Bedford

I said I had a different project in mind and here it is 

I have been working on a little project lately, something I've wanted to do for years, making my own boat.

It's an Iain Oughtred design, Tammie Norrie, a 4.5mtr (15 foot) clinker sailing dinghy.

I'm really enjoying using full sized hand tools, especially the planes but the lessons learned in ship modelling have been a huge help.

Well the lengths one has to go to in order to find a new build.

I went into the museum today, no model stand, wander around, find new little corner and what do you know, there's a lovely bit of framing of the Meteor with your name on it. 

I thought she looks a bit different from your other models so I'll be very interested in this one. 

And now I learn I'll have to be patient, shall do, all the best John.

Mate I love the couta boats but the rangers leave them for dead, they're just gorgeous. I must admit it was nice, thanks to your build, to be able to identify them to the ships master who agreed with how beautiful they are.

I was out on Sydney Harbour at the wheel of the 1902 stem tug Waratah on Sunday and we came across a small fleet of these up near Rose Bay from memory. They truly are beautiful boats!

Keith, I've been fearing the withdrawal since you finished so thanks for giving me hope!

Mighty decent of your wife to hold off on the injury til you had it done!

Just SUPERB, well done.

As for the prop I know what you mean about prop walk, the 1902 tug I crew always had the tow rope on the port bollard (plane to see by the wear) and that's because it counters the prop walk. I also think wintergreen might be right in that it would have been too hard to install a centre prop or perhaps even the stern post doesn't allow enough room to do so.

Oh mate, I can relate to that!

The build has had such great direction from the get go, it would be a shame for it to be without direction now

6 hours ago, shipmodel said:

Truly beautiful work, Keith - 

 

The launch and mother ship are beautiful together, and the stand is a piece of engineering worthy of any Museum of Fine Design.  It has been a privelege to follow along on your journey.

 

Dan

 

What he said!

Keith, I always write my name and the start date on one of the frames of all my ships

Well Keith when you build the white one I'll store this one for you and keep it out of the way.

Not sure if this is of assistance but it's how they tack the stays'ls on the James Craig. Splice the two clews together with a yolk and let the wind carry the sail across the stay.

Mark, I just use 60/40 resin cored solder or if you want a bit more strength you can use 40/60 but it has a higher meting point, I think 240 degC as opposed to 180.

I'd imagine you had problems getting it to take to the ring because it is heavier and takes longer to heat up. The metal heat sink (clamp) won't help either.

I'd use a small gas torch and heat it up focusing more on the ring than the rest then pull the flame away and touch the solder to the job to see if it melts and apply heat to the opposite side to draw the solder through. Always have the brass very clean and never touch flame and solder at the same time as the flux burns and nothing will stick.

Pick your superlative, I've run out !!!

Wow I can't believe it's been 2.5 years since I last posted on this, or did anything on the ship for that matter.

In a nutshell I have decided to strip her down and convert her to a powered ship which can be used as a tug perhaps. You see I was aiming at making the rigging work and I did it, that was my main goal. The trouble is that I can't see any way of successfully closing the deck without pulling out the running rigging and that's not possible.

On a side note, I have moved to outer Sydney and am a volunteer with the Sydney Heritage Fleet, the owners of the James Craig. I work on the 1902 steam tug Waratah and crew her on occasion. I guess I am getting a fair bit of ship experience there as well instead of the model work. That said I do have another interesting project in mind and it will test me in different ways.

Steve

Sorry mate, didn't mean to make you second guess yourself

I always look in to see your progress and am never disappointed. I will point out something my woodwork teacher taught me in high school (he'd probably fall off his chair if he knew I'd been paying attention but I'd imagine he's fallen off the coil already)

"Never assume anything is square or plumb" a sheet of ply isn't always square and a door frame isn't always vertical !

That said it looks pretty plumb.

Keith, you never fail to amaze, inspire and teach!

I really love every aspect of this build

Glad I'm not the jealous type or I couldn't enjoy this build, it's nothing short of spectacular!

Keith, you and I will surely fade away but I hope the model survives the millennia

I love the craftsmanship in this build and have one question about the beautiful brass work, how are you going to keep it shiny over the years?

Magnet stop on the machine vice, another one for the memory banks!

Keith when it comes to stumbling upon the info you desperately need you are no Robinson Caruso!

With my big RC schooner build I planned it for ages and kept files on the computer knowing I'd need to refer back to them and when the time came I was completely stumped until I went back through the computer for inspiration and there in front of my eyes was the very info I needed, stored safely with forethought and promptly forgotten!

This has to be one of the most beautiful builds I've ever seen!

 This is one of the most beautiful pics I've seen! 

Thanks so much for that, another post of yours saved for the future!