vossy

crawling along with all this planking of decks and cabin structures! finally have second deck glued down, but requires another coat of matt clear I reckon. second deck cabin structure is a slow process to plank. here it is just dry sitting on top of the deck itself. when completed and ready to mount, it will also be white, so any small gaps the camera shows up can be filled if necessary.
 
none of my passengers and crew have been glued into position as yet, and I am still procrastinating over the horse bay area detail. anyway, sorry, not much of an update, but it is a way to bump my log up from page 5 I guess 

Possibly a bit late to start a log, but what the heck! Being an old steel boat sailor myself I never thought I could fall in love with any other type of craft. I was wrong! When I saw Charles's build log of this vessel I literally fell in love with this type of craft. Since then I have tried to learn as much about them as I possibly can. Kurt and Cathead have provided a wealth of information, and for that I am truly grateful. 
 
Previous to starting this model my main understanding of this type of vessel came from multiple viewings of the Jodie Foster ( best actress ever) film, Maverick. Obviously I had a lot to learn!
 
The thing I learnt very quickly was that this particular model was not a very true, or accurate depiction of the type of craft of the day. Spewing, as Jodie would look fine on mine! Anyway, so given it is a bit of a fantasy boat, I intend to try to glam mine up a bit (as would befit Jodie).
 
There are a few gaps between pic updates, but since Santa deemed I had been extra good this past year I was presented with a cool new digital camera! So once I get to master it a bit better I hope the updates will be more frequent.
 
Anyway here is where I am at the moment.
 
 

no, I wanted to use black knobs on the lower working deck and white/ivory knobs on the upper class decks. I am thinking red and white polkadot curtains for the next level windows and doors as well, but first have to make a start on all these louvre shutters for these windows. that will take an age!
 
chris
 

so, I have completed one side of the interior windows and main doors to the second deck structure. I decided to go with yellow curtains as it is quite dark inside, especially when the next deck goes on as you can see where I have placed it on top to get an idea of how much visibility is inside. again, the whole structure is just dry fitted as I still need to make up and position exterior louvre window shutters on each side of the windows. this should also clean up and square off the window framing nicely. I hope!
 
chris
 

looks really beautiful. I ummed and arred about painting my riverboat hull I must say. I really like the natural timber color, but decided to paint as most of them were painted I believe, plus I have heaps of natural wood on the decks and as mine is a massive size I think the white hull breaks it up nicely. anyway back to yours, as I said, it looks fantastic. are her deck structures going to be painted, or left natural like the hull? also, for what its worth, with your trial naming decals, I actually like the bottom one the best; yes, even the dice.
 
chris
 

so, I have completed one side of the interior windows and main doors to the second deck structure. I decided to go with yellow curtains as it is quite dark inside, especially when the next deck goes on as you can see where I have placed it on top to get an idea of how much visibility is inside. again, the whole structure is just dry fitted as I still need to make up and position exterior louvre window shutters on each side of the windows. this should also clean up and square off the window framing nicely. I hope!
 
chris
 

so, I have completed one side of the interior windows and main doors to the second deck structure. I decided to go with yellow curtains as it is quite dark inside, especially when the next deck goes on as you can see where I have placed it on top to get an idea of how much visibility is inside. again, the whole structure is just dry fitted as I still need to make up and position exterior louvre window shutters on each side of the windows. this should also clean up and square off the window framing nicely. I hope!
 
chris
 

so, I have completed one side of the interior windows and main doors to the second deck structure. I decided to go with yellow curtains as it is quite dark inside, especially when the next deck goes on as you can see where I have placed it on top to get an idea of how much visibility is inside. again, the whole structure is just dry fitted as I still need to make up and position exterior louvre window shutters on each side of the windows. this should also clean up and square off the window framing nicely. I hope!
 
chris
 

looks really beautiful. I ummed and arred about painting my riverboat hull I must say. I really like the natural timber color, but decided to paint as most of them were painted I believe, plus I have heaps of natural wood on the decks and as mine is a massive size I think the white hull breaks it up nicely. anyway back to yours, as I said, it looks fantastic. are her deck structures going to be painted, or left natural like the hull? also, for what its worth, with your trial naming decals, I actually like the bottom one the best; yes, even the dice.
 
chris
 

cant have too many of these! you gonna put people on her?
 
chris
 

looks really beautiful. I ummed and arred about painting my riverboat hull I must say. I really like the natural timber color, but decided to paint as most of them were painted I believe, plus I have heaps of natural wood on the decks and as mine is a massive size I think the white hull breaks it up nicely. anyway back to yours, as I said, it looks fantastic. are her deck structures going to be painted, or left natural like the hull? also, for what its worth, with your trial naming decals, I actually like the bottom one the best; yes, even the dice.
 
chris
 

Hi Michael, welcome aboard and I hope you enjoy your voyage! Any comments and/or criticisms will be appreciated; as I’ve mentioned before, this is a voyage of discovery and learning (much of which to date consists of the old adage of measure twice, cut once! I’d also add, if it looks wrong it probably is!)
 
I managed to find a few hours this week tidying things up and building some odd pieces - the pics attached show my progress with the main deck structures, the feeding troughs and the livestock bar supports (bit of a pain to make; for future builders, cut the 1.5mm first, then the 5mm - both of which create the slot to hold the retaining bars, then bevel the lower edge. I did the last first and it made holding the piece very awkward, though I only lost one due to breakage in the end).
 
I’ve now planked all the main deck structures and they’re ready for finishing. The African Walnut will be given a clear satin varnish; the planking will be stained/varnished in a standard light oak.
 
The 0.5mm planking, I’ve noticed, tends to fray across the edges at the top and bottom so, depending on final fit, I may need to add a finishing strip to hide those poor edges.
 
One final thing to add, which you’ll see in the 2nd pic below, is that I managed to get the tabs in the structures to fit in the slots without any repositioning. I have to say this took a little force (and trepidation on my part!) but they did fit, though I’ve noticed the front section of the front structure is now very slightly bowed out.
 
You can also see in the 1st pic where the door handles don’t line up correctly - they’re about 0.5mm off from each other. Would have been perfect if I’d kept the door pairs together lol. Also not too happy with the Sapele trim on the top of the front structure doors (which I’d cut in half lengthwise as the suggested measurement seemed too heavy) - it doesn’t match the curve on the doors, but too late to do anything with it now.
 
Next job is to finish the Sapele straight door surrounds on the rear structure (I’m two-thirds done), glue in the doors, final sanding to shape then put aside whilst I plank the hull.
 
Hugh
 
 

Holy!!! that boat is worth double my house! lol
 
Can you post a close up of your glue sometime so I can maybe get a similar version down here?
 
chris
 

looks really beautiful. I ummed and arred about painting my riverboat hull I must say. I really like the natural timber color, but decided to paint as most of them were painted I believe, plus I have heaps of natural wood on the decks and as mine is a massive size I think the white hull breaks it up nicely. anyway back to yours, as I said, it looks fantastic. are her deck structures going to be painted, or left natural like the hull? also, for what its worth, with your trial naming decals, I actually like the bottom one the best; yes, even the dice.
 
chris
 

looks really beautiful. I ummed and arred about painting my riverboat hull I must say. I really like the natural timber color, but decided to paint as most of them were painted I believe, plus I have heaps of natural wood on the decks and as mine is a massive size I think the white hull breaks it up nicely. anyway back to yours, as I said, it looks fantastic. are her deck structures going to be painted, or left natural like the hull? also, for what its worth, with your trial naming decals, I actually like the bottom one the best; yes, even the dice.
 
chris
 

I spent the afternoon on her today..........I'm so glad to see my vision paid off    as I mentioned earlier,  I made up another wood organizer.....not as elaborate as the one by the main table,  but it will serve the purpose.   

all household stuff......except the 1/4 plywood.   all the wood strips are separated.......as soon as I clear a space,  I can move it out of the way  

the underside of the main deck has been painted with Billing's flat pale gray.  I noticed that I forgot to paint across the paddle opening......I'll do that later.

the counter was marked out and the holes were drilled for the rudders.   I'm gonna hold off on installing them,  until I get the main deck and the bottom assembled,  so I can better assess the depth of the shafts.  I also did some more sanding.....it is ready  

into the paint booth it went.......and got the first coat of gloss lacquer.  it was like 'pop city'!


