Vivian Galad

Moving forward with a little progress.
I assembled 4 ribs free form and found there was too many parts to get consistent shape. 2 were O.K. but the other 2 needed remaking.
I made a form to build them on as these first 20 or so are mostly the same....
Ribs A through M are formed but not 100% complete as they still need bolting and the frame work for the ports and sweeps.
Undecided at this time to cut them now or wait and cut them later.
Thanks to all who showed up for the meeting.

Hi all, welcome to my build.
This will mostly be a pictorial rendition of the Washington. Every body likes pictures.
I'm not going to tell this crowd how to build ships.
There are other excellent build logs of this ship in progress and I'm pretty sure this will not be better than those but I will do my best.
This is my first scratch build so I'm riding the learning curve.
Feel free to over suggestions,criticisms ect.. or ask questions.
The main structure of the vessel is going to be Cherry. I'll use Holly for the deck planking, Swiss Pear for the hull planking and some Walnut for the Wales and
deck bits. This should give some nice color contrast.
I did the keel in three sections as "Yamsterman" suggested did make the rabbit much easier to work.
So without any farther Adieu here are some pics.
 

First coat of thinned down polyurethane satin varnish on the hull. Not sure about second coat in case it becomes gloss. Any advice welcome. Took the easy option and used the bronze Occre fittings for the gun ports instead of the making wooden ones.

 

And time for an update so you don´t think I´ve vanished again.
 
First of all, sorry for the low quality pics - I´ll have a new cam next month and be posting better ones.
 
As I said, I got a plan on changing the stern and, instead of making a new one (which would be a lot better), cut pieces from plywood and got rid from that steep curve - As it is now, well, not good looking I would say, but, I´ll cover it with a sheet cut and designed as a real stern should look - that said, my keel will be from the same wood, so, I´ll be changing the kit´s wood destined for it.
 

 
I´ve been planking decks. After I finished them I realized I could´ve done it other way, close to what it should be - following beams and such, but, then again the ship have no beams and I would have to create them - and I´ll try at least to reproduce something like them. Of course pictures won´t show, but pin holes were made - caulking coming soon.
 

So, I´ll show some cargo hold - don´t know if beams would be visible but decided to try some over the cargo hold - Not quite sure how I´ll make them - but I´m into reading so many things about and seeing so many pictures that I´ll figure it out soon enough. Still don´t know if I should plank the hull inside at the visible parts, so, I´m reproducing some more frames.
 

 



I´m using plywood, but will cover if needed.
 
It´s a small update, hope to be showing more soon.

Thank you, Piet! Just trying to do my best - and learning, always learning.

Hello Vivian, ah, I see you are in "kit bashing." Brave woman you are, tackling that but it looks like you are well on the way to get it to what you have in mind, nice work.
 
Cheers,

And time for an update so you don´t think I´ve vanished again.
 
First of all, sorry for the low quality pics - I´ll have a new cam next month and be posting better ones.
 
As I said, I got a plan on changing the stern and, instead of making a new one (which would be a lot better), cut pieces from plywood and got rid from that steep curve - As it is now, well, not good looking I would say, but, I´ll cover it with a sheet cut and designed as a real stern should look - that said, my keel will be from the same wood, so, I´ll be changing the kit´s wood destined for it.
 

 
I´ve been planking decks. After I finished them I realized I could´ve done it other way, close to what it should be - following beams and such, but, then again the ship have no beams and I would have to create them - and I´ll try at least to reproduce something like them. Of course pictures won´t show, but pin holes were made - caulking coming soon.
 

So, I´ll show some cargo hold - don´t know if beams would be visible but decided to try some over the cargo hold - Not quite sure how I´ll make them - but I´m into reading so many things about and seeing so many pictures that I´ll figure it out soon enough. Still don´t know if I should plank the hull inside at the visible parts, so, I´m reproducing some more frames.
 

 



I´m using plywood, but will cover if needed.
 
It´s a small update, hope to be showing more soon.

Hey, Piet. People here is always supportive - really friendly, truth be told. U may be the airplane guy, but I love your work on the latest submarines nearing this shores. Thanks for visiting, be welcome!

And time for an update so you don´t think I´ve vanished again.
 
First of all, sorry for the low quality pics - I´ll have a new cam next month and be posting better ones.
 
As I said, I got a plan on changing the stern and, instead of making a new one (which would be a lot better), cut pieces from plywood and got rid from that steep curve - As it is now, well, not good looking I would say, but, I´ll cover it with a sheet cut and designed as a real stern should look - that said, my keel will be from the same wood, so, I´ll be changing the kit´s wood destined for it.
 

