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Everything posted by JohnW
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Latest progress and problem! I've been able to second plank the stern and made a start on the hull. The instructions suggest starting the second planking at the bulwarks and working down. I started that but at the third row down ran into a problem. From that point downwards I can't use any of my pegs and clamps to hold the second planks in place. I did try rubber bands around the hull which worked reasonably well until I realised that they were also crushing the bulwarks. For now I've decided to plank upwards and strengthen the bulwarks but the issue remains. I've tried using CA glue on the lower planks but that just seems to soak into the wood without sticking. I've also tried pins through the first planking and pressing against the second but that didn't seem to hold the walnut really tightly in place. As a result I've had to strip off a couple of rows with massive gaps. So a question for the more experienced builders. What do you use to hold the second planks in place while the glue dries if there is no means of clamping? Any help on this would be really appreciated. Thanks
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After getting the starboard bulwarks looking right I've now completed the port side. Had to tear off the top plank at the rear port side and start again as it just didn't look right but I think I've got there now. Good job Jotika provide some spares! Filling and sanding of the entire first planking is now complete and I'm hoping to start on the second planking later today.
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Some more progress. After struggling to get my head around the stern area I decided to fit the stern counter. This gave me a better idea of where the planking needs to fit in that area. Some success in tidying that area up now. I then needed to look at the bulwarks. The instructions are very vague but careful study of the plans showed where there needed to be some shaping. The removable parts of the bulkheads also provided some clues. I've just tackled the starboard side as I wanted to make sure that it worked as planned before committing myself on both sides. Seems to look OK. Obviously more filling to do.
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Hi Tony Keep meaning to go up to the NMM and get some photos. Sounds like it could be interesting. I did trial fit the parts that fit behind the door so they should be OK. I've just taken the momentous (for me) decision to remove the first row of planks and redo with the extra bends around the stern. Hopefully the hairdrying and a good helping of patience should help get the double bend in place.
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While I have some filler setting on the lower hull I've had a look at what's needed to first plank the bulwarks. The instructions are very clear that the bulkhead fascia needs to be fixed in place before extending the first planking upwards. A trial fit of the fascia with it resting on the lower deck shows that it will also be flush with the upper deck. Which in turn means that the upper deck planks will overhang. Not too happy about that so I have placed a short length of deck planking below the fascia before gluing it on. This should not only ensure that the upper deck planking is mounted up against the fascia but will also allow the lower deck planking to slide underneath which should give a better finish. My goodness those close ups really show where more sanding is needed!!
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Thanks mij and BE Tony - accordingly to the instructions the top plank should curve round to the gallery a bit like the black lines in the attached. I couldn't get it to bend that far. Thanks for the links I'll take a look - there may be some answers there. I don't think my problem is insurmountable though.
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It's been a while since I posted any progress, mainly because I managed to break every drill bit that I had that was suitable for making pilot holes for my map pins. new bits have arrived so I've managed to get stuck into the first planking. Couple of issues have come up. The bevelling of my bulkheads wasn't as good as I thought, especially bulkhead 3. I think I can rescue that with a bit of sanding and filling but a lesson learnt for the future. The other problem I have brewing is at the stern. The first row of planking was supposed to be in line with the main deck and also catch the stern gallery. I couldn't get it to do both without seriously forcing it. In the end I went with the natural curve and will now have to sort out the stern. Not sure yet whether to fit a small block and then fit the first planks over it or to fit a slightly larger block that would be flush with the first planking and so avoid the problem. As you can see I've started sanding the lower hull - some of it looked a bit clinker built - and will need to finish that off along with a bit of filling. Next up is the remainder of the first planking that forms the bulwarks. I'm planning to cut around the removable supports with a razor saw to weaken them just enough to make breaking them off easy. there is a lack of guidance as to what to do with these planks at the bow so I'll need to have a bit of a think there.
