Brucealanevans

A bit more time to work the last week than I expected, so I finished laying the deck planking. Still a few raised edges to sand but basically done.
I'm not into treenailing, so I simulated on each plank before gluing by drilling small holes and filling them with slightly contrasting wood filler. I'll not be staining the deck - probably just a matt clear finish.
Now I'm consulting the plans and will be adding features that affect the hull and the inner bulwarks before beginning on the deck structures.

Thanks much John - pictures are a great help!
Didn't know about the book Gary- I immediately ordered a used copy through Amazon.
I realize it probably won't make much difference especially with the beams blocking much of the view and the fact that only a part of the skylight is exposed at all, but I'm inclined to try just for the fun of it. The advantage of the approach is that the view can be artifically "lit" so that it shows up better. We'll see. Certainly I'll have to make certain I'm using brass rods to the proper scale. I agree that the skylight will be a heck of a fiddly project all by itself.
The part of the model I'm dreading are the 5 whale boats that have their interiors exposed. After building the MS New Bedford Whaleboat the concept of duplicating them in a tiny scale is daunting. But I suspect I'm a long way from facing that so I'll just ignore it for now.
I really like playing with 3d models and have made very detailed models of the Hunley submarine including the interior and all the workings and a large collection of Civil War Medical equipment (a whole other hobby).

A bit more time to work the last week than I expected, so I finished laying the deck planking. Still a few raised edges to sand but basically done.
I'm not into treenailing, so I simulated on each plank before gluing by drilling small holes and filling them with slightly contrasting wood filler. I'll not be staining the deck - probably just a matt clear finish.
Now I'm consulting the plans and will be adding features that affect the hull and the inner bulwarks before beginning on the deck structures.

A bit more time to work the last week than I expected, so I finished laying the deck planking. Still a few raised edges to sand but basically done.
I'm not into treenailing, so I simulated on each plank before gluing by drilling small holes and filling them with slightly contrasting wood filler. I'll not be staining the deck - probably just a matt clear finish.
Now I'm consulting the plans and will be adding features that affect the hull and the inner bulwarks before beginning on the deck structures.

A bit more time to work the last week than I expected, so I finished laying the deck planking. Still a few raised edges to sand but basically done.
I'm not into treenailing, so I simulated on each plank before gluing by drilling small holes and filling them with slightly contrasting wood filler. I'll not be staining the deck - probably just a matt clear finish.
Now I'm consulting the plans and will be adding features that affect the hull and the inner bulwarks before beginning on the deck structures.

So I've finally finished the planking and a rough sanding. Some work on filler for cracks, etc. yet to go.

A bit more time to work the last week than I expected, so I finished laying the deck planking. Still a few raised edges to sand but basically done.
I'm not into treenailing, so I simulated on each plank before gluing by drilling small holes and filling them with slightly contrasting wood filler. I'll not be staining the deck - probably just a matt clear finish.
Now I'm consulting the plans and will be adding features that affect the hull and the inner bulwarks before beginning on the deck structures.

A bit more time to work the last week than I expected, so I finished laying the deck planking. Still a few raised edges to sand but basically done.
I'm not into treenailing, so I simulated on each plank before gluing by drilling small holes and filling them with slightly contrasting wood filler. I'll not be staining the deck - probably just a matt clear finish.
Now I'm consulting the plans and will be adding features that affect the hull and the inner bulwarks before beginning on the deck structures.

Begun the deck.
Built the deck structure coamings and base for the skylight and decked around them. Removeable so I can stain them and build the deck structures on them and put them in place later.

When I finish the deck I'm going to add everything that installs on /drills through / or protrudes from the hull before I start on the deck structures. So much work to do.
I think, when I get that far, that I'm going to go with furled sails using silkspan.

When I finish the deck I'm going to add everything that installs on /drills through / or protrudes from the hull before I start on the deck structures. So much work to do.
I think, when I get that far, that I'm going to go with furled sails using silkspan.

Begun the deck.
Built the deck structure coamings and base for the skylight and decked around them. Removeable so I can stain them and build the deck structures on them and put them in place later.

Begun the deck.
Built the deck structure coamings and base for the skylight and decked around them. Removeable so I can stain them and build the deck structures on them and put them in place later.

