Krabbenkutter by Heronguy - Billing Boats Nr 457&458 - Scale 1:30

[Heronguy]

Thanks Steve,

 

I'm slowly fixing the mistakes I've made so far and looking forward to making some forward progress. You've set the bar higher than I'll be aiming for this build but you're giving lots of ideas to think about.

 

P.S. I hope you're getting a commission from Proxxon - I just ordered their little saw.  You did guarantee that it would improve my results!

[Steve 12345]

excellent doug I think you will find it very usefull I will try to post more pics of how to use safely and setup I fear I may be teaching granny to suck eggs but all table saws deserve respect even tiny ones

[Worldway]

 

 

Are you looking forward to starting your Bluenose???

 

Doug

Yes I am very much but I won't touch it until my Mare Nostrum is done.  I have thought about starting it several times during my Nostrum build but have decided to wait.  However, I have done inventory on the Bluenose kit parts and have ordered a couple of extra things required.  I even have the plans sitting on the floor hoping to take the folds out of them.

[Heronguy]

excellent doug I think you will find it very usefull I will try to post more pics of how to use safely and setup I fear I may be teaching granny to suck eggs but all table saws deserve respect even tiny ones

I hope so - I still haven't figured out dust control - I'll probably just freeze in the barn when I have something to cut 

 

Post the pics - my worst experience with a table saw resulted in a broken finger from the kickback - not my finest hour!  Hopefully I've learned a bit of respect that will keep me and the little guy on speaking terms.

[Heronguy]

Yes I am very much but I won't touch it until my Mare Nostrum is done.  I have thought about starting it several times during my Nostrum build but have decided to wait.  However, I have done inventory on the Bluenose kit parts and have ordered a couple of extra things required.  I even have the plans sitting on the floor hoping to take the folds out of them.

 

Derek you have a lot more won't power than me!  I'm afraid if I can I will!

[Steve 12345]

(wont power ) like that one doug

[Heronguy]

Planking done, tidied up the stern bulwarks that I'd goofed on, and shaped the stern blocks.  Here is what she looks like now.

 

 

I thought the planking started out pretty well.   However I must have been a little aggressive on narrowing the upper strakes at the bow as when I got to the lower hull I had to add a stealer at the bow.  

 

I also think I should have figured out some way to form a rabbet at the bow.  The problem came in when I got below the bulkhead closest to the bow.  My strakes didn't continue the nice line of the upper ones.  Another job for wood filler!

 

Definitely slipped up by installing the propeller before finishing the lower hull planking.  It made that process much more awkward!

 

I used balsa wood to make the stern blocks.  I really wanted the wood to be easy to shape and balsa fit that bill.  I hope it will be robust enough when painted to withstand any little bumps I may inflict on it.  I've heard other comments that suggest painting with a coat of CA to provide a tougher surface.  Any other/better suggestions???

 

My plan for fixing the missing stern bulwarks didn't work out.  I'd cut a wide piece out of the scrap wood from the parts sheet.  It was easy enough to bend round the stern but due to the shape of the stern it wouldn't lie flat.  My solution was to use some narrow basswood strips since each was cut appropriately to the length needed to accommodate the curve.  I think that worked quite well.  The only problem with it was due to poor fairing of the starboard stern bulkhead extension - the resulting curve in the stern is a bit flatter than I needed.  Not a fatal flaw I think.

 

I'll move on to sanding and smoothing the hull.  I'm still trying to figure out how to install the rudder (see post #19).

 

[Heronguy]

Thanks for the suggestion Gemma. No planking on top of the balsa. I originally assumed it was just a filler block to be planked over but a closer look at plans convinced me otherwise.

 

It is not a single block. I actually used 1/2" square rods layer perpendicular on each layer. I thought about using a balsa sheet for the layers but it was quicker to use the rod. The advantage of the layers is that you can do some of the shaping when preparing the layers. I did a preliminary shaping on each layer after it was glued before adding the next layer. Worked for me.

[popeye the sailor]

cementing balsa in layers  creates nothing more that balsa plywood.......I'm sure it is a lot stronger than a preshaped block.   from what I see Doug,  the stern came out pretty good.    I noticed that the two stern parts weren't there   {I believe they are called part #13 in my production of the kit}.  I installed them later in the build,  so I could add the beams that go lengthwise to the bow.   this model,  as well as the Mary Ann model,  has a very pronounce rump.

 

great job so far.........she looks real good  

[Heronguy]

Thanks popeye,

 

My kit labels them 39 - that was supposed be my hint that they were installed later but I didn't get it at the time!

 

Happily filling and sanding just now.  Feeling like the hull will turn out OK

[popeye the sailor]

bulwark posts can always be added later.   basically,  their only purpose,  other than to supply a post,  is to aide the planking as it went around the stern.

