Chuck

I am going to build both as well. I think that having an unrigged partially planked version like the NMM photo would make a nice presentation. The partially planked version will remain unrigged so displaying them both together might be very interesting. When my local club starts building it together as a group I will have build a second one anyway.....to show folks up close how I did this-or-that. Chuck

Both ways....there will be a version that is completely planked also. But I figured making one that compliments the barge was also a good idea.

That is exactly why I left the char in place on all of those scarf joints. Since the parts were all designed to fit tightly its also good to not sand them at all so the fit remains tight.

Unfortunately my best recommendation would be to start over and just use some strips glued across the tops of the frames.....it works the best and the blocks are overkill. More trouble than its worth as you will no doubt see when it comes time to remove them. I would also make a more general recommendation....try not to over think it and over complicate it. Sometimes the simpler solutions already tried do the trick just fine. There are over 50 longboat build logs I think....I dont think any of them approached it like this so you are in new territory here. As you are trying to find methods for a beginner and new builder....using those blocks creates a situation that will no doubt be frustrating and very tough to rectify once the hull is completely planked over. There will be very little room to get tools inbetween the frames or even get alcohol deep enough to soften the bond. Then one must pry up and out.....to try and avoid breaking the thin and fragile basswood frames because you wont be able to use any fore-aft motion to remove them. At least not initially. It will be very interesting to see how they are removed after planking, but again "I fully recommend that a beginner stay clear of this approach to stabilizing the frames"

Not including bowsprit about 15" so it is NOT a small model. Should look very good indeed fully rigged and about 23" or so. I will know exactly once I develop the rigging plan. I am very fond of 220 grit sandpaper to remove char. I dont scrape. It is really not that much of a chore if you are willing to discard your sandpaper the moment it gets clogged and "muddied" with char. Otherwise you are just pushing the char dust into the wood grain of your pieces and it makes a mess. I always do a preliminary sanding with the paper to remove most of it along an edge and then switch to a clean piece of sandpaper to finish it up. Different woods react differently to laser cutting. Cherry and Pear being among the worst. They burn really bad and deep. The yellow cedar on the other hand is really good. There are natural oild that help prevent deep burning. Only a light amber residue on most thinner pieces and the thicker ones are still not that bad to clean up. Look at the notches in the last photo that the frames will sit in. You can get a good idea. I didnt remove any char from those at all and you can see the color is light and it is pretty clean from the start. Chuck

This new larger longboat model will be build just like the Queen Anne Barge. All parts whenever possible will be laser cut including the planking which will be pre-spiled. Below is the plan in progress as compared to the actual contemporary model. Below are the initial parts that make up the keel assembly. There will be a more simplified version of the keel assembly and another that is lightly more chalenging. As is done on the contemporary model, lap joints will be used to connect the stem and stern post to the keel. The simplified version will just utilize a butt joint and laser cut scarph joint to attach the stem to the keel. I have started building the simplified version first shown on top of the photo below. Before removing the laser cut parts from the sheet, they were sanded down with 220 grit sandpaper on both sides to remove the char. Its easier to do while they are still contained in the sheet. Then the three main (5/32" thick) parts that comprise the stem, the keel and stern post were assembled. I used yellow glue to assemble them prior to sanding the char from the edges of each piece. In fact I purposely didnt remove it from the joints...they are laser cut fairly precise and fit together very well. Using tite-bond works great and the joint is very strong as long as you let it fully dry. Once dry I sanded the char from all of the edges and prepared to add the other (3/32" thick) cedar parts that make up the keel assembly. These were treated the same way. I didnt remove any char from the edges util after they were glued into position. They are very delicate and it is safer and easier to do after they are glued into position. These thinner pieces were centered along the keel leaving 1/32" on each side to form a rabbet or "lip" for the external planking. Next up I added the transom...it has a laser etched groove down the inside to help position it properly. It helps a lot but I was also very careful to also square up the transom properly in relation to the keel. Thats it for now....I have one last part to add to this stem assembly before I start assembling the frames. I will post that very soon.

