Cabbie

Hello ThaSandoman
Welcome aboard you could not have landed in a better place to build a model ship.
Remember to start a log, have a look at all the info in the tabs at the top of the page
and to take it easy.
Hooroo Chris

Hello ThaSandoman
Welcome aboard you could not have landed in a better place to build a model ship.
Remember to start a log, have a look at all the info in the tabs at the top of the page
and to take it easy.
Hooroo Chris

Hi Bob .. She will look great either way as you are doing wonderful work here! I completely agree with the taking your time aspect, even to the point (for me) that some days if I don't feel things are going right I just stop and come back to it later, instead of trying to battle on and doing a less than decent job of it.. We put too much 'heart' into our builds to rush into it sometimes ..
 
Keep Up The Great Work
 
Eamonn

Thank you, Bert.
 
If I have learned one things during my short time in this hobby, it's that I have much better outcomes when I don't rush the process. I even find that it's sometimes best to just just to stop and "sleep on it" when I'm uncertain how to proceed. It's amazing to me, that when I do that, I often get up the next day with more clarity about what to do. It's like there is some unconscious problem solving that goes on when we sleep that can be very insightful. 

Looking good Sir!!
I guess that now the fun begins.... 😁
 
Good to take your time with this stuff.
 
Cheers....HOF.

I completed framing the hatches with mahogany, glued down the mahogany king plank and  lined the steersman hatch with mahogany strips. I thought these would be a simple tasks and that would be completed quickly. Wrong...at least for me. I spent a good portion of 2 days getting them done. It actually turned out to be more involved than I thought it would be.
 
First of all, the mahogany wood is dry and brittle so it's chips and breaks easily and I had to be very careful cutting it. I don't have a table saw so I cut all the miter joint corners by hand. I worked slowly trying to get the measurements exact and the angles cut correctly so they would match up well. It took me quite a bit of time to take accurate measurements,  lay out and draw the angles and then cut them cleanly.
 
In order to prevent the cut edges from chipping, I placed a piece of masking tape under the mahogany strips and made the cuts with a sharp #11 blade using many cutting strokes across the grain. Later, I found that once I got the cut started I could then use a very fine tooth hobby saw to make the cut also. Both way worked pretty well but the whole process was time consuming.

The most forward deck hatch is the shape of an isosceles trapezoid so I had to revisit my rusty geometry skills to figure out the the angles for the miter joints. After much consternation, I figured out that the angles I needed were 48.8 degrees at the top of the triangle and 41.2 degrees at the bottom although several pieces ended up in the scrap pile before I got it right.
 
48.8 degree angles were needed at the top of the isosceles trapezoid:

41.2 degree angles were needed at the bottom of the isosceles trapezoid:

Next up was to glue the 10 mm mahogany king plank down the center of the deck. You would think that would be a very simple task but it to took me quite a bit of time. There are several sections to the king plank and they all need to be exactly centered on the deck equidistant from outer edges of the deck on both sides. Any variation in centering would create problems with getting the deck planks symmetrical where they meet on each side of the king plank especially since I want to try make joggles in the king plank for the decking strips.



Finally, I drilled the hole for the mast and test fit it and its a good, tight fit.

Thanks for stopping by my build log.
 

Great job on the side windows, big improvement on the blobs supplied. The window looks OK to me the centre frame is following the line of the rubbing strake.

Just a few more steps and will call this one done. Need to add some tools, a couple of spare road wheels, a few extra track links, and a couple of decals; then an overcoat of matt clear over everything.
 

Hello sticker, it's no wonder there are so many unfinished build logs when so many of the kits from some of the major, long established kit companies have such terrible instructions that inexperienced modelers just give up in frustration. It's wonderful to see how Chris Watton has designed two fantastic fishing vessels that have high quality materials and practically fail safe instructions that will appeal to beginner and experienced modelers as well. They are ideal models for a beginner to be successful and get hooked on the hobby as a result. 
 
I'm just taking my time on the Pen Duick and trying to really think things through before I commit to cutting and gluing. I'm enjoying it so far!
 
