palmerit

Definitely useful to read ahead on a number of build logs - and flagging the most detailed ones for future reference. Note that sometimes people will add a "I wish I would have ..." or "I realized I made a mistake earlier ..." noting something that they should have done or done differently many many posts (and build steps) after the step you are on in a model. Good to read through a bunch and take notes (or give yourself reminders to check out someone's log once you get to a particular step). There were times I thought I was following the instructions (and often the instructions aren't all that clear) and then realize that I didn't quite get a part positioned right because some later step (many pages later) doesn't fit quite right. If only I (and the instructions) had told me to test fit this later part, I might have added that earlier part in a different place (or faired the hull in a different way or whatever it is). Then again, you can always just plug ahead and learn from your mistakes. That's actually more of what I do since I often don't have enough time to read the details of every build log. The nice thing about wooden model ships is that there is rarely ever a mistake you can't correct with some more wood or wood filler (especially when painting) or by removing a piece (with an application of alcohol for PVA glue or acetone for CA glue).

Here is my effort to use wood filler to shape the stern transom. Sorry I didn’t take any clear before photos. In the before, there was a pretty big gap between the transom pieces and the side of the hull. Should look better after a paint job.

For those who don't know the differences (like I wouldn't have a year ago): This NRG Half Hull model doesn't use bent planks. It doesn't use planks. You create your own planks, each of which has a custom shape you determine: You cut out the pieces to shape (usually by first tracing a template from something like a manilla envelope - at least that's what I used) from a large blank sheet of basswood, so the pieces are shaped to the right edge bend by virtue of cutting them to that (often curved) shape. The Dory, Pram and Smack from Model Shipways (and the Dory from Midwest) had laser cut planks that had their "edge bends" in the shape of the pieces (so the only bend is in the direction the wood wants to bend) - unlike the Vanguard models I'm working on, the Sherbourne and Ranger, which have narrow strips of planking all the same width that need to be (sometimes) edge bent in that way. The Half Hull is more like the Dory, Pram, and Smack in this regard than the others (and most models) where you do need to edge bend planks. What's especially useful - at least it was to me - about the Half Hull project is that you get a better sense of why you even do "edge bending". You're trying to get via edge bending what you would get if you created a template (from a manilla folder). What looks at first blush like a straight plank actually becomes a curved plank because of the 3D geometry when you have curves in multiple dimensions. When you cut the pieces out from the template, they're curved. When dealing with straight strips you need to achieve that curve by edge bending. I know I'm not saying anything here that lots of people know about already (and I probably don't have the language quite right) - it's if someone new(ish) finds this to help them better understand some of the differences (I've discovered over the past year) between different kinds of models.

No experience with that kit, but I’m working on a Midwest kit (from Model Expo / Model Shipways) and it had a bunch of mismatches between instructions and sheets. I later found in the box a supplemental sheet with an updated map to how the parts were laid out on the sheets.

Thwarts (seats) dry fitted. They’ll be glued in place later, after painting the interior. Not sure if I’ll paint or stain the thwarts or just seal them.

Finished the gunwales and added the risers.

While I found the Half Hull an interesting model and it exercised a different set of modeling skills - and gave me a good appreciation for how hulls can be planked - it is quite different from the other kits I've attempted. My attempt wasn't a complete success by any means.

Check to see if you might have a part sheet in your box that has a map of the parts. I'm building a Midwest model (made by Model Expo too) and discovered that the instructions were quite different from the actual layout of the parts on the sheets and only then realized that there was another sheet in the box that in addition to having a parts list at the top had a map to a couple of the laser cut sheets at the bottom. I also used the wrong knee when building the Pram. Good practice to undo some glue and try again. It's definitely a skill you'll use again - and just know that you can do it with a bunch of alcohol (if using PVA) or acetone (if using CA) with a few applications and some patience is a good skill to have. Also learn from my mistake and be careful using a scalpel or other sharp blade to remove a glued piece - on my Smack I had to remove a piece and it removed all at once and a blade went into my hand (just barely escaped with just a nasty scar without needing stitches).

I assume since you have a selfie that you’ll be sending that to Model Expo to get a credit towards a future purchase.

