Jack12477

courageous, soaking the keel in a bathtub, but the warp is also at filling blocks level I guess? A little warp is not the end of story, I have both a longitudinal and a hogging warp in the keel of my model, its only when you have it on a flat table and against the sun, or keel up and with an eye along it that it catches the eye

It might have been straight before the bulkheads were installed Jesse. I've seen a lot of other guys use a build-board during this phase to keep the former straight during drying, not unlike the vise-clamp you have set up now, only on a board. Did you use PVA glue on those bulkheads?

Hi Jesse- the solid frames are bulkheads, the "walls" above deck level are the bulwarks- the bits that broke off are the bulwark timbers if memory serves me right.
Keith

I'm thinking she's looking pretty good.   I'm not sure about the Swift as I've never built that one, but generally, the deck from side to side is high in the middle and rounded to the sides (camber) and then from fore to aft, it sweeps down to about the middle and then back up (sheer).  There's variations and there's also flat decks. 

Jesse,
 
Bad luck with discovering the warp now rather than earlier. However, as you've used a PVA glue, if your attempted fix hasn't worked, you still have the option of de-bonding all the glued joints using isopropyl alcohol and starting over. I would be careful about soaking the plywood too much in straight water as it may start to delaminate. The alcohol will evaporate quickly, so is less likely to cause this. In the end it's your choice on how to proceed, but speaking from experience, if you take the time to fix something properly now, you will be very glad you did so further down the track. Remember, it's not a race, so take your time and make sure it's to your own satisfaction before moving on.

Hi Jesse, just discovered your Syren build. Pulled up my chair

It's those end-grain joints. They never hold without some kind of re-enforcement. I use dowel or biscuits on a larger scale. Pretty tough with a tiny scale. Good idea with the tooth-pick.

Jesse,
 
You're off to a good start.  Those frame pieces are delicate and I don't think you'll find a modeler anywhere who hasn't broken some off.   Now if they made the bulkheads from cast iron... they might not break. 

Whoa-----Hope I ain't too late to pull up a lawn chair. Somebody wanna pass the popcorn? -------- Sjors? 

Hey all y'all, don't forget me   I'll use one of the beverage crates Mark is bringing to sit on - the empty ones that is.
 
Cheers,

We're ready when you are... hmm.. quite a crowd.   I'll bring a chair and kick back...

I wrote to the Central Park Yacht Club and they put me in touch with a gentleman with experience with the subject. I was touched by his generosity when he wrote back and sent along annotations on the photo I had sent him.
He explains that:
 
......... sheet-to-tiller rig:  there were *two* mainsheets, one used on  going to windward  and the other on the run. Both typically had hooks on the end so they could be switched.
Sailing upwind, the boat sailed on balance only, tiller centered by the elastic as shown in the picture. The beating sheet ran from the end of the boom and was hooked on the ring on the main horse. Running sheet hung loose.

On the run, the running sheet would be hooked to the tiller as shown, and run out so the main boom was swung out to one side or the other. The beating sheet would hang loose. The principle is that if the boom were swung to starboard, the boat would tend to turn to port. The pressure of the wind would pull on the main sheet against the elastic and give opposite helm to the rudder , thus guiding the boat.

The jib would have a single sheet, adjusted with a tensioning device,  let out for the run and pulled in for the beat.

 

John, I'd only prime if I was painting a yellow or red color. These are more translucent than the other shades we use. White or light gray primers under the yellow.
 
You may also want to get some sanding papers with adhesive backing. And get some wood popsicle sticks or coffee stirrers. Make yourself some small, narrow sanding sticks. Cut the stick ends to shapes you need.

thank you for the kind word Kees..........having to drag my feet a bit.  but it's not all that bad.......when I get back to the table,  the last bits should move rather quickly.   that's a good question.......between the Holiday build and the A.G. build,  I used up most of my wood supply.   hated to do it,  but I robbed some parts from the two fishing vessels as well........I can do some stuff on them,  but their liable to stall until I can replenish.  I really haven't thought much beyond the negatives.  instead of bee - bopp'in off somewhere.......I'll let cha know.    ohhhh,  but if I could do what I really wanted to do.........>devilish grin<

Looking as she is ready to go fishing. I am curious about what your new project will be. Maybe a nice Dutch sidetrawler
 
Regards, Kees

thanks for the good word every one......didn't get a lot done today,  but the two last kit aspects are in the works.  then it will be just a few minor things to add,  and that will finish the build.  sure bet it won't be this week........if I keep getting pulled away 
 
you got it Jack.......you should have seen the look on the mail person's face when I showed him what it was.  it was even double boxed.  how I made the drums is back a ways in the log.......dowel cut to size,  with copper {I'll die if was the real stuff} rings glued on.
 
thanks Mark.......as mentioned,  it's a lot of color,  but it's better than the bland drums they show you in the instructions
 
thanks Marty 
 
I'm glad your kidding Piet.......the admiral would never let it stay in the house!        I'm working on the other thing......can't say right now......I'm waiting.
                   cryptic I know........but that's me to a 'T' 

Now, that's a REAL working fishing vessel - one of the things still missing is - - - the crew    You could also hide some cotton dabbed in Thai fish sauce - - - - -that'll add a realistic fishy smell to it.  No, kidding of course.
She looks really great Popeye, well done.
 