 
I´ve been planking decks. After I finished them I realized I could´ve done it other way, close to what it should be - following beams and such, but, then again the ship have no beams and I would have to create them - and I´ll try at least to reproduce something like them. Of course pictures won´t show, but pin holes were made - caulking coming soon.
 

So, I´ll show some cargo hold - don´t know if beams would be visible but decided to try some over the cargo hold - Not quite sure how I´ll make them - but I´m into reading so many things about and seeing so many pictures that I´ll figure it out soon enough. Still don´t know if I should plank the hull inside at the visible parts, so, I´m reproducing some more frames.
 

 



I´m using plywood, but will cover if needed.
 
It´s a small update, hope to be showing more soon.

Wow! Those plans are something else! Be here too, can´t wait to see her coming alive!

Impatience, mostly. After all the preamble and preparation, I really wanted to see what she'd look like. If I'd done it in tandem it would have taken twice as long to find out. As she was done on a plug there was no danger of an imbalance of forces from the planks on one side causing her to warp before the others were put on.
 
Of course, I could have just taken the photos of one side and pretended I'd done both . . .
 
Steven
 
 

Thanks everybody for the likes. Much appreciated. Thanks for the compliments, Gerhard and Martin. I like the shape too. It's nice to be making such an elegant ship.
 
Martin, you live in Gisborne! We're practically neighbours!
 
Latest - I've now completed the second last plank on the port side. As mentioned before I had to miss the top one because of the screws in the way. I'll come back to it later. I've put in the drop planks now, and it's looking pretty good. A bit of filling needed, unfortunately, but not too much (it looks a lot worse in the photos than in real life).
 




I've temporarily packed out the planking at the tail so it lines up as well as possible with the curved gunwale. I'm hoping I don't have to do too much adjustment at this spot.  I might have to add another layer of planking to get a smooth line - I won't know till I put in the top plank.

 
I've not yet used a third of the plank sheeting Woodrat sent me, which is a relief. I was wasting a few at the beginning and I was worried I'd run out before I finished. But it looks like it should be ok.
 
I've started planking the starboard side. I felt I had to at least make a start on that, otherwise I'd be tempted to rest on my laurels.
 

And I've worked up a design for the stand for the ship to rest on. This is half of it - it's mirrored at the right hand side (where you can see the slot for the keel). There will be two of these transverse to the hull, about 1/3 of the way in from each  end, and sitting on a base running along the length of the ship. I'll be carving it in 3 dimensions in pear wood. The design itself is based on one found on an 11th century openwork Byzantine hanging lamp, so it's appropriate to the time and culture.
 

 
 

Thanks everybody for all the 'likes'
 
More planking - at last she starts to take shape as a ship rather than just a framework!
 
Not totally satisfied with my planking - I realise I still have a lot to learn about it, but the only way to do so is to practice practice practice - and I think for a first time it's not too bad. The gaps I've left between planks are pretty small and can be filled with wood dust and glue. But those scarph joints are a real trial!
 
Closing up the gap between the first and second wale (counting from the keel). Two strakes between the wales - one in place, the other has the forwardmost plank glued in, and the other two planks shaped but not yet in place.
 

As I mentioned before, I'll need to sand the hull smooth - it's supposed to be carvel built, not clinker! (the overlaps between planks are a result of my inexperience and my use of push pins to hold the planks in place). I'm learning as I go. You can see places where I've tried a little preliminary sanding and I think it will end up ok.
 
And here she is with the gap closed up. Note the scarph joints.
 

 


The dark pencilled-in semi-circles are where the oarports will be. I have to be very careful about placement; I've only got half the frames in place at the moment - the rest will follow after I've finished the planking - and the width of the oarport is the same as the gap between frames - there's only just enough room to fit the oarports in.
 
I had hoped not to have to use stealers or drop planks, but with the shape of the rear 'tail" and the position of the wales I didn't have much choice and had to add drop planks. Note, the Viking longships didn't need them - they had planks following the curve of the ship's ends - but they didn't have wales to complicate the issue. It is known that dromons did have wales to strengthen them, and early during the design process I had to work out their position and shape, and now I'm living with the consequences. I've had to make the best of it, but I think it still doesn't look half bad.
 
Two designs for the drop planks at the "tail", one with four main planks between the wales, one with three. As it turned out I'm not following either exactly - I'm doing a variation on the second one.
 