A note for future Ranger builders: (Below are screen shots from the instructions.) One thing I did not fully appreciate when fairing the hull was how much sanding needed to be done on the triple-thickness pieces at the stern end. As I noted above, I ended up having to unglue the first (interior facing) bulwark to sand some more. But I still didn't sand them enough. I now see with close inspection of some of the photos in the instructions how much those triple-thickness pieces are sanded down - it's nearly sanded down to the thickness of a single piece at the far stern end of the ship. I was certainly conservative in how much I sanded off assuming that surely it could not mean sanding through an entire piece, let alone nearly two pieces. I only really discovered how much I still needed to sand off when I attached the two transom pieces and saw (unlike the photo in the manual) that the piece did not reach the outside of the hull (as shown in the photos). It was then I realized that I had sanded a fraction of how much needed to be sanded down. I'm learning to look ahead, but this was something I missed. I'd recommend future builders take out those transom pieces to help guide how much you really need to fair the stern around the transom. I ended up adding some wood filler (filler, sanding, some more filler, sanding) to try to mimic having the right shape of the transom pieces. I'm not with my model so I'll try to post the end result later when I can. Especially since these pieces will all be painted, filling and sanding (or adding a new piece of wood, filling, and sanding) will work fine and barely be noticeable.

Completing the bulwark and gunwale.

Lee Valley Veritas micro tools have been recommended (also not cheap): https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/tools/brand/veritas/miniature-tools

Adding the first part of the gunwale.

I (and others) often recommend Vanguard Models. The Sherbourne is a great kit. They also have a bunch of fishing boats, most of which are for beginners (I’m doing the Ranger now). They’re a little more expensive than some others but the instructions and materials are great. Chris Watton says he barely makes a profit on the Sherbourne kit. I’ve also done the Model Shipwright series (Dory, Pram, and Smack). They’re a nice collections. The construction of the Occre kit is I think going to be more similar to the Vanguard kits - in terms of its planked hull and rigging.

Added the outer bulwarks. Never enough red clips.

After losing pieces in the rug, I put a new crisp white drop cloth under my work area. Makes it easier to find pieces and keeps the rugs safe (not just from glue and paint but also from when you stab yourself in the hand with a razor blade and bleed all over yourself).

In the Model Shipways version of the Smack, I also had trouble with the Britannia metal garbage fittings they provided. Thankfully, the metal cleats that came with that weren't quite as awful as the ones you showed (I had to do a bunch of filing and reshaping because they all looked like different pieces). But there were some other metal fittings that were used in the rigging (that had a hook on one end that attached to an eyebolt and a hole on the other end that accepted a tied off piece of rigging - don't know what they are called) that had holes way to small to accept any rigging line supplied with the kit and after I tried to bore the hole out a bit to get the line through and added to the rigging the piece came apart in my hands. You'd think they would have discovered 3D printing by now. Are there third party vendors that sell quality cleats and fittings like that? Who is your "hobby supplier"? I know you can get great rope and blocks from places like Syren. I haven't seen a place where I can replace poor metal fittings for cleats and other parts.

Released the Dory from the build board and sanded areas that needed to be flush.

Added the pear 2nd layers to the stem, keel, and stern.

Reshaped the transom after removing the back portion of the bulwark.

Finished planking.

Now that I’ve added the outside frame piece on the transom, it seems I didn’t fair the back end like I should have. I’m thinking I should remove the glue from the bulwark at the rear and sand down and reattach after.

One thing future builders of this and similar models might pay attention to is that it is really easy to bang the stern transom. With these pieces being ply, and not hardwood, it is then easy for them to flake. I’m going to try to add some wood filler and do some sanding. Next model like this I’m going to try to remember to put some bubble wrap in the area.

In anticipation of adding pear pieces at the prow that will create a rabbet/chamfer for the second layer of planking, I tried to sand down the first layer planking at the prow a good bit. And in anticipation of adding pieces at the stern and counter that the second layer of planking will need to lay flush with, I tried to sand down the first layer of planking at the stern a good bit. I’m hoping my instincts are right. One thing I know I would have missed if I hadn’t done the NRG half hull and read a bunch of build logs was that the first layer of planking does not go all the way to the end of the stern. Another piece will be added to create what would be a chiseled rabbet/chamfer on some models. The instructions show this, and I followed, but I don’t think there was explicit note of this.

First layer of planking on the Ranger done. This is my second strip planking after the Sherbourne. Definitely better than the first (and second) planking of the Sherbourne but still have to get more practice. The instructions say no water/heat/bending required but some of the planks, especially 2/3 way down the hull needed it. I got a bit of clinkering (not as bad as on the Sherbourne). I’ll definitely be doing some bending on the 2nd planking in pear. Might also give CA glue another try.