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Pilot Cutter by Michael Mott - 1:500 scale


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I thought that a challenge to build a small model at 1:500 scale similar to the ships in bottles might make a satisfying change from working in 1:8 scale

 

post-202-0-85207800-1361863769.jpg

 

 

the hull is carved from a small piece of the English Boxwood

post-202-0-32098700-1361863772.jpg

 

 

I decided to use the larger part of the block as a holding jig so I carefully fretted out the profile and plan with a jewelers saw, by not completing the cuts I was able to hold it easily until the end.

post-202-0-17200200-1361863774.jpg

 

 

The hull blank was reatached to the cut along the deck line saw cut with a little acc glue.

post-202-0-25081300-1361863776.jpg

 

 

The beginning carving most of the actual carving was done with the #11 blade then some files.

post-202-0-71239500-1361863777.jpg

 

 

Some .024" holes were drilled for mounting to a board and a similar hole was drilled for the rudder.

post-202-0-17144900-1361863779.jpg

 

 

The first trial assembly to get an Idea of how it will look. I think that the mast is a bit big in diameter yet and the hull still needs a bit of fairing in a couple of spots.

post-202-0-39764000-1361863780.jpg

 

 

Three quarter from the bow Still a fair ways to go but I am satisfied with the progress this evening.

post-202-0-54981000-1361863765.jpg

 

 

The brass tiller is just a placeholder it is a bit on the big side. Next the bowsprit and topmast gaff and boom.

 

Michael

Current builds  Bristol Pilot Cutter 1:8;      Skipjack 19 foot Launch 1:8;       Herreshoff Buzzards Bay 14 1:8

Other projects  Pilot Cutter 1:500 ;   Maria, 1:2  Now just a memory    

Future model Gill Smith Catboat Pauline 1:8

Finished projects  A Bassett Lowke steamship Albertic 1:100  

 

Anything you can imagine is possible, when you put your mind to it.

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Oh what fun.  Thanks Michael.

 

Bob

Every build is a learning experience.

 

Current build:  SS_ Mariefred

 

Completed builds:  US Coast Guard Pequot   Friendship-sloop,  Schooner Lettie-G.-Howard,   Spray,   Grand-Banks-dory

                                                a gaff rigged yawl,  HOGA (YT-146),  Int'l Dragon Class II,   Two Edwardian Launches 

 

In the Gallery:   Catboat,   International-Dragon-Class,   Spray

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Bob Thanks for looking in on the tiny build. I have a whole new appreciation for Donald McNarry let me tell you. It took me an hour to make a new mast that is a scale 12 inches in diameter at the base. .024" it is bamboo I used a draw plate and a sanding stick but did most of the final sizing by scraping with a knife blade. It looks like the mast now needs a bit of tapering, it is definitely tricky working with these big splinters.

 

The photo shows the mast to be smaller at the middle than the top I did not see that while working on it I will try some other woods for this small stuff.

 

Here is mini sitting on the stem of the 1:8

 

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and a shot in daylight with the thinner mast. I took out the 12 inch thick tiller handle.

 

post-202-0-31136500-1361908682.jpg

 

Michael

Current builds  Bristol Pilot Cutter 1:8;      Skipjack 19 foot Launch 1:8;       Herreshoff Buzzards Bay 14 1:8

Other projects  Pilot Cutter 1:500 ;   Maria, 1:2  Now just a memory    

Future model Gill Smith Catboat Pauline 1:8

Finished projects  A Bassett Lowke steamship Albertic 1:100  

 

Anything you can imagine is possible, when you put your mind to it.

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So your cutter model will have model of a cutter on it, I hope?   B)    

Mark
"The shipwright is slow, but the wood is patient." - me

Current Build:                                                                                             
Past Builds:
 La Belle Poule 1765 - French Frigate from ANCRE plans - ON HOLD           Triton Cross-Section   

 NRG Hallf Hull Planking Kit                                                                            HMS Sphinx 1775 - Vanguard Models - 1:64               

 

Non-Ship Model:                                                                                         On hold, maybe forever:           

CH-53 Sikorsky - 1:48 - Revell - Completed                                                   Licorne - 1755 from Hahn Plans (Scratch) Version 2.0 (Abandoned)         

         

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

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Well, you do have a strange idea of light entertainment, Michael! The extreme change in scale must be hard to wrap your head around. Both models are looking very nice indeed.

Be sure to sign up for an epic Nelson/Trafalgar project if you would like to see it made into a TV series  http://trafalgar.tv

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John, thanks, it is fun, and break up the tasks which gives my mind a variety of focus.

