Middyman

Ok, work proceeding. Made paper templates from the original frame shapes to recreate the missing bulkhead extensions. Then cut away a small piece of the original frame material to make the replacement extensions from. Shaped, sanded and fitted to each frame. A little rough on the inside but these get cut away once the bulwarks are installed. Then test-fit of the false deck and cockpit prior to gluing down. Paper templates for new extensions fitted to each frame that requires one. Frame 6 needed two new ones. After the new extensions were installed: False deck test-fitted. It looks like I am back to where I started! Next step is to glue down the false deck and cockpit and test-fit the stem, keel and stern post. Matt

The plans show double planking but, as you state, the instructions are single plank with no mention of a second layer. The kit came with the walnut second layer if I need it. Matt

This is my build log for the Model Shipways Katy of Norfolk Virginia Pilot Boat kit. This is the plank-on-bulkhead version. This is my second attempt at a model ship build. My first being many years ago and I did not get far. This particular kit I started some years ago and got as far as marking the false deck and gluing the frames. The framed skeleton moved around my kit stash and storage, losing bulkhead extensions along the way and I found I few that I had saved and glued them back on. So I am left with enough that should allow me to create bulwarks above the deck line or I could go with the log rail option. But just in case I bought a second parts kit off eBay that had complete keel and frames figuring I could use those instead. Turns out that kit was complete so I am going to use my original kit as a "training model" and see where it takes me. My plan for this kit is to learn POB building and complete a kit. This is one of many ship kits in my stash and I have others I want to get to but I am afraid of ruining or be unable to easily replace. With that, my plans for this kit are: Rig it with the two-piece mast and optional shroud lines. Take a little "artistic license" and built it as a four gun privateer as it might have been in the War of 1812. Deck cannon will give it some character and let me do a little scratchbuilding and cut some gunports. If I can dig up some sail cloth, perhaps rig it with partial sails. See if I can follow the great planking tutorial from Chuck and see if I can get most of my planks done without stealers. I'd like to do this with a single layer of planking but have the second layer in case I screw up. With that, here are my pictures of my starting point. This is where I am starting from. The missing bulkhead extensions, the ones I could find replaced and the original false deck as I had marked it for mounting. In reading through the instructions it said to cut the 1/16" rabbet after framing and deck mounting. I decided that my first work would be file in the rabbet while the deck was not yet glued down. Not much so far but official made wood dust! I am thinking of making replacement bulkhead extensions from the outlines in the laser cut sheet and some scrap material. So that will likely be my next work along with mounting the false deck. The shipyard is open! Matt

Thanks everyone for the advice. Tools I have a fair number of. Standard modeling tools on my bench from years of modeling: X-Acto knives, needle files, hard and soft sanding blocks of various grits, sanding sticks, pin vise and hand drills, mitre box and razor saw, Dremel tool, bench vise, clamps, pins, paint and paintbrushes (acrylic and enamel), planking vise, Fair-a-Frame, electric plank benders, head lens, bench "extra hands" with magnifying glass. Only really lacking a small hobby drill press, saw and similar power tools. Definitely have all of the basic tools as recommended in "Ship Modeling Simplified" (among other books, have a stack of those too). Based on the votes I am breaking out the Swift kit and will read the build logs for other's experiences. I am going to work on the Katy in parallel since it is already started and I'll just run it at a slower pace. I just got Model Shipway's Syren brig on sale and I am resisting the urge to touch that. What a beautiful looking ship! I am definitely going to check out the Oxford model show since it is across the bridge. Many thanks John for that! I will start a build log of my efforts as I get them going. Right now I am making the tools to make the model. Assembling a bunch of planking clamps. There ought to be build logs for the tools too as these like the Fair-A-Frame are pretty involved in their assembly too. Thanks everyone for the warm welcome. I am lining up my Fall/Winter project. Matt

Hello, Thought I'd drop a note and introduce myself. My name is Matt and I am a long time plastic modeler but have always had an interest in the Age of Sail. I am a sailor in real-life and have sailed for years on the Chesapeake Bay. That said, I am coming back to this hobby after a long hiatus. My problem is I have dreams and I am a kit hoarder. I've lovingly kept several wood ship kits in storage and I've decided to bring them back out and start working them down. My ultimate dream is to complete four specific kits to near-museum quality over time. These four are: Artesania Bluenose II, Mamoli Hunter Armed Cutter, Mamoli Blue Shadow Big and HMS Vanguard (Amati or Model Shipways). I don't own Vanguard yet but I do own the others. My biggest challenge is where to start! I hate solid hull kits and I have enough prior modeling experience that I'm comfortable with plank-on-bulkhead kits. I tried an Artesania Swift as a teenager but didn't know how to bend planks properly. So that got tossed years ago. But I do have an unbuilt Swift in the pile. Looking for guidance on which would be my most likely first success. I have a Model Shipways Katy of Norfolk (the older PoB kit, not the current solid hull kit) that is framed up but not planked that I've had in storage and leaning on starting back there. Downside is a lot of the bulkhead timberheads are broken off. Manual shows an alternate bulkhead that I can build up from the deck so all is not lost. If nothing else it would be a good hull to potential practice skills on. Or should I start somewhere else? Here's what I have in the pile... Artesania Swift 1805 Pilot Boat Artesania Bluenose II Corel Scotland Cutter Mamoli Black Prince Privateer 1775 Mamoli Blue Shadow Brig Mamoli USS Constitution Mamoli Hunter Armed Cutter Mantua Le Superbe Model Shipways Katy of Norfolk Pilot Boat Model Shipways Syren Brig Model Shipways 1:24 Armed Longboat I'm not foolish enough to break out the USS Constitution or Le Superbe (which I plan to build as HMS Implacable) yet. I plan to acquire one of the HMS Vanguard kits so I am looking for recommendations on which one to get. I'm sure there are many kits that have pluses and minus. Been reading a lot of build logs and getting a feel for troublesome kits. Which is why I opted not to obtain a Constructo Enterprise even though I do like it because it seems very...quirky. I consider the 74 third rate to be one of the most beautiful ships to ever grace the sea. So that would be my pinnacle attempt. My Everest, as it were. My Blue Shadow kit is special to me because it is one of the last remaining memories of a good friend and I want to complete it in his honor and memory. I've carried it with me for over 30 years but I do not want to mess that kit up. So others are meant as the learning tools. I will be happy to post a build log of my efforts. I'm looking forward to getting back into it finally. Matt