Cheers,

Dennis, UPS ? You mean United Parcel Smashers !
 
Seriously tho, I'm curious as to what/how you made the oil drums? Are they just wood dowels cut to size or ?????

Fantastic !  Love the addition of the fuel drums !  Very magnificent model, Dennis. True work of art.

Well, I hope I am off to a good start with naming the log appropriately. It's a scratch build even in the sense that this boat doesn't exist at all in 'real life', so it doesn't really have a name. Yet.
 
BACKSTORY
Before diving into the details, I'll share the backstory of this project. I am a Naval Architect, and while I was at school, another student was getting rid of an old fiberglass hull shell model that he acquired during one of his internships. He wasn't going to use it, and, at the time, I aspired to be a cruising sailboat designer. So, he let me have it.
 
I immediately had visions of a fully detailed interior arrangement (complete with books on the shelf, that sort of thing), as well as a detailed exterior. Very similar to a doll-house miniature type display.
 
So, I now had this hull, and lot's of visions for the future of it. And, also was a full time student at a rigorous college taking what's effectively a double major's worth of work in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering. And I had a long-distance girlfriend. So anytime not spent studying and doing school work was spent on the phone or traveling back home. Once can see where on the priority list a complete designed-and-built from scratch model of a sailboat fell - completely off the list!
 
Fast forward 5-6 years. Now married (to the same girl), with a nearly two year old little girl, and another baby on the way. Also, just under halfway through the third year of my career (at a builder of high-speed aluminum government and military boats...not exactly the cruising sailing yachts I was hoping for as a college sophomore!), coming off a major push to get a first-of-class patrol boat in the hands of the Navy. This hull was still sitting in our spare room, albeit with some dust on it. [To be fair, in the time between graduation and the beginning of this new saga, I did have time to finish two plastic kit builds (1:350 Tamaiya Bismarck and 1:350 Minicraft Titanic, both of which I had started in high school), and do another complete kit build of a Netherlands Coast Guard rescue vessel that I semi-customized into a research vessel.]
 
After a major house clean-up and organization push, my wife decided we have to do something with the boat. She has been wanting to get some dolls for our daughter, and while thinking about that, she came up with the idea of making the empty hull into a 'doll-boat' - like a doll-house, but, you know, a boat. I immediately latched on to the idea - usually, a little girl gets a doll-house, but her Daddy's a NavArch, so she gets a  doll-boat!
 
So, I agreed to the doll-boat. My only condition was that once we are past the age of playing with dolls, I can take it back and finish it to completion beyond what I would be comfortable doing while it was still being played with.
 
And that is the story of how this project was conceived. My next post will start detailing the design progress I've made, some of the major challenges I am facing that I am looking forward to getting input on, and an outline of the general path I am wanting to take to achieve the goal of actually completing it.
 
And, since everyone likes pictures, attached are several of the shell I have to work with. It's a pretty contemporary looking hull form, about 40 inches long, and 10-1/2 inches wide. The daughter loves it already!
 
 

Hopefully this will be a good log where I can learn a lot. I have slapped together a couple of plastic models and two solid hull childrens versions of the Bluenose and Constitution, but nothing on this level. I love a challenge. I read through many of the excellent Swift logs and the information in the Ship notes section. I learned a lot. After buying some tools at Harbor Freight (which I found on this site), I jumped right in. My keel had a slight bend so I dampened it and set weights on top for a day. While that was going on I cut out my bulkheads, and hour and two cut thumbs later I cut them out with no damage. I dryfitted them the next day, since everything seemed in line and level I carefully glued them. I'm not sure what is meant by fairing so I havent done that yet. also worked on the bow filler blocks. Never have anything before, but I used some balsa wood traced out with the bulkhead and keel. Not sure if this is how it is supposed to look. Now I am stuck on how to do the stern. There are no measurements and not sure how to make a template. Also started on false deck. Wasnt sure how long deck planks should be so I made them 40mm but when I put in the treenail details I think I did it wrong. Should they be centered on top of bulkheads if so can I do it on my main deck without it looking bad. Going to try to add some pictures. My layout might be wrong but I will work on it. ANY and ALL comments welcome.

Thank you for the "likes" and comments. 
 
I guess time for some answers...
 
 
 
Sam,
One light coat to give some protection.   I know that I'll have to go back do some more sanding because I have do some more parts such as a window, the quarter galleries, and the breeching bolts.
 
 
Thanks Popeye.   The gaps are for the channels.   I have the counter planked so it's the planking above the counter..  Plus the quarter galleries cover pretty much all the exposed butts.
 
 
Jason,  I wouldn't call it spiling.  More like sanding and shaping like crazy.  Oh wait... this is spiling.. so yes.
 
 
Thanks Dan.  As I mentioned to Popeye, the counter is planked.  I think the proper term would be transom?  The windows and the area above it?  Maybe the do the windows but not much more until she's cut loose from the build board far in the future. 

I remembered you making those drums a while back, I was wondering how you were going to use them in this build. now I see how cool they look in place. Very awesome Popeye.
 
                 Marty G.

Wonderful work, Popeye.  The drums help to make things pop and look like the real ship.

Fantastic !  Love the addition of the fuel drums !  Very magnificent model, Dennis. True work of art.