 

Mark, absolutely, the small cutter works out to a scale 12 inches long LOA as a model in the big one.

 

Harvey, thanks for your kind comment

 

Druxey, thanks for the compliment and actually it is quite the opposite I find it easy to switch scales, I have been a "rubber gauger" all my life. (Sorry about the reference to railways)

 

post-202-0-12680200-1361948757.jpg

 

the top off cut looked promising for the proper rudder.

 

post-202-0-56475900-1361948759.jpg

 

Fretted out and ready for shaping,

 

post-202-0-14602900-1361948761.jpg

 

The rudder was a little tricky to hold and it took five minutes to find it after dropping it, I think it did a sycamore seed thing as it fell. When it was almost finished I snapped the shaft which was carved as an integral part of the rudder. I glued it with some ACC and since it is hidden inside the hole through the hull, and there will not be any sideways torquing pressure I will leave it. At the moment it is just a very light push fit and it does swivel from side to side. I was reading that Donald McNally actually planked the decks of all his ships with actual strips of planking. ...... I'm thinking about it.

 

post-202-0-70660000-1361948762.jpg

 

post-202-0-75169900-1361948754.jpg

 

I Also shaped a new mast out of maple and tapered it to .010" at the masthead and .024"  at the base, I am pleased enough with it now.

 

Michael

Current builds  Bristol Pilot Cutter 1:8;      Skipjack 19 foot Launch 1:8;       Herreshoff Buzzards Bay 14 1:8

Other projects  Pilot Cutter 1:500 ;   Maria, 1:2  Now just a memory    

Future model Gill Smith Catboat Pauline 1:8

Finished projects  A Bassett Lowke steamship Albertic 1:100  

 

Anything you can imagine is possible, when you put your mind to it.

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I've never done anything that small.......pretty snazzy little boat!

I yam wot I yam!

finished builds:
Billings Nordkap 476 / Billings Cux 87 / Billings Mary Ann / Billings AmericA - reissue
Billings Regina - bashed into the Susan A / Andrea Gail 1:20 - semi scratch w/ Billing instructions
M&M Fun Ship - semi scratch build / Gundalow - scratch build / Jeanne D'Arc - Heller
Phylly C & Denny-Zen - the Lobsie twins - bashed & semi scratch dual build

Billing T78 Norden

 

in dry dock:
Billing's Gothenborg 1:100 / Billing's Boulogne Etaples 1:20
Billing's Half Moon 1:40 - some scratch required
Revell U.S.S. United States 1:96 - plastic/ wood modified / Academy Titanic 1:400
Trawler Syborn - semi scratch / Holiday Harbor dual build - semi scratch

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Beautiful, simply beautiful.

 

Bob

Every build is a learning experience.

 

Current build:  SS_ Mariefred

 

Completed builds:  US Coast Guard Pequot   Friendship-sloop,  Schooner Lettie-G.-Howard,   Spray,   Grand-Banks-dory

                                                a gaff rigged yawl,  HOGA (YT-146),  Int'l Dragon Class II,   Two Edwardian Launches 

 

In the Gallery:   Catboat,   International-Dragon-Class,   Spray

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Outstanding work! I don't know if I would be able to work on anything that small.

Tim

Edited by Timothy Wood

Tim 

 

Current Build:

 

 

 

 

 

Future Build:

  • BlueJacket - USS Kidd (Fletcher Class Destroyer) Solid Hull
  • BlueJacket - U.S.S. SAMUEL B. ROBERTS, DE413 | Butler-Class Destroyer Escort
  • BlueJacket - 310' Destroyer "The famous "four-piper" of both World Wars"
  • Model Shipways - Pride of Baltimore II (Topsail Schooner) 
  • Model Shipways - Willie L. Bennett (Chesapeake Bay Skipjack)
  • Constructo - Pilar (Ernest Hemingway's Fishing Yacht)  
  • Sergal - Race Horse (Bomb Ketch)
  • Classic Warships - USS Salem CA-139 (Heavy Cruiser) Resin Kit
  • Pen Duick Schooner - Half Hull (Scratch Build)
  • CSA Submarine Hunley (Resin Kit)
  • Classic Warships - USS Washington BB-56 (Battleship) Resin Kit
  • Blue Ridge Models - USS Alaska CB-1 (Resin Kit)

 

Completed Builds:

                 

Member:

Hampton Roads Ship Model Society

 

              

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Popeye, Bob, Tim, Thanks for stopping by.

