Building Ship's Boats

Posted: Sat May 12, 2007 11:31 pm • Post subject: Building Ship's Boats

Building Ship's Boats Wink

The method of construction proposed by MS for the launches of the U.S. Brig Niagara is at the very least original.
I suggest another method, already explained here by Scottacus.

The plans of the kit are scanned, then worked with Corel Paint Shop Pro X. The printed results give us the profiles of the bulkheads (1 and 3) and the plan of the launch (2 ) onto which is marked the location of the bulkheads (these printed matters are free for the subscribers to my site).

The profiles of the bulkheads are glued on some 1/32" thick basswood.
Respect carefully the grain of the wood, the base of the bulkheads going with the grain of the wood. The cut of the bulkheads and of their base is easy.
The bulkheads (4) are glued against the strips (3/16") and are aligned on the central mark of the strips (5).
The transom (1) is glued on the profile "stem-keel-rudder" of the kit.
The stem of this profile (3) is free.
Two drops of cyano gel (2) holds the profile in place.

To be continued on Monday,
Friendly,
Bosco PDT_Aliboronz_15

Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 12:38 am • Post subject:

Looking good, Bosco. Looking forward to the next installment.

jim PDT_Aliboronz_24

Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 8:23 pm • Post subject:

Building the Ship`s Boats - Part 2

The planking is going to be made with 2mm x 0.5mm strips.
We need approximately twenty 15cm long strips.
Plane 1.5mm thick strips to obtain 0.5mm thick strips which are rare on the market.
We glue under the plane 0.75mm thick strips (1) and as the plane blade exceeds 0.25mm, we obtain 0.50mm thick strips.

Fit the joint between the stem and the strake, glue with Cyano gel. Let the glue dry.
The strake is then bent: with a paintbrush (2) apply methyl alcohol (Fondue Fuel) (1) on sections of the part to be bent and press the strake on the bulkhead nº 4.
The pin (3) is there to hold the stem during the bending.

For the strake bending, do not apply alcohol all along the strake (1), but only on spaces between bulkheads (2). That prevents the strake from folding too much on bulkheads.

Using a cutter (1), trim the edge (2) of a strake which has been glued, to obtain a good joint with the next strake.
The principle is simple: the edge must be perpendicular to the edges of the bulkheads.
The trimming is varying therefore all along the strake.

see next page »»

Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 8:29 pm • Post subject:

Building the Ship`s Boats - Part 3 (end)

After the laying of 2 strakes on every side, we can calculate the variation of width that the next strakes must have. This calculation was already explained by video. For this 4"3/4 long launch, calculations are simplified.
When the planking is completed around the transom (1), we divide by 4 the spaces remaining to be planked (2).
The last 8 strakes are going to be profiled according to these marks.

Before removing the finished hull from its supporting frames, let us clarify the gluing points used during the assembly:
1. The keel is held on the bulkheads by 3 points, which will be removed before setting the last strakes.
2. The first two strakes are also held by three points, removed when "turning out" the hull.
3. Gluing points of strakes.

First rough hull, the jig is ready for the second one.

For the hull finish, a coat of wood filler is applied, then sanded (paper nº 220).
The joints between the hull and the keel (2) are filed with a half round file (1).

Last step before the final painting: a coat of primer (1), the keel and the stem are extended with a "Plastruct" strip (2).

For the "stern boat" of the Niagara, I will use 1mm x 0.5mm strips to see if it is better to use them in stead of 2mm ones.

Friendly,
Bosco PDT_Aliboronz_15

Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 9:02 pm • Post subject:

Beautiful, just beautiful Bosco.

Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 9:08 pm • Post subject:

Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 3:53 am • Post subject:

Bonjour Bosco!

I'm sorry that I somehow missed seeing this post until today. Your work is absolutely beautiful! I think that your strongback worked to perfection in allowing you to make these fine ship's boats. Your idea in shimming up the plane bed is brilliant and is one I plan on copying Wink

.

I know you've posted on the topic before but could you tell me a little more about the methyl alcohol that you use to help the wood bend? You mention applying it only to the areas between the strongback frames. Does it cause the planks to become too soft and kink when applied to the areas over the strongback frames?

Once again great work!! Top Job!

Scott

Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 9:30 am • Post subject:

Bosco is genius in how he presents information, packing a lot into a few pictures. Yet, sometimes it is very subtle. The picture just above where he mentions the alcohol shows us a comparison. See how the strake on the right is kinked.

Great little boats Bosco!

Posted: Thu May 17, 2007 8:19 pm • Post subject:

Beautifully presented and great tips, Bosco.

Thank you very much.

Posted: Sat Aug 11, 2007 7:53 am • Post subject:

Thanks Bosco, a very nice tutorial. I'll give it a try on the launces of my Pickle

Remco