 
Steven

I'm more than 1/4 way through the planking now. It's not as tidy as I'd like - I've learnt a lot of lessons during the process about proper preparation of the substructure (i.e. getting all the frames at exactly the same level) which I didn't do this time. I first cut grooves in the plug for the frames, then I changed my mind and decided to get rid of the grooves and have the frames stand out proud of the plug - which is what I should have done in the first place.
 
But because I couldn't cut the grooves precisely enough to the same depth with a handsaw they were all at slightly different depths and even after smoothing off the plug some of the frames still sit in the remnants of the grooves, while others sit fully proud of the plug. So I end up with wobbly planks.
 
I've fixed that to a certain degree using filler made from white glue and wood dust. But I should have used dust from the (pine) planks instead of re-using the stuff from the (plane tree) frames and wales, because the colour of the filler doesn't match the planks. Not a big problem - I'm going to paint the bottom of the ship black to simulate pitch or tar, and the sides will be red and yellow, as befits the Imperial dromon.
 
Five planks (plus garboards) in place:
 


 
Another problem that has arisen is that the planks seem to tilt somewhat, so the edge of the new plank is a little higher than the edge of the previous one. I think this is because I've been using push pins to hold the planks in place as the glue dries. The pins push on only one side of the plank, so no matter how careful I am, it tilts a little. I can  sand this smooth, but it offends me that I couldn't get it right first time. I'll have to find a better method of holding the planks in place.
 
Putting the sixth in place:
 


 
By the way, with the last plank so close to the wale, the flanges of the push pins were getting in the way, so I trimmed off one side of each flange and it fitted well. Dunno what I'm going to do with the last plank - nowhere for the pin to go - maybe I'll just have to hold the plank in place with my fingers till the glue dries . . .
 
But if I ever make another dromon (fat chance!) I'll know what mistakes to avoid. All part of life's rich tapestry.
 
I've also done preliminary painting on my two figures. Haven't sanded fully enough (a fact that isn't obvious until you take a detailed close-up photo) and I have yet to paint faces and the guardsman's hair, add shading etc etc , but it's starting to look good.
 

 
Steven
 
 

Nice!
Steve

And time for an update so you don´t think I´ve vanished again.
 
First of all, sorry for the low quality pics - I´ll have a new cam next month and be posting better ones.
 
As I said, I got a plan on changing the stern and, instead of making a new one (which would be a lot better), cut pieces from plywood and got rid from that steep curve - As it is now, well, not good looking I would say, but, I´ll cover it with a sheet cut and designed as a real stern should look - that said, my keel will be from the same wood, so, I´ll be changing the kit´s wood destined for it.
 

 
I´ve been planking decks. After I finished them I realized I could´ve done it other way, close to what it should be - following beams and such, but, then again the ship have no beams and I would have to create them - and I´ll try at least to reproduce something like them. Of course pictures won´t show, but pin holes were made - caulking coming soon.
 

So, I´ll show some cargo hold - don´t know if beams would be visible but decided to try some over the cargo hold - Not quite sure how I´ll make them - but I´m into reading so many things about and seeing so many pictures that I´ll figure it out soon enough. Still don´t know if I should plank the hull inside at the visible parts, so, I´m reproducing some more frames.
 

 



I´m using plywood, but will cover if needed.
 
It´s a small update, hope to be showing more soon.

And time for an update so you don´t think I´ve vanished again.
 
First of all, sorry for the low quality pics - I´ll have a new cam next month and be posting better ones.
 
As I said, I got a plan on changing the stern and, instead of making a new one (which would be a lot better), cut pieces from plywood and got rid from that steep curve - As it is now, well, not good looking I would say, but, I´ll cover it with a sheet cut and designed as a real stern should look - that said, my keel will be from the same wood, so, I´ll be changing the kit´s wood destined for it.
 

 
I´ve been planking decks. After I finished them I realized I could´ve done it other way, close to what it should be - following beams and such, but, then again the ship have no beams and I would have to create them - and I´ll try at least to reproduce something like them. Of course pictures won´t show, but pin holes were made - caulking coming soon.
 

So, I´ll show some cargo hold - don´t know if beams would be visible but decided to try some over the cargo hold - Not quite sure how I´ll make them - but I´m into reading so many things about and seeing so many pictures that I´ll figure it out soon enough. Still don´t know if I should plank the hull inside at the visible parts, so, I´m reproducing some more frames.
 

 



I´m using plywood, but will cover if needed.
 
It´s a small update, hope to be showing more soon.

Hey, Piet. People here is always supportive - really friendly, truth be told. U may be the airplane guy, but I love your work on the latest submarines nearing this shores. Thanks for visiting, be welcome!

