hamilton

And here she is with the first side plank fit, bristling like a porcupine......another plank tomorrow and (if I can get an hour) the last one on Saturday. Then on to doing some refining work on the garboard and planking the bottom. I'll add some rubbing strakes in line with the ribbands on the building molds and then she'll be ready to be flipped over and attention paid inboard - this will no doubt be the fastest model I have ever made! Though I may see if I can whip up a sailing rig for her despite lack of plans, details or any particular knowledge of how this might work practically on a boat such as this! Enjoy!
 
hamilton

Yeah Ron it was very hard to tolerate for a while, but I thought that if I could work out how to do it once I could do it again with this minor impediment.
 
And now for a small update on the OC Skiff. I've fit the garboard strakes now and am ready to move on to the remainder of the side planking after a bit more prep work is complete. I've already milled and tapered all the side planking (3/64" lime cut to 5" and tapered to 4" in a straight taper) but a few things need to be done to prep. The first strake above the garboard needs a slight chamfer along the back edge to make a tight joint with the garboard plank. Also - and this is contrary to all planking I've done on other models, the planks are wider at the stem than at the transom - the taper running back from fore to aft. It took me a while to figure this out as my instinct was to imagine that planks usually taper towards the bows. In any case, like the garboard, the planks will be installed over-long and trimmed/sanded down to fit.
 
In the end, the fitting of the garboard strake was very touchy, mostly because it is only fastened at the stem and transom. On one side I inserted brass nails to hold the plank in place (as you'll see in some of the photos - but this process soon appeared unnecessary, and I reverted to clamping the planks to the molds to hold the position.
I'll have to retain these clamps until the side planking is complete - removing them probably as I proceed through the bottom planking. This is to prevent the "drift" of the planking in the vertical dimension - though maybe this isn't necessary? Couldn't hurt I suppose...
 
Anyways, here are some photos of the garboard plank attached - side planking will proceed (slowly) over the coming days - probably going to do one strake each side every day - but since there are only three strakes it's not much bother!  Enjoy!
 
hamilton

Hi there:
 
I just realised that after almost 3 years (has it really been that long!!), I still haven't put an end to this build log and called it done.....this is for a few reasons, most obviously that in getting back into modelling again, I started juggling this build, the Corel Bellona and my scratch-built Bluenose. Now that Bluenose is done, and the Bellona is well underway, I realised that I still have some stuff to do with this little skiff.
 
I needed to re-do the stem piece, which was damaged for some unknown reason, complete the rudder and do some little details. I had considered earlier adapting her by adding a rig, but put that idea on the back burner until a couple of weeks ago, when I was looking through a book of small boat designs by Edwin Monk and came across the "Truant", whose rig I thought could work (at least aesthetically) with this skiff. It did mean that I would have to file a slot through the bottom of the boat/keel for a dagger board, but this was not too difficult to accomplish. The rigging arrangement and dagger board design were all taken from the Monk "Truant" design.
 
At this point, I've also made and added a main sail and jib, but I don't have photos of these. I just need to add a few rope coils at this point and she'll be done. Here are some photos prior to the addition of the sails - I should be done this one by the end of the week and will post some completion photos here and in the gallery when that's done. In the meantime, enjoy!
hamilton

Hi there:
 
I just realised that after almost 3 years (has it really been that long!!), I still haven't put an end to this build log and called it done.....this is for a few reasons, most obviously that in getting back into modelling again, I started juggling this build, the Corel Bellona and my scratch-built Bluenose. Now that Bluenose is done, and the Bellona is well underway, I realised that I still have some stuff to do with this little skiff.
 
I needed to re-do the stem piece, which was damaged for some unknown reason, complete the rudder and do some little details. I had considered earlier adapting her by adding a rig, but put that idea on the back burner until a couple of weeks ago, when I was looking through a book of small boat designs by Edwin Monk and came across the "Truant", whose rig I thought could work (at least aesthetically) with this skiff. It did mean that I would have to file a slot through the bottom of the boat/keel for a dagger board, but this was not too difficult to accomplish. The rigging arrangement and dagger board design were all taken from the Monk "Truant" design.
 