Have you made build logs of the models you've completed? I like the fishing and working vessels a lot and the Marie Jeanne is a beauty. Congratulations on finishing her despite the poor instructions.
 
Thanks for stopping by!

I've always been an adrenaline junkie so diving off into unknown territory is something I generally relish with enthusiasm. In ship modeling, however, the fun seems to end for me when I'm completely stumped and frustrated and have made a mess of things...then I start thinking about giving the poor model a Viking funeral!

Now you're really livin! ha.  

Morning to all 6.52 am here and -1 outside, I hate frosts.
Waterways are in, though they blend in a bit and hard to see on photos, broke
about 8 pieces before I got 6 glued in.
Thanks again for the compliments Harry, hard for me imagine living with earthquakes and volcanoes,
I suppose you learn to deal with the extra challenges as they come.
Tricky time to be moving house  at the moment but it sounds like you have it under control,
must be the management and patience lessons you have learnt doing model boat building
The joggling wasn't too bad to do, but sorry i didn't take any more photos if you look at the 3rd pic
you can see where i marked the next plank to be cut in, on the margin plank.
The plank next to it is still loose so that I can remove it to get the blade in to cut out for the plank.
I would lay the next plank to be fitted on the deck in place, mark around it, then mark it for a 1/2 plank at the end
and use the blades to cut the margin plank out. after that fit the deck plank, cut to length and glue in.
The last photo shows the tools used and my trusty disposable blade plane.
Hooroo Chris
I need to add keeping the symmetry right each side was a constant battle, remembering to look and check and check and look.
Come up pretty close in the end.
 


 

Hello Bob
 I have been watching your build so far and keen to see more.
Looks very good, don't worry about the pace of the build, just do it as it comes.
It will be a big help having Hof on board as the "Chairman of the advisory board"
very talented builder.
When cutting out for the joggling, nibble at it don't try to do the full cutout in one go.
I start small with little cuts across the grain which helps to stop big split outs along the grain.
Do a series of little cuts along the length of the cutout and tease out little pieces of the plank until you are ready to
do the final neat cut. I cut the curve of the margin planks the same way before gluing, with sharp flat blades and then sanded to the final curve needed.
I have a whole pile of the cheap finger nail sanding strips available in different sizes and grits and find them very handy
to hold and use on most parts before gluing in place.
Hooroo Chris
 

Looking good CDW, very keen to keep following and see how you progress.
I feel like a minnow among all the other posters here, too many models and not enough time.
 

Thanks Dirk
Need to get my act together and finish this part and put an oil finish on,
the deck is going to get a light teak stain first.
But I have pulled the top 3 strakes off and now replacing them.
I didn't like how the gun ports looked.
Thanks Chris

Hello Joe
Top quality work on all all skills, ship builder, painter, sign writer, metal worker.
Too many skills needed in this caper!
The Seine boat looks like the real thing I hope my small boats come up as good.
Cheers Chris

Hello Bob
 I have been watching your build so far and keen to see more.
Looks very good, don't worry about the pace of the build, just do it as it comes.
It will be a big help having Hof on board as the "Chairman of the advisory board"
very talented builder.
When cutting out for the joggling, nibble at it don't try to do the full cutout in one go.
I start small with little cuts across the grain which helps to stop big split outs along the grain.
Do a series of little cuts along the length of the cutout and tease out little pieces of the plank until you are ready to
do the final neat cut. I cut the curve of the margin planks the same way before gluing, with sharp flat blades and then sanded to the final curve needed.
I have a whole pile of the cheap finger nail sanding strips available in different sizes and grits and find them very handy
to hold and use on most parts before gluing in place.
Hooroo Chris
 

Good evening Bob Thanks for looking in and the compliments.
Yes these ships certainly have their challenges, but that makes it more fun!.
The margin plank was glued down and then cut as per I saw someone else suggesting on another log
Jim lad? Banyan? not sure now, apologies to whoever it was.
One thing that i had to keep a constant watch on, was keeping the symmetry of both sides of the deck. equal, easy to get out a bit with tiny variations.
You have the technique correct, the deck timbers are actually a bit of Aussie pear a mate gave me.
Quite brittle but thicker about .8 mm which i cut myself, so less likely to shatter.
Cheers Chris

