Rattlesnake by JSGerson - FINISHED - Mamoli - 1:64 - Using Robert Hunt’s practicum

[JSGerson]

In constructing the gunports it was necessary to remove part of the kit bulkheads. Eventually all expose kit bulkheads would be removed. Although the practicum did not call for it at this point (it would a few steps later), the keel extension in the bow was removed and replaced with other pieces as instructed by the practicum.

[JSGerson]

More pictures of the gunport planking

[JSGerson]

Oar Sweeps

Once more the side view template comes into use to transfer the oar sweeps with pencil. Small holes were drilled, expanded, and filed to size. The oar sweep frame was then constructed off the model and installed

 

 

The top sills of the gunports were installed next

[JSGerson]

Tree Nails

 

The practicum gave the option of installing tree nails. Obviously these ships didn’t use nails because they would just rust away and the ship would fall apart in no time. They used wood plugs or tree nails. In for a penny, in for a pound, I didn’t hesitate to incorporate them into my model. The practicum stated that they could be made from bamboo (which I got at the grocery store as bamboo skewers) and a draw plate which could be purchase at either Model Expo or Micro Mark. I bought the one from Model Expo because it had more holes.  Note the other plate in the picture is a drill sizer plate

[JSGerson]

I split the bamboo skewer into 4 pieces and then drew them through smaller and smaller holes to get to the called for .026” diameter

 

 

[JSGerson]

I found that as I got down to the smaller sizes the holes were not consistently progressive in getter smaller. I had difficulty creating the tree nails. After struggling for a while I discovered that Byrnes Machines also sold draw plates and knowing there fine workmanship from previous purchases, I bought theirs. It worked like a charm as expected.

[JSGerson]

Following the instructions of the practicum, I installed the tree nails using Minwax Wipeon Poly as the adhesive. This is the same coating used to finish the wood surface of the  boat. The excess bamboo is cut off and sanded flush leaving no glue marks. I prefer that the treenails have a low contrast rather high one as seen in some other models because I feel it looks more realistic. The picture below shows the bamboo “glued in” but not trimmed and sanded.

[JSGerson]

Stern Transom Planking

 

Because the ends of the stern planking need to be covered by the side planning, the stern planking was started at this point. Once more I was reminded that something was amiss because in the practicum, only one row of planking was needed to reach the bottom of the window opening. In my model it required two. As the successive rows were added on, the window openings were carved out. The second picture was taken before I had sanded and cleaned up the flaws so it looks a bit rough.

[JSGerson]

The Main Rail

 

The mail rail is a molded holly strip that is light in color and is added before the remaining planking is completed. Making the molded profile was a completely new technique to me. After purchasing some “super thin separating cutting discs” from a company called International Inc., a profile of the molding is cut into a razor blade The width of the profile must be the same as the stock piece of wood that is to be drawn through it.

[JSGerson]

The trick is to keep the razor blade 90º to the stock as it is repeatedly drawn the cut profile until the desired molding is complete. This is not easy. Once done, you can’t sand it smooth or you wipe out the molding. I was somewhat successful having never done it before. The molding wasn’t as sharp as I would have like it, but I was afraid I might break it if I continued. It was then installed. Sorry no pictures at this stage.

[JSGerson]

Planking above the Main Rail

 

One row of planking was added above the Main Rail aft of the center three gunports and also forward of them. Another railing was then installed aft over the last row but this time it’s made of swiss pearwood. Finally the last four rows of swiss pearwood planking were added aft; and it was time to treenail again.

[JSGerson]

Aft Side Windows

 

Again the side view template was used to locate the aft windows on each side of the model. Small pilot holes were drilled and then expanded and finally cut and filed to shape. Four pieces of boxwood was used to create the window frame and glued on the inside wall. At this point they exactly like gunports.

 

Bowsprit Hole

 

It was at this point that the practicum instructed how to remove the keel extension in the bow that was done earlier. The one thing that hadn’t been done was to create the hole for the bowsprit. This was now done. Fine tuning this opening will be done latter.

 

This ends Chapter 2

[Salty Sea Dog]

Hi JSGerson!

Thanks for posting this. I'm getting a lot of ideas on how to kit bash which could be applied on my next build. Your build is looking good!

 

Best wishes

[JSGerson]

CHAPTER 3 – Internal Planking

 

In this chapter I make mistakes, some big due to my inexperience. This after all, my first real POB model as I explained earlier. So forgive my inexact results. Usually I didn’t discover the errors until it was too late (for me at least) to go back and do over.

 

The Waterway

 

The Waterway is a thick plank that is beveled on its face in such a way that the bulwarks planking will meet the bevel on the top and the deck planking will meet the bevel on the bottom. The waterway also conforms to the angle of the framework. This is an angle that tilts slightly inward from the bottom to the top. Its cross section looks like a skewed pentagon. To install this I had to make sure all the false frames and cut down bulkheads were all even. Then they was installed in lengths of about 4” along the complete length of the deck on both sides

 

 

[JSGerson]

The Bulwarks

 

The practicum stated that Mr. Hunt’s first inclination was the most obvious one; simply apply the planking to the framework. But because the practicum addressed two construction approaches, he thought there might be some who would like to use the wood supplied in the kit on their bulwarks. This wood is very thin and applying it straight to the bulwarks will make it very difficult to sand and keep the planking even between rows. He offered a non-standard solution that was to give a nice looking bulwark area. And since the model was not a plank on frame model he felt that the solution was a good one. The solution was to use a very 1/64” plywood veneer against the framework first and then apply a thinner plank on top of the plywood veneer. Alternatively, the kit instructs the builder to add additional false framework to support the planking. I elected to follow the plywood approach.

