iMustBeCrazy

Allan, something like this seems the norm: https://www.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/rmgc-object-67278 https://www.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/rmgc-object-68522 https://www.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/rmgc-object-248094 Shrouds seem optional?

I would hardly say that. There is also a later note: "Sailmakers mending the Awnings and Boats coverings."

I was just reading Bligh's log and came across this: Saturday, Jan. 12, 1788 8:00 am Employed about a Variety of necessary duties for the ship & fitted Boats Coverings. So, they used covers of some sort in 1788.

Well, I have the Model Shipways version in that scale which is why I built this cutter in the same scale, but I now know that there are too many errors in it so I think I will build a more accurate one. Although I can easily re-scale my drawings, at smaller scales construction techniques dictate the accuracy one I can achieve. That said, if anyone wants a different scale 16ft cutter let me know. Unfortunately that will depend on historically accurate knowledge. Well, I guess that next after the launch should be a 20ft cutter giving the full set.

Thanks Allan, I think that's where I'm going too, but in 1:16.

Drawings as promised, they don't show everything as I've left out the simpler bits. Page 1 is for scaling your prints plus some angle gauges for fairing the moulds. I apparently didn't draw strake 2 but it's basically a rectangle with the ends shaped to fit so it shouldn't be a problem. I haven't drawn the thwarts or mast support but those are pretty basic. The wood I used is metric, you will have to make your own adjustments for imperial thicknesses. I've provided two versions for A4 or Legal sized paper. Let me know if printer margins are a problem or if I've missed anything. This log is the 'instructions' but I'm happy to answer questions. 16ft Cutter 1in16 A4.pdf 16ft Cutter 1in16 Legal.pdf

Well, the lads got a coat of paint on the interior the other day but the next two days were too hot for painting. So I fitted the thwarts and knees, tapered the mast a little and made the last two oars. Yesterday the lads finished painting the hull and this morning I painted the oar blades. I think all that's left is to tidy up the drawings and post them.

Well, I did get a little more done, another oar and the tiller: Oh, and a little more playing around:

No physical work going on as I pinched a nerve in my wrist, it's getting better though. Meanwhile, a virtual diorama:

Update time: Knees are all finished but not fitted (except the transom). Ironwork is done, fitted and functional but needs the paint touched up. What has slowed me down is trying to come up with oars that I like (and can make). I think I'm happy with the look but still need to make a set that match.

I'm happy enough, and yes, I dislike seeing frames on cutters and ribs on launches or frames poking through as knees.

Thanks Allan. However, the ribs are spaced at 12" where 8" would probably be more realistic. Also contemporary sketches show I could have used heavier ribs. Oh well, live and learn. Some progress, there's about an hour in each knee.

It feels like I'm getting close now. Just knees, rudder, sail?, oars, cleat, mast clamp then clear coat.

More progress and a little more mocking up.

A quick mockup with black washboards. Yes they will be matt black.

Allan, you've sold me, it's not as pleasing to my eye (I think it would look better at station D ) but it's probably right.

Does anybody think this is wrong? To me it looks like that's what they intended.

Allan, the only knowledge we have about the small cutter is that it was smaller than the large cutter and that it leaked, that's it. To that we add McKays assertion that it was 16ft long but where he got that from I do not know. So this is my best guess as to what she may have looked like, I think it's a good guess but I'm biased. Notched risers are shown on many/most drawings and make sense so I have included them. Thank you for your kind words.

Quite happy with the washboard fillers, much neater. I'm thinking of painting the washboards black to break up all that brown. And will somebody remind me to dust and vacuum it before I clear coat.

Some progress and playing with ideas. Fillers along the washboards to tidy up the end of the ribs and under the tholes. The quarter deck will get slightly rounded sides to fix that hard straight line.

Looks a bit like a boat: And as light and fragile as an egg shell.

Getting close to cutting her free, just need to work out exactly how I'm doing the washboards:

Progress continues on Deja Vu. A few more strakes added, just about reaching the point where you can see a boat there somewhere.

Work continues: The remaining planks are being spiled, that is shaped to the curve of the previous plank by measuring and cutting. It's a bit tedious. 1/ Scotch Magic tape is placed along the previous strake. 2/ Pencil marks are made of the edge of the previous strake at each station, transom and stem. 3/ The tape is removed and stuck on to a print of a homemade grid. 4/ The locations on the grid are transferred to the same grid in CAD. 5/ Adjustments are made allowing fore the strake overlap, 5/8th inch at the ends and 1 inch for the rest. 6/ A curve is drawn joining these points. 7/ Three new points are added below this curve at the transom, station 0 and the stem for the calculated width of the strake at those points. 8/ A curve is drawn joining these points. 9/ This is printed, cut out and test fitted to the previous strake (if it's not right start again Note in the pic that 4a (blue) has a kink at the red arrow and was rejected). 10/ Scotch Magic tape is placed on the board (sanded both sides) board stock and the printed strake is glued to the tape (the tape removes cleanly and the same printed strake can be use for the other side) 11/ The plank is cut to the share of the printed strake. Mark station 0 in some fashion. NOTE: The strakes are longer than the paper (A4) so continue the curves a bit further. 12/ Ditto for the other side. 13/ Both planks are stained and primed (interior side) with diluted PVA. 14/ Fit to the hull (sounds easy doesn't it).

Progress is mostly in the right direction, but much much slower than with balsa and CA. Didn't use enough glue in places but that's being fixed. Broke one rib which would have been less of a problem if I didn't run over it with my chair before I noticed. Lucky I had a spare. The interior is being stained prior to each strake being fitted, the exterior will be stained properly later. I slapped some paint on the balsa version just for the heck of it: