Kusawa2000

4 hours ago, chris watton said:

Well, being a wooden kit, there is nothing to stop you doing this and discarding the kit parts. I see this with the pre made decks, some plank their own. Nothing wrong with doing this at all. Indeed, I expect it from some modellers.

Chris: True enough! I admit it will be nice to have options!

Call me crazy but I always enjoyed planking above the wale. I find the individual planks really gave the hull a lot of character. I agree most of the hulls will be painted so if its individually planked or a template etched with the planks and treenails it may be hard to tell the difference. Maybe have it as a option at the time of purchase? Just floating the idea out there... 

6 minutes ago, chris watton said:

The deck openings will be a little different for the finished model, as I need to make sure there's enough depth for the 18 Pounder carronades to sit.

Chris: Good point. You will might have to sacrifice the eyebolt for the inhaul tackle but as mentioned having visual access to the gun deck is a great addition to the kit.

51 minutes ago, chris watton said:

OK, I added the upper deck beams, all fine, and then added my one off special 0.8mm ply deck, ready for next stage of development.

I do like how you are opening up the spar deck to the lower gun deck. Just gives it additional neat detail to the hull!

15 hours ago, chris watton said:

The decks will be 0.8 or 1mm limewood laser cut and etched as standard in the kit, as this is what it will be designed for. however, as I have said before, this does not stop anyone wanting to plank the decks themselves using planking of their choice. They can use either the laser etched decks or printed full size deck patterns on the plans as templates if they so wish.

 

I used to use maple veneer, which was really nice - problem was I could not have enough sheets in a nice neutral colour tone, so reject rate was way too high.

 

All of my kits have pear as the finishing planking for the hull, be it in pre cut or planking form.

Chris: Many thanks... just what I wanted to hear! 👍

22 hours ago, chris watton said:

As a rule, double planked. Inner bulwarks will be fully pre cut and etched parts, though. Decks will be laser etched and cut limewood with no ply sub decks needed.

 

I am thinking of just doing a single pear planking for the upper outer hull, and double planked at and below the thicker plank line (roughly where a main wale would start on an English ship) - But not sure yet...

Did I remember correct that the deck maybe have a option of laser etched for the deck planks or you can go for individually planked?

Also... the Inner bulwarks pre cut and etched.. that would take care of a few headaches! 

Pear on exterior planks.. wow.. that will give a nice finish.👍

2 hours ago, chris watton said:

And back to Surprise. These pics show the checking of the inner bulwark template (no gun port cut outs yet), and how it aligns with the upper deck beams. Once I know the fit is as good as it's going to be, I shall do the next version with gun ports and then check again.

 

(Ply gun deck is not part of the final kit)

 

For this design, I beefed up the bow structure a lot more than usual, as I know this can be a weak point when planking..

Chris: Is it going to be a single plank on bulkhead or double? I cant remember what you had done with your past kits...

On 3/27/2025 at 11:41 AM, chris watton said:

Most of the parts are just MDF for this first build, as I know this is just to test what I have already done, and a few things will be tweaked, and the hull then thrown away..

 

There are scale deck beams for both the gun deck and upper deck, which will be in 4mm thick pear for the kit. There will be a little detail on the lower deck (although you will not be able to really see it)

 

This will be my first design that does away completely with a ply sub deck. With scale spaced beams, a sub deck isn't really needed, so a 'Floating' laser engraved deck will be included (Or you can discard the supplied deck and plank as you like...)

 

I have also designed the bow so that the gun deck isn't cut off by the forward most bulkheads, as is usually the case, but goes all the way forward. (Including the bow chaser/bridle port being framed) . Am yet to see how well this works out...

 

Overall length will be around 1176mm including the bowsprit and mizzen boom.

 

Oh, and I have my new laser machine arrive a week today!

Chris: Thank you! For years the dummy gun/lower deck on kits has been my ultimate frustration. You dont know how refreshing this is! Looking forward in seeing more! And will have my credit card ready when the Surprise is ready for release!

Mike Draper

John: I really like how you captured the lip on the bow where the hull meets the deck. . A very distinctive characteristic of the Klondike.. Nice job!!! Keep the pics coming. 

Mike Draper

On 3/10/2024 at 2:11 PM, westwood said:

Hi Mike, thank you
I cut all the hull and deck planking strips myself from cherry wood.
For the finish I chose a Minwax Wipe on Poly.

