mobbsie

Just found you Hamilton and I'd like to pull up a stool and follow along if you don't mind. I haven't seen this yacht before so it's going to be interesting, interesting idea with the cabin details, I like it. Be Good mobbsie

Hi Guys, Thanks guys, it's an honour to have you sitting in on this project, you are all more than welcome. Bob & John, you know me, I'm not one to let the grass grow beneath my feet, I get bored fairly quickly and need something to do. Having retired 4 years ago if I hadn't got this hobby and forum I would have gone stir crazy by now. Ray, Hi mate, it's strange how some things do work in parallel, I now build small mainly due to a lack of space but there is a lot of detail in some of these boats which pleases me. Still like to hook up for a coffee some time. Hi Ken, Pull up a pew, it's a pleasure to have you along mate, catering trundles by quite often so no need to go hungry, I don't. Grant, You my friend have a lot to answer for, the books been found and is in the cart, most likely my next project. Not a word my friend. Be Good mobbsie

Hi Ray, What can I say that has'nt already been said, nothing. I can only say that after 3 years work you must be sad she's finished, offset that by being extremely proud of what you have achieved mate, she's a real beaut. Be Good mobbsie

Cracker's, welcome aboard my friend, your not alone with the morning coffee, the day just doesn't start right without it. Be Good mobbsie

Hi Q A & Mike, Thanks for looking in guys and I think I am going to enjoy building this boat, Mike your absolutely right about letting your imagination run riot. I see Mike that you have suspended your HMS Surprise, have you any ideas when you'll restart her, I've been waiting for Caldercrafts Surprise now for about 3 years, good job I didn't hold my breath. Q A, the first planking is Walnut, I sanded both sides down prior to starting planking just to tidy the wood up, I've never been happy with any Walnut that comes with a kit, it all seems to need quite a bit of work. Be Good mobbsie

Hi Guys, Well here we are, back on familiar ground with a kit build although there is an awful lot on this boat that needs to be scratched. The Armed Launch was used by different navies during the 19th century, approx. 10 metres in length it was armed with different size guns, one large cannon at the bow and two small swivel guns at the stern. These boats were used for coastal patrols or in escort services, they also demonstrated their wartime capabilities in surprise actions by attacking craft in trouble, anchored up or in the roads. The model is triple planked with the first planking on full show on the inboard, this planking is Walnut, the second planking is for strength and is Lime, the last planking should be Walnut but I want to change this to Swiss Pear, I want a bare wood finish if possible and I want to keep the paint away from the main parts of the boat. I started with the keel by cutting two 3mm rabbits, I'm not too sure if this was the right thing to do but it's done and so I have to make it work. With the rabbits cut I dry fitted the bulkheads, the top 2/3rds will be removed when the planking is completed, these were then glued into place and the alignment deck put in position, this deck plays no part in the final boat, it's purely to keep the bulkheads square whilst planking. I started the first planking (Walnut) and have so far got just about halfway and so it continues, care has to taken as this first layer is on full show apart from the bow section. I hope all that follow this build will enjoy the trip and please feel free to offer any advice / comments along the way. Some pictures First up the obligatory kit shots The Keel in my clamp showing a Rabbit Bulkheads dry fitted Bow block attached and alignment deck in place The first three rows on both sides Not very exciting at the moment is it. I'm not right upto-date with the pictures but they would only be more of the same planking so that it for now, I will post again when I have more progress, that will be a bit slow due to the time of year and the Admirals just do jobs. Please feel free to make any comments guys. Be Good mobbsie

Hi Remco That is a very interesting method you have there, thanks for sharing mate. I feel sure it work for a host of different items. Love the ships wheel, well done. Be Good mobbsie

Hi Piet, Just to add my two penneth worth I would paint the posts green and go with something slightly darker than a yellow, more like a yellow ochre. Good luck with your decision mate, whatever you decide will be right for you. Be Good mobbsie

Wonderful decking Bob, I just love it. Be Good mobbsie

Hi Sam, In my humble opinion mate the block is the way to go, as Mark has said it makes for a stronger fit and I believe it would be more accurate. Nice solution to the Hammock netting, a much tidier finish all round, well done mate. Be Good mobbsie

Hi Peter, I'm pleased for you that you had a good vacation, I'm amazed how these old cars are maintained and the materials used, just shows how resourceful the human race can be. Health and Safety would have a heart attack if they saw that crewman at that height without a harness, don't worry I wont tell them. Good luck with you mast work mate but you'll not need it. Be Good mobbsie

