realworkingsailor

Hi Andy, well done on the purchase of a TFFM book, they are all worth having as there is great info for any type of ship build.
 
Ben

Time for an update... been much going on in real life and in the shipyard.  Janet's healing nicely and is ahead of therapy.  She hopes to be back in the pool in about 2 weeks.  Work is still a four-letter word.
 
The gundeck is finally and completely planked.       
At least for now the planking is version MkIV there may be a MkV.  Per the picture, the yard crew is sanding and holystoning the deck. The left side is in progress.  The right awaits them and their implements of smoothness.
 
Version MkI was an attempt at planking where the planks follow the run of the hull. The planks have a curve to them.  I started by full-width at mid-ships and planned to taper at bow and stern.  After about 50% planked, I found that I needed to do some drop planks so off I went.. However, at 1/8" (approx. 3mm) wide planks, I soon realized I was making mess and ripped out the planks.
 
Which lead to MkII.  Nibbed!!!  I put in a margin plank and started nibbing.  Again, the width of the planks became an issue along with, as I found out, the French at that point time didn't use nibbing.  Yep... ripped it out.
 
The, MkIII...hooked scarfs.   Yes.!!!..  Hmm... er.. no.  Needed wider planks. Nothing in stock. Rip out the few planks installed and back to the drawing board.
 
So we come to MkIV.  I've ordered sufficient stock of silver maple in boards of sufficient dimensions to permit hook scarfs.  But decided not to wait.  Figured since about 75% of the gundeck won't be seen ("uh-oh", the crowd mummers) I'd figure out a method.  Got out the dremel and put a groove into the lower part of the waterway where it meets the beams thinking I could slide the deck planks into the groove and give the appearance of the waterway on top of the planks.   That works.
 
When the wood gets here, I'll make another executive decision on ripping it out and doing it right, or letting it go and do the forecastle and the quarterdeck "properly".   The decision will be based upon how does it look with a ship's boat, guns, etc in place.  Once the sanding is done, and I've made some cardboard cutouts to see exactly what's visable and what isn't, I'll decide.   Before I get hit with "that's not the way the real ones were done"... I know.  I'm taking similar liberties at this point much like H. Hahn.  No knees for the deck beams, etc.  His pictures show planking much like what I have done, but admittedly.. I'm no H. Hahn.
 

I wonder if it is some sort of Dr Jekyll and Mr Ed type thing....

I wonder if it is some sort of Dr Jekyll and Mr Ed type thing....

Back to model ship building...
 
First up... For Michael, a nice photo of the beast sitting in the shed (Never mind the golf cart in behind  )
 
As you can see.. it's missing more than a few parts..... and it's really more designed for heavy wood turning like furniture parts etc.
 
Started work on the main topmast today.. got about as far as you see in the photo... then the postman showed up and work was suspended... hopefully what showed up at the door will help in the long run....
 
Andy

Back to model ship building...
 
First up... For Michael, a nice photo of the beast sitting in the shed (Never mind the golf cart in behind  )
 
As you can see.. it's missing more than a few parts..... and it's really more designed for heavy wood turning like furniture parts etc.
 
Started work on the main topmast today.. got about as far as you see in the photo... then the postman showed up and work was suspended... hopefully what showed up at the door will help in the long run....
 
Andy

M - thanks for watching over my shoulder
 
 
Robert, here you go, hope you're not disappointed...she had her first trip outside for some beauty shots.  The Snake doesn't have the most beautiful lines of the other ships on here (Mars and Pegasus esp.), but maybe a certain "utilitarian elegance".
 

The poop deck has now been planked using contact adhesive. The caulking is just pencil on both faces of the planks. I don't like too much of a contrast there.
The bulwark sides were made up off the vessel and painted before being glued into place to avoid damaging the deck with stray sanding or paint. I might add a small beading strip along the front of the poop to cover the face of the ply. It's not too visible but I notice it sometimes.
 

 
A shot of the stern and overall view so far. No more building today- my wife is whisking me away on a mystery night away for our wedding anniversary. She's even stowed the kids with their grandparents. Magic!
 

 

I think it boils down to the fact that the ultimate expression of this hobby, as far as intricacy and accuracy go, is the scratch built plank on frame model... So within those parameters... It is inevitable... It is unavoidable...
 
Andy

Not to worry... I've still got many things to get out of my system (read: kits) before I go down that road.. I also need to buy a few power tools.... And learn how to use them properly....
 
Anyway... Up at the cottage this weekend.. Given the nice weather (finally!!), couldn't pass up the chance...
 
Earliest opening day yet! Most years we wait for the May TwoFour weekend.
 
(Victoria day or whatever you call it in England or Oz... Ours boils down to a reference to a case of beer... And a general idea about what is done.... Head north with friends... Light a fire and sit around it late into the night drinking said beer and feeding black flies....)
 
So the long and the short of it is... A relaxing pause from the work bench... But I'll be back at 'er soon enough...
 
