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rwiederrich

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Everything posted by rwiederrich

  1. rwiederrich
    Today..I spent an hour (before work) laying more starboard planking...I finished the bow and cutwater and working my way amidships, I had to make a repair where the plank fractured. Apparently the wood at that point had a defect and could not stand the strain of bending along the extreme curves. No problem...I simply cut out the defect and patched in a new piece. I have to do some more work on the section were the spar deck and hull meet aft of the midsection...not to mention the finality of the elliptical stern. So I'm getting there...I plan on doing a bit more planking after work...Oh at about 1:00 in the morning when I get off work. No pics for this last session....no time to edit them and post them. Pics will return tomorrow. Rob
  2. rwiederrich
    Thanks for your responce Roger. No I didn't have to steam the planks.....the wood is very pliable and it bends very nicely...that is why I use 1/16" to 1/32" material. I do have to cut radiouses to make the curves easier..but that is it. Now I had to wet the aft sections to make the curve around the stern..that is all. I kept this wood for this very purpose from my doll house manufacturing days...the wood was actually too thin and was throw away. Rob
  3. rwiederrich
    Some last images before I have to wait till tomorrow. The hull is really shaping up..though I do admit my approach is all but typical and can be viewed as sloppy...crude even lunacy.... However, I'm only after the finished look...not how I got there. Once the hull is finished at this stage I will take it to the other shop and begin the fine detail on the hull. Rob
  4. rwiederrich
    The staining of the wood gives it a weird look...but the hull is pretty finely sanded...some fill will be applied as well.
  5. rwiederrich
    I'll be painting and coppering. Here is some images of the starboard side being planked.
  6. rwiederrich
    One on her side showing the smooth hull transitions. I should be done with this side by tomorrow and then onto the other. I'm *Clipping* along with 12 hours invested in this build currently. I hope I can keep up the pace. I tend to work in spurts..due to my work schedule. 2~3 hours on the hull planking this side...so I hope it pans out for the other side as well. Rob
  7. rwiederrich
    This image shows the contours of the aft exit. Pinning down the wood.
  8. rwiederrich
    Well the Great Republic was a wood hulled vessel popeye.....I've yet to determine if I want to add a second layer of planking. This planking is 1/16"..amply strong for the build. Plus it will make the seams at the cutwater and exits appear bulky. On the other hand some builders apply a second layer of planks over a sublayer to create the final finished look...if they are using colored woods for detail and or paint simulation. My GR will be painted black. However..the main deck will be replanked to provide the individual planking for the spar deck. I did some pore planking. Note: the darker discolored areas are staining on the wood...I've had them for some time and they traveled from here to Europe and back. The hull is contouring very well. Rob
  9. rwiederrich
    Back in the 80's I worked in a doll house factory in Oregon..so I have lots of great cut scale wood ..and boxes of oak and mahogany veneer. Plus I mill my own maple. I'm almost done with one side..pics tomorrow. Rob
  10. rwiederrich
    Today I'm spending time planking the hull. I',m using be milled clear white pine..that is nearly a veneer...at 1/16" . I can contour it very easily around the bulkheads to form nicely the hull. Here are a few images.
  11. rwiederrich
    Yeah.....it looks that way..heehee All of that over hang will be removed. Rob
  12. rwiederrich
    Well....I've cut the pre or false deck and glued the sections on. It may appear out of sorts but when dry I will trim the edges and ends and sand the curved deck smooth. I over extend the decking so I can trim it back nice and flush...controlling the contours This sub-deck is needed to give the deck a solid base to be built upon...similarly to the sub planking laid down before the final layer of finished planking is laid. I think I'm done for the day..I spent over 10 hours in the shop today...plus the deck needs to dry..... Thanks for looking in. Rob
  13. rwiederrich
    Indeed. Her sharp extreme clipper lines are very clear. One thing that is very nice about this ship(from a builders perspective) is there are no bulwarks. Crothers provides a nice depiction. Rob
  14. rwiederrich
    Well I finished all the frame work and the hard pine aft...now I'll let everything dry and then I'll begin sanding/chamfering the bulkheads..preparing them for planking. Rob
  15. rwiederrich
