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Build Packet Schooner from Mamoli Halifax kit Here we go again on another adventure. After building schooners of 1802, 1853, and downeast Schooners 1894, 1906 and 1921, I wanted to get back and learn about the design of the early schooners. I shall put together a brief posting with some of the references I have been reading. Today I just want to get the general introduction as to what I am building and why. I live in Maine and shall remain most interested in the maritime history of this region. I include all New England and maritime Canada as the region. I shall leave it to the true authors to record all the real back ground, and shall simply summarize a few points…….again from what I have read and seen to date. I always look forward to more research in this area and appreciate some tips already received through these logs. It is well recorded in Boothbay, Maine that starting in early 19th century 'Pinky' and similar schooners were being built . So, where I am going is to build a few known designs taking some liberties to improve my understanding of the evolution of the coasting schooners. I would like then to build some representative schooners that were built here. That starts with pre-Pinky and ends with the 10 four masters built in 1921. See my Charles Notman where I built it to be a prototype for sailing size models . It had a documented design I could use to learn. I chose the kit Halifax as a first build in this adventure because she represents several things of interest to me: · She was built I believe in Nova Scotia as a Packet in 1768.…Harold Hahn's book on Colonial Schooners gives a great history of her. · She was taken over by the British navy in 1770, which means there are very accurate drawings. I believe it should not be too difficult using common sense to reverse engineer and remove features that would only have been done for a navy vessel and I shall speak of that in the bashing process. Harold Hahn said if one goes to the actual admiralty drawings there are tick marks indicating what was to be changed in the lines. He then listed several items that he believes were added. · There is a fun Maine story that she sailed into Machias, Maine trying to recover stolen cannons . Unsuccessful, she hired a pilot to get back to sea. The naughty pilot reportedly steered her onto a reef and the ran away in the night…….She was lost to the US...wow score one for new England rebels. · She was a subject of the renown Harold Hahn. I was able to get plans of her as well as Challeur, a sister ship in the small British group in late 1770’s. This gives us accurate drawings of another boat a little bigger. Apparently there was a second Halifax commissioned by the British navy after the first one was lost in Machias, and some confusion that i plan to evade So what am I building? Each Christmas time I have fun on ebay as a flurry of models seem to come available and if you are diligent a good deal is in the offing. A few years ago, I bought the Mamoli kit, and it has been sitting on a shelf. So, as I continue to work more sparingly on Bluenose, I have started this kit. I am also bashing another kit of a plank on frame version of a similar schooner. i feel it is important to learn how to build the whole frame, so concurrent with this build, an unrecorded first attempt of plank on frame is also on the bench. I plan to use that partially built model as a partial framed out hull in a dock yard diorama, so it shall not have a build log or name. Working on it in parallel does help explain though the slow pace this build might take on this kit. I must also say I plan to ignore what I call the navy embellishments. So I shall take images from a few Harold Hahn diorama views to confirm what I believe to be pretty straight forward. Fishermen nor early 'packetmen' did not have great windows in the cabins, lions on the stem nor guns on the decks. Also as a yank and building a representative boat using the Halifax kit, I see no reason not to take liberty and declare I am in 1:48 scale. The kit as being metric is 1:50. Yes I have metric rulers!! I may change my mind later but what I am building is 53 feet on deck and not 55+. Again I will also need to change the sailing rig to represent the commercial Canadian build and not the British Navy redrawn sail plan with top square sails etc.. That change could be challenging, but it is my goal. lets start....Step one the frame So first of all I opened the kit and found myself amused by the way they [ mamoli ] do things. The drawings are exploded isometric views, the instructions are pretty basic and off you go. I bought a set of Harold Hahn plans and I go there for questions. I cleaned up the bulkheads and keelson assembly ready to put together. This model is small compared to my usual work, so I made up mini blocks to use to square up the bulk heads. Surprise. The interlocking under deck ties everything together. So without too much trouble we get the bulkheads on in the first day. I wonder how true they are?...we'll see Cheers
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As I mentioned near the end of my Granado build, I have chosen to do the the colonial schooner Halifax as my next project. There are several reasons for this choice. To begin with, my age (77) and the diminishing capabilities of my hands and eyes are a major factor. I don't wish to start any project that I have doubts that I could complete. While the journey may be very important, I still like to see a finished product. This ruled out anything that is likely to take multiple years to build. I also have concluded that It will be better to do small vessels in a larger scale, rather than a larger ship in a smaller scale. I was very intrigued by the new Marisstella kit for the barque Stefano, but decided against it because it is a large ,complex ship in a smaller scale and would likely take at least two years to do. In considering what to do, there were any number of possible choices, but the Lumberyard Halifax seemed to fit the criteria best. It is a true plank on frame model of a small vessel in 1:48 scale, which I really liked. Unlike the usual Lumberyard timbering set, the Halifax is offered in a version where the framing is laser cut. This was appealing to me because I have no power tools, other than a Dremel, and have no desire to hand cut all of the framing for a fully framed model. It also offers the opportunity for considerable scratch building and choice of presentation style, both of which are important to me. I have chosen to post this build as a kit, rather than a scratch build because of the laser cut framing, and have labeled it as "semi-scratch", whatever that may mean. I have received the package from the Lumberyard in the past few days and am clearing away my work area and getting ready to start. Progress and photos will begin soon. I'm looking forward to the interaction and exchange that always accompanies a build on MSW. Bob- 682 replies