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Hi Tony It is getting much more interesting. So much easier to understand things like bearding lines when you have the bits in front of you. The infills took longer than I expected but I have succeeded in doing a reasonable job at both bow and stern. I was very wary with the bow in particular as it seems that it would be very easy to totally change the shape of the ship if not careful. Lesson learnt here was that it would have been easier to fit the infills without the bow piece in place. Ah well that's enthusiasm for you! With the infills in place I've now glued in the bulkheads and false decks, the latter held in place with pins for now. Everything is being left overnight now to set before I start on the first planking. Where it looks like the false keel and bulkheads might be visible (through the skylight and grating) I've painted both matt black. Everything now feels much more solid and is literally much more ship shape.
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First picture below. This was after cutting the rabbets and mounting the bow piece and keel. Decks and bulkheads are dry fitted at this stage. Bulkhead 11 at the stern is missing only because without either the stern post or glue it won't stay in place! Balsa for the bow and stern infills has arrived so that will be task for the evening.
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Quick update. Rabbet cut on the bow and keel sections before mounting the walnut pieces. Bearding line and trimming of the stern section underway. Main deck slightly trimmed to allow the walnut bow piece to fit properly. Hopefully the balsa will arrive tomorrow so that I can produce some in fill blocks - especially for the bow. All being well some photos tomorrow as well.
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Hi Tony That's very good timing. I've been trial fitting the bulkheads this weekend. The first 4 needed quite a bit of fettling and then the rest went in pretty well out of the box. I'd seen all the comments about bearding lines and filing of material in the other build logs and planking primers. There doesn't seem much opportunity to do this at the bow and it isn't mentioned at all in the instructions or plans. There is probably more room at the stern though so I'll have a look there. i was also wondering about whether or not to fit the keel, bow and stern posts before planking as per the instructions. It seems to me that would increase the chance of damaging them when sanding the planking.If I take some material off below the bearding line am I reducing the gluing area when it comes to fitting the keel etc? The false keel is only 3mm and the walnut keel just 4mm. I guess if I take the false keel down to 2mm then that would leave 1mm each side for the planking to butt up against. In fact I've probably just answered my own question as the gluing area will also include some of the planking I think? While I had the chance I've also trial fitted the mast dowel as the mounting slots in the false keel and bulkhead 4 will be impossible to reach once planked. Lucky that I did as the bulkhead needed a bit of work to allow the dowel to fit. Hopefully the balsa will arrive in the next day or so as the extra re-inforcing provided for the bow looks totally inadequate. All the best John
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Thanks Tony I have some balsa on order as the kit only comes with minimal extra strengthening at the bow and nothing at the stern. Good point about the base. I'm not so keen on the cradle provided and will have a look at what is available for pedestal mounting. Your last point is a good one - I thought I had posted when I first joined but on checking I hadn't. message there now. Thanks for all your help Cheers John
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Hello everyone My name is John and although I’ve been a member for a few months now I’ve been lurking in the background and checking out all the kit builds. I’ve been modelling for many years, mostly plastic and resin kits. I did have a bash at a wooden kit, the Del Prado Bounty, when it was published. Got as far as completing the first planking but then had to put it aside and when I went back to it most of the remaining parts had warped. So time to start again. After looking at the available kits I decided to go with Caldercraft. They seem to have a good reputation and I like the idea of having a number of contemporary models available all to the same scale. I was thinking of one of the smaller and to be honest cheaper models (under £100) just in case I make a real hash of it. That brings the list down to Ballahoo, Chatham, Convulsion or Sherbourne. With no real preferences amongst those it came down to Chatham simply because I picked up an unstarted kit for a little over £50 on EBay. I appreciate that smaller doesn’t necessarily mean easier but I think this is the right approach for me. I haven’t been able to find any build logs here for Chatham so I’ve decided to start one. It is a bit nerve wracking going public as there are many super modellers here and I’ve no idea how this is going to turn out (or how long it will take). So here we go. No doubt I’ll have plenty of stupid questions along the way so any help and guidance would be much appreciated. First step – I’ve checked that everything is there (which it is) and I’m now resisting the urge to get stuck in and instead am having a good study of the plans and the rather flimsy instruction booklet.
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