BlockPlane

Looks like your off to a nice start. 
Would be nice to know a little more about the model .

Chris,
Off to a great start.  If you haven't done so, use the search feature for Bonhomme Richard.  There's been at least one other build of her by Jeronimo.  Plus discussions on the wreck being found,    My bad... there's another one by Jerry Greening.    These might help you.
 
I do have the monograph also and it's on my bucket list.  

I started this built sometime ago. Given the scope and difficulty, I decided to focus on deciphering the plans and determining a comfortable plan of attack before starting a build log. 
  I’m presently building and installing frames.  At first I didn’t trust the lines and found myself leaving things proud to give myself a little room to work with. A good idea initially, but means substantial amount of sanding later on. Patience......
Some pictures to bring things up to date. 

I started this built sometime ago. Given the scope and difficulty, I decided to focus on deciphering the plans and determining a comfortable plan of attack before starting a build log. 
  I’m presently building and installing frames.  At first I didn’t trust the lines and found myself leaving things proud to give myself a little room to work with. A good idea initially, but means substantial amount of sanding later on. Patience......
Some pictures to bring things up to date. 

I started this built sometime ago. Given the scope and difficulty, I decided to focus on deciphering the plans and determining a comfortable plan of attack before starting a build log. 
  I’m presently building and installing frames.  At first I didn’t trust the lines and found myself leaving things proud to give myself a little room to work with. A good idea initially, but means substantial amount of sanding later on. Patience......
Some pictures to bring things up to date. 

I started this built sometime ago. Given the scope and difficulty, I decided to focus on deciphering the plans and determining a comfortable plan of attack before starting a build log. 
  I’m presently building and installing frames.  At first I didn’t trust the lines and found myself leaving things proud to give myself a little room to work with. A good idea initially, but means substantial amount of sanding later on. Patience......
Some pictures to bring things up to date. 

I started this built sometime ago. Given the scope and difficulty, I decided to focus on deciphering the plans and determining a comfortable plan of attack before starting a build log. 
  I’m presently building and installing frames.  At first I didn’t trust the lines and found myself leaving things proud to give myself a little room to work with. A good idea initially, but means substantial amount of sanding later on. Patience......
Some pictures to bring things up to date. 

I started this built sometime ago. Given the scope and difficulty, I decided to focus on deciphering the plans and determining a comfortable plan of attack before starting a build log. 
  I’m presently building and installing frames.  At first I didn’t trust the lines and found myself leaving things proud to give myself a little room to work with. A good idea initially, but means substantial amount of sanding later on. Patience......
Some pictures to bring things up to date. 

Thanks Keith
 
Lining OFF
Beginning the sawdust phase, I cut the bulkheads out with my scroll saw leaving the piece large (cutting to the outside of the template line.)  I do this because I have no skill with the saw and cannot keep to a line.  I then use a bench top disc sander and work back to the template outline.  This works great with the convex edge and I use a Dremel sanding drum for the inside curves.
 
I glue these forms to the platform base and attach the keel/stem.  Before the keel went on, I cut a rabbet on the stem.
 

 
Using a batten to see how the bulkheads faired, I found a problem.  Station #8 was too small and #7 was ridiculously too large.  Looking back at the body plan it’s hard to see how I missed it.  But, that’s the point of going through the fairing up process.  So, I built up #8 and went after #7 with a file.
 

 
Based on photos and drawings, the planking widths for this vessel seem to vary in the 5” to 7” range.  I have a stash of stripwood that scales to approximately 6.5” wide x 1.75” thick so decided to use those.  Because station #7 has the longest edge length of any bulkhead, it will be the location where the planks are at there full width.  From here they taper to the stem and taper back to the stern.  It will require 23 courses of planks per side.
 
There will be 4 belts per side of 6 planks each.  Belt #1 beginning at the keel will have only 5.  From station #7 back to the stern, 4 planks are lost in belt #1.
 
I measure the length of each station edge and check it against what my CAD drawing says it should be.  Knowing how many planks will be required, I generate the following plank width tick mark strips for each bulkhead edge.
 
  
 
The width of the planks at the bow is just under 5.25” which satisfies the “not less than half” plank width guideline.  No steelers or drops are needed.
 
The strip marks are temporarily taped on the bulkheads and a batten strip is used to get a general sense of the curve following the tick marks.
 

 
Happy with the way it looked, I transferred the tick marks to the stations with pencil and temporarily attached thread at each belt as a final check to see how the plank courses run.  After a few minor modifications, I was ready to start planking. 
 

 
Planking
The coloring and weathering the model will receive will not only reveal but also accentuate the planking on the hull, so I won’t be using any filler or putty.  On a previous model, I planked the hull somewhat haphazardly, knowing that I was going to slather Bondo on it and sand it smooth.  I’m happy with the way the model came out, but it would have been more realistic with the planks showing through the paint.
 

 
I set up a little jig to hold the stripwood firmly in place as I slice the taper into it - then sand to fit

I begin planking at the keel with the garboard and lay on two belts of planks on one side.  Each course is tapered on the upper edge of the planks so that each successive course starts with a straight edge.
 
Each course of planks is made from a single strip of wood.  After it is tapered and test fit, it is then cut to simulate the butt ends of two individual boards.  The joints are reinforced on the reverse side. 
 