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hello. so.. im new to modeling and im looking for as many tips and help i can. i just discovered this website today. but this ship is my very first build. i have probably already made some flaws. i have looked a little around of other builds of the halifax and i have read its a little challenging ship. but im in a little need for some help. i dont know if i have messed up. the other builds i have seen looks much more smooth and "perfect". just keep in mind i have not sanded much because im afraid i have messed up, so any advise or guide would be appreciated
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Captain's Log: This is my second wooden ship kit build, and while it is daunting (the first was a simple sloop - almost too easy) it is mostly going OK, apart from quite a few missing pieces (note to self, check that everything is in the box immediately after receiving and opening it - not 6 months later after the returns policy for the retailer has well and truly expired...). The hull is essentially complete - the outer planking is a little "unique" towards the bow, as I did not quite understand the importance of sanding down the ribs to get a clean rounded plank-line from bow to stern - won't make that mistake again. A further challenge was working out the chamfer on each plank - the plan just casually tells you to chamfer "to fit" - well, sure, I guess... After fitting the side rails, the next step will be to find some decent images of a typical deck configuration - I'm going to have to custom carve some of the missing pieces, such as the posts for the stern guard rail, but the manufacturer's plan doesn't have enough detail to work out the dimensions, alas - just a few rough sketches. I'm spending a fair bit of time on Google translate, too - the original plans and instructions are in Italian, and the English translation they have provided is pretty woeful, to be honest. Another lesson learned (unlike my Italian lessons at school...). Still, all in all, it's coming along OK - hoping that if (or when...) I hit a reef there will be someone on this group who has been there before and can send a few navigational pointers through!
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Christmas came early this yaear I just got my new model Halifax. After I ordered this I looked around and found an Italian forum and they said that this was not a ship for everyone, pretty hard to build and I found some pictures of the keel with frames that was was very comlicated. Each frame were to build of 9 pieces and a special jig came with the kit. But the was not good so he had to make a new, And so on. So I was a bit worried but when I opened it today it looks good. No strange frames, the step-by-step instructions seems to be good and they even have pictures for every step. I'm really looking forward to start to build it and I will do that parallel with the Thermopylae. I will probably ask thousands of of questions and I hop someone is kind enough to help me on the way Booklet with step-by-step instruction and photos The bags with parts have the part numbers in it so it's easy to find everything Wish me good luck
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I am finally back home where I can start up this build log. So lets give this thing a whirl! I am definitely still a beginner although I have built a few models in the past. These include the Swift (Artesania Latina), Indian girl canoe (Midwest), and various other small boats. This will be my first plank on frame attempt. Can’t wait! This is a now discontinued kit from Lauck Street Shipyard and Mr. Bob Hunt. Mr. Hunt is better known for his “College of Model Ship Building” which is a collection of progressive practicums that start with beginner kits and progress all the way to scratch building. At one time a few years ago he developed a series of kits which included this Halifax, The Fair American, Kingfisher and Fubbs (I think). The Halifax sloop of war in 1/4 scale plank on frame kit based on plans by Harold Hahn. The parts are CNC milled and not laser cut which is nice and the wood quality seems a step above. I guess we always start with a close up picture of the Box: The contents are very neatly packaged and all present: The instruction in full color: I am not too familiar with the site yet and If anyone has any tips just let me know.
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For years before ever became interested in ship modeling I have admired the photos I have seen of Harold Hahn''s ships. Years ago I was able to see some of his models in the Maritime Museum in Norfolk Virginia and the memory stuck with me. I think these little Colonial Schooners are beautiful ships. I bought a few of Mr. Hahns plans from his son and had planned on starting with the Hannah from scratch. Then I saw the build log of the beautiful Halifax build by rafine on this forum. Before that I didn't know there was any kind of kit available. I had to have one. Late last year I went ahead and purchased the kit with the laser cut frames in Swiss Pear. The kit looks really nice and the wood and laser cutting look really good. My plan is to build this while I continue on with my Glad Tidings Schooner. I will be updating that build log soon too. Here are some pictures of the kit parts.