 

Dusan: Thanks for providing a response.. I will have to reconsider the minwax product. It provides a amazing finish!

Thanks again

Mike Draper

Dusan: Just out of curiousity, what was the finish you used on the hull and deck? I like the finish!

Mike Draper

Everyone: Here is the model of the paddlewheeler that can be found at the Sternwheeler hotel in Whitehorse. I suspect its 1/4 scale as there was no display label. I apologize for the reflection in the pics. I was using my cell phone to get a few quick pics.

Enjoy

Mike Draper

Everyone: Glad I was able to help out getting the plans from Parks Canada. And the offer is open for any detail pics as the boat is just a 10 minute walk from my office. Keep the pics coming!~ It will great to see the progress on your scratch built!

And I dont know if you know this but the SS Klondike that is down the street is the second version of her. The first one got stuck on a permanently stuck sand bar during her years of operation so instead of trying to save her there removed her engines and hardware and built a new SS Klondike that is now sitting in Whitehorse. As well, we had 3 paddlewheelers sitting in town for the longest time. the SS Kaska and SS Whitehorse but they were lost in the 1970s due to fire. Damn shame as they were beautiful paddlewheelers. 

Mike Draper

4 minutes ago, John Ruy said:

Mike, Did you ever get a chance to check out this SS Klondike model? 
 

I am beginning some research and pics are always good. 👍 

Im pretty sure its still there. Now that I know someone wants pics I will check and if its there I will get a few pics for you. Either than overall shots do you have any detail pics you would like? I can also go down and get pics of the 1:1 model that is 3 blocks from my office 🙂 

Mike Draper

22 minutes ago, Chuck said:

Thanks...The hinges are now in stock..

 

I will have a lot of bulkhead doors to make.  Another feature I absolutely hate is making the door knobs.  No matter how hard I try they never look good to me.  So my preference is to make handles.  These are not easy to make from scratch.  But the laser cutter makes it pretty easy.

 

My Speedwell bulkhead door mock up is pictured.

 

So I will be using old fashioned 18th century door handles instead of knobs.  I think they look much more interesting.  I have made 3 sizes again for my own personal use.  They are made from the black plastic I have been using.   If there is any interest in these I can also make them available.  Just let me know.   Once they are glued onto the doors, I like to use a sharp #11 blade and thin down the bottom of the handle itself to make it curved.  This is more in keeping with the 18th century style I have seen used.  They take forever to laser cut and are so crazy tiny.  But its just a matter of popping them out of the sheet and gluing them on.  That is if I dont drop them on the floor and they are lost forever.

 

Let me know if you guys would like these made available.

 

 

And some real ones I used but I cant get them this delicate looking...but it will do.

 

 

 

Chuck: Sign me up! I would buy some door handles for my Winny.. All it took is one look at your pics. 

Mike Draper

1 hour ago, John Ruy said:

Mike, 

Yes… Thank you for your research and posting of these plans. I have started drawing up templates to build a Plank on Bulkhead Hull. 

 

Nice set of plans. 👍


 

I will get a build log started, as soon as I get the frame completed. 
 

John

John: Good.. I hadnt seen them hard copied so its nice to see the level of detail is there when they get printed.. It will be great to see your progress shots once you get under way. 

Mike Draper

On 2/23/2024 at 3:05 PM, John Ruy said:

Ian, I haven’t started a build log yet. But I bit the bullet and had the drawings printed at Staples. 
 

Nice set of plans. Cost me 70.00 US, so now I’m committed. Drawings are 1/8” = 1’ . Some detail drawings are at 1/4”, 1/2 and 1” = 1’. Very nice detail. 👍

 

This is going to be my first scratch build, should be an exciting build. I currently have two on the bench, but I can certainly start a third build log and start the planning process and research while I finish up my Bluenose and mini Red Jacket. I’ll post a link to the build here. 
 

I think the Admiral just might have me committed. 😜

 

Cheers 🍻

are those the plans that i got from Parks Canada for you or did you get them separately? they look great hardcopied!