This is the start of my build for the Medway Longboat. There are two really special contemporary models in the NMM. This is a totally revamped and completely new longboat project with actually little in common with my earlier design for Model Shipways. It is based on an entirely different original draft and more closely resembles the contemporary models. In fact its almost identical as far as I can tell. It will be a true POF model with floors and top timbers. This model will be made from Alaskan Yellow Cedar with boxwood accents and molding. This model will be made both partially planked and fully planked eventually just like the two contemporary models. The fully planked version will show all rigging and also sails. Hopefully. A little about the contemporary models shown below. Scale 1:48. A contemporary full hull model of a ship's longboat, said to be from the 'Medway' (1742) (SLR0328), built plank on frame in the Navy Board style. The model is partially planked and equipped with a large windlass amidships for use when handling the anchors. It is mounted on its original veneered baseboard. Another model, SLR0330, shows the ‘Medway’ longboat rigged and fully planked. The longboat was generally the largest boat carried on board ship and could either be pulled or sailed. It was used for carrying personnel and stores as well as mooring and anchors work. When carried on board, the longboat was stowed in the waist between the fore and main masts lashed on the spare topmasts and spars. It was hoisted in and out by means of the large block and tackles rigged to the lower fore and main yards. A contemporary full hull model of the 'Medway' (1742), shown below - 60-gun two-decker ship of the line

If you click on the topic below it contains links to indexes of every build log on our forum for kits. These are downloadable PDF indexes with links to every build log in alpha order. There are six revenge kit logs but no Sao Miguel which should probably tell you something right there.

Look below this topic in the same forum and you will see two reviews that Jim posted....

You are in the home stretch!!!

To give Carl and everyone a better idea of what you guys are free to propose in the way of a group project see this Mock sample proposal. Any of you folks can create a stand alone topic such as this one to lay out and propose any project. If you get the six or more participants then we will gladly set up the group for you. If you need any help along the way just ask. So as Kurt proposed....a Sharpie build....he should start a topic with similar information to rally support. Name a person who will be leading the group....hopefully the authors and designers. But these groups dont run themselves....so you or another person who will lead this group should try and organize it and create a detailed proposal for it as a stand alone topic. As Carl proposed...get together with Russ and flesh out some ideas on a Biloxi schooner and create a proposal topic to rally six members. Its really that easy and nobody has to be shy here. Just start a "PROPOSAL" topic but please lay out the details of the project so that everyone knows what it entails and who will be leading the group. If you are proposing a group and cant find a mentor/leader then contact us and we will try and find one for you. Important:You cant have a group project without a leader who will run it and hopefully mentor the builders. One who has some expertise on the subject and will dedicate some time and energy to keep it organized. Post tutorials for certain aspects or post info that will be useful to the group. Without a leader for a group.....we dont have a group. Its a requirement. For example...see the intro to simple carving group I started and assumed the role of group moderator or leader for. If on the other hand you have an idea for a group and wish to start one for let say.....an ice boat....but no commercially available plans or kits exist. Then still create a proposal. And if there is enough support for it the NRG may use some funding to help create one. This particular topic and poll was created to gather information on what people are willing to accept....prefering to build...and possibly be expected to pay....for a group as a general top-level discussion. Hopefully it will give the Admin and NRG some ideas should no members ever create a proposal. I urge all of you to do so!!! You never know, maybe there are dozens who also had the same though but never said anything. Basic rules for creating a proposal are written here....

Actually the Longboat is not a difficult build at all. At least not with the new design. But the goal here is create groups for all ranges of expertise. I would say that this group taking shape would be in the intermediate range. It will have pre spiled and laser cut planks for example. No carvings etc. A smallish subject done plank and bulkhead style would be a perfect choice for a beginner or someone on their second or maybe third model.....but we dont have any designed yet. They are in the works as soon as we can identify a subject that fits the bill. Then we will put one together. The ones I listed were only done because those projects are completed already or nearly completed and a group can be started sooner. Any yet- to- be named beginner-centric subject has yet to be developed. That of course wouldnt rule out six to 10 members who consider themselves beginners from organizing themselves and selecting an already available kit choice on the market and asking a suitable mentor to build it alongside them and guide them through the process. But once again.....our membership must speak up and suggest such a scenario so we can help them get it together. Carl, If you have such a project in mind...please let us know. Organize and gather some support for it. That can and should be done in this forum and you are free to create a topic to rally support. That is actually what this topic is trying to find out..because my attempts to ask our members to step up and start a topic to organize their own groups never happened..too shy perhaps..but we need folks to speak up and based on those that have already done so, we have the choices chosen thus far. Read the other topic in this forum which spells out how any member can try and organize a group build of their own!!!

There will be a full kit available yes....but maybe some folks dont want the whole thing. Anyway, we shall see when we get that far. I was only thinking of offering a partial starter with frame and keel parts for anyone wishing to scratch the rest of it for the group project and save a little money. I probably wouldnt even list it on my site and only offer the starter here on MSW for the group.