Cardstock templates made from file folders and used to form the plywood pieces.

 

Then they were glued in.

 

Once the bulwarks were installed all of the openings for the gunports and windows were cut out.

 

[JSGerson]

Bulwarks Planking and Deck Clamps

 

Depending on what bulwark method used determined the thickness of the planking strips. In my case, it was 1/32” x 3/32” swiss pear. Staring from the stern and staggering the joints, the planking was installed. 

 

 

[JSGerson]

Here is where I made a big mistake and did not discover it till later on, too late to redo over. The practicum says STOP when you reach the 5^th row. In my enthusiasm I didn’t see the STOP sign and completed the planking.

 

 

[JSGerson]

The reason for the “stop” was here was where the deck clamp was to be installed. By now, everything had been glued tight, sanded smooth, and coated with poly-wipe. Still not completely understand the complete consequences of my error I moved on and followed the practicum on how to make the deck clamp not realizing that it had to be modified due to the error. (There are those ripples moving out again!). I’ll get to that later.

 

To make the deck clamp, I modified the side view template. The deck clamp is a 3/32” x 3/32” strip of boxwood with strategically placed and cut 1/16” x 1/16” x 1/16” notches. These will hold the cross beams for the deck above the stern and bow. I had a lot of difficulty placing the clamps on the model. As it turned out, I had the height almost right, but not the side to side position. It glued it directly on top of the bulwarks. In actuality, it should have been glued to the frames and bulkheads and the planking would have been around it. Visually it won’t be noticed by the novice viewer; but I know.

 

 

[JSGerson]

The forecastle deck clamp has an extra added attraction – it’s curved due to shape of the bow. Using the Hahn plan, I bent the wood stock to conform to the shape of the bow. Also the notches have to be custom cut due to the curved shape.

 

 

[JSGerson]

Again the clamp was glued directly to the planking.

 

 

[JSGerson]

The Parquet Floor

The practicum states there is absolutely no historical documentation to show that Rattlesnake had a checkerboard floor. Probably it didn't. It goes on to explain that the captain’s cabin in the HMS Victory, had a parquet floor of black and white checkerboard. Technically this is a former American ship whose plans were drawn up by the British. Who is to say it didn’t have a parquet floor when the British re-fitted her? Not only that, it looks like fun thing to do.

 

First a template was made by making a tracing from the Hahn deck plan of the captain’s quarter’s floor and transferring it to cardstock. The cardstock was fine-tuned by fitting to the model. Based on the template, a piece of 1/64” plywood was cut and matched to fit the model.

 

A second piece of plywood was cut to 4” x4”. Strips of 3/16” x .020” holly and walnut to-be-stained-black (did not have ebony) were cut to 3” long.

 

 

[JSGerson]

The walnut strips were stained with ebony minwax

 

 

[JSGerson]

The wood then glued onto the 4” x 4” in alternating strips and then squared up and trimming off the excess plywood. Using my Byrnes Machine table saw,3/16”  slices were made 90º to the stripes.

 

 

[JSGerson]

First a 45 degree angle that ran approximately from corner to corner was drawn. A second line was laid perpendicular to this line so that it intersected the center line at the forward edge. These lines are the guidance to installing the first plank. This can be seen from an image from the practicum.

 

 

[JSGerson]

To create the checkerboard, the planks that were cut out will be glued to the plywood in such a way as to stagger the holly and stained walnut/ebony.

 

 

[JSGerson]

Once everything was glued solid, the excess strips were cut off leaving the floor piece in a checkerboard pattern. Because stained walnut was used, a number of tiles had to be touched up after sanding to smooth out the tiles.

 

 

[JSGerson]

Then the whole floor was simply dropped in place and glued down.

 

 

[JSGerson]

Deck Planking

After establishing and marking the center line of the model, I noted where the deck beams would be using the Hahn deck plan. This was pointed out in the practicum because Mr. Hunt didn’t and pointed out the error of his ways. The deck beams are where the planking butt up against each other and they are not consistent.

 

Starting at the parquet floor and along the centerline, centered side to side, the planks are cut to length as indicated in the practicum, coated on the edges with artist charcoal, and glued down. You will notice that there are four staggered rows each side of the center line and then it repeats.  Just remember to open up the mast holes before they are total covered. At this point the practicum instructs you to stop and work on the bow.

 

 

[JSGerson]

A template is made of one half of the bow decking from the centerline of the beam to the center of the foremast in preparation of the 1^st half of the margin plank. As the deck planking approaches the bow, the planks will cut into the margin plank.

 

 

[JSGerson]

The template was cut 3/16” from the outer edge and transferred to the wood stock.