hof00

Not with a bloke as good looking as good as this one!! 🙂
(Slicker and faster than a decoy.)
 
HOF.

Bow and stern railings now on.
 
Regards,
David

Finished the fore top mast back stays. I am not very happy with how the lower back stays turned out in terms of how even they are, so I decided to try a different tack.
I still looped rope through the fore top to get even drops to the deadeyes, but this time once I stretched and looped around another deadeye, I locked them in my smallest hemostat the made sure the length was right. I then put a dab of glue on the bottom of the loop and left them to hand and dry.
I then tied the rope for the deadeye rigging around the top of the deadeye to close the loop and lock it in place with another dab of glue.

Once I had rigged the rope through the deadeye I again took the hemostat and locked it on the ropes on the back side of the deadeyes to lock the tension in so I could lash and tie off the rope and complete the rig with a dab of glue.

 
This turned out better and more even then the lower stays, and I'm happy with the results.  I also rigged the fore top back stays to the chain rail.

I need to next rig the fore top gallant back stays, determine how I want to run the ratlines and I think I'm about ready to move on to the main mast.
 
Thanks
Hoser
 

Not with a bloke as good looking as good as this one!! 🙂
(Slicker and faster than a decoy.)
 
HOF.

Looks like a lovely "Drake"
Watch out for amorous Ducks, "Hens."
 
Make sure the Hens don't try to sink it, or, maybe it's the other way around? 🙂
 
Cheers....HOF.

Looks like a lovely "Drake"
Watch out for amorous Ducks, "Hens."
 
Make sure the Hens don't try to sink it, or, maybe it's the other way around? 🙂
 
Cheers....HOF.

Looks like a lovely "Drake"
Watch out for amorous Ducks, "Hens."
 
Make sure the Hens don't try to sink it, or, maybe it's the other way around? 🙂
 
Cheers....HOF.

Looks like a lovely "Drake"
Watch out for amorous Ducks, "Hens."
 
Make sure the Hens don't try to sink it, or, maybe it's the other way around? 🙂
 
Cheers....HOF.

Taking a short break from my San Francisco Cross Section for a little fun and frivolity. I posted this a while back in "What have you received today" and am just getting around to building it. My intention is to gift it to the Admiral and let her chase ducks, coots and geese around our pond while I am sailing my RC yachts.
 

 
As the title says it is a remote controlled duck from Phil Pace at Vac-u-boat.
 

 
Besides the nicely painted duck with motor and steering servo the kit includes, a stand some velcro and a couple of allen wrenches. I had to supply the battery, speed controller and receiver.
 

This is the way it comes from the factory, motor and steering servo already installed.

 
A nice little shelf up forward for mounting the electronics but other than that it is pretty tight in there.
 

I decided on a NI-MH battery to cut down on the extra ballast that I already know I will need. Unfortunately I will not fit in the hull without some modification.
 

So first we carefully cut open and remove the outer shrink wrap.
Then we snip and remove the plastic end caps.

Next we snip the connector strap on the end opposite the wire leads.

A piece of #16 AWG wire and some emery cloth and a soldering iron and we are good to go.
 

First we rough up the ends of the connector strap.
 

Then very carefully and very quickly pool some solder on the tabs. Try not to build up too much heat as bad things will happen (Boom). If you don't get it right away let the tabs cool off and try again. Also strip and tin the ends of the wire.
 

Then quickly melt the pool of solder and press the end of the wire into it while it cools. and that is it.
 

In order to get the battery in I had to remove the steering servo.
 
Then lifting the corner of the servo mounting shelf ever so slightly push one side of the battery down alongside the motor. Lay the other half of the battery on the opposite side. They lay in there real nice and very deep in the hull. I will lay some foam padding under them in the final assembly.
 
Once the battery was in I replaced the servo and radio equipment in its approximate locations for a ballast check.

Off to the test tank (bathroom sink). As you can see it floats fairly well already. It had a noticeable port list but I swapped the positions of the receiver and ESC and that small change was enough to almost eliminate the list.
 