Great thank you...remember it will be a few months before its finalized. I am curious though rcmdrvr, why did you select that you are not interested in any of the projects in the poll above.

No delay ...no additional costs other than what it would cost to ship stuff as usual.

Wonderful work.....beautiful ship model. I would strongly urge to start a build log for this model if you are still building it. I for one would love to see more of it. The cedar looks fabulous.

Not for frames.....I wont place the frame drawings on the plans for obvious reasons. In two weeks you would see a pirated kit on Aliexpress......and you would suddenly see the pirated kits being built on another forum with no mention or whisper about its actual origin. For my own project designs moving forward you will always need to purchase a starter package at a minimum.......it is unfortunately the only way to protect yourself these days...and you are really never fully protected.

Thanks for letting me know. It will be a few months before its finalized but yes it will be at least a starter package with framing and keel. This longboat is much more simplified than something like the barge. It doesnt have nearly the complexity. I can produce a starter package very easily but like the barge I can also produce a full kit version. I plan on pre spiling all of the planking and providing laser cut parts for every single part of the long boat just like the barge but in reality they can be made from scratch if templates are provided. Chuck

I am sure we can try a few things.....that is what will make this group well worthwhile to create. Hopefully we get six members at least before I finish and am ready cut parts. I will start a build log soon at any rate. So folks can see how it develops.

I have been watching the progress on this topic closely including the poll. Based on the results so far I would like to propose something. I was also reading past topics about potential group projects and had a thought. We had/have about 40 build logs for the current tiny longboat kit from MS. That proves it is a popular subject and one that doesnt take very long to do. With this newer larger version on the boards, I think we can use such a vessel to make it interesting and educational for even the folks that have already built that first version. I would like to suggest that we use this kit as a way to explore and teach some techniques on sail making. The longboat only has three sails so it would not be a very daunting task. There are many way to make ship model sails but I prefer one over most. I also have someone in mind who is already making sails for his frigate using the same techniques. I would like to formally propose that we make this the subject of our next group project with the "piggy-backed" bonus of creating a sail making "tech-session" for it. All materials can be easily obtained and offered along with the parts to build the actual longboat. If you read the other topic on possible group projects and builds....sail making ranked very very high on the list of skills many of you would like to try....this may be the perfect little boat to try it on. What do you think??? It will take a few months to finalize all of this but once its ready I will set up an area. But first I really need to know that we have six or committed to take part in this group project. So please reply here with a definite "yes" if you will commit to this longboat/sail making group project.

Post a picture so everyone can see one please

Actually I think it would be easier. There is a lot of scratch building in that Connie and the design is a little dated. Still a great kit but requires a lot of bashing in my opinion. I cant recall how large the hull is on the connie but the scale of the Winnie also makes it easier. The hull is about 36" on the Winnie and she has 28 bulkheads that are really close together. So planking should be easier. I believe the Connie has less than 20. I am a little biased though so you might want to take that into consideration....there are many challenging aspects to the Winnie like shaping the bollard timbers, headrails... but other than a few of these instances its a pretty standard POB project with more modern design concepts. I would rank both as advanced level POB kits. Its just a matter of which one you want to build more. I still think its too large and involved a project to be a group project but hey ....a lot of you have told me you disagree. But it will take years and not a couple of months like the smaller subjects we are talking about. Look at Rusty's barge build log. He is doing a fantastic job on it and he is just about done. I think it took him only a few months. That is the sort of thing I think would make a better group project....limited to about maybe a year of build time. But that is just my opinion.

They look like very nice kits. You could do a lot with some solid framework like that. The wood looks pretty good as well. I prefer a planked model and I can certainly imagine that you could do a fine job with this. Plank it in Boxwood and and plank the deck and add a little paint and you have real beauty. Its a great way to offer a kit that allows a builder to also make it their own. I always admired the colors of the painted up replica and even built the AL version. It was my first ever ship model. I would love to revisit the subject again someday.

Make sure to cast your votes and fill out the poll....remember we need at least six to start an actual group. When I am ready to roll out either project of mine I will ask again but there other subjects listed in the poll as well. Anything new the NRG sanctions will be a while so feel free to talk about the subjects that you would like to see. So far we dont really have a consensus on any one subject that the NRG would pursue. Although we have many votes for a ster section...... So I will be sure to talk about the many choices when I get together with the board members for a talk about it. And to all of you who took the poll.....THANK YOU!!!!

Thats the way to do it.....works wonderfully.