Ryland Craze

Thanks Grant and Tim for your comments. I have learned a lot while building my Longboat. It is really nice to see all of the Longboats being built. I have learned something from everyone's build that has helped me on mine. I mentioned on another Longboat build log that I removed my garboard planks as I felt I was planking this boat incorrectly. I removed one side and reinstalled a new garboard plank. I followed BobF’s build log on how to do this. I used a 5/32” wide strip of boxwood for my garboard plank. I have never installed a garboard plank in this manner, but it worked out just fine, especially after the next two planks were installed. After the one side was installed, I replaced the other side. Next, I added two 1/8” wide planks, which would be enough to plank to the bottom edge of the transom. I had a lot of trouble bending the last ¼” below the transom as it must twist at least 45 degrees to lie flat at the stern. I broke several of the boxwood strips as they were very brittle, even after soaking for at least 24 hours. The hardest part for me was installing the three bottom planks. After they were installed, I measured out the width of the remaining planks using tic strips on each bulkhead. My longboat will use eleven planks on each side. I was surprised to see that I will have very little trimming of the remaining planks to be installed. The two pictures below show where I am currently in the build process. I am a slow builder. I have ten planks to install to complete the hull. So I soaked an additional six planks over night and pre-bent them as shown below. This should speed up the process. I have really enjoyed the updates on the other Longboat builds and I look forward to seeing the progress of the other Longboat builders.

David, We have missed you on MSW. Glad to see you back and cannot wait to see your updates on your Niagara.

Thanks Marty for the comments. I may bring it to Saturday's meeting if I can get some planks installed. You have done a great job on your Hunter and I cannot wait to see your sails. You should be close to posting pictures of your model in the completed gallery. You do excellent work at a fast pace.

I thought I would give everybody an update as to where I stand on my Longboat. A lot of good things have been going on in my life over the last three months and I just have not done much modeling on my Longboat. I was originally going to build my Longboat in basswood but made a decision that if I was going to spend the time on this excellent kit, why not upgrade the wood in the kit. I got with Jeff Hayes at HobbyMill and placed an order for some boxwood. This is what I received. I probably could have ordered six less strips of the 1/8" wide boxwood as I cut the planks to an 8" length, so I was getting three planks per 24" strip of boxwood. Here is a picture of my Longboat before I started planking. I proceeded to install the two top strakes to define the sheer line and then I installed the garboard strake and one additional plank. Then I started seeing other Longboat build logs and I carefully studied their garboard strakes. I then realized that I had installed my garboard strake and the additional plank too far forward and was fearful that this would cause problems further on in the planking process. I had installed these planks on both the port and starboard sides. I carefully removed one side of the garboard strake and its companion plank and left the other side to do later after I replank the garboard strake. Cleaning up the rabbet joint took a lot of time, but the good thing is the lower hull will be painted further in the build. I must admit that I have learned a lot from sitting on the sidelines these last three months watching the other Longboat builders complete their planking. Their build logs have been an inspiration for me.

Dan, I got these angle plates off of ebay many years ago. I could not find any on ebay but I did come across some at this website. Just click here: Global Industrial. I ordered a pair of 1"x1"x1" and a pair of 2"x2"x2". Mine were imported from India. You can also make some angle plates out of legos.

Thanks Anja and Tim for the Birthday wishes. I spent all day with the grandkids. My two and a half year old granddaughter sang happy birthday to me about six times. We lit the candles each time and she got to blow them out. I made wishes each time and hopefully they will all come true. All in all, a great day.

Thanks Wayne. It is a fun little boat to work on. I am watching the other Longboat builders as they are turning out some beautiful models. I have learned a lot from their build logs. I have been following your Granado build log and I am amazed at your artistic talent regarding the painting of the quarterdeck bulkhead panels. You really did a nice job on them. They are going to add to an already excellent model.

