gjdale

Once again, thank you all for all the kind comments and the "likes".
 
Finishing Up
 
Well, I decided not to go ahead with the Mortar Pit Housing, for the reasons previously described. In the meantime, my display case has been finished and I picked that up this week. As usual, he has done an excellent job with this. The case is 3mm Perspex, with the front/top/back being all one piece bent to shape. This gives a nice clean look.  The base is gloss black Perspex, which he has routed to provide a nice rebate for the cover to sit on. I think it looks great!
 
Yesterday I made the final version of the display cradle, using Pear stock. Just as Mobbsie found, our timber supplies couldn't quite cater for the size as drawn by Jeff Staudt in his excellent set of drawings. My recollection of my discussion with Jeff Hayes (HobbyMill) when I was ordering the timber, was that he couldn't quite get the width required, although he did manage to get close.  Instead, following Mobbsie's lead, I trimmed down the drawing to fit within the timber that I had available. The effect of this is to make the stand a little less chunky, which makes it blend into the frames a little more - so it's probably a good thing.
 
With that, I’m calling “done” on this project.  It has taken just over 15 months to complete and it has been a lot of fun.  It has provided some great learning opportunities, and while it has provided its fair share of frustrations, the opportunity to work from such great drawings/plans and with such wonderful timber, have far over-shadowed any set-backs. It has also been fun building this in tandem with my mate Mobbsie in the UK. We have often discussed challenges over Skype or email before one or other of us was the guniea pig for the next step – usually Mobbsie, as he’s so much faster than I am!
 
To celebrate completion, I broke out the serious photo-tent and lighting to try and do her justice.  Even though I spent some time cleaning her up for the photo shoot, the close-ups show that there is still a bit of dust here and there.  Anyway, here she is in all her glory.  The last photo shows her in her case at last.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Before I close off this log, a few thank you's are in order.  Firstly to Jeff Staudt for producing such an excellent set of drawings that even a first-time scratch builder can make a decent job of it!  Secondly to Jeff Hayes of HobbyMill for his patience and advice when working through the timbering needed for this project, and also for producing such wonderful quality timber to work with - and for being so generous in his allowances! I swear I have enough timber left over to make another whole model!!!
 
I'd also like to thank my build-buddy, Mobbsie for agreeing to take on this project with me. It has been a lot more fun being able to toss ideas around together when facing a particularly challenging part. On that note, I'd also like to particularly mention the assistance provided by Rusty. I have a very lengthy set of PMs exchanged with Rusty, as whenever I got really stuck I would refer to Rusty's log and if the answer wasn't there, I'd PM Rusty with a question or follow-up and he never let me down with his replies - thanks Rusty.
 
And of course, I'd like to thank everyone who has followed along with this journey.  Your support and encouragement means more than I can say.  Thank you one and all.
 
Now, it's time to dig out that other "concurrent" project - the Dumas Chris Craft RC build. It was supposed to be built in tandem with this cross-section, but in reality hasn't been touched since about March last year.  There is a link in my signature block if anyone is interested in having a peek at that one.
 

Congratulations, Grant, on a wonderful voyage and a great build.  She looks super nice in her new home.

I can thoroughly recommend the Bomb Vessel Cross Section, Bob. The plans by Jeff Staudt are excellent and at 1:48 scale is easy enough to work with while not producing a "monster" to house on completion. I have found it to be a most enjoyable build.

I can thoroughly recommend the Bomb Vessel Cross Section, Bob. The plans by Jeff Staudt are excellent and at 1:48 scale is easy enough to work with while not producing a "monster" to house on completion. I have found it to be a most enjoyable build.

Very nice Bob! Finish line is in sight and approaching quickly. So what IS next?.........

At the risk of repeating everyone else - just WOW! Such ingenious fabrication, and a real joy to follow this.

Very nice Bob! Finish line is in sight and approaching quickly. So what IS next?.........

At the risk of repeating everyone else - just WOW! Such ingenious fabrication, and a real joy to follow this.

Well, that explainth the lithp at leatht.

That now brings us to the “tribulations” section o’ this series of postings …
 
“Arr !! Indeed-eth it does !!” noted CaptainSteve, forlornly. For, twouldst seem-eth that, upon final inspection, one o’ the stern timbers were to be out of alignment.”

 
Further, and far worse, whereby Our Hero didst e’er so lightly attempt to correct this piece, tragedy were to strike … and it didst break-eth !!!

“And it be a corner timber, as well !! Thusly, I beseech-eth, o’ Ye o' the Horde,” he were to implore-eth. “Wouldst I be able to re-attach the piece ??”
 
As of this past even-tide, CaptainSteve hath re-glued the broken timber upright …
“But,” he sighed, most heavily, “I be left a-wondering, will this be structurally sound ??”
 
Given that it is a corner upright, couldst he drill-eth a hole, and mayhaps use a small piece of wire – a piece from a staple, mayhaps – as an anchor, to re-affix-eth the errant timber upright ??

Very nice Bob! Finish line is in sight and approaching quickly. So what IS next?.........

With work on the hull complete, it was time to work to begin work on the mast (the bowsprit was already done in connection with the interior detailing). I began with the lower mast. The process was straightforward: I started with a dowel cut to a length that included the below deck portion, the head and the tenon for the cap; the below deck portion was filed to a shape to fit the four sided slot that I had long ago created on the bulkhead former; the head was cut and sanded to it's square shape and the tenon was further cut and sanded to it's smaller square shape; flat areas were sanded below the head for the cheeks. The mast below the cheeks was stained golden oak and given a coat of Wipe-on Poly.
 
The mast was now ready for the addition of it's various fittings: this began with the cheeks which were cut from boxwood sheet and glued in place; next was the boom rest, which was cut from boxwood sheet, glued in place and it's supports added, made from boxwood strip; lastly, I made cleats from boxwood strip and pinned and glued them in place.
 