At this point, I've also made and added a main sail and jib, but I don't have photos of these. I just need to add a few rope coils at this point and she'll be done. Here are some photos prior to the addition of the sails - I should be done this one by the end of the week and will post some completion photos here and in the gallery when that's done. In the meantime, enjoy!
hamilton

Hi there:
 
I just realised that after almost 3 years (has it really been that long!!), I still haven't put an end to this build log and called it done.....this is for a few reasons, most obviously that in getting back into modelling again, I started juggling this build, the Corel Bellona and my scratch-built Bluenose. Now that Bluenose is done, and the Bellona is well underway, I realised that I still have some stuff to do with this little skiff.
 
I needed to re-do the stem piece, which was damaged for some unknown reason, complete the rudder and do some little details. I had considered earlier adapting her by adding a rig, but put that idea on the back burner until a couple of weeks ago, when I was looking through a book of small boat designs by Edwin Monk and came across the "Truant", whose rig I thought could work (at least aesthetically) with this skiff. It did mean that I would have to file a slot through the bottom of the boat/keel for a dagger board, but this was not too difficult to accomplish. The rigging arrangement and dagger board design were all taken from the Monk "Truant" design.
 
At this point, I've also made and added a main sail and jib, but I don't have photos of these. I just need to add a few rope coils at this point and she'll be done. Here are some photos prior to the addition of the sails - I should be done this one by the end of the week and will post some completion photos here and in the gallery when that's done. In the meantime, enjoy!
hamilton

As soon as I get the deck sanded again and oiled, it’s time to mount it so I can work on the deck on up.
 
I bought this board, then noticed it a sign board, not flat on the bottom. I’ll look at other models here and see if I should shop around for another board.
 
I have these brass stands, but they’re all the same size, so I bought a small wood piece to elevate the bow. But I don’t know, looks weird. So I got some wood mounts and I can cut one of them short. Then I have to drill a hole in them for the bolt that bolts the board to the keel.
 
I’ll try widening the gap in the wood ones to fit the keel. Then measure how much to cut off the stern stand. Then decide on another board..

Beautiful work on the sails John! 
hamilton

Beautiful work on the sails John! 
hamilton

Jib Sails…

Sewing on the Bolt Rope…

Attaching the Jib Tack…

Halyard Jib Head…

Sheet Lines Jib Clew…

Hanks made from .5mm Copper…


Blackened Copper Hanks…

Jib and Balloon Jib mounted…


Installing Hanks…

Curling Jibs with Fabric Stiffener…

Jumbo Jib with Bolt Rope…

50 more Hanks…

Jumbo Jib Mounted and lashed to the Boom. 

Jumbo Jib Halyard…

Jibs mounted, I will finish the jib running rigging before moving on to the Fore Sails. 
 
Cheers 🍻

I didn't use any of the kit-supplied planking except below the wales and I also didn't use those metal gunport frames, but framed out the gunports with scrapwood....sorry, it was so long ago I can't really remember........
 
Because of the flaws of this kit, I strongly recommend just going with whatever works rather than with the kit's recommendations - that's what I did about 75% of the time on this build. If you already have those gunports installed, then the main thing is that the general arrangement (1 strake above the gunports , 1 below and whatever works to fill the gap between) be maintained, and also that whatever material you use it should be of a consistent width - at 1:100 scale I would go for the 3mm planks myself - 4mm would look a little too wide, I think, for this vessel at this scale - those can be used for the lower hull planking.
hamilton

I didn't use any of the kit-supplied planking except below the wales and I also didn't use those metal gunport frames, but framed out the gunports with scrapwood....sorry, it was so long ago I can't really remember........
 
Because of the flaws of this kit, I strongly recommend just going with whatever works rather than with the kit's recommendations - that's what I did about 75% of the time on this build. If you already have those gunports installed, then the main thing is that the general arrangement (1 strake above the gunports , 1 below and whatever works to fill the gap between) be maintained, and also that whatever material you use it should be of a consistent width - at 1:100 scale I would go for the 3mm planks myself - 4mm would look a little too wide, I think, for this vessel at this scale - those can be used for the lower hull planking.
hamilton

I didn't use any of the kit-supplied planking except below the wales and I also didn't use those metal gunport frames, but framed out the gunports with scrapwood....sorry, it was so long ago I can't really remember........
 
