Wintergreen

Next installment, some kind of a keel and stem.

Since this boat will be generic I am using my artistic license to build as it suits me. 

For safety measures I glued the stem in place twice. Well, not really for safety, it was more of the so familiar:  

"I can do better than that" kind of joint...

Happy enough with my second try. The stern came in place somewhat easier. You cant avoid being very humble when you look at other masters work here on MWS. Joints without gaps, straight and true pieces and all. Well well, I might get there some day when time permits.

Here are a couple of images of the work so far. Stem and stern are glued and pinned even though I really dont think they would fall off without pins. I took a hot kettle of water to make the stem part with the keel. And it is not really the keel either since it will be a waterline model.

Pictures, yes, here they are:

Camera in question is the cell phone, hence the warped corners. 

Next up will be to form a floor/bottom for the boat. Since the boat will be half full with sand to position candles in I want to make it a confined structure.

Thank you for your interest.

I dont mind chair squeeking, the row up front is almost always available (at least in church ...lol )

Today I practised sanding to true angles. Big pieces make for forgiving progress...

Pinned and glued. The bamboo pin blends nicely into the oak.

Next up will be the keel, I think.

What I forgot to say is that it will be a waterline model. And for constructions, well, I will return to that topic further down the line.

Hi fellow builders!

So, first scratch build as well as first build in a fairly long time...what can be of this you say. Actually it is a build that I've been commissioned to do. That doesnt happen too often. For this particular commission I will not charge any payment, it is for pure fun.

Quick background story (to keep with MSW rules of non-this and non-that content):

Our pastor came up to me and asked about ideas for a candle holder to place in our church. A candle holder, usually found in Lutheran and Catholic churches, can have the form of a globe, a tree or just a box filled with sand to put small Christmas tree sized candles in.

"A boat" was my immediate thought. I tested the idea and it was received well so I went home and took out my sketchbook. But what form should the boat be of? Anything open of course. Reverted to Google that told me about a excavation some 30 years ago at the shore of the Sea of Galilee.

http://www.jesusboat.com/Story-of-the-Jesus-Boat

How appropriate! A boat from the time around the start of our calendar. Not unlikely a type that Jesus, himself, rode in.

Search "Galilee" in our forums and you will see both scratch builds as well as kit.

Anyway, out from my pencil came the below sketch. Never mind the tables, they are a separate story. The sketch was presented to the board and accepted. Return question was: "When can it be ready?"

Guess I have to start making sawdust.

But first I made a card skeleton to grasp the needed size. As it turned out the finished boat needed to be some 20% bigger than the card model.

Obviously the finished boat will be of wood, not card. But card is quick and easy to do a mock up in.

Scale, might someone ask for. No such thing. My boat will some 75 cm long from stem to stern. I have blown up the mid section to care for more candles. There is some plan of the real thing on the site above which shows a flat bottom, rather upright sides and curved stem and stern and then the distinct feature of the cutwater. Like found on Roman ships of the time.

Wood then? It will be oak. Rather uncommon on these pages because of it coarse grain. The real thing was build in Mediterranean species of which I have none...also the size of my model will cater for rather sturdy dimensions. Oak is known to bend well and it looks great when aged. Another feature of the oak I will use is that it is salvaged from an old motor boat from the 1940s...the trees that was used started to grow some 200-250 years ago...

Here are some pieces that I picked out, arent they nice?

Well, after some hand planing and a couple of runs through my thickness planer the blanks for the stern looks like this:

That is how far I've come now. 

As always, daywork will interfere with time in the workshop, but I will make the most of it.

Dito everyone else

Just so you know I'm still around...

Nice looking pins Thomas!

For the record, a lathe, (wood or steal) is not really needed. I did the same trick with my Dremel clamped to my bench and then, as you describe, using needle files and sand paper.

Anything that can hold a pin of less then 2mm in diameter and spin it quick enough (at least some 1000rpm) will do.

