NMBROOK

Evening folks,  last time I posted I was going to fill the grooves in the upper hull with wood filler,  this was only so so sucsessful as I did not want to smother the hull with too much filler,  so after applying a liberal amount and letting it set, I was able to do some gentle sanding.
After checking the area over - the grooves were still there just not as deep.  so I decided to just paint the upper hull from the wale to line of gun ports,  first off I mixed some yellow ocre with flat white to lighten the color slightly, I came up with quite a plesent shade that I feel is more appropriate, I started on the side with the grooves and applied the first thinned coat - that was  dried with the aid of a hair dryer, I carried this on with  about 8 layers each dried between coats,  I then turned the hull over and did the same to the other side.
It covered quite well  Admiralty acrylic paints are always good with brush painting, and dry to a nice hard finish.
The black on the wale will need some touching up a bit.
 
Here's the pics -
 
OC.

Evening all,   I finallly got round to finishing the deck planking, I think I have done a tidier job than my first deck planking, I added some thicker planks between the center sections, and will construct the frames around the masts.
It will need a gentle sanding then a couple of coats of flat coat.
 
OC.
 
 

I managed to get nearly half the deck planked today,  its going quite well  no doubt helped by doing it previously.
Here are a couple of pics inluding the yellow ocre side that needs some filler.
 
OC.
 

Another update folks -  I lightly sanded the deck and did a small amount of wood dust filling, then I worked on creating some mast/deck supports, these were made using 1.5mm stock wood, I built up three flat sections from two strips glued together, then when set I sanded them to thier slightly different lengths, then after sanding smooth they were glued down on to the deck.
When these had glued I drilled out the centeres then used firstly using my fine rounded file then a half moon one, to get the correct size aperatures checking with my masts.
 
Here are a couple of pics.
 
OC.

More  work on the decoration today,  I fitted two thin strips either side on the upper hull.
 
Here are a couple of pics.

Evening folks,    Slightly different tack today - I decided to tidy up both my poop deck decking piece, and also my forecastle section, firstly I created an edging strip for the poop deck section, this was cut and glued in place, then I  looked over the forecastle deck section, this needed to be widened slightly but instead of using a flat curved plank to simply sit over the gap between the deck and bulwark, (this was going to be difficult as I had no spare wood sheeting and bending a wood strip against its grain on the widest edge - just wouldn't happen due to splitting), so I decided to build up a couple of strips stuck around the outside edge of the decking, these were held in place by some elastic bands till set,   they then needed sanding flat with the deck and adjusted to fit the bow bulwark.
After getting a good fit I made a front edging strip.
 
I dry fitted both decks and also dry fitted the cabin bulkhead.
 
Here are a few pics.
 
OC.

Evening folks,  I decided to have a go at some painting today  as I can not do any second planking till I get some more wood plank supplies and a plank bender I have ordered,  I decided to paint the upper hull in a Black band and also did a few coats on the wale.
 
Here are the pics.
 
OC.
 
 

Good day folks,  today I spent the time working on the lower transom relief area and the keel post, first off I had to sand the new planking area flush with the hull planking, then I fashioned a thein narrow plank and palced it between the relief planking and the lower transom.
I then turned my attention to boring the opening for the tiller arm, this was a careful job as the lower transom planks were very thin and wanted to snap,  I added a small amout of ca glue to strengthen the edge of the opening, then carried on sanding out the hole.
 
After this was done I made up some planking strips to box in and tidy up the keel post, afterwards I sanded it smooth and square.
 
Here are a couple of pics.
 
OC.

Right folks  I managed to get outside (in the rain) and sand the hull  - I was quite pleased at the result for my first wood build to this stage, also considering its only first planking stage,  and I dont think it will need any filler.
I also decided to re build the lower transom relief - first I made a paper template, then I used some old stock wood and layed them in diagnal strips, glueing them before cutting them flush at the bottoms.
I then glued it in place and left to dry, it will need sanding flush with the hull though.
 
Here are a few pics.
 
OC.

After a good nights rest on my hand  I decided to have another bash on my hull,  there was only a few slithers to drop in so it took a little bit of measuring then cutting - sanding and they were glued in place.
So the hull is now first planked and just needs a little sanding prior to second planking.
The rear section below the transom is not as rough and uneven as it appears, I will be re-planking over the rear section to bring it all  even.
 
Here are a few pics.
 
OC.

I have a sneaking feeling I  am going to be one plank short of finishing my first planking.
 
OC.

A bit more work this evening - getting there I think.
 
OC.

I managed to get in a few hours on the build today, generally making a lot of wood dust in the house (as it was dark outside) Mrs OC was not too impressed  - dogs house emoticon springs to mind.
Anyway after the dust had settled - no pun intended, I  did a final bit of fine filling with my curved needle files, towards the rear as I had to curve a plank that sits at an akward angle, I also tidied up the bow.
 
Here are a few pics folks.
 
OC.

