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bigcreekdad

NRG Member
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Everything posted by bigcreekdad

  1. After seeing your planking job, I'm looking for a blowtorch for mine in progress. Magnificent!!
  2. THanks Gregory...and yes, those are the clamps I was referring to. John
  3. Gregory....any specifics on brand/type? so many options on Amazon. Also, would I need a heat gun or will a hair dryer do? Thanks again/John
  4. I have many of those black or red rubber tipped clamps, but the tips come off, or wear thru, and the metal dents the wood. I'd spend more money if the darn things would last. Anything to recommend?
  5. I took a near 2 year hiatus from serious building. I had started a collectable postage stamp store online and was pretty consumed with that. I had 5 very nice (IMO) builds behind me ( Convulsion, Sherbourne, Bluenose, Dos Amigos, and Flirt). None perfect re: planking but certainly more than passable (IMO). I've now quit two builds (Brig Supply and Cheerful) as my planking "skills" have disappeared. Maybe it's age (76), but it has discouraged me from continuing this hobby. Before just moving on, I thought maybe I should regroup and try a simpler build. Something with nice wood and better than average instructions. Vanguard seems to meet both those requirements. Any suggestion....Vanguard or otherwise? It does not need o be a warship (ie old fishing vessels maybe). Thanks in advance.
  6. I threw my chopper away years ago. Couldn't get a straight vertical cut out of it. Wish there was something else to get perfectly straight vertical cuts.
  7. Update. I have moved on. I am seriously back to building the cutter Cheerful. I am now working on the dreaded drop plans making "practice" ones before any attempt at mounting. Also, cut a nice supply of Alaskan Cedar planks on my Byrnes saw. While I somewhat regret quitting the Brig Supply, it was just too damn frustrating. I did apply the suggestion by EMS Rich by using files, and it clearly improved the sordid job I had done. I tried to continue the planking but I still wasn't happy with it....so, to the scrapyard it went. Not sure why I fell off the plank wagon on this, but I needed to move on. Thanks for the comments.
  8. Then Woodcraft is selling mislabeled stuff. BTW....I've added a few pics of my previous 2 builds. 1) Occre's Dos Amigos with cherry I milled, 2) Vanguard's HMS Speedy with kit supplied pear.
  9. Rich...I appreciate your thoughts. How big are those files....they look huge, but maybe just the close up effect. Actually, I was pretty much going to send this to the dry dock of the dead. I was going to revisit my scratch Cutter Cheerful build. I had set it aside when I got to needing a drop plank. For some reason it baffled me. Up to that point my planking of the ship was quite good (IMO). The thought of screwing it up was a huge block. I hope to finish the Cheerful while I'm still on the grassy upside, but might try your suggestions and see if I can get (reasonably) back on track. I do like the ship itself.
  10. Actually...this was a rhetorical question. Sorry for confusion, but I am half way through second planking and already see that , when finished, I still had a bit (maybe a lot) of work to go on the hull. I've attached some pics which will speak for themselves. Honestly, I am not at all happy with my effort. See the pics I've attached. I've built two very nice (IMO) ships with very nice planking results. And the Supply is my second ship milling my own planks with a Byrnes saw and thickness sander that have turned out quite well (again..IMO). I'm not sure how I have lost my edge, other than if I was to start over, I would mill the strips (cherry) a bit thinner. In any case, I am at a crossroads......continue on or shitcan it and try to do a better job on another. I'm in my mid 70's so I don't have may ships in the wings, and I hate slugging along on this one not at all liking my results. I was not planning on painting....I know that's an option I would have to hide my mediocre planking. I'm rambling
  11. Second planking, while done, needs a lot of sanding and finishing. Assuming you are not painting your hull, what do you use to fine up the hull?
  12. Fantastic build!! Can't wait to see your next one. Have you given any thought to what it might be? Hopefully, this will not be a solo venture. You have too much talent. I, too, hate walnut, and have been using cherry on my last few builds. That would you use in your next build if you could choose? Have fun!
  13. Into second planking on the HMS Brig Supply. Never been a big fan of walnut, so I've cutting my own planks from a light cherry piece. Before I go further, I need to decide whether I will continue with cherry, or go below the wales with something darker for some contrast. Likely will not be painting the lower hull. Any thoughts?
  14. Had the washers correctly placed. What a difference! Getting a little light burning, but I need to clean the table up. Also, ordered that device recommended above from NRG. That's all for the great advice!
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