Hi Denis, If your trying to do what I think your trying to do then I wish you every luck mate. As a suggestion could you make up some windows and sandwich the mesh in between, or would that make the windows foggy ?, I don't know because I've never used this stuff before. Another way could possibly be to make up your window solution and when it's nearly set lay the mesh over the top. I do hope you achieve the look your after mate, just have to keep trying as I'm sure there's a solution to this problem. Good Luck mobbsie

Hi Mike, I like your tenacity and patience to get it right mate, it's a credit to you. Your planking when complete is going to look superb. Be Good mobbsie

Hi John, WOW, she's looking beautiful mate, if this is your first wooden build I can only imagine what future builds are going to look like. With just the boats to place on board the end is most definitely in sight, very well done mate. Be Good mobbsie

Hi Grant, Excellent work on the carriages mate, they look really smart. I do however have a few reservations regarding the cannons, there is some good detail on them and they will look the part but I think the trunions a little short for the carriage. Perhaps I'm being a bit too picky. Be Good mobbsie

Hi Guys, Thanks all, I would also like to thank both Jeff Staudt for excellent drawings and Jeff Hays for providing me with perfect timber all milled to size because of my lack of some tools, cheers gents. Next up will be the Armed Pinnace "Lancia Armarta 1803", it's a kit so I'll be back on familiar ground. Be Good mobbsie

Hi Grant, It'll be your birthday when you open this so for a second time mate Happy Birthday and Have A Great Day. Be Good mobbsie

Hi Guys, Thank you all so very much for your very kind comments and remarks and for your continued support throughout this build, it has been very much appreciated. Thank you Grant for getting me into this build and for your help, support and discussions during the build, I am pleased with the end result and never ever thought I would be able to build anything like this, your input has been invaluable mate. The case has arrived and I must say it's quite impressive, it's made from 3mm Acrylic with the base Mahogany and a green felt inlay. I found the company via the internet and it's about 17 miles from me in Colchester. It arrived by mail and was so well packed you could have nuked it and it would have survived. I've not only been working on the Granado but have also worked on the following boats:- Harwich Bawley (Restoration), Thames Barge Edme ( Repair / Restoration ), Thames Barge Will Everard ( Commission ), 3 none nautical kits from Woody Joe, Scorpion Crossbow and a Norman Catapult. All these in 1 year so as you can see I've not been idol. I have some pics of the add-ons just a from - too The Bawley, From This To This Edme, From This To This Will Everard ( Commission ) Now for the Granado Cross Section, I have increased the pixel count on these so hopefully they will be a bit larger. The felt inlay looks blue in the pictures but it's green in reality, also the case looks a bit milky in some but it is really clear. So there we are gents, the end of a years enjoyable and rewarding work, surprising what can be achieved when pushed and encouraged, thanks Grant and you guys. Be Good mobbsie

Hi John, She's becoming a real beauty mate, your rigging is fast becoming the rope jungle we know and love. Its a shame about the case but I think space or the lack of it is a problem familiar to most of us, the base when completed will reflect I'm sure, the super job your doing. The end is in sight mate, it's exciting to be at this stage of a build but also a little sad and the end comes on so quickly, then the question " What Next". Keep up this excellent work my friend. Be Good mobbsie

Hi Mark, Whichever way you look at your hull planking mate there's an awful lot of work there, it's no wonder you been a while on it, none of that time has been wasted. She's looking real good. Whilst looking after Janet mate and I sincerely hope her pain is under control please don't forget to look after yourself. Be Good mobbsie

Hi Denis, I've been following along mate and it's all coming together really nicely, I do like your ships boat and the colour looks great. With regard to the boats lashings may I be so bold as to show what I did to mine. These are the boats from my Agamemnon, eyebolts are attached to the boat stands and rope passed over the top through a 2mm single block and then back on themselves. Hope that helps mate. Be Good mobbsie

That's the part I can never get head round, I generally spill when things start getting tight. The kids won't mind mate just as long as you don't nick the toy as well. Keep it up mate, she's looking good. Be Good mobbsie

Hi Denis, Absolutely splendid mate, she looking really good. Have you tried a bit of silver cooking foil to spread the light, just a thought, I haven't tried it myself mind, might work. Hope the bulge comes out ok. Be Good mobbsie

Hi Wayne, Good luck with the move mate, I wish you plenty of patience and a strong back. As far as man caves are concerned especially with young boys involved, I'm afraid to say the basement sounds about right, a blank page for them to do up as they please, give them a good project to get up to during the long winter months. Unless your happy to use the garage of course, I mean the loft is quite high and must have a lot of steps to get there. Remain stress' less my friend Be Good mobbsie

Hi John, The whole boat is looking really busy mate from the mother ship to the kids, she's looking really very very good. Have you decided what your going to do regards the scare in the side, not forgetting she's a working ship and will get bashed about. Well done mate. Be Good mobbsie