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halvoric

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Everything posted by halvoric

  1. halvoric
    The first thing I wanted to modify from the kit was the false keel/external stems. The kit calls for 1/16” x 1/8” cherry strips for this, and I did use that lumber for the hull bottom. But my research photos for Peterborough Model 44 “Canadien” (or similar horizontal-strip models like the “LakeQueen”) showed thicker stock on the stems: This may have been a kit designer’s concession to ease of construction—bending the 1/16” thick Cherry strip is much easier than what I ended up doing. But I wanted this detail to match the original, so resolved to use 1/8” square Cherry here.
  2. halvoric
    Adding the sheer-line sections was trickier than I expected. First one I managed to find a way to clamp and used Titebond; the second would not cooperate so I broke down and glued with CA and the 15-second “hand clamp” method. Alignment suffered, but as always, sanding to the rescue.
  3. halvoric
    Thanks Jacques! Your Peapod build looks great! I will be studying the oar shaping section with great interest. BTW I have the same mini plane from Amazon—works very well for me, and good quality for the price.
  4. halvoric
    DAP plastic wood seems to work well as filler; won’t know for sure until after the shellacking it’s going to get. Then it was time to sand the inside, which seemed difficult at first became simple over time, just using a small piece of sandpaper in areas where a block won’t fit. Last 2 fotos are before/after: it feels a lot smoother than it looks.
  5. halvoric
    Plank soaking tube made from 2” ABS pipe 21” long (leftover scrap from a plumbing fix). Once planking was done it was sanding and more sanding. Out to the backyard for some specular illumination to really see the low/high spots.
  6. halvoric
    Yes, craft store cheapie leather punch came in handy there.
  7. halvoric
    Simple jig for edge sanding bevel on strips.
  8. halvoric
    Most of the strips needed a bevel along the mating edge (varying in angle between the center and the ends) and the last eight or ten had to be shaped to a point. Reading others’ build logs about the “Peterboro” (predecessor Midwest kit to this one) showed me how to manage it.
  9. halvoric
    I’m a sailor and kind of a knot nerd, so I used buntline hitches on the halyard belays and boom or snuggle hitches on the gaff (for uphaul) and boom (for the mainsheet attachment). The mess at the clew of the main I just made up and it looked right to me.
  10. halvoric
    As I ran out of room for adjustable clamps and binder clips, I found a method using rubber bands and clothespins to keep the planks tight and flush.
  11. halvoric
    The kit instructions recommend CA but I am trying to use Tite-bond wherever possible to make correction of mistakes more feasible. So this required a lot of clamps. I added a fifth plank (“strip”) that was plain basswood stained red with Varethane English(?) Oak. This turned out to be pointless as all the sanding required later removed all the stain. Followed advice I found elsewhere on MSW to fashion a method for putting twist in the ends of the planks.
  12. halvoric
    Started building this BIG kit (24”) while waiting for upgrade/kitbash parts for my Chesapeake Bay Flattie. I’m planning a finish in Amber shellac and a lot of kitbashing to add details like cane seats, scale-correct ribs (every 2”), scale outwales, and hardware. Also plan to change the floorboards to a more correct design for this Peterborough Model 44-based model.
  13. halvoric
    Getting closer to done on the rigging. Shrouds and forestay are rigged along with jib and its halyard (and tack) and jib sheets (with authentic bowline attachment). I ordered better cleats from Modelers Central in AUS so waiting for the international post to arrive before I can clean up the sheets/lines. Centerboard halyard/uphaul still to be done, and I think I will replace my homemade basswood cockpit floor with Cherry grating. Also need to build something to place the mainsheet cleat in center cockpit. Will turn to assembling the base/stand now.
  14. halvoric
    I decided to make a few closed hearts for shrouds & forestay, as I didn’t want to wait for them to be shipped— so the realism is a bit compromised. Also still trying to find the best technique for tying seizing wraps. The nail knot method using a fisherman’s knot tying tool works, but it’s difficult to get all the wraps to come off the tool and lay down flat on the line. I end up with a lot of crossed wraps usually.
  15. halvoric
    Micro tweezers and hemostats, and a new Quad Hands were also needed.
  16. halvoric
    Making an eye splice in 0.9mm polyester 3-strand braided rope required finding new tools. The micro crochet hook I found on Amazon in a set of 6 sizes (it’s the smallest—the hook is less than a mm in diameter). Unfortunately the strands tended to split and fray from being dragged through the standing part of the line, even after binding the ends with CA. My first shroud splice I could only get two weaves done before it became a clumpy mess and I just put CA on it, trimmed and called it done. The third one, after practice, I managed a full four weaves.
  17. halvoric
    Thanks, John! I decided to upgrade a lot of things like using scale rope and Model Shipways blocks (5mm). Teaching myself to do seizing serving and whipping. Lots of new micro tools. I have started a Midwest Canadian Canoe (1:8) and am also kitbashing quite a bit. Ordered half-round basswood strips for the ribs and a making a number of changes to make it closer to a scale replica of a Peterborough Model 44 horizontal strip canoe (“the Canadien”). Will start a build page for that one soon.
  18. halvoric
    They’re not in the kit but I decided to add shrouds, as most of the research showed them. Needed to solder a couple chainplates from brass wire:
  19. halvoric
    Working on the rigging now. Making an eye splice in 1.1mm miniature rope is fiddly business (the hawser on the Samson post). The mainsheet is .7mm polyester. Got all the mini rope from Ropes of Scale.
  20. halvoric
    Thanks John! Pine base is nearly done. 4 days of hand-rubbed French polish (shellac).
  21. halvoric
    Mainsail nearly done (first reefing line installed).
  22. halvoric
    Added grating in the cockpit, a yacht-style companionway boards closure, and a seat (shellac). Used the cardstock method for rudder pintles/gudgeons. Amber shellac on the spars to imitate spar varnish.
  23. halvoric
    The last one, Plate LXXXIV, is from C.P. Kunhardt’s Small Yachts, 1885. This looks like the plan forming the basis of the Midwest kit plans. I directly copied the centerboard details from it. Found on this helpful substack from a full-scale builder, Duncan Blair. https://traditionalsailbluewing.substack.com/p/part-two-the-boat
  24. halvoric
    Thanks! I owe a lot to others’ build logs from here such as mark.bukovich and EricWilliamMarshall and VTHokiEE, borrowed a lot of ideas and methods. Also some great leads for reference materials here for details.
  25. halvoric
    Decided to make mast hoops instead of using the wire from the kit. Also added details to the centerboard.

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