 

Well working on the rudder I did resort to using the optivisor, I try not to use one if I can get away without it. I think that is why I mostly work on large stuff these days, but this was just too much of a fun challenge. The next task that will need some figuring out is to reshape the sheerline to accommodate the bulwarks and to leave the stem proud a little.

 

Michael

Current builds  Bristol Pilot Cutter 1:8;      Skipjack 19 foot Launch 1:8;       Herreshoff Buzzards Bay 14 1:8

Other projects  Pilot Cutter 1:500 ;   Maria, 1:2  Now just a memory    

Future model Gill Smith Catboat Pauline 1:8

Finished projects  A Bassett Lowke steamship Albertic 1:100  

 

Anything you can imagine is possible, when you put your mind to it.

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Excellent Michael :)

 

What a delight, and then you fool anyone that does not know that the block that looks 1:1 is actually a 1:8 making the little cutter appear bigger than it is!

 

Sweet :)

Happy modelling!

Håkan

__________________________________________

 

Current build: Atlantica by Wintergreen

Previous builds

Kågen by Wintergreen

Regina by Wintergreen

Sea of Galilee boat, first century, sort of...

Billing Boats Wasa

Gallery:

Kågen (Cog, kaeg) by Wintergreen - 1:30Billing Boats Regina - 1:30Billing Boats Dana

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  • 3 weeks later...

Håkan, thanks for the compliment

 

I did a little more work on the mini pilot cutter today I worked on the final shaping of the deck.

 


post-202-0-56009600-1363392766.jpg

 

Tricky little devil to hold. Then I remembered the Milton Bradley mock up clay.

 

post-202-0-14120900-1363392768.jpg

 

Heated up an exacto blade to cherry red and let it cool down so I could file the notch for recessing the hull to accept the bulwarks.

 

post-202-0-81441500-1363392764.jpg

 

I cut some .005" apple and also some white lilac so I will see how each look before deciding. The white lilac smelled like aromatic cedar which surprised me.

 

Michael

Current builds  Bristol Pilot Cutter 1:8;      Skipjack 19 foot Launch 1:8;       Herreshoff Buzzards Bay 14 1:8

Other projects  Pilot Cutter 1:500 ;   Maria, 1:2  Now just a memory    

Future model Gill Smith Catboat Pauline 1:8

Finished projects  A Bassett Lowke steamship Albertic 1:100  

 

Anything you can imagine is possible, when you put your mind to it.

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Well John putting the bulwark on was tough enough for me. it is amazing what the camera sees that I don't. this is all for now.

 

 

 

post-202-0-87832200-1363409269.jpg

 

post-202-0-10093700-1363409271.jpg

 

post-202-0-69952700-1363409267.jpg

 

Michael

 

Current builds  Bristol Pilot Cutter 1:8;      Skipjack 19 foot Launch 1:8;       Herreshoff Buzzards Bay 14 1:8

Other projects  Pilot Cutter 1:500 ;   Maria, 1:2  Now just a memory    

Future model Gill Smith Catboat Pauline 1:8

Finished projects  A Bassett Lowke steamship Albertic 1:100  

 

Anything you can imagine is possible, when you put your mind to it.

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post-76-0-90914400-1363409949.gifWow....

Mark
"The shipwright is slow, but the wood is patient." - me

Current Build:                                                                                             
Past Builds:
 La Belle Poule 1765 - French Frigate from ANCRE plans - ON HOLD           Triton Cross-Section   

 NRG Hallf Hull Planking Kit                                                                            HMS Sphinx 1775 - Vanguard Models - 1:64               

 

Non-Ship Model:                                                                                         On hold, maybe forever:           

CH-53 Sikorsky - 1:48 - Revell - Completed                                                   Licorne - 1755 from Hahn Plans (Scratch) Version 2.0 (Abandoned)         

         

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

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very tiny......and nicely done!  mini you must come in handy for this.........great job! ;)

I yam wot I yam!

finished builds:
Billings Nordkap 476 / Billings Cux 87 / Billings Mary Ann / Billings AmericA - reissue
Billings Regina - bashed into the Susan A / Andrea Gail 1:20 - semi scratch w/ Billing instructions
M&M Fun Ship - semi scratch build / Gundalow - scratch build / Jeanne D'Arc - Heller
Phylly C & Denny-Zen - the Lobsie twins - bashed & semi scratch dual build

Billing T78 Norden

 

in dry dock:
Billing's Gothenborg 1:100 / Billing's Boulogne Etaples 1:20
Billing's Half Moon 1:40 - some scratch required
Revell U.S.S. United States 1:96 - plastic/ wood modified / Academy Titanic 1:400
Trawler Syborn - semi scratch / Holiday Harbor dual build - semi scratch

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Nice bulwarks Michael! You know that the wood is thin when it starts to become translucent!