Because of the flaws of this kit, I strongly recommend just going with whatever works rather than with the kit's recommendations - that's what I did about 75% of the time on this build. If you already have those gunports installed, then the main thing is that the general arrangement (1 strake above the gunports , 1 below and whatever works to fill the gap between) be maintained, and also that whatever material you use it should be of a consistent width - at 1:100 scale I would go for the 3mm planks myself - 4mm would look a little too wide, I think, for this vessel at this scale - those can be used for the lower hull planking.
hamilton

Thanks Nearshore! I feel like it's going better than it usually does, which isn't saying much, but still - I'm happy with these results so far. As we know, in ship modelling there's always more time for mistakes! Wish I had more time to work on the model, but such is life. I'm going to be heading into another really busy push at work starting mid-week, but in a couple of weeks I'll get a breather and hopefully find an hour here and there at the bench to make some progress.
hamilton

Looking good mate.
 
OC.

Thanks Nearshore! I feel like it's going better than it usually does, which isn't saying much, but still - I'm happy with these results so far. As we know, in ship modelling there's always more time for mistakes! Wish I had more time to work on the model, but such is life. I'm going to be heading into another really busy push at work starting mid-week, but in a couple of weeks I'll get a breather and hopefully find an hour here and there at the bench to make some progress.
hamilton

Hi Hamilton,
 
Your planking is looking great. I like the way you are going to present your ship, it will be much more colorful than mine. LOL You are doing a great job!!!
 
Nearshore

So it's been quite some time since my last contribution here. There has been very little time for modelling in the last few months, but since the last update, I've completed the bulwark planking except for the upper bulwarks in line with the f'csl, quarterdeck & poop deck; installed the false wales and main wales, and finished the outboard bulwarks (yellow ochre & black for the wales). I also did some work to correct the square tuck transom, which now that I've started the lower hull planking seems to have worked out ok - though this was a lot of nerve-wracking work with a rotary tool and a variety of sanding blocks.
 
In any case, the photos below document my start on the lower hull planking. At the deadflat, I measured 102cm. The material supplied in the kit is 4mm wide, which translated into 23 planks of 4mm width and 2 of 5mm (which I'll use for the garboard and the strake above it, which will be coppered over in any case).
 
There will be 5 bands - 3 of 5 strakes, 1 of 6 strakes at the bilges and a garboard band of 4 strakes. I have not lined off the hull completely, but am doing so band-by-band, starting with band "A" of 5 strakes immediately below the wales.
 
So far things have gone quite well. Anyone who has seen my previous builds will know that hull planking is not my forte! But so far I'm pleased with the results aesthetically, though in terms of period practice they do not entirely follow convention (or architectural sense). Since I'm under no pressure to keep anyone on the vessel safe or to protect the Admiralty's investment, I'm cool with that! Here are the photos - enjoy!
hamilton
 

So it's been quite some time since my last contribution here. There has been very little time for modelling in the last few months, but since the last update, I've completed the bulwark planking except for the upper bulwarks in line with the f'csl, quarterdeck & poop deck; installed the false wales and main wales, and finished the outboard bulwarks (yellow ochre & black for the wales). I also did some work to correct the square tuck transom, which now that I've started the lower hull planking seems to have worked out ok - though this was a lot of nerve-wracking work with a rotary tool and a variety of sanding blocks.
 
In any case, the photos below document my start on the lower hull planking. At the deadflat, I measured 102cm. The material supplied in the kit is 4mm wide, which translated into 23 planks of 4mm width and 2 of 5mm (which I'll use for the garboard and the strake above it, which will be coppered over in any case).
 
There will be 5 bands - 3 of 5 strakes, 1 of 6 strakes at the bilges and a garboard band of 4 strakes. I have not lined off the hull completely, but am doing so band-by-band, starting with band "A" of 5 strakes immediately below the wales.
 
