Kevin Kenny

Measuring the rods to hold the model on its base

Rings installed on the mast. 

Different size mast hoops

Making mast hoops

These are some real life shots of how they are installed on a real ship

This is the finished mast loop

Making mast loops using wood shavings

Hi Neil

there are lots of great videos on YouTube and Vimeo than can guide you on how to start the build log. I even find myself going back to some of my videos asking “How did i do that again” the learning curve is so steep and the experimentation so diverse that sometimes i forget the finial solution. 

Good luck to you sir

kevin

Hi Gary

since there is no known confirmed plan of the boat there is no way of knowing the size of the deck planks. Having said that they do look a bit over size. In terms of your approach to planking i found it much easier to plank the entire deck except the cockpit placing the various fieces of deck furniture on top of the deck. This allows for a clean line bewteen the deck and the deck furniture. The only area where this was not possible was at the cockpit .  i had to instally a moulding to get a clean transition between the external wall of the cockpit and the deck. She looks beautiful and you should be very proud.

Cutting the rabbet and establinhing the bearding line on a real ship

Scratch built carved stem eagle installed 

Transom stem eagle for kit

Last of the deck furniture. I decided to add this front hatch as it is shown in some of the plan drawings. In a racing boat this would be an essential access point for changing sails on the front deck. In this version of the America I also changed the middle grate for another hatch which would also allow better access. Grates would have been useful in boats envolved in carrying freight. This boat was designed primarally as a racing boat. 

Scale

2nd longboat

Now you hat the rudder is complete it’s time to move on and complete the two models of the America. This was a good distraction 

Rudder attached