Hello mates!
 
Comes the weekend, its shipbuilding time! 
 
In advance, I´m heeding your words and will change the bow, so it wouldn´t look as much as the Mataró´s. I adjusted a little bit the center of the ship ro receive the cargo deck, but after seeing Dori´s start on her new ship and re-reading Woodrat´s marvelous log, felt a little down on myself for not thinking on creating the lower deck, the cargo deck, lowering my frames, all of them. Maybe the kit´s instructions got into my mind and I just got with the flow. Hope the sensation vanishes at some point - I´ll get the ship going and throw away my frustrations as the Mataró´s itself is my next project and will be pof.
 
First picture, that massive wooden block I had to sand till my hands were falling off the wrist. It will be responsible for bending the planks on the right direction. Since I´ll change the bow a little, think they´ll be more drivers and have a little less influence on planking. First one I took to the saw piece at piece, second one I tried to sand directly from the final piece and, well, first one is the way to go.
 

 
 
Second picture shows the cargo deck on place. I lowered it a bit to gain space for beans (think they´ll be on sight). I´ll plank it too, but I´m still thinking what will be it like, so, let´s wait a bit.
 

 
I´m planking decks already. Corel didn´t provide me with the wood for planking, or the last owner (kit comes from e-bay). Had some since I got new ones for the Oseberg (too thin, since I want to plank the Oseberg directly over the frames - have to put that on the Oseberg´s log, by the way).
 

 
Next picture shows where the planking belong.
 

 
I haven´t fixed the frames on the aft and stern for I´m still planning the cabins. Still don´t know what they should have for furniture.
 
And the work is going on - The bow line as of Corel´s, the sanded block on place and the mod I´m doing to it, so it will be a little less bended up.
 


 

And that´s all for this update. As always, suggestions are welcome. ^^
 
 
 

And time for an update so you don´t think I´ve vanished again.
 
First of all, sorry for the low quality pics - I´ll have a new cam next month and be posting better ones.
 
As I said, I got a plan on changing the stern and, instead of making a new one (which would be a lot better), cut pieces from plywood and got rid from that steep curve - As it is now, well, not good looking I would say, but, I´ll cover it with a sheet cut and designed as a real stern should look - that said, my keel will be from the same wood, so, I´ll be changing the kit´s wood destined for it.
 

 
I´ve been planking decks. After I finished them I realized I could´ve done it other way, close to what it should be - following beams and such, but, then again the ship have no beams and I would have to create them - and I´ll try at least to reproduce something like them. Of course pictures won´t show, but pin holes were made - caulking coming soon.
 

So, I´ll show some cargo hold - don´t know if beams would be visible but decided to try some over the cargo hold - Not quite sure how I´ll make them - but I´m into reading so many things about and seeing so many pictures that I´ll figure it out soon enough. Still don´t know if I should plank the hull inside at the visible parts, so, I´m reproducing some more frames.
 

 



I´m using plywood, but will cover if needed.
 
It´s a small update, hope to be showing more soon.

Hey, Piet. People here is always supportive - really friendly, truth be told. U may be the airplane guy, but I love your work on the latest submarines nearing this shores. Thanks for visiting, be welcome!

Thanks all for the warm welcome back!
 
So here's some progress. The forward strokes of the spriketting are done. Two layers of wood are used, they are now thin enough to bend by hand and set them in place to do the final shaping to match the waterway. They are done anchor stock style, so not having to do wet/warm bending them is a big plus. 
 
The first layer is intentionally done a bit wider and cut to size after the second layer is fixed (the surplus is seen in the second pic)
Getting to fay the planks into the waterway called for some additional sanding and shaping to get a clean transition.
 

 

 
The quick work will be thinner and can probably be done with a single layer of planking. 
 
Remco
 

Thanks guys.
Greg the pins are easy to make, I think they rank amongst the top 10 most used tools in my build.
Ben, with my scroll saw they were relative easy to make and there were no remakes :-) 
 
I couldn't find an appropriated sized piece of brass for the iron knee so I made it from boxwood and tinted it black with Fiebing's leather paint
I'm also doing lot's of mortice cutting for the remaining carlings and ledges.
 


 
A little off topic, but it was time to make a better storage for my chisels. They used to wander over my bench  with the tip protected by a little piece of isolation foam. This was a nice little project, keeps them safe and organized  
 

 
 
 
Remco
 

The pinnace was build from a NMM plan 

Building the cutter using the Admiralty models plug