East Ender

Thank you Robert. The simple rigging was a challenge as a first time kit, but I gained lots of knowledge, especially what not to do, like getting CA on a finger, causing a messy tangling up of all the lines which then called for a re-do of all the rigging.

Thank you Auger, that was the effect I was after.

Thank you Paul!

Thank you Ryland, that means a lot to me. I can tell you this forum and the folks here gave me the inspiration to complete the model. I Looked at the Bugeye kit yesterday have to the print on the bench. I may order something else first to get more experience, especially with metal fittings, rigging and such. This kit was an excellent beginner kit and revealed the need for a replacement of some small tools, especially a pair of sharp, precision scissors and tools for rigging. Tim

Calling this Bluejacket Grand Banks Dory complete with the exception of the stand. I'm sure something will need adjusting. Are models ever really complete or do you know when it's time just to walk away? This was a fun build, the kit went together beautifully. The rocks in the one photo are from the beach of my former home on the North Shore of Long Island, out near the east end. Fitting for an east coast boat. Hats off to Bluejacket for providing a great kit. Tim

Thank you Bob!

Well I made an attempt at weathering the model today by eliminating any gloss as much as possible with 600 paper, roughened some edges and dry brushed some Windsor Newton Galeria Burnt Umber Acrylic water based oil, with Windsor Newton Fast Dry medium to "dirty" her up a bit. Some final touches over the next day or so then thinking about building that Wye River model Bugeye or maybe order something different from Bluejacket with a bit more rigging to test these old fingers.

Welcome Keith! Enjoy the site. Good folks and a wealth of information.

Like Oldsalt1950, (Jim) mentioned, MEK is probably the best degreaser out there. Just a whiff of it takes me back to working on Navy Military aircraft at Grumman. Use a simple but appropriate respirator if using for prolonged periods, and wear dishwashing gloves or anything equivalent. If anyone is making small parts using aluminum, dipping it in Alodine 1200 will give it a light brown color while etching for paint at the same time. Alodine 600, used for electrical bonding, will give it a golden or brass color. When we used to trim aluminum skins, the edges would be cleaned with MEK then brushed with Alodine 1200 followed by zinc chromate primer. I'd try it and use Alodine 600 if I had some small aluminum parts. Put them in a jar in with the alodine for about a minute or two, then remove them and dip them in water to stop the etching process. You could probably simulate brass with aluminum if the part is treated correctly.

Welcome from coastal Virginia Joe, enjoy your first wooden model, as I am building my first also. The folks on this site have been a tremendous help.

Welcome to this outstanding site Scott!

Took a break from the dory to let paint dry and stay out of trouble so I made the small barrel that the kit has you build. I also planked the inside and added some weathering to make it look old and beat up. Not sure if I'll weather the dory yet, I don't have the guts....or experience to take the chance. So the fisherman will be taking out a fresh built dory with an old bucket. I'd like to build some tools dorymen used to carry. I know a bailer is one, and a gaff is another. Any other suggestions would be appreciated! Cheers, Tim

Warm welcome from along the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia Michael. Beautiful model!.

Worked on the sail and gave the boat its first coat of paint with True North Depot Buff on the hull. I have not used enamels in quite awhile and ran into trouble with even coverage. Perhaps the paint thinner I used, Testors for enamels was not appropriate for True North so rather than end up with a real mess in trying a second coat and fretting all night, I removed it with mineral spirits first this morning while it was still somewhat soft. After a nice cleaning with denatured alcohol followed by a gentle sanding and drying, I applied two coats of Model Expo Hull Yellow Ochre which layed down fantastic with a one inch artist brush I use for my artwork. For the interior and I used Model Master Dark Ghost Gray and for the gunnel, Tamyia Dark Green. Tomorrow will be final paint/touch up, make the barrel and dye the rigging with RIT tan dye, (like I did with line around the the sail). The some light weathering here and there , cut some thin leather for the oars and thole pin installion and other details. I'm thinking the mahogany band under the gunnel should also be green, not quite sure, I think it usually is. Cheers, Tim

Thanks Alan and Keith, I appreciate the input! I'm going to make the 2nd oar the same as the first and also make 2 more with Holly or basswood to simulate weathered ash. Also going to wrap some thin cut leather around each as shown on photos. Getting back to work after a long weekend near the Blueridge Mts. Tim

Like Keith says, it's already weathered! Perhaps some additional weathering where the oars meet the boat and where hands grip the oars. Wefalk mentions grain,so another option would be to use Holly, which has very small grain. I have a log pile outside full of small Holly logs, aged for about two years, which I'm going to try and rip on the table saw, if it ever stops raining here in Virginia. If that works, I'll have a never ending supply of that species. Thanks Tim

Thank you Keith. It's probably best I pick up a chunk of white ash. This photo of the Acadia wood shows it may be too dark.