Mike Draper

14 hours ago, Ian_Grant said:

The two bays .... five minutes by canoe from our place. Look forward to it!

we will definitely have to connect. I will let you know what my schedule is once I bought my plane ticket and got plans figured out.. this is seriously cool

MIKE

11 hours ago, Ian_Grant said:

Mike, I can't believe this; first you help us get plans for "SS Klondike" from the Parks Canada office in the same Whitehorse building where you work, now you tell us you still have a cottage on Pike Lake. Our cottage is also on Pike near Stanleyville! We go in past the playground and cemetery and keep to the left at every intersection to reach our cottage which is just opposite the largest of the group of three islands, on which people used to camp. Our kids called it "Beaver Island" because there was an active beaver lodge on it when we bought the place, only to watch all the big old birch trees on the island be chewed down one by one. What a small world.

Ian: My sister and I have a cottage at one of the two bays at the Perth end of the lake.. my mom and dad bought it in the late 1960s and have it ever since. While I havent bought my plane ticket I will probably be in Ottawa from July 4th to around the 19th..the first week I will be at the bluesfest but after that I will probably up at the cottage.. I will let you kids know when I have my dates.... i think that would be a blast! 

MIKE 

4 hours ago, Malcolm Brown said:

Thanks for the warm welcome, Mike! Me too from Ottawa - I grew up in the Glebe. My wife and I retired here on Long Lake (Tay Valley) in 2018 on what was my family lakefront property. We go to the Stanleyville dump at least once per week. Let me know if/when you’re at your cottage and please stop by for a refreshment. Here’s that view out our window 😊

Malcolm: I will definitely will take you up on your offer. I plan to be down there in July so can connect then. Thanks for the pic. The view brings back great memories of the Ottawa valley

Mike Draper

Malcolm: I am originally from Ottawa and still have a family cottage at Pike Lake... just near Stanleyville.. miss that country alot. Enjoy the view out your window for me and welcome to MSW!

Mike Draper

20 minutes ago, Ian_Grant said:

If you rent a car in Whitehorse now and propose to take it on the Dempster Highway, there is an extra charge. Presumably the highway is much better now than in 1978 but they say you **will** have a stone hit your windshield. In fact, when we did the pre-rental walk-around I pointed out a crack in the windshield; the guy just shrugged and said every car here has a cracked windshield LOL.

 

Our neighbour drove across the country to the Yukon last summer, went along the Dempster, and sure enough a stone came from nowhere and cracked his Tacoma's windshield.

Ian: Dont get me started on windshields.. I have a 2017 Jeep wrangler and Im on my 4th windshield. The one I have on my jeep has one big crack along the lower edge and 6 star chips and its only 7 months old... 😰

MIKE

5 hours ago, Knocklouder said:

I got to see the SS Klondike  back in 1978. I flew to Inuvik from Edmonton, then after a day there I took a bush plane to  Eagle Plains to paint a motel there. We got caught up with the drywallers so they sent my boss  and I to White Horse to get supplies.  

  So we took a 1/2 ton truck down the Demster HWY  to White Horse, they  put four spare tires in the back of the truck and said good luck hope you make it lol. We had 3 flats on the way there and two on the way  back, I was told it was because of the permafrost  the road was build and it cracks along the road not across it .

 Well in White Horse we walk around the SS Klondike  What a trip I still rember it clearly  well most of it lol but I do rember the river boat lol 😆 😜 

if you want to have a tip in driving the dempster. they use shale as the aggregate on the lower end and if you keep your speed under 80km/hr it will help not getting a flat... I have done the dempster more times than I care to remember and taking your time is the ticket for no flats

Mike

10 hours ago, Ian_Grant said:

Mike, .... -38C !!!!!!

 

It just occurred to me to check back here since I hadn't had any notifications....turns out I had forgotten to "follow" my own thread.

 

Wow those drawings are highly detailed!!  Right down to hole locations in decks for cabin sink drains, and size/measured location for the china cabinet ... 🙃

There doesn't seem to be a drawing of the china cabinet itself, though. 😏

 

  An incredible resource for potential Klondike modellers.

 

Thank you so much for obtaining all these drawing sheets!  I will email Richard and Terry to thank them too.

 

Wonder who will be the first to start a build? My money is on John Ruy ....

Ian: No problem in getting the pics. I guess Parks office was closed for XMAS but once they were open it was easy peasy.. they also indicated they will be doing renos on the upper deck and will be willing to take pics of any section of the ship. 

and we have warmed up here.. today it was a balmy -25c. 

Mike

Everyone: just in case you missed it I have downloaded some PDF's of the SS Klondike last night... it gives more detail to the ship decks and stern. Hope that helps

Mike Draper

Whitehorse, Yukon

(-38c)