Phil, I have to agree with Andy at looking at Chuck Passaro's Syren from Model Expo. There are many excellent build logs of the Syren on MSW plus you have the kit designer, Chuck, on this site if you should have any questions. Check out the instructions at this link: Brig Syren Instructions Just click on the documents tab under the pictures. Good luck on your next build.

Dan, Glad to see you posting your work on MSW. It is going to be a pleasure viewing your ship models and I know we are all going to learn from you. I have enjoyed your presentations over the years at various Conferences.

Bob, I have learned so much from your excellent pictures and descriptions of how you planked your Longboat starting with the garboard strake. I had installed my garboard strake on both sides of my keel, but have since carefully removed one side and will use your method. I left the other side intact for strength until I reinstall the garboard strake that I removed. You have saved me a lot of issues with planking my hull and I thank you for that.

Hi Bob, Welcome to Model Ship World. It is nice to see another Longboat build log started. We can always learn new techniques from someone building the same model. I look forward to following your Longboat build.

Norman, I am glad to see you reposting your Arizona build. I have seen several of these completed kits on display at the IPMS show in Richmond, VA. You will have a very nice model when you complete the kit and it will be really nice watching your progress.

Glad to see you reposting your Syren build. It is going to be a pleasure revisiting this build log.

Julian, I think you can correct this by adding some scrap wood to the top edge of the outer gun port pattern to match the inner gun port pattern. Then you can add some scrap wood to the bottom of the outer gun port openings and cut the upper edge of the outer gun port opening to match the opening in the inner gun port pattern. Basically, you will rework the outer gun port pattern to match the inner gun port pattern. I think it is essential that everything matches the inner gun port pattern. When you install the second layer of planking on the outside of the gun port pattern, no one will know of the modifications that you made. Many builders of this kit have had the same problem. Maybe someone else will have another solution. Glad to see that you are making progress on this kit and I am sure that the gun port issue will be only a minor set back for you.

I agree with Cap'n'Bob's method. By doing this, you eliminate rounding the edges. I use the sanding sticks used for filing your nails. These sanding sticks can be purchased from a Beauty Supply store or at Walmart.

You have done a great job on your Longboat. I enjoy your updates.

Thanks everyone for the comments and the interest in my AVS. I have a few more items to do and then I will update my log.

Hi Ben, I am a big fan of your builds. It is nice that all of the Longboats are grouped into one Forum. There are a couple of Longboats that are nearing completion and I find myself looking at these builds as I plan my next steps on my Longboat.

Tim, You are making good progress on this kit. I have to agree with all of the other comments that this is a very interesting kit. Your detailed build log shows us what can be done with a solid hull kit as most builds on MSW are either plank on bulkhead or plank on frame. Thanks for sharing this build with us.

Bob, this turned out to be a beautiful model. Speaking from experience, I am sure Model Expo has sold many of these kits because of your fine work. I cannot wait until the day that I start mine.

Hi Richard, For your first build, you are really doing a great job. It is a shame that a lot of the details of this kit get covered up. I am also a member of the Hampton Roads Ship Model Society that Tim spoke of and several of our members are building this model or have built it. In fact, our Club held an auction this past Saturday and I was the high bidder for this kit. The member that I was bidding against wanted this kit badly, so I let him have it after the auction had ended. He will do a good job on building this model. I look forward to following your build and welcome to Model Ship World.

Ben, I cannot wait to see pictures of your Longboat with the mast stepped and rigged. Chuck moved all of the Longboat build logs into the Club Build log Forum and renamed it MSW Group Build of an 18th Century Longboat. This way all of the Longboat Build Logs will be in the same Forum.

Nice job Rich. The newer Enterprise kit has many improvements over the older version. The rudder install and the head rails look really nice.

Jason, Your Longboat is coming along nicely. I really like the photo above that shows an overhead shot of the interior. You can see the many small details you made, when added together, make a very nice impression. Keep up the good work.

You are making good progress on your Granado. The mortar housing units look like a lot of fun to build. This kit gives you many options on how to display the mortars. I have seen the housing closed, opened and some in between. I hope your plywood false deck comes in soon so that we can see more progress.