Jim M

I am excited to start with my next project, the planking tutorial. Prior to receiving the kit, I had the manual printed. I am impressed with the kit contents and how it was packaged. Next I mounted the build sheet, on a piece of 1/2 foam I had as a build board using some spray adhesive. I need to pick up some markers, and chart tape, but I am eager to get this project moving forward this week. jim

How do we update our build logs and mark them finished. The only option I have is to delete my log?

Good morning. I finally finished my Dory this weekend. Yesterday I spent day painting the Dory, between coats, and the dehydrator, I was able to get some layers on. The interior is an off-white, and the exterior a yellow, and dark green gunwales and thwarts. This morning, I finished up he final details: Rigging the mast, and boom. Painting and installing the trawl assembly. I also installed the thole pins. Overall I am pretty satisfied with the outcome of my second model. Reflections on the kit: If I compare this kit the the Model Shipways kit, I found the instructions to be better. The size difference is nice. However I did struggle with the size and my airbrush booth. I guess I need to invest in a bigger booth. I definitely learned a lot from this kit, and it would be interesting in a couple years to redo the kit to see an improvement. Some key take aways: 1. I need to be more patient. Case in point, I mounted the stand just by doing the measurements in the kit, instead of stepping aways and doing it by feel so the Dory would be more level. 2. Painting yellow sucks. It is such a hard color. I really struggled to get an even coat. 3. Tieing small bowlines and figure eight knots are not fun. I am looking forward to my next project, which will be the planking tutorial, instead of the Norwegian Pram. I will tackle that kit in January.

I think this is a very good question. Currently I am on my second ship. I started with the the Model Shipways Shipwright series Dory, which I learned a lot from. I am a novice at models, and wood working, so I wanted something that was easier but I can learn from. Then for my second ship, I picked up the Midwest Grand Banks Dory. This is an extension on the basics from the Model Shipways, and in retrospect I should have done it first, partially because it is larger, and easier to see. These two model have taught me a lot so far. Primary how to manipulate wood, and basic techniques, and some painting techniques with my air brushes. For my third ship, I am actually going to do the Planking project instead of doing the second ship in the Shipwright series, as I wanted something that can teach me more about shaping and joinery. I need to learn how to control my glue application better, and get a much better finish. I am hoping to end up with learning how to French polish for this half hull project along with learning how to apply plank on bulkhead. I must admit I am getting itchy to start a more detailed model, but I realized my skill set is still very amateur and I am looking at baby steps to improve. I realize this really does not answer the question, but I think it summarizes we are all on a journey. I have a model that I really want to build that I purchased but it will be at least a year before I will even attempt it as the instructions are questionable at most. I think when I finally get ready for a more detailed ship, I am hoping to do the Terror by Occre mid next year. Partially I am ex pat Canadian, and I remember when the Terror was found. Cheers jim

thanks @Bryan Woods i used my airbrush for the first layer then canned surfacer 1200 for the next 2. i will my airbrush for the final coats.

Agreed @grsjax. I am definitely not at a skill level ready to attempt this model.

@JacquesCousteau Yeah I am seeing the same with your model, the instructions are questionable at best, and no plans. This looks like a model that will need some skill before attacking it. I am glad though I picked it up for only 69.00 from Model Expo on their name your price sale. I am hoping that the planking exercise that I am planning on starting will be a good foundation. I have a few other Midwest kits, and a Marastella kit I will finish before doing this model.

Good evening, a minor update. I spent the last two nights sanding and priming. For the sanding, I used 240, 320, 400, 1000. Over all three coats of sanding and primer; the Dory is looking much better. Considering my skill level (novice at best) I think I have a good foundation for painting this weekend. I ended up using surfacer 1200 for the final coats of primer. You can see some glue lines in the interior I could not get rid of. Lesson to be learned here is that be more diligent with removing glue overage. Tomorrow I will wet sand with 5000 after the primer fully cures.

Thanks for the kind words @robert952.

Good evening, I primed my Dory tonight with Mr Surfacer 1000 (grey) using my airbrush and a .5 needle with a fan cap; you can see I have some work to do to finalize my Dory before I put on the paint. It is amazing how well the primer shows these defects. I guess I will be sanding for the next couple of days to get this nice and smooth. One thing I did notice is I have a crack on the gunwale that needs some filling. Cheers jim

wow @Bryan Woods this is looking amazing.

Has anyone build a disar model? I have the Junk here in my queue and I am wondering what other experience is with the model company?

I am also a member, but I am not seeing the logo.

Hey @robert952, sorry for the tardy response. I was in Dallas to see my niece's play. To answer your question, the kit shipped with two round dowels 1/4" x 12" for the mast, and one dowl 3/16" x 8" for the boom. I just lightly sanded both to clean them up. The mast step and the cut in the second thwart is 1/4". As for scale I think they are a little large, but altering them to much would look disportioncate. How is the peapod kit?