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Hi all! This might be a long shot but was wondering if anyone has come across the Aeropiccola Halifax model as I am looking to track one down.
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Hi, Am new to this forum but have been making model boat kits for around a year now. To practice planking techniques I started with the kits which had to be smoothed and painted as the full size ships / boats were steel hulled. I'm now moving on to older ships which have timber hulls and have been trying to do some research on the web I'm part way through a build for the HMS Halifax - originally built in Nova Scotia in 1768 and have been studying other builds - both kit and scratch. The kit comes supplied with mahogany, but I see from many images that above the water line, most modellers have chosen different wood for the planking. I understand that most ships of the time would have been painted in one form or another, but I think the models look good using natural wood finish as it shows the planking workmanship off - for better or worse! What I'm unable to find during my research for this and a couple of future builds is what the full size ship was actually planked in. I've found reference to type of timber harvested in the 1800's from Nova Scotia as this would be the logical timber used for ship building in this area but there is a large variety of tree's being harvested and suspect many would be unsuitable for ship building. What I'm also unable to determine is if they would have imported hardwoods even though they had a ready supply of other timbers grown locally. Also complicating things is once the ship was transferred to the British - was it refurbished with native woods, or possibly even imported hardwoods such as from India etc. For a ship that is apparently very well documented I'm really struggling to find the answer - I suppose at the end of the day, most would think it unimportant and to finish as I see pleasing but would like to try and at least be true to the original ship. I'm also ignoring using nails supplied with the kit and intend to use 'tree nails' (apologies if this is not correct term as all these shipping terminology is sometimes confusing to a newbee landlubber!) - so I'll be reducing some dowel wood or other to suitable dimension to represent the original fixings and same issue applies - were these made from the same timber as the planks or were they different (other kits I've used this technique on were basewood planking so the use of toothpicks passed through a tremel achieved a result that was pleasing as the 2 woods were close in colour but different enough that you could see the actual dowel heads) - if the same wood not sure if the fixings would stand out sufficiently to make the extra effort worthwhile but using a different wood completely would look a bit wrong. Any advise or help would be greatly welcome. Next builds in no particular order will be the Thermopylae, Cutty Sark and Norske Love so same issue again, though I plan on copper sheathing the Cutty Sark at least. Regards -
Hi guys here is my next build the Halifax. I saw this kit on ebay for a very good price, it was new and still sealed so I could not resist. I have a few other reasons for choosing this kit, below. 1. I wanted a ship from the mid to late 1700 period. 2. I wanted a ship with a few more cannons than the Virginia. 3. I wanted a kit that would be a little more detailed. 4. More important than the first 3 reasons, I wanted more rigging. I have checked the kit everything looks good all accounted for and no damage except a warped false keel. I already like this kit better than the Latina kit, the wood looks pretty good, the instruction appear to be a little better and more important most but not all of the fittings are wood. I could only post a pick of the box as in the process of correcting the warped keel I snapped it in half oops! to bad I almost had it straight, it has been glued and clamped but I want it to dry over night. When it dries I will add some ply wood along the break for strength. All comments welcome. -
Hello all I was just lurking on eBay, and see a nice looking Halifax admiralty style kit being offered. I says it is made by the Unicorn company, and the box has what looks like Japanese writing. The seller is in Moscow Russia, and the kit ships from Russia. Also offered is a HMS Druid kit, plus various blocks - 3-9 mm in single double and triple. Has anyone ever heard of these guys? Thank you for any info. J Sherrod
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Hi all, The HMS Halifax is my first scratch build project after many kits. I've chosen this ship because the original navy plans still exist and also because it is a nice looking ship. Harold Hahn has made a complete and detailed set of plans based on the original, so enough info should be available to build an authentic model The Halifax was originally built as a merchant schooner in 1765. In 1768 she was purchased by the Royal Navy and converted into a 6-gun ship for coastal patrols against smugglers and the upcoming colonial unrest. During this conversion at the Portsmouth dockyard the detailed drawings were made. I like small-scale models, so I've chosen a 1:80 scale. The model will be approx. 25cm from bow to stern. You may wonder why I have not chosen for a more standard scale like 1:96 or 1:87 (H0). The reason is a practical one: I don't have any sawing machines and in 1:80 most sizes and dimensions are a multiple of 1mm, This means that I can use my extensive supply of kit wood The build was started last month, so there's already some progress. In the next post I will give an overview of the work so far. Arjan
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