donrobinson

Thanks guys, it always helps being here on MSW and getting comments like this. I will work towards the natural wood look, after all it is wood and can be manipulated  
 
Take Care and Thanks Again

I agree Mike the wood is beautiful and I am no fan of painting. I am just a little worried abut the funky little planks at the bow and stern I had to install, however, we are our own worst critics and maybe it won't be as bad as I think. Thanks for stopping by

This is a very small update just to let you all know I am still working on her. The planking is still going on. I have, as usual, created problems for myself that I am paying for with each strake. The problem being that I am too smart to line off or measure, something like that road map in the glove box we never used (remember them?). Anyways after realising my error I am now paying for it and have since started to measure and line off. I am confidant that things will be alright only thing is leaving it natural is probably not going to happen.
 In the pictures she only has the first sanding and scraping done and she has some minor gaps to deal with. 
 

 
 Nest up is a couple garboard strakes.
 
Have a Good One

No problems Mike it ended up helping me out, but cost me $80.00(I found more ``must have`` items).
Skip I use mainly the medium and the little tubes( you can see in the pictures above) that attach to the bottle. They just slip on and last for a fairly long time, I just leave these on all the time and never put a cap on the bottle. The thin ca I only use to repair cracks or breaks the thick is used when I need a little more time before it sets.

Mark, Thanks for that link. I just ordered the adaptor from Micro mark, hopefully that works with the blades I have

Thanks Dave. I swear by this method and have never had any issues with doing it this way.

Thanks for stopping in Ian, nice work on your Catboat. The bow is fairly blunt so I have already added a joggle plank, which is partly my fault for not paying attention as to what I was doing but it is all turning out pretty good. Right now I have 8 strakes on the starboard and eleven on the port side done. I should have enough done for a small update soon. Good to hear you are back on the Vicky again

Hey Mike, the blade is a 80 tooth, unfortunately it is the finest blade Proxxon offers. It cuts thin strips fairly good as long as you have the proper hold downs in place. The blades that Jim Byrnes sells have a 1/2" hole whereas the Proxxon has a 10 mm hole. I have the ones from Jim but still have to make a bushing for them in order to use them. To clean the "gunk" in your blades use some spray on oven cleaner, I have been using that for years now and it works really good.

Hi Lawrence, Thanks for your comments. Yes that jig is a lot of help cutting strips, certainly makes things more accurate. I have use it a few times now and am very happy with it.

Thanks to everyone for stopping in and for your comments and likes. I finished fairing the hull to my satisfaction and have started the planking.
 

This picture is showing the little jig I used to mark the placement of the first plank, 1.5 mm above the top edge of bulkhead
 

The first two planks on either side need to be cut down from 5 mm to 4 mm, here I am doing that using my homemade jig and Proxon table saw.
 

 
The first plank being attached. I use a combination of ca glue and white glue (weldbond). I started at the stern and moved forward, I trim the plank to length and shape when I get to the bow I find I get better results doing it this way rather than off ship.
 

 
Here is the first plank completed. You will notice the port side front bulkhead is a little different, the original one broke off and joined the numerous other lost parts on my floor , so I made this one out of some scraps. The height isn't  a big deal as these all get taken off later, it is just needed to get the proper shape of the bow with the planks
 

 
 And here is how she looks as of this afternoon. The next four planks will be the full width throughout their length then after these the rest will need to be shaped. Unlike most ships the Trabaccolo's bow is bigger than the stern so it is a bit of a reversal from other builds I have done.
 Well that's it for now, I'll see you all in about 8 or 10 planks. It's my now favourite time of day "nap time"  
 
 

Thanks Dave, I am hoping it all works out good, a little more filling and sanding then let the planking begin. By the way, your AVS is looking awesome

Hey Chris; Good to hear from you. I've been missing your updates. I missed "thirsty Thursday" .....well next week I'll be there for "wet Wednesday". Thanks for dropping by

Hello Everyone, how's things going? Thanks to all for your comments and likes.
 Well not a lot to report on, certainly not as much as I wanted to have done. I have the starboard side now complete with filler blocks, the initial filling has been done and one coat of primer (gesso). 
 I am now waiting for things to dry then a little more filling and another coat of gesso then the planking can start.
 I probably would have started planking now but looking at the pictures I decided another round of filling is not going to hurt and it is easy sanding compared to what I have just been through.
 With another 2 - 3 hours yet to finish off the hull I will have about 45 hours into this part of the build. I would like to say I enjoyed every minute of it but then I would have a nose I could use for a main mast    
 
It's Thirsty Thursday.....be happy

Hello B.E.: Thanks ever so much for stopping by and checking out my build. She is really an interesting model and has been very enjoyable so far. I am looking forward to completing the filler blocks and starting the planking hopefully not to far in the future. The next couple of days I have some work to complete outside, that I brought on myself, then I`ll be devoting more time to shipbuilding.

