Derek C

I would suggest you buy a kit from a manufacturer that is known for good instructions and prints the Chinese ripoff’s are neither good quality nor good instructions, and they steal the product from good legitimate company’s. Look at some of our sponsors they have great kits available with quality and ease of instructions and I have seen first hand they back there products. Do yourself a favor and trash that kit or send it back.
 

After sanding for a bit I got up enough confidence to assemble the frames to the keel. Now I wait for them to dry .Then I can pull out the spacers and tack in some temporary stiffeners to fair the inside and out .Everything is square and true right now I hope it stays that way once all the clamps and bands are removed. 🤞🏻
 
We shall see what tomorrow brings 

Derek

After sanding for a bit I got up enough confidence to assemble the frames to the keel. Now I wait for them to dry .Then I can pull out the spacers and tack in some temporary stiffeners to fair the inside and out .Everything is square and true right now I hope it stays that way once all the clamps and bands are removed. 🤞🏻
 
We shall see what tomorrow brings 

Derek

The repair on the frame feels strong , I will do a bit more sanding to it then take care of any cosmetics if needed.
 
i also worked on another cannon barrel using same technique as  used on the first barrel, I still need to make wheels for the second carriage and finish fitting them with hardware for rigging.
 
I will continue to play with my frames , sanding , cleaning,and dry fitting them today in hopes to get them assembled next week.

 
Derek
 

Looking good Tom 

Well, its official......the holidays are here!!!! 
Dear Santa, All I want for Christmas this year is Bluejackets kit Bowdoin. I've been real good this year.......mostly!
 
Something about a huge Thanksgiving dinner.
Sure, you take a nap......I wake up, have another piece of pie and head to the Shipyard with a large glass of a good beer...icy cold!
Actually, there were several cold ones!
At one point, the Admiral checked in on me as she hadn't heard from me in a while. She hadn't heard from anyone!
 
Anywho......
 
Since my rail is in and staying, I installed the chock rail.
It was easy enough. With some shaping will look better. 
I hesitated drilling any holes in the front for rigging as there seems to be no set amount, none that I can find.
In the plans, in build logs, in the finished albums, I've seen anywhere between 4 to 6 holes. 
 
 

 
 

 
 
I next installed the first of two 3/64 x 3/32 planks running the entire length of the ship.
This was flush with the gunport openings the entire length.
 

 
This went in fairly easy.
With some coaxing and really strong glue.....it sits well. 
 
Then it dawned on me, I officially have the very first plank attached to my frame!!!!!
Huzzah! 
 

 
I left enough of a tail at the end so when its time to do the stern, I've got extra to play with.
These originally were longer.
But the old sweatshirt around the boat and the sleeve grabbing the strip had me shorten them before any major mishaps!
 

 
Tom E
 

After sanding for a bit I got up enough confidence to assemble the frames to the keel. Now I wait for them to dry .Then I can pull out the spacers and tack in some temporary stiffeners to fair the inside and out .Everything is square and true right now I hope it stays that way once all the clamps and bands are removed. 🤞🏻
 
We shall see what tomorrow brings 

Derek

After sanding for a bit I got up enough confidence to assemble the frames to the keel. Now I wait for them to dry .Then I can pull out the spacers and tack in some temporary stiffeners to fair the inside and out .Everything is square and true right now I hope it stays that way once all the clamps and bands are removed. 🤞🏻
 
We shall see what tomorrow brings 

Derek

After sanding for a bit I got up enough confidence to assemble the frames to the keel. Now I wait for them to dry .Then I can pull out the spacers and tack in some temporary stiffeners to fair the inside and out .Everything is square and true right now I hope it stays that way once all the clamps and bands are removed. 🤞🏻
 
We shall see what tomorrow brings 

Derek

I have had zero luck with Wood Project Source and Lumberyard. I ordered Ocooch and I am happy with their product. Woodcraft should be a good source for woods used commonly for building boxes and furniture. Rockler also has wood available.  I am having problems getting a hold of Costello Boxwood and Holly. I am going to drive over to Edensaw next week and see if the have any Holly. I’ll have to mill it myself but at least I’ll have it. 

The repair on the frame feels strong , I will do a bit more sanding to it then take care of any cosmetics if needed.
 
i also worked on another cannon barrel using same technique as  used on the first barrel, I still need to make wheels for the second carriage and finish fitting them with hardware for rigging.
 
I will continue to play with my frames , sanding , cleaning,and dry fitting them today in hopes to get them assembled next week.