Hi folks more work on  the bench(table) today,  I started by removing the pins holding the last  planks glued, after doing this and checking the joints, I sanded them flush with the other ones,  then I decided to have a go at some dropped planks - this was a time consuming job measuring and checking then sanding,  measuring and checking then sanding, then one by one I did three out of the four so far to be done.
 
Here are the pics folks.
 
OC.

More work on the lower hull planking today,  I decided to try the idea of working from the keel in rows upwards, till I meet the plank below the wale, it just took a little plank bending at both the bow and stern, but the middle section went on dry with no adjustment.
 
Here are the pics -
 
OC.

I took a deep breath and started work on the lower hull planking today,  first I used one of the thinner planks and lay it over the ribs to get natural line then marked the line with a pencil,  I decided to break the run of the plank into three sections  to aid placing and glueing, I discovered that the plank closest to the wale just needed thinning nearest the bow to avoid bending the plank, I did this by just cutting a slight amount of the top of the plank nearest the bow, I cut the plank back to the third rib and placed it in hot water to soften to aid bending, this took about two hours then with enough pva and pins I got it placed, I continued with the second and longest plank that just sat next to the first one without any manipulation just glue and pins, the third one needed to be shaped to meet the rear section,  so again it was placed in hot water for a couple of hours, then when it was plyable I got a slight shape to it and glued and pinned.
I then decided as I was on a roll that I would have a go at the other end of the hull planking closest to the keel planks I had fitted a few years ago,  again I ran a thin plank to get a natural line and marked this with a pencil, this showed that I would need a dropped plank at both ends,  again I decided to split the run into three sections, the middle (longest section) was fitted first - no need for soaking with this one just glue and pinned,  next I soaked the mid - rudder plank and after getting some shape with it, I placed it against the middle plank,  third and final plank was  sanded and soaked  to fit, then again glue and pins and left over night to dry.
 
This is where I am at the moment folks.

More progress today,  I removed the pins from the bottom edge of the wale, then after a light sanding,    It  was ready to paint flat black like the other side,    I applied several light coats drying with a hairdryer between each.
 
Photo shows the current progress.
 
OC.

More work continued today in two stages, first  I sanded down the top section of the wale as I built it in several pieces,  then I had to drill through for the run outs, next I went through the holes with a 2mm square file and carefully opened up the ports.
Next  I shaped the end near the beak head end of the next section of wale (a complete length this time) and put this end in boling water to soften ready for bending, after a few hours I was able to pin the  beak head end then working from bow to stern I ran a length of pins holding the wale in place till set.
 
I also ran a pencil line above the wale to match what I had done on the other side(acting as a visual extension of the wale).
 
Here are the pics folks.
 
OC.

I couldn't resist  doing some more work at the bench(living room table)  I have decided to increase the apparent width of the wale by painting a strip ontop of the (Insatlled  wale side),     first I ran a line and then taped an even line with blue decorators tape, then I applied a few flat black coats of acrylic paint, this I will do on the side where I am constructing the wale sections also.
 
OC.
 
 

After the last strip was set,  I began sanding it back level with the other second planking,  it then occured to me that I would need to mark a line and cut into the last planking, this is to allow for the profile of the wale,  this was done by measuring the line from  bow to stern from the top of the bulwark rails down to the already  fitted wale on the other side, then after marking a line I placed a plank against the line and used my sharp blade to cut a line all the way along, then I cut the sections out.
After a clean up the line looked ok so I started cutting and fitting the first narrow section of wale, in sections as I did not have a full length  just off cuts,  these were glued and pinned in position.
Here are the pics folks -
 
OC.

More work folks today continuing on the main deck area by fitting the two bulwark lower board supports, these will be painted Red Ochre when I get some more.
This completed my inner deck work till I get or build the ladders,  I then decided to work on marking out and drilling through for the oar ports on the  side still left to be done, I followed the drilling up with a small sqare box file - the exact diameter of the oar ports, carefully filing till they were all correct.
 
Next is the hull planking following from my last work - as I write I have a piece of hull timber in soak with boiling water, I intend to leave it there till tomorrow, before I attempt to fit it.
 
OC.

Hi folks,    I got round to doing somemore work on the center section with the gratings etc,  I managed to finish them  with the exception of the three ladders that I will need to construct myself out of stock wood.
She is starting to look like a frigate bit by bit.
 
OC.
 
 

More gratings/ boards and step frames put in place - starting to look a little better I think.
 
OC.
 

More work constructing the frames for the center area, this is time consuming as I have to measure and cut lengths of timber, then I glue them and leave them to dry jiged up in a make shift device, here are four sections from completed to work in process.
 
OC.

More progress folks still working on the center deck area, I continued with the main frame around the grating/ladder section, this was sanded down to make it less deep and even thickness over all, I did the same thing with the other grating, when the sanding was done I decided to fit some boards to represent an area for more accsess down to the lower decks.
I have also started work buiding another block decked area, that has been glued and secured together.
 
Here's the photos -
 
OC.