Building Bluejacket's Grand Banks Dory, I've searched with no luck for the specifications with regard to typical oar construction. I would like to scratch build them, and have already made one from Acacia wood, which is very dark. The print lays out the size, and I have read through research they were usually made of clear pine or fir. Was oak ever used for oars? Thinking about it, oak oars would be very heavy so I don't think oak was used, but that's just my thought. The kit also calls for one set but I'm seeing photos with two in the Dory. One extra set as backup for a single occupant and two for 2 occupants? Thanks, Tim

Thank you Ryland and Nic for the kind comments. Today I worked on some of the details, the mast, cleat, snotter cleat and started the oars. With regard to the oars, I started with the dowels provided in the kit but I'm thinking I'm doing to go for the more realistic looking oar(s) as suggested in the Bluejacket instruction book. I had a piece of Acadia wood that I'm going to try but I think the grain may be out of scale. (see photo) I do have a small log pile outside loads with Holly that grows in the woods on my property that has aged a year or so and I may mill a piece or two since it's a tighter grain. I'll carve out an oar and see how it looks after staining it oak, which is what I believe they we historical made of. Correct me if I'm wrong.

While I'm still working on my Grand Banks Dory by Bluejacket Shipcrafters and have seemingly caught the wooden model ship building "bug", I guess it was appropriate for me to stumble upon a brand new, complete in the box, Chesapeake Bay Bugeye kit by Wye River models in 1/4 scale at our fire department thrift store, and at the same time come across an old but working perfectly Craftsman scroll saw. Were the build God's trying to tell me something? So for $25.00 total for both, I went home with my two prizes of the day. Now, reading through the plans for the Bugeye, I think I can handle it, but my other side of my brain says "be wise, go slow" so I'm going to study and research the boat for awhile, especially since I have have not completed my first build (the Dory). The plans seem to be well written, the print is nice, with lots of cast parts, bag of mast loops and so forth. I've looked through this site and have not come across any builds of this particular model, but it could be here as I'm still learning to navigate MSW. So, I'm always grateful for any words of wisdom from those who have been there and done that when first starting out. I'm not sure if this would be an appropriate 2nd build or not for a novice. The rigging does not appear overly complicated. I will lay out the kit and post some photos to add to this subject matter once I get some room on the work bench after the Dory so I can begin a build log, which I why I posted here. Tim

Yesterday and today I worked on the seat rails and seats. Being brand new to the hobby and this being my first build I struggled with the laser cut seats as they sat too high, were too wide to sit correctly at the height seat rail called out on the print. Why don't they fit? Then, the light bulb went on. This is a wood model! Everything needs cutting, trimming, fitting and double checking against the print and double checked again. All parts are oversize on purpose to correct for variations and build "creep". So now , obviously those hard mahogany parts need trimming. What to do. I do not want to ruin them. So thinking about it, I grabbed a file folder to use as template as the material is quite stiff. I laid each seat over the file folder and carefully outlined and cut out each seat. I then numbered each seat template as on the plan and added an arrow forward for proper direction. This is good for several reasons. First, I'm not experimenting with cuts on the actual wood seats and I can cut each template accurately and if I mess up, just make another, not big deal and no ruined part. On this kit getting two of the seats mixed up is easy, so number them. I fit one side of each seat first, then use my dividers to measure the distance across and mark the width between notches and the outside planked side on the template. Once I get a nice fit with the template, I use the template to transfer over to each wood seat to make my cuts. Again starting with on side and slowly trimming the other side until the seat sits nicely on the rails between the frames. Take your time. A small square jewelers file for the notches and a sanding block fro the outside edges. Note: The little notches play a huge part in allowing the seat to sit down nicely on the rails, so cut and chamfer ( angle of frame) carefully using the template as a guide. Fit and final sand the outside edges of the seat which also have a slight chamfer. I then coated each seat with a very thin coat of McCluskey Spar Varnish, and after waiting for about an hour lightly wiped each seat with a damp rag with mineral spirits to dry overnight. I hope this helps all the newbies out there, as I'm one myself ! Cheers, Tim

Welcome aboard Jim!

Thank you Ryland

Yesterday I sealed the boat with a 50/50 mix of Zinnser clear Shellac and Denatured alcohol. I may use a 400 or 600 paper to sand smooth, perhaps even fine scotchbrite. Also worked on this gunwale strip/cap detail. I did notice some Dory's through photographic evidence have more of an angle, slanted at almost the angle of the gunwale. Without this little detail in the instructions I may have followed that angle. The one photo shows the starboard side trimmed and the port side still raw from snipping away the build frame.You can see the extreme angle there would be if you followed the angle of the gunwale strip and ignored the detail. I found a wonderful color video on YouTube called Grandbanks Doreymen of the Newfoundland South Coast and Gloucester that supports that detail and colors used during that time period. My preference would be to leave the interior natural, using a thinned spar varnish and the outside the Depot Buff as is called out in the available paint kit. The gunwale would be deep green. I would like it to be as historically accurate as possible. Any suggestions? Cheers.

Finished planking today and added gripe. On to the next step (s).