    Done cutting all the rest of the major bulkheads...now I will glue them into place and then cut and install the bulkhead spacers that will give strength to the framing. No pics right now my battery is dead and is being charged........ Rob
  16. rwiederrich
    Of course...I'll chamfer each bulkhead after they are all glued and set. Back to work. Rob
  17. rwiederrich
    Thanks Ed. I changed my mind and decided to go with a firm keel..so I cut out some maple(from a tree I cut down in the yard) into full length..plained it to 1/8" and cut out the recess grooves for each bulkhead.... Here are some pics of the forward bulkheads mounted (test fit)
  18. rwiederrich
    Bandsaw......much faster and with a steady hand//good results. Rob
  19. rwiederrich
    Yeah.....cutting my own bulkheads..initially worried me...because I was relying heavily upon the drawings I collected(that's the thing about research). Kits these days provide you with such nicely laser-cut parts...projecting from the start a clean foundation from where one can either improve or detract from. I like scratch building because it provides ample levity to go in any direction that your building style or skill leads you. Rob(And we're off)
  20. rwiederrich
    Just a construction note to inform my MSW friends. I tend to be less concerned about attention to detail..were that the detail is not going to be visibly accessible. I don't pay attention to the sanding of inside edges of bulkheads...or wiping away internal glue drips. I do pay attention to proper bulkhead dressing and beveling..so that the planking will not express errors initiated by them. If I were a purist at heart..these details, each in their turn would be a priority. My goal is a sound structure...with pleasant and correct lines...that I will paint. Please have patience as I bull my way through this initial construction process. Tomorrow is a new day and I hope to get the remaining bulkheads cut out and the blocking cut and the beginning (at least) of the framing assembly begun. When I work..I tend to move quickly...when I'm idle....the pond tends to freeze over. Rob
  21. rwiederrich
    Today I glued the aft templates to plywood and cut the forward templet plywood bulkheads out. I'll return to the job tomorrow.
  22. rwiederrich
    Thanks everyone...tomorrow(I'm at work)...I'll finish gluing the temples down and begin cutting out the dried ones. After much thought..I've decided to cut out bulkhead spacers to be placed between each bulkhead at the proper distance as identified on the scale drawings. these will provide ample strength and allow each bulkhead to be glued/nailed in proper position. Making the framing process go quite fast. I will then draw and cut out the keel and cutwater from the plans and add them to the framing. Not sure what will cut faster the band saw or the scroll saw..... Not your typical POB designed construction...but I shy away from typical. Rob
  23. rwiederrich
    Glued the template down on the plywood..... Getting started. Half to go. Rob
  24. rwiederrich
    Thanks Nils...I'm heading out to the garage to glue the templates to the plywood..getting ready to cut out bulkheads. Rob
  25. rwiederrich
    For informational purposes it is worth repeating; A strong discrepancy was found on the McCann plan(And I've seen models built from this plan which first alerted me to this issue) The Doubling for each mast at the Fore/Main/Mizzen mast at the attachment to the Fore/Main/Mizzen topmast is backward. Placing the topmast to the rear of the doubling. The doubling on the GR was exceptionally lengthy, accommodating the Forbes topsail design which slid up and down its length. Study has revealed the doubling error was most likely not designed, since definitive evidence is clear from first hand account etchings. Secondly, study of other reputable builders models can be an aid....such as Greg McKay of New Mexico who's splendid example of the GR mimics the evidence I have uncovered. Second error found, absent on several noted models, along with respected author and historian Crothers have omitted the fifth deck house aft of the mizzen mast...which master model maker Donald McNarry included on his fabulous model of her. It is also mentioned in Richard McKay's book on the subject of McKay's clippers. From what I gather, there were five deck houses in addition to the helm house. Among the masting errors I have noticed....the original description of the GR as described by eye witnesses is that she had a flying jib boom accompanying her jib boom....much in the same manner as McKay built the Lightning. In short, it appears there is much to allow for ample artistic license as far as her sparing and rigging is concerned. This will permit me satisfaction when she is complete.....knowing that her original build will be less recognizable then the latter. Rob

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