LyleK1

I can send you a picture of the decoration from my model... I haven't installed or modified it yet. Let me know if you're interested.

I use Jax Blackener... It does an ok job but it does wipe off pretty easy. I tried putting a clear coat over it but it makes it shiny. Not good! Patience is definitely being taught in all aspects of this hobby!

How are you keeping the blackening from wiping off?

Wasn't planning to use it for anything more than just practicing... Reading others comments (and yours), it sounds like Gutermann is the way to go... Thanks for the advise!

I too, just purchased the Rope Rocket and the Serving machines from Chuck and Syren. Haven't assembled them yet but will over the weekend. Looking forward to experimenting with both machines. I have plenty of time since I'm just planking the hull on my current build (HMS Bounty). Still deciding on what thread to buy or maybe just experiment with what came in the kit.

Maybe take it to a print shop and have them blow up some of the shots?

Hi Trond, Your build is looking great! I have an electronic copy of the Armed Transport: Bounty. Been a huge help for me too. I recently finished reading a book about the HMS Bounty. It's based on the logs, diaries and letters of Bligh and the crew. It's call Mutiny on the Bounty and was written about 3 years ago by Peter FitzSimmons. Might be of interest to you... I found it an excellent read! I'll be keeping an eye on your progress. Keep up the great work!

Hey Trond, Appreciate the compliment! The walnut is looking really good but no, there is zero love between us! I can't imagine how far along I would be if I was using basswood (or something similar). However, I think the experience will make planking easier the next time. The entire starboard side is open! See the pics below, the last one is obviously, not mine!: Thanks for stopping by! I'm headed over to your log next!

Thanks Tom. Appreciate the feedback.

First planking belt completed! Slow but sure! Have I mentioned how much fun walnut is to work with???

Have you tried contacting them? I understand they are back in business.

Don’t worry Don, I’ll never tell! 😉

Once I had the planking belts worked out, I went in and marked every frame with the plank locations: Each belt has 6 planks evenly distributed, at least in theory! The next step for me was to map out the plank butt pattern. I decided on a 3 shift pattern. I used a piece of paper and laid out the entire side of the ship: Not perfect but most ships weren't built perfect! Let the planking begin: Walnut is a real challenge but I'm working through it... slowly! Next post when I've made some progress!

So, I’d like some input... How do the planking belts look? pretty even? Not too much bow rise? Stern look spaced properly? Appreciate any input!

So, I'll jump in here too... I'm building the Artesania Latina version of the Bounty and like both of you, the instructions are pretty useless after the first few steps! I use several build logs (most AL logs) as my help. Between us, we should be able to get through most issues. Feel free to following along with mine as well. I know that each version is a bit different but the end game is the same! Good luck and I'll be watching intently!

Upon review, I decided to install the garboard... it's been a challenge! At the stern, the garboard does a near 90 degree twist. You should try twisting10mm X 2mm planks! Not easy. After many ::SNAPS::, I finally did develop a good system and the key to it is patience! And a lot of it... Bends and twists can be made but only incrementally. The port side garboard is in place. The starboard side is almost done... still shaping the bow plank... like I said, very slow work but it will get easier with the 5mm X 2mm planks. Once glued down, I'll get the planking belts laid out. Back with more when I make some progress.

First layer of the wales completed: A little rough but nothing a sanding won't fix. The bonus is that I have developed a system for spiling the walnut planks that seems to be working pretty good and the more I use it the better the outcome. On to laying out the planking belts! There will be four planking belts of 6 planks each for a total of 24 planks and the garboard to the wales. This part has to be PERFECT before moving to the actual laying of planks. I expect it will take me several sessions to get the lay-out right. Additionally, I have to figure out the butt pattern... probably a 3 or 4 shift pattern... The picture above is the first step... Finding the center belt. See you soon.

I'll keep an eye out... I am aware of Captain Puget but slightly before my time! I do remember Don McCune on "Exploration NW" though! Whereabouts do you live on Vancouver Island? We boat up in that area every year... when there isn't a pandemic! Look forward to watching you log.

Hi Don, I will be watching your log closely. I am very interested in the Discovery too. I live in the Puget Sound area, so I suspect we have the same interests. Good luck!

Happy shopping!

I cheated! I bought them as a kit. I got 10 chairs that had to be assembled. They were all laser cut on very thin basswood. I thought they looked better than what I could build!

Not a lot of progress this week as life got in the way! However, I did get a few planks laid for the wales. Before I show pictures of my miniscule progress(!), here is a bit on the process of bending a plank. First, here is my bending station: I have 8"X1" board that I'm using as a base. The center clamp is holding down the bending form and a piece of stock to keep the planks from raising up when being bent. The two outer clamps hold the shape while I use my sealing iron to "steam" the water that I either wiped onto the plank or that I soaked the plank in. This set up works good for the bow and stern planks that need lots of "curve". I don't bend them in the most often seen method. Rather I bend them across their width. When placed on the frames, this method proves to work for the two axis that planks at the bow and stern need to be bent in order to sit flat on the frame over the course of the full plank width. It is a much longer process but the fit is better in my opinion. I can attest that it works better with softer woods than walnut! Walnut has proven to be very difficult to bend. And even when bent, they tend to want to return to their straight original shape! Also, walnut is much more brittle and I've already broken several pieces by not going slow enough on the bending! This model will definitely test my patience! Fortunately, these first few pieces gives me time to work through a process with a little forgiveness since the wale is double planked: Once the wale is done on the port side, I'll do the small sections on the starboard side before lining of the planking belts and working from the keel up, begin planking... More when progress is made!

So, the stern lanterns don't get installed until much later in the build but I had to figure out how to get the LED to the lanterns. By looking at the plans and some pictures, I determined where the lanterns would be on the stern plate. I marked and drilled holes for the wiring: And ran the wires to port side stern stanchion. I used a very small brass tube as conduit to run the wires through the deck and into the frames: I'll just paint the brass when the time comes. I also had to cut and fashion the tubes the lanterns will be mounted. Since the LED won't fit in the tube, I have threaded and tape to keep from moving around too much: The wiring is now complete for the model except the switch and battery which will be in the mount base. I finished planking the stern plate: The keel is installed and the first thing I like to do is lay-out the position of the wales: And so it begins! I plank the wales first. I use the wales as a reference for the planking and since the wales is a double layer, I don't need to worry about butt patterns and length of planks: More to come!

Sitting at my computer watching snow accumulate... 8 inches and counting! I'll get lots of work done today... Can't do much of anything else! So far this week I've continued cutting the rabbet into the keel pieces. The walnut is a difficult to work with but am making good progress and a portion of the keel is now in place. Additionally, I got the stern post built up to properly accept the planks: This last picture is of one of the keel pieces as I prep it for the rabbet cut. I installed the stern plate and began planking the outer section: Still need to do some blending and sanding. Also installed the lower bow rails: Hope to have the keel installed today and start planking! Also, will be getting the light and wires in place for the stern lanterns before planking the inner surface of the stern plate. Another quick update tomorrow or Monday.

Thought I would mention for anyone interested in the HMS Bounty’s history. I just finished reading “Mutiny on the Bounty” by Peter FitzSimmons. Written in 2018, it is a historically accurate account of the time right before she left England (actually, including Bligh’s previous service) to nearly 30 years after that fateful trip. It’s based on journals, notes and letters from all involved. A lot of interesting info that you won’t find in any other retelling of the story... very factual. I found it to be an excellent book and enjoyed it thoroughly!