Andy

I think it boils down to the fact that the ultimate expression of this hobby, as far as intricacy and accuracy go, is the scratch built plank on frame model... So within those parameters... It is inevitable... It is unavoidable...
 
Andy

Yeah.... Don't go playing the Darth Vadar theme just yet....

Augie.... Unless someone comes out with a kit of HM Snow Ontario.... I am destined to go down that road anyway...
 
In the mean time.... There are still a few kits out there that will require my....uh.... attention...
 
Andy

Hi Andy,
 
 Following on with the hand drill lathe mate here is a pic of one from the old MSW, I cant remember who posted it, hope they dont mind. I keep meaning to build it myself but just hav'nt gotten round to it yet.
 
I would make just one small modifiation which is to place a roller bearing to hold the dowel end, we dont want any fires do we.
 
I hope you dont mind me posting this to you but I thought it might help.
 
Have a great stay in the wild's mate and come back all refreshed and eager to get stuck in again.
 
mobbsie
 

Not to worry... I've still got many things to get out of my system (read: kits) before I go down that road.. I also need to buy a few power tools.... And learn how to use them properly....
 
Anyway... Up at the cottage this weekend.. Given the nice weather (finally!!), couldn't pass up the chance...
 
Earliest opening day yet! Most years we wait for the May TwoFour weekend.
 
(Victoria day or whatever you call it in England or Oz... Ours boils down to a reference to a case of beer... And a general idea about what is done.... Head north with friends... Light a fire and sit around it late into the night drinking said beer and feeding black flies....)
 
So the long and the short of it is... A relaxing pause from the work bench... But I'll be back at 'er soon enough...
 
Andy

I need to do this with something better than my IPhone...
 
Andy

Not to worry... I've still got many things to get out of my system (read: kits) before I go down that road.. I also need to buy a few power tools.... And learn how to use them properly....
 
Anyway... Up at the cottage this weekend.. Given the nice weather (finally!!), couldn't pass up the chance...
 
Earliest opening day yet! Most years we wait for the May TwoFour weekend.
 
(Victoria day or whatever you call it in England or Oz... Ours boils down to a reference to a case of beer... And a general idea about what is done.... Head north with friends... Light a fire and sit around it late into the night drinking said beer and feeding black flies....)
 
So the long and the short of it is... A relaxing pause from the work bench... But I'll be back at 'er soon enough...
 
Andy

Not to worry... I've still got many things to get out of my system (read: kits) before I go down that road.. I also need to buy a few power tools.... And learn how to use them properly....
 
Anyway... Up at the cottage this weekend.. Given the nice weather (finally!!), couldn't pass up the chance...
 
Earliest opening day yet! Most years we wait for the May TwoFour weekend.
 
(Victoria day or whatever you call it in England or Oz... Ours boils down to a reference to a case of beer... And a general idea about what is done.... Head north with friends... Light a fire and sit around it late into the night drinking said beer and feeding black flies....)
 
So the long and the short of it is... A relaxing pause from the work bench... But I'll be back at 'er soon enough...
 
Andy

I think it boils down to the fact that the ultimate expression of this hobby, as far as intricacy and accuracy go, is the scratch built plank on frame model... So within those parameters... It is inevitable... It is unavoidable...
 
Andy

I think it boils down to the fact that the ultimate expression of this hobby, as far as intricacy and accuracy go, is the scratch built plank on frame model... So within those parameters... It is inevitable... It is unavoidable...
 
Andy

I think it boils down to the fact that the ultimate expression of this hobby, as far as intricacy and accuracy go, is the scratch built plank on frame model... So within those parameters... It is inevitable... It is unavoidable...
 
Andy

DA DA DA DUM DE DA, DUM DE DAH. lol.
 
Come on Andy, follow me from the Pegasus to the Confederacy, and then down the rabbit hole to the darkside and the Echo.
 
Ben

Geez these guys are just as bad as Sjors, when it comes to tempting people to do things lol. Wayne, 42rocker and several others have been trying to lead me down that dark path too. Like you I know it is in  my future...but I wanna see that Confederacy FIRST!!!!

Augie.... Unless someone comes out with a kit of HM Snow Ontario.... I am destined to go down that road anyway...
 
In the mean time.... There are still a few kits out there that will require my....uh.... attention...
 
Andy

As far as the fuzzies go, thank you for reminding me. I have been using the beeswax on other "strings" like my mast wraps. I did not use it on my stays as I plan to use brown boot polish on them and I didn't want to do it before I attached them as I thought that would be a huge mess. But then I forgot all about it when I finished. I will go home tonight and do that right away!!!
 
Sjors BEHAVE yourself!!!! The Syren must wait, just a bit longer!
 
Keith, I plan to do the Pinnace as well, that is what I asked for as my birthday present. I love the looks of both those little boats, and I did not want the longboat to be lonely and be dwarfed by all the other builds I have planned, so I want to get it a little playmate!