Hello Joe
Top quality work on all all skills, ship builder, painter, sign writer, metal worker.
Too many skills needed in this caper!
The Seine boat looks like the real thing I hope my small boats come up as good.
Cheers Chris

Morning to all 6.52 am here and -1 outside, I hate frosts.
Waterways are in, though they blend in a bit and hard to see on photos, broke
about 8 pieces before I got 6 glued in.
Thanks again for the compliments Harry, hard for me imagine living with earthquakes and volcanoes,
I suppose you learn to deal with the extra challenges as they come.
Tricky time to be moving house  at the moment but it sounds like you have it under control,
must be the management and patience lessons you have learnt doing model boat building
The joggling wasn't too bad to do, but sorry i didn't take any more photos if you look at the 3rd pic
you can see where i marked the next plank to be cut in, on the margin plank.
The plank next to it is still loose so that I can remove it to get the blade in to cut out for the plank.
I would lay the next plank to be fitted on the deck in place, mark around it, then mark it for a 1/2 plank at the end
and use the blades to cut the margin plank out. after that fit the deck plank, cut to length and glue in.
The last photo shows the tools used and my trusty disposable blade plane.
Hooroo Chris
I need to add keeping the symmetry right each side was a constant battle, remembering to look and check and check and look.
Come up pretty close in the end.
 


 

New deck done almost, just needs to be sanded, the scraper has been over it and left a few marks.
I have been thinking of putting a teak stain to make it more like the original, but not sure.
I think this version is a lot better, waterways to go in and maybe some scuppers, but they are not in the plans.
Surely the water has to get off the deck somehow and for similarish reasons gun port lids will have to be made.
I wiped over with some turps to bring out the color and quite like it, it will fade over time so will look darker.
Time to do a sample planking piece to test the teak stain and then decide.
Cheers Chris

Yo yes I'm back, Again, hope to keep at it this time.
I decided to re-plank the deck, didn't like the last version
and have been trying to make deck fittings which are no fun at all.
Planking straight over the existing deck, stuck too well to get off.

Morning to all 6.52 am here and -1 outside, I hate frosts.
Waterways are in, though they blend in a bit and hard to see on photos, broke
about 8 pieces before I got 6 glued in.
Thanks again for the compliments Harry, hard for me imagine living with earthquakes and volcanoes,
I suppose you learn to deal with the extra challenges as they come.
Tricky time to be moving house  at the moment but it sounds like you have it under control,
must be the management and patience lessons you have learnt doing model boat building
The joggling wasn't too bad to do, but sorry i didn't take any more photos if you look at the 3rd pic
you can see where i marked the next plank to be cut in, on the margin plank.
The plank next to it is still loose so that I can remove it to get the blade in to cut out for the plank.
I would lay the next plank to be fitted on the deck in place, mark around it, then mark it for a 1/2 plank at the end
and use the blades to cut the margin plank out. after that fit the deck plank, cut to length and glue in.
The last photo shows the tools used and my trusty disposable blade plane.
Hooroo Chris
I need to add keeping the symmetry right each side was a constant battle, remembering to look and check and check and look.
Come up pretty close in the end.
 


 

I worked on the chainplates last couple of days. I made the strop rings by creating a small jig to bend brass wire around, forming a loop on each, which were then cut and soldered closed. The chainplates were made from sheet brass, with a loop soldered in the top. I used some brass nails cut to simulate to bolts to attach the strop to the chainplate, and once painted it all looks reasonably good. 

Finished the seine boat. I did not take in-progress pictures past that initial one on the build board. Let's just say the process between there and finished was not pretty, but in the end came out reasonably well. The plans themselves are very good, it's the method MS gives you to get there that isn't...
 
There is still a good bit of finished detail to add, but I'll leave that for later on at this point.