iMustBeCrazy

28 minutes ago, DocRob said:

It looks like this, hope that helps (yes, it's not up to even my standards today).

The bones are still there and everything but the deck gets covered up anyway

15 minutes ago, oakheart said:

what's it like

Tough question. Expensive-ish. Very fine grain, often highly figured ,sometimes dead straight (like mine), growth rate can be < 1mm per year, often half that. Very long lived.

Can no longer be felled, only salvaged. Very smooth finish, polishes to a high sheen without any need for oils or varnishes. Fades to a soft buttery yellow.

https://www.australianwoodwork.com.au/blogs/news/what-is-so-special-about-huon-pine

https://www.tasmanianspecialtimbers.com.au/special-huon-pine-slabs-for-sale/

Welcome Rob, there are two other build logs here for the early version and they both started very slowly. The instructions are pretty poor if you're trying to do a serious build but we'll get there somehow.

As mentioned earlier I do intend to fit the bulwarks prior to finishing the first planking as I'm not an octopus. I'll also fit the keel before starting the second planking so that it all 'blends' nicely.

2 minutes ago, oakheart said:

What woods came with the kit?     

1st planking is Ramin, softish but doesn't bend well.

2nd is Mahogany or more likely Sapelli. It doesn't look too much like the Mahogany I know.

I don't know many 'exotic' woods.

On the other hand I finally bought some Huon Pine which will be reserved for models.

16 minutes ago, oakheart said:

Did you turn the barrel ?

No, they were supplied. But they're only 4 pounder pop guns.

17 minutes ago, oakheart said:

How is your planking going?

Slowly, about a third of the way through the first layer.

16 minutes ago, oakheart said:

maybe a jar of distilled water might be better.

Water spills, trust me.

17 minutes ago, oakheart said:

I have some sandpaper glued to a dowel for the lower curved part

Don't use too small a diameter, trust me.

7 minutes ago, oakheart said:

I would worry about glue getting on the front surface of the planks.

Keep a few cotton buds handy, dampen them with saliva and wipe up the excess. But I don't often need them.

Also my sanding stick is a fairly flexible ply about 20 x 180, it spans a few frames and follows the curve.

21 minutes ago, oakheart said:

What have others done about it?

I glue the plank edges. I do it full length using a syringe but even a few spots would help.

2 minutes ago, oakheart said:

Not sure if I will take it off and fettle it or not.

I don't think I'd bother.

6 minutes ago, allanyed said:

what is the ZAZ number on the bottom left

6844  https://www.rmg.co.uk/collections/objects/rmgc-object-86635

Two examples,

On the left 1 tap at the hull to let water drain into the well to then be pumped out.

On the right 2 taps one at the hull and one at the base of the pump, this allows you to do the same as above or to pump from outboard without filling the well.

Wow, that's looking really good Tim. Perhaps a hair (literally) more off the highpoints of strake 5 but that's being pedantic.

The concept works, but back to planking for now.

3 minutes ago, oakheart said:

Now, I know you really are crazy.

Getting there, getting there.

Well, if I can pull this off the guns will have functioning carriages.

4 minutes ago, Jack-in-the-Blue said:

the one thing that every viewer of a model asks

Just say 'several lifetimes, but it seemed to go faster than that'.

14 minutes ago, Jack-in-the-Blue said:

Your deck in close up looks brilliant. 

Thanks. Lets call it about 18 hours work. But to be fair half of that was letting glue dry.

A little progress, seven strakes of the first planking. I added temporary spacers for setting the gap between the deck and the sheer using rubber cement, this sets the position of the bulwarks.

Holding the bulwarks in position proved difficult and there was nowhere to clamp them so I added tabs inside the sheer strakes.

That worked well but means I will be fitting the bulwarks before I finish the first layer of planking.

I also looked at doing a 'proper' carriage for the guns. It's still a little too tall.

24 minutes ago, vaddoc said:

I think now is a bit too late!

Not really, on my launch I used shellac and a cheap (stiffish) artists paintbrush. One coat and only enough brushwork to make sure I didn't miss anywhere and that it wasn't too thick (no pooling). Really quick and it looks like bare wood. See posts 65 & 66.

You've done such a lovely job, it's a real pity about the beech. I think you need to seal the inside to help stabilise the wood though.

The reasons are complicated but it boils down to 'I have to move the stem forward by this much':

For those complicated reasons mentioned above, I thought (incorrectly) that it should touch the deck as in the pic in post #22.

(Note: balsa has already been added to fill out to the end of the deck compared to the pic in post #22.)

13 minutes ago, Jack-in-the-Blue said:

Can you use that gap as a rabbet to tuck the ends of your planks into? It looks perfect for the job just like the most modern kits. (I’ll add a photo when I get out of bed)

That was and still is the plan, the stem will just be further forward than I had pictured in my mind but where it is supposed to go.

Ok, I made a boo-boo.

When making my balsa bow filler I assumed that the planking finished inside the stem (which it does) but I forgot, didn't understand that the stem is intended to be fitted after the planking is finished. As a result I made the filler to accommodate the planking allowing it to fit inside where I thought the stem should be but the stem is actually going to be about 2.5 mm further forward. (don't worry, the picture will help).

This is with the stem in the position I thought it should be:

What I now have to do is fill this gap, later the stem will be fitted the same distance further forwards.

3 hours ago, iMustBeCrazy said:

Two other drawings I have show just above and just below the deck.

Looking it seems 'just below the gun ports' might be the standard.

2 hours ago, Jack-in-the-Blue said:

But a painting of USS, Lexington shows the channels in the usual place level with the deck. Everything is more complicated than we think.!

Ultimately a painting is just a data point, now if you could come up with a photograph... 😁

More worms.

These are two captured French cutters (late 1700s)

Two other drawings I have show just above and just below the deck.

So far only American drawings show near the top of the bulwarks. But..........