 

         you did fine     

[Heronguy]

Moving on slowly.  The hull is painted.

 

 

[Heronguy]

Trying out some of the deck furniture.  Nothing is fixed in place yet and lots more little bits to work on!

 

[Steve 12345]

Looks great Doug much respect for tackling these older kit versions without the Benefits of modern laser cut etc.

[Heronguy]

Merci Steve.  Much to do before this will be done.

[popeye the sailor]

looking good Doug  

[Heronguy]

Thanks popeye,  Pretty rough but I'm enjoying it.  Not trying for the "distressed" look on purpose!

 

[Heronguy]

Pretty well all the deck stuff is built.  Can't fasten anything down yet because I have to install the rudder and propeller (its in the mail!).

 

Meanwhile I'm struggling to understand the rigging.  Not enough info on the plan to be sure what is going on.  It is pretty simple rigging on a fishing boat but getting the bits and pieces that I was given to serve the purposes required is turning out to be a challenge for me.  Stay tuned.

 

 

[Steve 12345]

Looks great doug with my first build I couldent understand the drawings but as someone somewhere once said it's like trying to eat an elephant just take it one bite at a time 

[Heronguy]

Yes and the old BB instructions leave one with a great deal of discretion.  I keep falling back to the belief that the pieces in a KIT should fit.  The reality creeps back in and I figure I'll have to make them fit or re-invent a solution.  No counting sheep for me when I turn in - mind is filled with shipbuilding issues!

 

 

[Steve 12345]

All part of the fun feels great when you concour these milestones yet 

[popeye the sailor]

she's look'in super.........good to see your making some progress    I enjoyed making all the little stuff on the deck. 

[Heronguy]

I was looking at all the brass fittings for the masts and nets and trying to decode the plans and part list.  Funny how I've got parts I can't find a use for and a few missing bits.  It was a 2nd hand kit so I can understand the missing bits - makes me wonder though if the previous owner dumped a few little extra pieces in from another build???

 

I was also feeling like BB had done me a favour by providing tapered doweling for the masts and boom and gaffs but quickly discovered they were a couple of mm oversized anyways - not a problem though - just more sawdust.

 

I can imagine finishing this build before all the snow is off the ground here.

 

 

[popeye the sailor]

perhaps he was using the box as an extra parts bin........your gain    ........as for the missing bits.......well,......not so good.   when I was doing customer service for Tom,  he referred to me a customer,  whose problem was the mizzen mast and how to attach it.   I believe there is a hole for it in the deck platform,  but no way to cement it in firmly.   I had made a platform for the shrimp cooker,  and by drilling another hole in it,  it gave it a better anchor.   I also made a bracket to attach to the back of the pilot house.

 

all of our snow was gone........but the blizzard we got today changed all that!   now we have over a foot of snow again!  

[Heronguy]

I had thought about the mizzenmast support issue.  A bracket on the pilot house is a great idea thanks.

 

im going to review your syborn and Mary Ann logs to look for more ideas. 

[popeye the sailor]

the blogger site should have the rigging answers you are looking for........even some about the netting.   there are a couple of things I took from the Cux,  to put into the Mary Ann.......one of them was the catch rack and trays.   both of these hulls are identical......although I modified the aft deck on the Mary Ann.    any ideas you can use.........be my guest!  

[Heronguy]

I found something else to like about Billing Boats kits.  The fittings are good quality and even after 2 or 3 decades you can get replacements!

 

I was missing some of their brass eyebolts and their rigging screws.  I ordered them on the 15th and they were in my mailbox on the 21st.  Thanks Billings USA.

 

Now I can assemble the masts.

 

[donrobinson]

I'm curious about the rigging, looking good

[popeye the sailor]

Billing USA is a good place........Roger has done well in keeping it the way Tom did  { I miss the old days....and Tom & Susan}.   Ages of sail took over......done business with them as well  

 

mast looks super Doug....goose neck brackets look really good!   you may want to push that tab further into the boom.......and to make it a little more decorative,  get some thin brass sheeting and cut some narrow strip.   fashion into a band and cement around where the goose neck is inserted.   it will protect the boom from any breakage or problems in the future  

[Heronguy]

Thanks popeye.  The goosenecks took several attempts to get to this stage.  I'm happy enough with them to use these ones. 

 

I am missing a mast band so I tried to make one this morning.  Not a very successful 1st try.

 

 

This was a 0.5mm strap that I tried to bend around a 7mm diameter mandrel.  I think I need to find thinner brass strips before I can make anything that looks half decent.

 

I've been pouring over your photos on the CUX87 blog to try to help decode the various mast fitting and rigging in relation to my version of the kit.  i'm glad you've got that stuff up there!  I kept hoping everything will suddenly make sense to me but finally decided I just had to make some decisions and get on with it - its my boat after all!