CPDDET

Welcome!

Welcome! Anytime is a good time to resume work on a model. You may find putting aside a project for a short or extended time is more common than you think. I sometimes go for weeks without getting anything done in the shipyard. I find forcing myself to work on my model usually ends up in inferior workman ship. Better for me to wait until I'm really ready and looking forward to the task.

Welcome, you've come to the right place for help in learning.

Welcome Chuck! Trust me, no matter what level anyone here is at we are all learning from each other. Doing is learning.

Well, it’s been quite some time since my last update, but I’m fully recovered from surgery now, Christmas décor is up, lawn is put away for the winter and snow blower is ready to go. As mentioned in my previous post, I've decided not to do the entire masts so I can save some money on the display case. The main and foremast will be cut short allowing me to purchase a much shorter case for the model. I’m really limited for display space. I now have a good start of both the main mast and foremast. Poplar isn’t the best wood to work with as it fuzzes up a lot like basswood. But at this stage of my experience I wanted to use what I have on hand. I will be moving on to better woods on future models. I started with a ½ inch poplar dowel rod for each, about 5 inches long. I turned these on the lathe. I used a shaping tool to get the slight taper on the lower band which will sit on the desk. Then used a cut off tool to make the grove in the upper band Then mounted the piece in the mill to form the tendon which will fit into the block below deck that was installed when building the hull. Here is the main mast (on the left) and the foremast (on the right) For the supports blocks I cut a piece of cherry into a 2 mm X 2 mm square and then used a scraper to make the shape I wanted. The cherry is much easier to work with and will add some detail highlights to the model. My bluenose is quite a mixture of woods, shiny brass and blackened brass, but I've already succumbed to the fact that this build is more of a learning process than anything else. My next build will be more uniform. Cutting the length of cherry into individual pieces was accomplished by using an X-ACTO blade to mark the cut and then using my jewelers saw to complete the cut. After trying a razor saw and an X-ACTO saw blade, I found the jewelers saw made the cleanest cut. Using Titebond Quick and Thick, I glued the support blocks (corbels?) into place on both the main mast and foremast. Still have to do the metal bands as well as the “galvanized metal” on the main mast. But first will finish both masts with amber shellac first. Moving along…….

Welcome!

Welcome, and best of luck!

Welcome aboard! Some fine work there on your model.

White glue, yellow glue, epoxy, CA They all have their place when used in the correct application. But never Gorilla Glue. At least for me.

Welcome! You will find all the help you will ever need here. Starting with the Model Shipways series is a great way to go, I wish I had done it. You may also want to consider the half hull model offered by the Nautical Resaerch Guild to get a good grasp of hull planking.

To paint or not to paint. That is the question, at least for me. I struggle with deciding which way to go. I love the look of wood but paint is needed if one wants realism. But it is my model and i should follow the path that leads to a finished product I enjoy viewing. So I imagine my next model will be wood. Using different species to add depth and interest.

This is exactly what I was referring to. If I had to start over I would have done the half hull kit and then the next three before taking on a large project.

You might want to start with something basic, like the half hull model sold through the Nautical Research Guild. This kit will teach you proper hull planking techniques. There is also a series of 3 models. This series starts basic and builds into more challenging work as you proceed. Dave

Beautiful detail work there!

Thanks, Todd. Just trying to get re-started. Life gets in the way sometimes.

Carry on, Tim. The planking gets easier, the more you do. Dave

Beautiful, just beautiful!

Welcome Steve, from a former Great Lakes sailor. Tartan makes a beautiful boat. I had a S2 9.2 myself. Starting a build log is a great idea, as as viewing the build logof others. Take your time, you will find this group a great resource so don't hesitate to ask questions.

Here is a further explanation of my question. I have decided to make this lower section of the mast out of a single piece of wood on the lathe. The cut at the top needs to be wrapped with a brass band. I can grind a HSS blank to make a tool for this without too much trouble. Its the lower marked shaping I'm struggling with a bit. This is about 1/8 inch convex shape. I doubt I can grind accurately enough to make this tool and thought that If I made it from brass, I could use an end mill on the mill to cut it. I really dont want to try milling a piece of HSS. McMaster-Carr does make a tool for this is sizes from 1/32 and up as pictured below. But the cost for a single 1/4 inch shank tool is around $35.00. I'm assuming the size of the tool is measured by the distance between the red lines I have drawn. Please correct me if I'm wrong. I hope this clarifies things a bit. Dave

Is anyone out there grinding their own HHS lathe tools? I need to do some precision lathe work on wood. I have been using HSS lathe bits purchased online and even ground a few of my own. I'm wondering if I could grind or even mill 1/8 - 1/4 inch brass square bar stock and use that to shape wood rather than using HSS. The brass would be much easier to shape on the grinder or mill and I'm thinking the brass edge would be sharp enough to use on wood. The project requires a small round over edge as well as a very narrow groove. Thoughts? Dave

Looks like your moving right along. I recall ripping out about 1/3 of my hull planking and starting over because I wasn't happy with it. So don't feel too bad, it's a process, not an event. Dave

Welcome back, Dan!

The main mast on my Bluenose requires a "galvanized sheet metal" wrap. I have some thin aluminum but how to make it look galvanized? Any tips or clues would be appreciated. Dave

Looking very good! Carry on