Now on to hull planking

So I've started on a Charles W Morgan build, although somewhat intimidated by the speed and or quality of the currently documented construction projects for this ship.
This model is a stretch for me, given the amount of scratch building involved and the somewhat cryptic instructions of this older MS kit.
I got interested after building the New Bedford Whaleboat, and added this kit to my "to do" stack. Having finished Picket Boat #1 to my satisfaction, decided to defer the Phildelphia Gunboat and take on a more complicated project.
I'm not retired (yet) and have many professional demands on my time, so I end up working in fits and starts and when I need the "therapy".
I decided to go ahead and build the hull superstructure before planking to allow better access for clamps for the waterway, planksheer, rail and topgallant structure. That's where I am now (pictures below). The rail structure is a bit wavy viewed end on on one side, but overall I'm relatively pleased within the envelope of my skillset. I had a few disasters in terms of inadvertant breakage of thin pieces (mainly the main rail) after installation by a misplaced hand while working on another part, but managed to overcome that adequately. I still have to do some sanding on the main rail as the strip I used was a bit wider than the rail is supposed to be - that is evident in the pictures where the rail meets the laser-cut curved rail piece forwards.
Next I'll plank between the planksheer and the mail rail to reinforce that area, and then likely add the wale and plank between the planksheer and the top of the wale.
Then I'll go on to bands A-D
The build logs and galleries on this and other sites have been a great aid.
 
Bruce

I've had a week with little IRL work and wife off on several travels, so I had more time than usual to work on the Morgan.
 
Here is the current progress.
Decided to paint at this stage since I prefer to use airbrush and since I plan to leave the deck unfinished (except for matt varnish). I didn't want to struggle with masking the deck off perfectly at  a later stage while painting the interior bulwarks. It takes me a while to work up the courage to do the paint job to a good looking unfinished hull ever since I screwed up my first attempt at staining my New Bedford Whaleboat (MS). After that disaster I put it aside as a bad job until my wife urged me to sand it down and try again, which I did with advice from Chuck about progressively finer sanding and diluting the stains. Turned out OK. The airbrush was great for those interior bulwarks with all the stanchions - I didn't want to face that with a paintbrush and multiple coats. Went with the red hull as per the restoration rather than copper just because I prefer the look.
 
Obviously some things will need to be added (channels, catheads, etc.) but I'd rather touch up later.
 
Now on the the deck.
 
Not really totally happy with the white striping - I find it hard to do exactly enough to stand up to close inspections. Looks good from this distance though! The hardest thing is to balance desire to do best work (if not perfect!) and OCD tendencies, which modeling brings out in me.
 
Working now on the positions of all deck structures that require coamings so I can temporarily install the coamings before beginning the decking.
 
Will post some larger/closer pictures once the deck is in place.
Who knows when that will be?
Looking at these posts, I see that I've been intermittently puttering away on this for 11 months already.
 
This is turning into an expensive model - I've used up my holiday equity on a bunch of new equipment for the shipyard. I don't buy stuff till I need it, but my definition of need is a low bar and requires an understanding wife - which thankfully I have in spades.
 

I've had a week with little IRL work and wife off on several travels, so I had more time than usual to work on the Morgan.
 
Here is the current progress.
Decided to paint at this stage since I prefer to use airbrush and since I plan to leave the deck unfinished (except for matt varnish). I didn't want to struggle with masking the deck off perfectly at  a later stage while painting the interior bulwarks. It takes me a while to work up the courage to do the paint job to a good looking unfinished hull ever since I screwed up my first attempt at staining my New Bedford Whaleboat (MS). After that disaster I put it aside as a bad job until my wife urged me to sand it down and try again, which I did with advice from Chuck about progressively finer sanding and diluting the stains. Turned out OK. The airbrush was great for those interior bulwarks with all the stanchions - I didn't want to face that with a paintbrush and multiple coats. Went with the red hull as per the restoration rather than copper just because I prefer the look.
 
Obviously some things will need to be added (channels, catheads, etc.) but I'd rather touch up later.
 
Now on the the deck.
 
Not really totally happy with the white striping - I find it hard to do exactly enough to stand up to close inspections. Looks good from this distance though! The hardest thing is to balance desire to do best work (if not perfect!) and OCD tendencies, which modeling brings out in me.
 
Working now on the positions of all deck structures that require coamings so I can temporarily install the coamings before beginning the decking.
 
Will post some larger/closer pictures once the deck is in place.
Who knows when that will be?
Looking at these posts, I see that I've been intermittently puttering away on this for 11 months already.
 
This is turning into an expensive model - I've used up my holiday equity on a bunch of new equipment for the shipyard. I don't buy stuff till I need it, but my definition of need is a low bar and requires an understanding wife - which thankfully I have in spades.
 

I've had a week with little IRL work and wife off on several travels, so I had more time than usual to work on the Morgan.
 
Here is the current progress.
Decided to paint at this stage since I prefer to use airbrush and since I plan to leave the deck unfinished (except for matt varnish). I didn't want to struggle with masking the deck off perfectly at  a later stage while painting the interior bulwarks. It takes me a while to work up the courage to do the paint job to a good looking unfinished hull ever since I screwed up my first attempt at staining my New Bedford Whaleboat (MS). After that disaster I put it aside as a bad job until my wife urged me to sand it down and try again, which I did with advice from Chuck about progressively finer sanding and diluting the stains. Turned out OK. The airbrush was great for those interior bulwarks with all the stanchions - I didn't want to face that with a paintbrush and multiple coats. Went with the red hull as per the restoration rather than copper just because I prefer the look.
 