So far things have gone quite well. Anyone who has seen my previous builds will know that hull planking is not my forte! But so far I'm pleased with the results aesthetically, though in terms of period practice they do not entirely follow convention (or architectural sense). Since I'm under no pressure to keep anyone on the vessel safe or to protect the Admiralty's investment, I'm cool with that! Here are the photos - enjoy!
hamilton
 

So it's been quite some time since my last contribution here. There has been very little time for modelling in the last few months, but since the last update, I've completed the bulwark planking except for the upper bulwarks in line with the f'csl, quarterdeck & poop deck; installed the false wales and main wales, and finished the outboard bulwarks (yellow ochre & black for the wales). I also did some work to correct the square tuck transom, which now that I've started the lower hull planking seems to have worked out ok - though this was a lot of nerve-wracking work with a rotary tool and a variety of sanding blocks.
 
In any case, the photos below document my start on the lower hull planking. At the deadflat, I measured 102cm. The material supplied in the kit is 4mm wide, which translated into 23 planks of 4mm width and 2 of 5mm (which I'll use for the garboard and the strake above it, which will be coppered over in any case).
 
There will be 5 bands - 3 of 5 strakes, 1 of 6 strakes at the bilges and a garboard band of 4 strakes. I have not lined off the hull completely, but am doing so band-by-band, starting with band "A" of 5 strakes immediately below the wales.
 
So far things have gone quite well. Anyone who has seen my previous builds will know that hull planking is not my forte! But so far I'm pleased with the results aesthetically, though in terms of period practice they do not entirely follow convention (or architectural sense). Since I'm under no pressure to keep anyone on the vessel safe or to protect the Admiralty's investment, I'm cool with that! Here are the photos - enjoy!
hamilton
 

Really impressive metal work Gregg! 
hamilton

Continuing on.
 
I'm going to try using clay to stand in for the hammocks.   My plan is to wet the Silkspan, and wrap the clay.   Hopefully when it dries it will shrink a little and take on the bumps in the clay.  We shall see.
 
First test is to size the clay filler, and determine the right width to cut the Silkspan--

 
I folded this piece over the clay, and held the ends down just to try and get some idea how it will work, and look.  It hasn't been wetted, and it's also the thicker Silkpan, which I don't intend to use.  But I can waste it to test, and determine the width piece that I need.  I think I can trim 1/4 inch of the width of this piece--

 
I'm also ready to start locating the end caps and cranes on the cap rail.  After epoxying a pin in each end cap, I located them on the ship, drilled holes and dry fit them--

 
Incidentally, I ended up narrowing each cap a bit.  These looked okay in place, so I drilled more holes in the cap rail and tested the 7 aft starboard hammock cranes in place--
   
I discovered that some of the blackening on the cranes had either not taken, or had flaked off, so they will need to be re-blackened.   I also see that the end caps need some adjustment of the top curve.  The two at the entry steps are not uniform.  When I narrowed the end caps I also adjusted the angle/curve of the tops, and apparently I "fixed" some more than others.  The angles on the iron cranes will need fine tuning as well, once they are glued on.


 
All for now.
Ron
 
 

Hi Collingwood - that's how the Blandford is represented in Goodwin's book - and also how I finished my variation on the Greyhound kit...I used a mixture of Golden Oak and Natural stain (minwax) to obtain the finish on the outboard bulwarks.
hamilton

I always start hull planking at deck level - the top edge of the first plank you lay should be flush with the upper surface of the deck planking. Then I usually plank the bulwarks, and then line off and plank the lower hull. 
hamilton

I always start hull planking at deck level - the top edge of the first plank you lay should be flush with the upper surface of the deck planking. Then I usually plank the bulwarks, and then line off and plank the lower hull. 
hamilton

I had no trouble completing all deck planking with the material provided - albeit, by the time I built this model I had a significant pile of leftover material (including dimensions needed for this deck planking) so I can't recall if all of the deck planking came out of the Greyhound box. 
 
My advice - though maybe it's dumb or at least really cumbersome - is that you take a total measure of all the woodstrips provided by
Corel for deck planking and then get rough width and length measurements of the sub-decks. There tends to be less attrition of wood in deck planking compared with hull planking so if the numbers are close (but not over on the sub-deck side) then you should be ok - even a rough go at this will give you a decent impression. 
 
I'm envious of your progress - I have not been able to get a day at the bench in over two months due to work and family stuff - and now work is getting to its busiest time for the next few weeks - I have a couple of weeks of quiet at the end of April, so hopefully then I'll finally be able to get some time at the bench! For now, I'll enjoy yours!
hamilton