Fantastic Dory

Good evening, a minor update today. Today's focus was completing the sail for the Dory. First I mounted the sail material after ironing it to a building board over top the plans. Then I traced the lines per the plans. Per the instructions I then put some mat varish on the edges. I hung the sail up to dry. During this timeframe I then created the brass sail connectors, after wrapping the boom and mast with some tape to thicken. I cut the brass with some cutters at 1 1/8 of an inch and made hoops. I then cut out the same and well I was not overly happy with only the lines from the pencil, so I decided to thinken the edges so the sail looks more authentic. I did this by gluing on more sail cloth with some white PVA. Finally I trimmed the edges with my scalpel and then used a pin to create the holes for the rigging hoops and line. The PVA is still a little wet, and this helped hole my ruler from sliding. Here is the finished product. Next steps is to do the finish work of painting. Then final assembly. I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. jim

Perfect that makes sense now. Thanks @Gregory

Ok I think that that make sense. To summarize, we determine our plank size, and according to Toni's post, it can be anywhere between 4" to 12" for the time period. Correct? Then after we make a decision we need to run a fair line for the garboard that is parallel to the wale, and from there we can determine the size of the stern for the garboard, and stem? Is that correct?

@Gregory but is the 14 inches determined? if it 1/3 the. the size should be 16 inches. 12 + 1/3 * 12 = 16 is there some theory to describe this rule?

As I read through the documentation for the Hull project, I am confused how Toni came to 14". If the average plank size is 9", and the garboard is 1/3 larger, then the math is 12" not 14". Can someone shine a light on this please? jim

Good afternoon, a minor update for this weekend. I am moving to the home stretch of having the Dory complete. This weekend I was able to accomplish some minor prep for completion. First I stained and glued the trawl bucket. I used a combination of English Oak and Medium Oak to get the weathered look. Next I also stained the display stand (two ties) using the English Oak dye. After that, I started to fill in my mistakes and I corrected gunwale on the starboard side. I moved the trawl rig to the starboard side. I also corrected some minor holes with filler. I then proceeded to sand with 320 and 400 to get everything ready for sealing. Next I applied some shellac on the died pieces, oars, mast, main stay, and thole pins. Multiple coats where done. I then thinned the the remaining shellac with isopropyl to a 3:1 and sealed the thwarts. The plan is to prime and paint them, whereas the oars, mast and main stay is going to remain the natural color. Between coats I gave a light sanding with 1000 grit to make sure each was smooth. Finally I sprayed the Dory with a light coat of shellac (full strength) so I can seal the wood. I then proceeded with a light sanding with 1000 grit. I finally decided on a color scheme for the Dory: First I will prime the model with Surfacer 1200 grey and correct any defects. Once I am happy, I will then add Surfacer 1500 grey to the interior. The exterior I will spray Surfacer 1500 pink. This will deepen the yellow to something closer to ochre yellow. The interior will be 338 Light grey. The thwarts and gunwales will be 383 Dark green Exterior 329 yellow. The trawl rig, I am debating on Metal color 219 Brass or 214 Dark iron. This will be sprayed over a Surfacer 1500 black. I am open to suggestions. Finally I will seal with a semi-mat coat. Then the final piece is to finish the sail. I am pushing to get this into our club is hosting in November. Jim

Fantastic job @GGibson Thank you for putting on the right flag. jim

Good evening. Today was a productive session. I am getting close to painting the Dory, but before getting there. I started with testing some English Oak Stain I purchased. It is water base, and I am not to sure I really like the color. I have a light oak color coming tomorrow, so it will be interesting to see how it performs. If it does not work well then I will maybe get some of that Vetero alcohol stain for staining my trawl bucket. Next I started to shape the oars, after cutting the dowel to size. I then used a compass to transfer the transition to the dowel. I then shaped the handle by a combination of scoring the cheek cut, and carving out the handle. From there I used my drill as a makeshift lathe for sanding the handle. I then proceed to cut the oar blades, and then shape them using my sander. The angle I used was 10 degrees, though the plan was probably closer to 9 degrees. Next I created a jig out of double sided tape, and some stock so I can add the blades to the oar and that it is mostly centered so that I can do the final shaping tomorrow. This is the result after gluing. Next I started work on the mast and the main stay. Using my compass i transferred the marks I needed to drill. After drilling, I then shaped the mast and main stay using my drill. The main stay had a nasty flat spot on the dowel, so I gave it a minor taper. Hopefully tomorrow I can do the finish sanding, and then sealing of the Dory with shellac before I paint it this weekend. I am hoping to finish the sail this weekend and then seal the model with some matt varnish. The oars I am going to leave a natural color along with the mainstay and mast.

That is my plan. I am finishing my Dory, and will start the Norwegian Pram and the half hull

@JacquesCousteau very nice. i received my kit last week and i have been looking at the documentation. Your build helps in the explanation though I am still a little lost.