Obviously some things will need to be added (channels, catheads, etc.) but I'd rather touch up later.
 
Now on the the deck.
 
Not really totally happy with the white striping - I find it hard to do exactly enough to stand up to close inspections. Looks good from this distance though! The hardest thing is to balance desire to do best work (if not perfect!) and OCD tendencies, which modeling brings out in me.
 
Working now on the positions of all deck structures that require coamings so I can temporarily install the coamings before beginning the decking.
 
Will post some larger/closer pictures once the deck is in place.
Who knows when that will be?
Looking at these posts, I see that I've been intermittently puttering away on this for 11 months already.
 
This is turning into an expensive model - I've used up my holiday equity on a bunch of new equipment for the shipyard. I don't buy stuff till I need it, but my definition of need is a low bar and requires an understanding wife - which thankfully I have in spades.
 

So I've finally finished the planking and a rough sanding. Some work on filler for cracks, etc. yet to go.

No, I'm going to paint it so I think I'll just go with the single planking.
Speaking of which, here it is with provisional planking bands marked out with artist's tape.
Still adjusting, then will mark the lines on the bulkheads and remove the pins and tape.

Now on to hull planking

Well, it's been awhile.
Had an unfortunate accident in the shipyard (misplaced high velocity elbow) and crunched all the stanchions on one side, along with the rails and planksheer.
 
Put the mess aside for a while until replacement parts and patience returned.
I have now repaired the damage and planked the works above the first wale to give everything more rigidity.
Now ready to start the hull planking bands.
 
It looks OK - some variation in fit. I'm always hoping the next build will be perfect. Not yet.

Glyn:
I've had it upside down for some bulkhead faring. I also needed to know it would work in that position before building the hull superstructure since otherwise the top of the hull would have to rest directly on the working surface for planking and those structures would't last 2 minutes.
In this keel clamp the clamps can turn 90 degrees, so as long as there is space between the bulkheads and the midline structure (keelboard in this case) comes up to or near deck level the model can be securely clamped in the upside down position for planking.
I have fastened it to the work surface with 4 screws so it's rock solid, but can be rotated to almost any position and then locked securely.
This keel clamp is one of the most indespensible pieces of equipment I have! 4 stars.
Bruce

So I've started on a Charles W Morgan build, although somewhat intimidated by the speed and or quality of the currently documented construction projects for this ship.
This model is a stretch for me, given the amount of scratch building involved and the somewhat cryptic instructions of this older MS kit.
I got interested after building the New Bedford Whaleboat, and added this kit to my "to do" stack. Having finished Picket Boat #1 to my satisfaction, decided to defer the Phildelphia Gunboat and take on a more complicated project.
I'm not retired (yet) and have many professional demands on my time, so I end up working in fits and starts and when I need the "therapy".
I decided to go ahead and build the hull superstructure before planking to allow better access for clamps for the waterway, planksheer, rail and topgallant structure. That's where I am now (pictures below). The rail structure is a bit wavy viewed end on on one side, but overall I'm relatively pleased within the envelope of my skillset. I had a few disasters in terms of inadvertant breakage of thin pieces (mainly the main rail) after installation by a misplaced hand while working on another part, but managed to overcome that adequately. I still have to do some sanding on the main rail as the strip I used was a bit wider than the rail is supposed to be - that is evident in the pictures where the rail meets the laser-cut curved rail piece forwards.
Next I'll plank between the planksheer and the mail rail to reinforce that area, and then likely add the wale and plank between the planksheer and the top of the wale.
Then I'll go on to bands A-D
The build logs and galleries on this and other sites have been a great aid.
 
Bruce

I don't plan on double planking. I think I'd only do that if I were planning on staining rather than painting. This is the most complicated planking job I've done and I'm reasonably pleased with it. Only a few spots need filler and none are major - mostly small cracks where two planks didn't snuggle up just right for a short distance. I've gotten pretty handy with the proportional dividers and at spiling and tapering planks. A sanding drum on a Dremel in a fixed stand (I use a drill press attachment) works great to rough trim the planks to measurement lines, with sandpaper finishing to fit. Each plank is a project!
8+ months of intermittent work to get to this point.
Some trouble at the stem and bow because I didn't take enough trouble with the filler blocks - not enough smooth taper leading to bulges. Won't make that mistake again.
Trying to decide whether to paint inside and out before installing deck, after adding the stern fashion piece and trim pieces. I want to use my airbrush and the deck will be left natural and would be hard to mask effectively and accurately.
Still some time before I have to decide.