Hi Mike: It is good to see you back at your Pegasus again. Thanks for your comments. As for the wood there is lime, walnut and oak. The reason the bulkheads are hollowed is to allow the finishing off of the interior. As for the strength this model is incredibly strong there is all kinds of bracing to add to the strength and the interior planking adds even more. She is a very well thought out kit, the only problems I have encountered are ones I created myself.

Thanks Dave, I also think it's worth the extra time(which I have lots of)

Thanks Frank, it's always so good to hear from you

That made me smile Skip, and you are certainly right. I really think it is a lot of overkill on my part as the plans only called for blocks on the bow and stern but when it is all said and done she should be real nice to plank

Hi Mike,
 To answer your question.. No, the Amati version is a entry version kit and this one is by no means that. I built that one for my grandson as a present and it was a lot of fun to build, however, this one is even more fun to build and I am pretty sure it will be on my shelf when it is done

HaHaHa, told you it was just a little crazy, Thanks for all your comments and likes. Just a little different to say the least but it worked and will be covered up. Whether I needed blocks between all bulkheads I'm not sure, probably not, but now I am certain I will have a good base.
 
Thanks Again      

Good Morning All, 
 
 Well I finally sucked it up and got the filler blocks finished on the port side. This was a evil job but one that I decided had to be done as the hull is only single planked. I know by following the plans and installing only bow and stern blocks it would have been just fine as the planks are 1.5mm thick. So, yes, I am a whole bunch nuts
It was a total of 30 hours finishing this side, starboard side should go faster I hope. I used basswood(and wood filler and spackle  ) which I think is going to give a real good base for the planking and proved to be fairly easy to work with.
 
Warning: the following pictures are not pretty and caution should be taken before viewing. This unorthodox method should not be tried in a normal home!!!
There was no alcohol consumed during any of this procedure, what happened after will remain private .  
 

 
Yah I know, crazy looking stuff. After a lot of sanding it is actually real smooth and test planks lay nicely on it, hopefully all this helps with the planking. It is now on to the starboard side as now she has a terrible list to the port  .
 The lumber in the pictures is for some flower/garden boxes that I have been hired to build so I won't have any updates for a few days.
 
 Take Care and Enjoy your builds

Thanks to all for stopping by and for all the likes.
 
Ian: Thanks, the curve was a little bit of a challenge but I think it will be a lot easier using square stock. I proclaimed yesterday a "day off" so I did not get the second one done. Energy level is much higher today and the weather is still too cool and wet for yard work so hopefully I 'll make some progress today and have some updates. The lathe is a Sherline which I bought last year along with a mill, really good tools.

Hi all, well it is kind of embarrassing what I have to show as it is not much.
 I have been busy with just about everything except ship building lately. The spring yard work on the acreage is almost done and it is finally raining so I hope to get more time in the workshop.
 I took a little diversion from filler blocks and made the bits and started the mast tops.
 
Using the lathe with sanding blocks and files I shaped the bits
 

Here are the three finished bits, they still need poly
 

 
Mast tops are carved from 8mm dowel
 

 
Sanded taper using a shooting board
 

 
 Then the finished product, well not finished but I'm done with it ...... as it is cut 1.5" too short       . Not a total waste as it works great as a swizzle stick .
 Anyway I have since milled a piece of 8mm square walnut and will attempt to re-build to proper length today and possibly do some filler blocks.
 
 Thanks for stopping in and have a good one. 
 
 
 

Hi Chris, Thanks for that, although, not so sure I would go as far as saying brilliant . 
You are going to enjoy your builds and this hobby, and what a great idea Marisstella has by setting up this "course".
It is said throughout this forum constantly to "sit back, enjoy and take your time" always remember this and you'll be fine. Mistakes we all make, myself it's daily, we learn by these and it's cool to do so and no one is going to torment you for it.
 The other two important things are to start a build log here at MSW then ask questions lots of questions  in your log or by pm(private message) if you so wish. Certainly never forget about Zoran, he is amazing and has the answers.
 
Take Care
 
p.s. I just ordered the Barque Stefano and the Pasara      

Dave: Thanks, and David please do post picture I would like to see it too