I added enough lead shot to bring the waterline just above the seam. Not sure if this is good or not but thought it would look more realistic that way. I also plan on putting a foam gasket on the mating surfaces just in case.
I did not take a picture of the ballast while it was floating but this is how I did it. As you can see it does not need very much. I was going to mix it with epoxy and spread it in the "bilge" but I think I will divide it up into two small zip-loc bags and lay them in the bilge one fore and one aft of the motor so that it is adjustable.
 
That is it for tonight I will get back to it tomorrow.
 

Ok... it’s taken a while and what seemed like a million coats of satin varnish on the planked section but I’ve managed to get the hull painted.

Nice progress Chap!!
interesting Avtar, definitely a NZ feel to it.... 🙂
 
Ditto Kiwi John's previous post.
 
Cheers and Regards.... HOF.

So today I finished installing the stealers. I then trimmed everything up ready for sanding.
I also decided to remove all of the nails I had used in the first part of construction to make sanding easier.
after a quick sand I test fitted the keel parts and it looks okay.

Lessons learnt:
Using nails to secure planks is fine. But leave them proud to enable easy removal. 
 
After a quick sand I can see some low points and broken bits. Some of these will hopefully sand out but some will require a bit of filling.

I have two more planks to go on the port side before doing the stealers. That will be the main part of the planking finished, minus filling and sanding. These will be fitted this evening.
I have built it exactly as the plans/instructions. Although the instructions are quite vague things seem to have lined up as they should. There or there about. I have really enjoyed the build process so far.

I also followed the instructions when it came to doing some of the interior details.

 

While I have been working on the planking I have been working on some of the other bits for the model.
I filled the bucket with Polyvinyl Acetate and then painted some blue ink on the top to simulate water. Because I can. The barrel is an after market thing I bought to add a bit of extra detail. Again, it’s probably (almost definitely) out of scale but I won’t tell if you don’t!
 
Lessons learnt: 
I probably should have used a sanding filler on the oars before painting them to help remove some of the ‘fur’. I may still do this in the future. But I also want this kit to be a true representation of my skills at the time of building. So I can compare it with future builds.
I will certainly look at a sanding filler (or similar) before painting the hull.

Thanks Jason, I been missing your updates. Hope it sorts it out soon. Every plank i dont spend enough time on stands out.
 
I am not completely happy but here is the result after scraping. 

And finished. I’ve added some images of the ex A-59 alongside Emden for scale 

Awesome restoration!!
 
Cheers....HOF.

Hi Chap,
I applaud your work/skill!!
 
Just awesome!!

Very nice indeed Sir!!

Hi Denis   🙂
 
I'm glad to hear from you again. yes I think you have long since finished the fishing cutter "Norden". so what are you building on now? I am still preparing to raise the mast but there are many shortcomings I have skipped earlier which must now be done before it is to raise the mast - otherwise it will be inaccessible to reach. Here is the main mast stays attachment on the deck, which I made this morning - I have run into a little dry time so I am now on the computer.  
I had to remove the bench to get to
 
 
the brackets consist of a brass nail, one piece 2 x 2 mm plate from my brass platter and then some cut-off from some billing bots fiting.
 
 
It all happens here at the rowing shop
 
one piece  soldet
 
here with 1 mm brass wire bent to rings
and then just wait until they are dry 😁 Cherrs All.
Jens .
even if they don't come on yet, I just have to do a test. and, as feared, the space is very tight - but it might just be there

 
 

Hi Chap,
Thanks for the complement!!
 
Nice progress on your build.
I'll watch progress  with interest.
 
Cheers....HOF.

Hi there is not much to see since last but a few yards more it is.
 
 

 

Thanks Hof.
I’d seen the idea of the dowel for the keel on Mugje’s Pegasus build. Anything that involves  drilling holes in the boat requires much plucking up of courage before it actually happens! One of my next jobs is drilling a 5mm hole in the stem for the bowsprite so I’ve got that to look forward to 😂😬
I had a look at your bluenose build... looked pretty damn good to me! This is my second build too, so if mine ends up half as good as yours I’ll be chuffed.
 

Any, here’s some piccies of how she looks at the moment, with the masts and deck furniture that I’ve made, dry fitted.
Starting to look like a ship now.

Awesome restoration!!
 
Cheers....HOF.