Two more belts are added to the other side.

 

 
Then the last 4 belts are added minus the top three courses.
 


 
At this point, I cut the hull from the platform.
 

 

 
The next course of planking requires the scuppers.
 

 
Finally, I sand the hull and finish it off with a soft brass wire brush.  The wire brush removes the sanding shine and any cross grain scratches and in general sort of unifies the look.  It will also help with the weathering later on.
 
These final photos were taken in full direct sunlight in hopes that the effect of the wire brush can be seen.  A few final licks with 800 grit paper will take the remaining wood fuzz off. 
 

 

 
This post brings me up to date in real time on this model.  
 
Thanks for taking a look.
 
Gary
 
 

Here is the finished boat, with a few more details. I really can recommend Gérard Delacroix's plans, and I hope to motivate a few of you to buy them and build your own.
Cheers, Gregor.
 





 

 

The interior, part two:








To be continued soon...

Wow, 2 months since my last post. My only excuse, is that the snow has melted and there is a lot of other things to do. With that said, I found myself finishing the small cannons, placing the boat in its case and that's where it has been ever since. Since placing it in the case, it hasn't called to me to make the oars or masts etc. So, that's it.  
Finished. 
 
Thanks for the support, all the great information and guidance. 

Wow, 2 months since my last post. My only excuse, is that the snow has melted and there is a lot of other things to do. With that said, I found myself finishing the small cannons, placing the boat in its case and that's where it has been ever since. Since placing it in the case, it hasn't called to me to make the oars or masts etc. So, that's it.  
Finished. 
 
Thanks for the support, all the great information and guidance. 

Wow, 2 months since my last post. My only excuse, is that the snow has melted and there is a lot of other things to do. With that said, I found myself finishing the small cannons, placing the boat in its case and that's where it has been ever since. Since placing it in the case, it hasn't called to me to make the oars or masts etc. So, that's it.  
Finished. 
 
Thanks for the support, all the great information and guidance. 

The main canon is in place and fully rigged. I also built the cradle that the boat will sit in. I initially did some reach to find an image of a period correct cradle, but in the end, I just designed my own. 
     Yesterday, i turned the four small 1lb. canons.  They came out ok. Turning pieces that small on a full size lathe and getting all the canons to look identical is a challenge. 
Practice makes perfect. 
 
Chris 

This isn't the best picture, but it shows two pieces of brass wired together to create the non-operational hinges.





Making the supports that go under the Thwarts.

Thank you, for all the kind words and "Likes". I've decided that building a wooden boat from scratch is similar to a game of chess. Planning ones move as far out as possible is key. With that said, i would love some recommendations on how to blacken brass.
 
Thanks,
Chris

Initially, my "go big or go home" way of thinking was pushing me towards a big beautiful 3 decker with an extensive built log to go with it. Fortunately, while living in this dream world I realized I didn't want to be one of those guys that starts a build and never finishes it. So instead of cutting teeth on a ship, I decide that building a boat was a more appropriate place to start. With that said, I decided on Chaloupe Armee En Guerre 1834 otherwise known as a Longboat Built For War. I purchased the plans from Ancre. They are well done and are accompanied by a 40 page method of construction booklet.
Here I am, many months in to the build and I have decided it's time to create the build log. I Initially decided to wait on the build log until I was sure I was capable of finishing. Over the next few days I will post pictures etc..until I am caught up.
 
Thanks to all for creating a great site to hangout in.
 
 

 
 

 
 

Shaping the mold was my first challenge. Getting it right proved to be a daunting task. The picture below shows where I got a little carried away and had to add some filler to bring it back to where it needed to be.
 



At this point I should say that I'm using Cherry to build this boat. I was able to bend the frame members by soaking them in alcohol (Gin) for a couple of minutes. For the most part, it was a pretty straight forward process. Attention to grain direction was important to getting a splinter free bend.


For bends that needed a little extra help, I made this make shift bending iron.
FYI, these photos seem to be a little compressed, I will try to work on that.

Great job!  I really like the case and presentation there.

Agreed!
Steve

Hey howya goin Chris mate, she looks great mate well done.    

Thought you'd drowned on her maiden trip!!! Good to see her finished. Like the case, shows her off nicely
CHeers

Wow, 2 months since my last post. My only excuse, is that the snow has melted and there is a lot of other things to do. With that said, I found myself finishing the small cannons, placing the boat in its case and that's where it has been ever since. Since placing it in the case, it hasn't called to me to make the oars or masts etc. So, that's it.  
Finished. 
 
Thanks for the support, all the great information and guidance. 

Wow, 2 months since my last post. My only excuse, is that the snow has melted and there is a lot of other things to do. With that said, I found myself finishing the small cannons, placing the boat in its case and that's where it has been ever since. Since placing it in the case, it hasn't called to me to make the oars or masts etc. So, that's it.  
Finished. 
 
Thanks for the support, all the great information and guidance. 

Wow, 2 months since my last post. My only excuse, is that the snow has melted and there is a lot of other things to do. With that said, I found myself finishing the small cannons, placing the boat in its case and that's where it has been ever since. Since placing it in the case, it hasn't called to me to make the oars or masts etc. So, that's it.  
Finished. 
 
Thanks for the support, all the great information and guidance.