional for that type of vessel wood paneled bridge surround using some WEM Ark Royal catwalk PE.

The wheelhouse was constructed of 1/350 handrail, subdivided with stretched sprue, the gaps in-filled with white glue.

With paint on it looks quite effective!!

Scupper doors made of paper have been added to the hull sides , hawse pipes drilled and most of the deck painting completed

The sometimes hazardous journey from Bridge to foredeck- bypassing the low lying well deck which in a seaway could have a lot of water sluicing around or even be partially awash...- on SS pearl and many vessels of here era could be effect by use of the raised catwalk.

I made mine of a strip of brass PE waste, to which were added GMM goldplus railings and some 1/350 twin bar rail cut down carefully to make the legs; numerous testfits were required...

The wheel house gained a roof made of paper infused with CA glue

The kit funnel was fine in its own right-however I desired mine a bit taller still in keeping with an old photo in a 1930's book-

'Shipping wonders of the World' ....--- a most worthwhile tome indeed to browse .!

A new funnel was made of copper tubing which had the opening thinned down further and the steam pipe separated further in accordance with a GA plan of Pearl- the upper bracket being made witha droplet of white glue

The accommodation aft had the 2 x large engine room vents added( BFM resin items)
These were drilled vertically to create a hole and then had the edges of the mouth thinned down by hollowing out with a bur-tool held in a pinvice.

The foredeck had the handrails added--and the beak steel wall increased in height .windlass furnished with brake handles, anchor chain ( twisted wire ) and a vent made of solder wire ( core drilled out) ; anchors were added and the stairway handrails made of fine 1 bar railing.

The ships boats required cradles --these were made of (WEM Askold) PE parts and davits bent out of wire

Nevertheless a few snatched moments resulted in some open ship s boats being made with separate thwarts, some finely tapered masts ( BMK from Germany) being installed and a bit of sail making ...

The furled sail on the middle mast has been made of white glue and can be seen while wet - ergo white )

The sea has had a first coat...