it was still wet at this point.......needs to dry now.  I went to work on the Norden and browse MSW.....    a while later,  I took it out of the booth.....I was amazed with how it came out.


the grain came out nicely.........and then I heard the admiral.   she was asking me about the mahogany for the Nordkap........I haven't even told her that I'm using it on this project and that I want to order blonde planking {basswood or obechi} for 'ole Nordie.   well boys......I think I been found out.....time to fess up.   it must have sounded like jargon,  that is......until she saw the bottom.  I flat refuse to paint over wood like this.....this is what it's meant for.  the bottom is a little rough,  and there are some shadows,  from where the lacquer literally sucked into the wood.  but,  the shine is there......and I am so pleased.

I gave it more time to dry.   usually I will wipe my hulls down with a clean soft cloth...this is more than enough to knock down the roughness and raised wood fibers.  if I wanted to wait a day,  then I would have used either steel wool,  or some fine sandpaper and do a light sanding.  I actually rubbed it down with my bare hands......trust me,  my hands were never intended to give back rubs.   it's in there now........it got a second coat......it won't need another.   the shadows are gone.......and there are no runs,  considering I used a rattle can.  I am thoroughly impressed with how it came out.   I have a picture of it tomorrow.....I want to see what happens to the sheen when it's fully cured.   the rudders will match the keel,  which sets off the mahogany nicely.   see you folks tomorrow   

Chris:
 
Better -- here is the Bob Smith Industries (BSI) website address.
 
http://www.bsi-inc.com/index.html
 
If you click on the Industrial/Hobby link at the top, and then adhesives, look for the purple bottle called "insta cure".  I use the 2oz size.  It's not watery like their blue bottle (or like many CA glues that are hard to manage), and while the website promotes it as gap filling, I like it because it just stays where you put it and you don't have to join things right away (you have maybe 60 seconds).  Usually sets in a minute or so.
 
On the same website, there is a dealer locator with instructions for how to search outside the US, and I tried it and saw two Australia distributors on the first two pages.  I get mine through Amazon.
 
Hope this helps.
 
Regards,
David

cant have too many of these! you gonna put people on her?
 
chris
 

cant have too many of these! you gonna put people on her?
 
chris
 

cant have too many of these! you gonna put people on her?
 
chris
 

hey, really cool. yes I would have definitely don't the keel first as well. so, above and below the current planking strips; does this get planked or covered as well? what sort of glue are you using to attach the wooden planks to the fibreglass hull? really looking super dave!
 
chris
 

I have completed the planking on the port side of the hull.  See pictures below.  The laser cut planks are shaped to fit the hull curve perfectly, and create a really even look to the planking, even for someone as ham-handed as me.  They also make for a fairly quick and easy planking.
 
I'm not worried about the glue spots, as all of this is painted white.  I have sanded for fit the bow, stern, and lower portion where it meets the hull, but haven't done any pre-painting finish sanding.
 
It doesn't show well in the pictures, but the lighter lines between the planks are 1x1 mm strips, which gives even separation between the planks.
 
Because this is a really rigid fiberglass hull, I didn't have to worry about alternating the planking on both sides.  I also wanted to finish one side with the 1x1 mm strips I have left (they are really delicate, and I broke some unwrapping the bundle.  More coming next week).
 
So I'm out of 1x1 strips, which means I'm going to have to find something else to work on while I wait for the strips to come.
 
Regards,
David
 

I have done three hull planking strakes on one side, and the laser cut planks work really well.  There is a 2x2 mm wale at the top that follows set measurements from the top of the hull, then a plank, then a 1x1 mm spacer, then a plank, and so forth.  There are 10 planks on a side, down to the mid-point of the hull, where the hull line turns under, and then it's smooth from there to the keel.  When it's sanded and painted white it should look really nice. 
 
While the manual says "birch" for the laser cut planking sheets, there's no way this isn't walnut.  It's 1.5 mm thick, so really nice quality.  It kills me to paint over it (I love varnished hardwood), but the boat would look terrible if I just varnished it.
 
The manual calls for the planking first, and then the keel, but I wanted good butt-joins between the planks and the keel, so I did the keel first.
 
Regards,
David

cant have too many of these! you gonna put people on her?
 
chris
 

cant have too many of these! you gonna put people on her?
 
chris