 

Great job

 

Matt

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Mark, Harvey, John, Popeye, and Matt,  thanks for your kind words.

 

Yes Matt the translucence did surprise me a little because the apple wood was quite dense. I measured the thickness and it was scraped down to .005" which in scale is still way to thick. if it were blown up to full size it would be 2.5 inches thick.

 

 

I cut the curve out with a pair of regular scissors and then the curl by pulling between my index finger and thumbnail. the hardest part was getting the glue on. I used a dental pic and put the glue in the tip of it, I could have used a pin as well I suppose.

 

Once the glue was good and set I used a tiny sanding stick with 600 grit and gently stroked back and forth lengthwise to get them down to the right size above the deck I also used it to shape the transom once it was glued on.

 

post-202-0-05550500-1363444242.jpg

 

Michael

Current builds  Bristol Pilot Cutter 1:8;      Skipjack 19 foot Launch 1:8;       Herreshoff Buzzards Bay 14 1:8

Other projects  Pilot Cutter 1:500 ;   Maria, 1:2  Now just a memory    

Future model Gill Smith Catboat Pauline 1:8

Finished projects  A Bassett Lowke steamship Albertic 1:100  

 

Anything you can imagine is possible, when you put your mind to it.

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Michael,

 

The picture of this little boat on the deck of its big sister made it look small but then you showed us pictures with a #11 blade and a wood pencil and we see how unbelievably tiny it really is.  Well done. 

 

Bob

Every build is a learning experience.

 

Current build:  SS_ Mariefred

 

Completed builds:  US Coast Guard Pequot   Friendship-sloop,  Schooner Lettie-G.-Howard,   Spray,   Grand-Banks-dory

                                                a gaff rigged yawl,  HOGA (YT-146),  Int'l Dragon Class II,   Two Edwardian Launches 

 

In the Gallery:   Catboat,   International-Dragon-Class,   Spray

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I love it!!!  This is very cool.  Your craftsmanship is incredible.  The lines look great.  Planking will be a nice touch.  Have you thought about getting her into a bottle?  At that size you may even consider a pocket watch similar to what John Fox III has done.  http://www.mosaictelecom.com/~jfox3/forshow.html

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Daniel, I am not sure that I will be doing any planking on this model, perhaps when I get a little better skilled at the small stuff. Thanks for the link, Johns work just blew me away.

 

Michael

Current builds  Bristol Pilot Cutter 1:8;      Skipjack 19 foot Launch 1:8;       Herreshoff Buzzards Bay 14 1:8

Other projects  Pilot Cutter 1:500 ;   Maria, 1:2  Now just a memory    

Future model Gill Smith Catboat Pauline 1:8

Finished projects  A Bassett Lowke steamship Albertic 1:100  

 

Anything you can imagine is possible, when you put your mind to it.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Hi Michael,

 

Oh me, oh my, what a wonderful build. Who says a solid hull vessel cannot be elegant whatever the size.

 

Looking forward to more!

 

Cheers,

Hopeful aka David

 

“there is wisdom in many voices”

 

Completed: Sharpie Schooner (Midwest) Reposting the build log at present

On the bench: Sultana (MSW) Reposting the log and keeping on with the build

 

Next: Lady Nelson (Amati Victory)

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  • 1 month later...

 it is amazing what the camera sees that I don't. 

 

 

 

I agree, I catch all kinds of errors in my photos that I don't see even with an OptiVisor. 

 

I agree with Daniel, where's the bottle?  ;)

 

Beautiful work!

post-70-0-74663700-1362476559.jpg


Current Builds:  ESMERALDA Chilean Navy School Ship, 1/640 in a bottle


insanity Dan Clapp's hard water race boat in a bottle


Completed Build:  Prairie Schooner OGALLALA 1/96 in a bottle


Research Project:  Cruizer-class Brig-Sloops


 


 


"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." - Benjamin Franklin

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Where's the bottle indeed! I'm workin' on it...... Hic!

 

Michael

Current builds  Bristol Pilot Cutter 1:8;      Skipjack 19 foot Launch 1:8;       Herreshoff Buzzards Bay 14 1:8

Other projects  Pilot Cutter 1:500 ;   Maria, 1:2  Now just a memory    

Future model Gill Smith Catboat Pauline 1:8

Finished projects  A Bassett Lowke steamship Albertic 1:100  

 

Anything you can imagine is possible, when you put your mind to it.

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  • 2 weeks later...

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