torpedochief

Thanks Brother Hank. Love this site!

Thank you sir! I will give that a try right now!

Hey Shipmates! Got some more stuff done on the ole Hoy. Built and installed the pumps. Now I do not know if these are the correct size. I can't find a lot of really detailed stuff about this boat. Got the Cat heads installed. Now that was fun......not. they have to fit in 3 planes. Carved the little tiny tiller. I imagine this was removed when not in use as it is in the way of everything. Both capstans are installed. Several of the very tiny cleats have been carved and put in place. Now who forgot to tell me how much fun making 1.5 and 1mm single blocks can be? Thought I was gonna loose my mind. I tried every material including fossil mammoth ivory. Nothing would work. It was so small the drill bit would shatter whatever I was trying to do. So in one of those "What the heck" moments, I soaked a sliver of cherry wood in that thin CA. After a bit of drying the cherry was hard as a rock. I was able to do a decent job making the large block for the anchor tackle and the smaller single block for the jib boom outhaul gun tackle. I have the main mast turned, and carved. I am saving the top rail for later in the build as my clumsy fingers will need to get in there from time to time. This is not of museum piece but for a first try, I am happy with the way it is looking. Any one know of away to make very tiny blocks please let me know. Thanks Shipys!!

Hello Shipmates! Been a busy man the past week. I have a carved whale to get done (Sperm Whale,) three pieces of scrimshaw to get pictures of for the gallery, and another magazine article. However I am having such a hoot with this little boat! This is nothing compared to the outstanding work I see on here! You Ladies and Gents are some top shelf sons and daughters of Neptune! OK here is what I have done. I have the paint just about the way I want. Still more weathering I want to do since this was a working vessel. I fitted the Anchor Cat. I have the anchor primed and ready to finish painting. Tonight I finished both capstans. Tons left to do, but she is starting to take shape. Also have the jib boom in place for a fitting. Thanks for all the nice comments. Hey but if you see any gross errors let me know. Thanks Chief Oh and I am using oak, bass, and cherry, and a pop sickle stick or two.

That looks great so far! Love the rig on this boat. I'll be following you, as I need to learn so much.

I am determined to see this to some sort of completion. I have modeled now for 30 years however this is my first ever wooden ship from scratch. I choose the Anchor Hoy for a few reasons. 1. Looks Strange. 2. Easy to Build, (I hope.) 3. This little ship has more meaning than just being a ship. Think about it. All the Clippers, Men-O-War, Whalers all rely on the unsung small boats that day in and day out did and still do most of the work. 4. I wanted to see if a quality model can be made in small scale. I have seen in kit instructions and other places where something is "too small to be considered do-able." I also wanted this project to show that a nice looking wooden ship model can be produced for under $50. I am using the plans from AMERICAN SHIP MODELS AND HOW TO BUILD THEM. I began by transferring the profile and station lines to tracing paper and the n using transfer paper, I drew the lines for the hull on a 8"X6"X2" basswood block. The station lines were drawn on thick plastic stock and cut using a #11 Blade. With the lines drawn I sawed the profile on my small band saw. Once that was done I remarked the station lines and carved and sanded the hull to shape using the plastic templates I made. Careful if you are building tiny models. One little slip of the file or even sandpaper means lots of "Do it Again." I attempted to add the Keel, Stem and Rudderpost using thin bass wood. Well that was a disaster as the thin weak wood went to pieces if you looked at it wrong. I tried about every wood I had, but it either broke to easy or I could not bring myself to painting fine wood. So, I have used plastic card for the stem, and keel. Not my favorite option, but now I have some strength in this important part. I now used the same thin basswood sheet to make the deck. Boy did I sweat this one! I drew the deck out and then scribed the lines. Holy Cow! That process took forever and by the end I was exhausted. I looked at my work and went "I sure did a great job. Too bad you can't see the lines. So I read through the forums and consulted books on how to make the lines visible and accurate. In a moment of "Oh well what have I got lose," I sprinkled Vallejo Burnt Umber Pigment on the deck and rubbed it in. Hoping against hope I brushed the excess off and then with 0000 steel wool rubbed out the rest. I was very impressed. As this is a working vessel doing work with greasy chains, mud, tar, and whatever else I made the deck used and dirty. I then went over the entire with three light coats of Danish Oil which was then buffed with the same 0000 steel wool. I made hatch covers and coming in basswood and they look 100% US Grade A Terrible. So they had to go and will be replaced by hatches of plastic card. The companion way is made of reclaimed cherry, and still needs a bit of detailing done. The transom and support knees are right from the plans and made of basswood and card. The one thing I most dreaded were the low Bulwarks. I cut my 2mm strips of basswood and boiled those for 5 minutes. I then wrapped them around a can and secured them with rubber bands. When dry I was surprised that they fit perfectly and glued in with not one bit of trouble. I have given the hull a Yellow Ochre coat to find any flaws. Oh and I found a bunch that need some attention. So, onward I march. More later shipmates. Don Author of OF ICE AND STEEL and EPITAPH

Brother Hank. I have totally lost my mind and am doing the Anchor Hoy right from the plans in the book, just to see what comes of it. I am following this close and I have enjoyed your sharing your methods and mistakes, (only way we learn sometimes.) Keep going! So far I have screwed up three hulls, each is getting better though!! Chief

Looking Good Shipmate and I have my eye glued to this. Looking at the hunks of wood is intimidating to say the least. Oh boy looking foreward to starting. Oh and don"t worry about the difficulties, since calm seas never make good Sailors. Chief