I also tried tooth picks but found them to be too soft so I switched to pear or if it was apple instead in my Regina build.

uhm...wow...this was a small treat to find! Love your work Thomas. Very clean and exact. Hat off for the figurehead also

What strikes me everytime I check your log Ed, is the cleanliness of your work. I can only imagine the time needed to accomplish this. Of course, the soft tone in the photographs might hide some, but still. Remarkable and something to strive for.

Hi Ed, your build log is such eye candy. One amazing 3D puzzle.

True that about the domestic support Dan!

Great work also

So much eye-candy Ed, fantastic!

Hey BnB!

The language on the plan seems French to me. However, from some other plans by Chapman (of English heritage but born and grew up in Sweden becoming an institution in ship building for the Swedish navy in the late 18th century) it is mostly small-talk on the plans. Not rubbish, but nothing you would miss if you understood it. 

His predecessor was also an Englishman so, it is fairly safe to assume that he had the Admiralty style in building. But then he also did some years in France, hence the language on your plan.

Your start looks promising and I hope that you can keep the build going!

Hi Mark, I truly understand your decision. We learn as we go and I like the #9 point on your list "Its a hobby - have fun!"

I've marked a seat in the back row since I'm not that active at the moment.

True that, will need to find my own source then...

the hull looks splendid, to say the least

Nice work Ed. My guess about the in situ work was that you use (constantly) razor sharp chisels...and exercise great care.

I appreciate your tutorial log, it is truly great.

Nice to see a variation of the wood used in that you use local species. 

Glad you found time also, for an update (pls hint we were you found it so I can source some time for myself also )

I use a very well sharpened 4H lead in a mechanical pencil. Thanks for your kind compliment.

 

As for "Do I paint? Don't I paint?", I have one suggested solution. Build two models!

 

The stern looks like it's shaping up well, Mark. I like your micro-adjustable support. 

And add another 20 years worth of building?

Regarding your build Mark, I can't find the words to comment. It is too darn stunning. 

"Controlled violence" - I liked that

and as all Billings builders, you've noticed their sparse manuals. But I think you master it with your trial and trial again approach.

Very subtle difference...good tip though, to start the line at keel, to get a more natural curve.

Ahhh . . . to have the luxury of being able to savor the journey. . . my customers rarely care about the process.  Thankfully, I can come here to enjoy the journeys of my colleagues and friends. 

 

Be well

 

Dan

Then of course Dan, you could build something for yourself in between and not always on commission...

then you could enjoy the journey as well as the final result.

Mij, I too know the feeling of putting a lot of hours in the scrap bin...just to remake and be happy. You have our support anyway!

Do you mean to tell me the boy at the museum was right in asking if you were doing it right?  John, if the Stag was not right I’ll accept not being right any day.

 

Bob

I was thinking the same, but you beat me to it Bob

uhm, that car looks really...vintage...and in desperate need of TLC (time, labour, cash)...

How is the Vic going?

Funny-thing, went past Dal-Rostock last weekend, had a very good meal at the Asian diner in Mellerud  

That is excellent Rob!

Congratulations for a job very, very well done!

Just wow, amazing...just amazing.

Found this 15 min documentary from 1936. Unfortunately it is in swedish, but the sail handling is general.
I must say, it adds another dimension, seeing the lads running up the rigging (rig-rats, perfectly appropriate term).

And also hoisting the anchor...team-work allover.

The ship in question is af Chapman which was static already then. (servers as a youth hostel since many years).

Najaden and Jarramas, both sail training vessels. 

Najaden is now also static in Halmstad, since many years, and Jarramas is undergoing re-rigging in Karlskrona.

Enjoy!

http://www.svtplay.se/klipp/164957/marinens-skolskepp-najaden-och-af-chapman-1936

Dang, first row already taken...2nd row for me then

I agree about the profile, looks a bit unusual with that rounded stem, but what do I know about that, really

(I feel the elbow in my waist John...yes, I will get on with it )

Excellent clarity in your work Joss.

Am glad to follow as it progresses.