Next, I made up the trestletrees and crosstrees from boxwood strip. Slots were sawed and chiseled to fit the pieces to the head. The crosstrees were bent to shape and the parts were assembled and glued in place on the head. I then painted the head and the trestletree-crosstree assembly black and lastly added black painted paper bands on the head and eyebolts through the after side of the bands. I also added a pin to the mast to hold the main yard in place.
 
The last work was to make the mast cap and mast coat. Both were cut from boxwood sheet with appropriate holes drilled and filed before they were cut out. Eyebolts were added to the cap and both parts were painted black.
 
Finally I installed the mast in the hull slot. I prefer to glue it in place permanently for stability, although I know that there are differences of opinion about this.
 
Bob

Mark: if you have detail photos of the interior of the forward part of that vessel and near the tiller, posting those would be very helpful. Thanks for the kind offer.
 
Yes, these crafts were very lightly built but surprisingly strong. Think of them as predecessors of today's 'eights' rowing shells.
 
These two photos show how the lap disappears into the rabbet at the bow. The second strake also has a rolling bevel that fits the one on the edge of the first strake. You can also see that there is no gap along the lap, as the bevel that was sanded in takes care if this. PVA glue was applied with a very small brush and any excess cleaned up immediately.

Here are a couple of photographs of the land - the bevel - being sanded on the edge of the garboard and of the gain at the end of the rabbet (arrowed). The gain is basically a rolling bevel. It ends at 45 degrees so that the next plank will come in flush at the rabbet. Essentially clinker becomes carvel over the last 9" or 12" of the strake.

Great stuff, Glenn! The original designer of these flywheels was very ingenious. To reproduce these in miniature you also had to be!

I've finally gotten around to making the flywheels.  I've been looking forward to it because it is the largest and most impressive piece of machinery that was recovered from the wreck.  Heroine's two flywheels were 14 feet in diameter and each was made up of 16 overlapping identical castings.
 
 
Some of the 64 flywheel rim sections.

 
 
Jig for drilling the 384 holes in the rims.  I'll have to re-make this in steel --  After only 8 rims, the hole is becoming distorted.

 
 
Milling a fixture to hold the rim sections in order to mill the pockets for the spokes.  The original rims had dovetailed pockets and two wedges were driven into the spoke to expand it into the pocket. 

 
 
Fixture in use.

 

 

 

 
Completed pocket.

 

 
 
$50 dollars worth of brass and 21 hours of mill time doesn't look like much.

 
 
Since this is a waterline model, the bottoms of the flywheels will have to be cut off.  To guarantee the alignment of the flywheels I printed out a pattern of each with the proper cut lines.

 
 
Test fit of one of the spokes.

Using one of Chucks tips, I purchased some 1/16" striping tape (had to order it) and ran it down the center of the false keel.  This left 1/32" on each side giving me a nice clean rabbet.  From there I glued the keel and stem to the false keel.  I can now dry fit the frames. 
 
      Bob R.

Message to Charlene:
Sorry to hear that work is interfering with a hobby you enjoyed so much. Just remember, when retirement comes, you know that you will have a hobby and the time to enjoy it. (Oooooo Ended with a preposition in a message to a teacher.) how about ........a hobby for which you will have the time to enjoy.
You do great work. Come back soon.

Sorry to hear that Charlene has felt it necessary to stop work on the Bounty Jerry - she was clearly enjoying learning from you. I'm sure your build buddy will return in due course.

Frustrating - yes. Time-consuming - yes. Valuable learning along the way - absolutely! Good on you for your perseverance Dan. You will be very pleased you bit the bullet at this stage when you see the end result!

Sorry to hear that Charlene has felt it necessary to stop work on the Bounty Jerry - she was clearly enjoying learning from you. I'm sure your build buddy will return in due course.

Sorry to hear that Charlene has felt it necessary to stop work on the Bounty Jerry - she was clearly enjoying learning from you. I'm sure your build buddy will return in due course.

Frustrating - yes. Time-consuming - yes. Valuable learning along the way - absolutely! Good on you for your perseverance Dan. You will be very pleased you bit the bullet at this stage when you see the end result!

Hello,
 
here is a little updat of my report.
See the pictures:
 
The washstrakes are already built.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 

Good afternoon everyone...
 
Well, to tell the truth, today was a bitter-sweet day.  Charlene decided that she could no longer work on Bounty since she felt stressed trying to build the Bounty and cope with her job. I tried to tell her that there are no time restraints and she can go as slowly as she likes but she felt it would be better to let this project go and maybe do something in the future.  It has always amazed me how much work is piled on to teachers without ever compensating them for the addiotnal time.  It seems that there is always something additional to do because the school board has seen fit to reduce the staff but increase the work load.  It's bitter to see her stop building because I was happy to know that i could share my hobby with my wife and have a building buddy so nearby.  I'm sure you know that I have been doing work on the Bounty and it seems like it was more and more each day.  I finally discussed the situation with Charlene and we both decided that her livlihood was more important.  The sweet part is that I can go forward now and not worry that I am taking away anything from Charlene's enjoyment and that after she retires she tries once again to build another ship model.
 
So here's the progress to date:
 
I am presently working on the stays.  So far the mizzen and main stays are complete including the crow's feet which were not too difficult once I figured out a method to make them.  I have decided to do the rigging from the bottom up and so I will continue with the stays and add the top masts when necessary .  When the stays are completed i intend to construct the rat lines and then will come the yards and running rigging.
 
it is my intention to continue this log under the title of Jerry's Admiral.
 
 
 Here are some photos as to where we are.
 
Best regards,
Jerry