 
Derek
 

I was moving right along today sanding the frames with 80 grit to get close to the final shape I only had a couple more to go when I decided to get a refill on my coffee.stood up ,grabbed my cup and slung #5 frame across the room . Apparently it had hooked the cup 🤨.
 
so to fix it .I drilled holes in the center of each of the frame pieces,using a #72 bit.

 
i then cut two pieces of wire 3/4 of a inch in length ,and inserted them with glue into the holes of one piece then filled holes of other pieces with glue.
 
then in I assembled the pieces and set on a flat surface to dry.

 
tomorrow I will sand and see if it will hold up or if i need to cut and assemble a new frame.i feel pretty confident in the repair.
 
Here is a pic of the ones that are ready to get rubbed with 220 grit paper before assembly begins .
 
i will post a pic of the repaired frame tomorrow to show how it came out whether it’s good, bad, or ugly lol
Thanks for looking in .👋🏻
 
Derek

Happy Thanksgiving fellow MSW Members 
Just a little update on my progress. I am still gluing frames together as I sit here smelling all the good things cooking in the kitchen . I had planned on finishing the gluing today but I fear once I eat the gluing will stop and the napping will proceed.

 
Thanks for looking in.
Derek

Wow that looks really clean . Beautiful work G.L.

I use exacto but I like the idea of surgical. I will purchase these next time . Thanks Clifford
 
Derek

And greetings from Belgium.
 
 

Ship-it,
 
I split off your last post and moved it to the kit build logs forum. Good luck with your build!

The repair on the frame feels strong , I will do a bit more sanding to it then take care of any cosmetics if needed.
 
i also worked on another cannon barrel using same technique as  used on the first barrel, I still need to make wheels for the second carriage and finish fitting them with hardware for rigging.
 
I will continue to play with my frames , sanding , cleaning,and dry fitting them today in hopes to get them assembled next week.

 
Derek
 

Nice recovery on the frame.

Don't get discouraged.  It's a learning curve and sometimes, especially when starting out, it seems to be very steep.  Keep the log updated as you'll get questions answered, help, and meet some good people.

I was moving right along today sanding the frames with 80 grit to get close to the final shape I only had a couple more to go when I decided to get a refill on my coffee.stood up ,grabbed my cup and slung #5 frame across the room . Apparently it had hooked the cup 🤨.
 
so to fix it .I drilled holes in the center of each of the frame pieces,using a #72 bit.

 
i then cut two pieces of wire 3/4 of a inch in length ,and inserted them with glue into the holes of one piece then filled holes of other pieces with glue.
 
then in I assembled the pieces and set on a flat surface to dry.

 
tomorrow I will sand and see if it will hold up or if i need to cut and assemble a new frame.i feel pretty confident in the repair.
 
Here is a pic of the ones that are ready to get rubbed with 220 grit paper before assembly begins .
 
i will post a pic of the repaired frame tomorrow to show how it came out whether it’s good, bad, or ugly lol
Thanks for looking in .👋🏻
 
Derek

I was moving right along today sanding the frames with 80 grit to get close to the final shape I only had a couple more to go when I decided to get a refill on my coffee.stood up ,grabbed my cup and slung #5 frame across the room . Apparently it had hooked the cup 🤨.
 
so to fix it .I drilled holes in the center of each of the frame pieces,using a #72 bit.

 
i then cut two pieces of wire 3/4 of a inch in length ,and inserted them with glue into the holes of one piece then filled holes of other pieces with glue.
 
then in I assembled the pieces and set on a flat surface to dry.

 
tomorrow I will sand and see if it will hold up or if i need to cut and assemble a new frame.i feel pretty confident in the repair.
 
Here is a pic of the ones that are ready to get rubbed with 220 grit paper before assembly begins .
 
i will post a pic of the repaired frame tomorrow to show how it came out whether it’s good, bad, or ugly lol
Thanks for looking in .👋🏻
 
Derek

Hello, y'all!
 
I'm retired now and I figured model ship building would be a great hobby. After poking around some, I joined this community earlier this week and have been exploring the site's layout, content, and software features (as in, for example, "Oh crap! How do I delete that post?").
 
I look forward to learning a lot, developing new skills, and then having something to show for it! (versus, say, General Relativity: "Yippee! I finally understand his theory!!" "That's nice dear. Does this mean you'll be warping some space soon?"). And hopefully I'll be able to give something back to MSW that's worthwhile, too.
 

Switched to scalpel blades for cutting based on multiple advices on MSW, and never look back.
Though Excel blade #10 is just perfect for scraping! Just the right profile and stiffness. Lasts forever for scraping, no nicks. I have a feeling that after scraping in one direction there is a burr on the edge of the blade - then you just scrape in another direction and it works great  Alternating directions also moves the burr from one side to another.