HIPEXEC

I finally finished roughing all the false gun ports! They were my second biggest worry, but they came out fairly square and all lined up. . My first worry is how will I build the upper gun ports? I'll cross that bridge after 50 or 60 more hull planks below the false gun ports.

Rich

I faced the same dilema with my USS Constituion. The plans called for me to plank the hull then cut the gun ports. I didn't like that since I'm not that good at measuring and cutting and the hull planks are heavy duty and hard to cut.. So, I made frames in the hull for all 30 gunports then I  cut the hull planks in my miter box and get nice square cuts. It worked! I'm happy with the false gunports. For me it was easier to measure and make frames.  They didn't have to be perfect. The ports wound up be fairly accurately placed. I made a strip of light balsa wood and drew the ports on it from the plans. The I used that  to locate each port one at a time. I also made a exact square the size of the port to use as a check before I glued anything in place. Sounds more complicated than it was. I'm sure I didn't save anytime, but I wound up with nice ports.

Hope this helps a little

Rich

hipexec USS Constitution

I just tried my new plank bender. It's not magic and it takes the same amount of time to get a bend as my iron did, but the curve is nice and smooth. I'll see what it looks like in the AM when it will be dry.

Rich

I planked and varnished my below decks even though I'm not sure anyone will ever see them when they look down the grates. I asked that same question when my plans called for me to plank these hidden decks. I think it was Augie or Sjors who said, "You'll know they're planked even though you can't see them." Well, mine are done. It didn't take that long.

Rich

USS Constitution  hipexec

The electric plank bender came after I ordered it from ModelExpo on E-Bay. It's a Model Shipways Electric Plank Bender with a curved pattern block. Model Expo is a great place to buy hobby supplies. I'll let you all know how the bender works after I soak a few planks and try it. I built an aluminum clad holder to set the hot bender on while working.

Rich

False gun ports finished starboard side and almost finished port side. I'm waiting for my new electric plank bender before proceeding with the rest of the planks. Using the steam iron just is not precise enough.

Rich

It's Rich not Rach? Typed too fast.

Bought some new tools to make building a little easier. A new all-angle cutter (heavy duty), new snips, and some maleable aluminum strips (made out of roof flashing) to get the exact shape of my next plank.

Rich

That cutter just might do it, Harvey.

Here's some pics of the roughed out gun ports on the starboard side. When I finish planking, this will all be filed and sanded smooth with straight edges.

Rach

Your planks look excellent! My version has me planking before I mount the stem. I'm not sure how I can get that crisp look you have that way. Oh well, I'll figure it out.

Rich

USS Constitution hipexec

Actually the challenge all this presents is the fun of it. Before I closed up the gun ports, I painted the back walls flat black. I didn't want anyone to be able to see all my construction markings in case they peeked into the small gun ports.

Rich

This pic shows the machinations I go through to glue on a plank. This is a pic of the fourth plank starboad side. I rough finished the starboard side false gun ports. They came out pretty good.

Rich

Broke my plank cutter on the 2mm x 6mm Sapelly plank provided in the kit. This stuff is like iron. Doesn't want to bend or cut. I broke down and ordered a electric plank bender. The iron I was using made creases in the planks. I'll have to buy a new plank cutter...more heavy duty than the last one.I'm working on the false gun ports starboard side.

Rich

Augie, Harvey and Wes,

Thanks for the help. After I glue this first plank, I am using much smaller lengths to do the next courses. I'm going to have to get some planking screws. My glue is very good. It sets fast and holds tight. Exactly what is edge glueing?

Rich

Plank number one is defeating me. The kit calls for planking once with 2mm X 6 mm dark Sapelly wood. It's very stiff and subject to cracking and splitting. I soaked the first peices and put them in a jig after using an iron to bend them. They came out near net shape. The plans call for me to pin them temporalrily until the glue sets. Either the pin bends and the pin splits the wood. I'm now soaking new pieces. I will attempt to use guide pins (removable) and rubber bands to hold each plank until the glue sets. Wish me luck.

Rich

Still plank bending and hull prep. I made sanding strips to shape the hull. They work very well. Better than a file and safer that a Dremel. I'm bending planks horizontally as well as vertically to shape them  as close as I can to make them fit without forcing the plank.

Rich

Thanks for that advice, Wes. I didn't do that with my first build.

Rich

I built this tube soaking tube because the only place to soak 30 inch planks was a bathtub. I got the concept from our website. I'm also building up the stern and bow filler blocks to make the planks fit better than just jumping from frame to frame.

Rich

Your wood working is beautiful!

Rich hipexec USS Constitution

I only hope I can do half as good a job.

Rich hipexec

Thanks, Sjors, that's my plan.

Rich

I'm spending a lot of time preparing the frames, bow and stern for planking. I don't want to make the same planking mistakes I did framing my Swift. That was my first boat and I had no idea what I was doing. I salvaged the Swift with a lot of filler and sanding. If you look at the Swift closley you see all kinds of of waves and ripples in the planks. I don't want that on this USS Constitution.

Rich

Finished the port side false cannon ports. Today I am attempting to bend my first eight planks. I used a steam iron and a frame I constructed to hold the shape needed. I'll see how that turns out.

Thanks for everyone's imput.

Rich

Yes to both your inquiries. These are for the false cannons and I will definitely try out my deck finish.

Thanks for your imput. It helps.

Rich

I just finished boxing the starboard side's lower gun ports. This is not in the plans, but I think I'll get neater, more square ports. Time will tell.

Rich

Thanks....it'll be varnished.

Rich