themadchemist

That second photo says it all!

Just beautiful, You really have me wanting to attempt a clinker planked boat. Your symmetry is as always, remarkable.

BTW Ron, are you using a plan in the planking stagger. I'm assuming that helps on being able to use narrower strake stock on the heavy spiling needed, but I would think that would be offset by the difficulty of making the complete strake lay perfectly. That issue at plank 3 doesn't seem to even be noticeable now.

I also really like how she is removable from the solid former.

Nice work. She has a lovely sheer line. It's good to see progression on a great project.

I wonder what the fascination with this little boat is caused from. This kit has seen some heavy bashing, which I'm loving. For me its the hull shape plus that it is a vessel that is capable of one person sailing her. That walnuts is going to look great also, it's a nice coffee brown, which I really like.

Thanks for the updates.

I completely understand your analogy of this to chess. I too find myself spending a lot of time researching. Its a part of this hobby I knew coming in it would be required and it is one of the reasons that I was drawn into this hobby. I sometimes feel as much joy at figuring something out in my mind as I do creating it. I love the mix of tactile and cerebral that this hobby provides.

By the way, the yard really fill out the top nicely Grant. She's really coming along nicely. Beautiful build.

Oh I recently purchased Laughton's book Old Ship Figure-heads and Sterns. We had discuss the Vicky pre-refit about colours and stern. This book has some pictures of the stern, quarter and head dated 1765 and they are quite different. The 1765 figurehead was amazingly different. I'd love to see someone attempt a 1765 version of this wonderful vessel. I'm still looking for when she was painted the black and ochre and what she was prior. The Laughton book gives a great breakdown of the decorative changes that occurred through the 18th century, from 1703 to 1817, on all the HMS vessels. Although 1st rates were sometimes exempt from the reductions.

This should get interesting in about 2 more planks .

Beautiful work so far Ron.

I'm really looking forward to seeing the clinker planking. It's on my list of goals to one day be able to achieve satisfactorily. One would think it would be easier as planks tend to clinker anyway unless spiled correctly, but sanding can remedy uneven carvel planking, but not so on clinker planking.

Keep up the excellent work.

Thank you for the added information Matt. I loved seeing you creating your our finish. Too me its a lost art of this hobby and wood working in general.

I've seen oil paints also used as colorants, typically the umber's and sienna's. I've also come across the use of mineral oil, olive oil, tung oil and other oils in researching the internet.

One interesting thing I have found is the use of a hairdryer to mildly heat the wax so it penetrates the wood after application and before buffing. As with anything penetration is going to be wood dependent.

As for the smell, as a chemist I'm use to the smell of organic solvents I suppose. Acetone is the only one I really don't care for the smell to much. Ventilation is always the key in making preparations. I find the natural and ancient finishes very interesting, including the art of shellac and French polishing. I guess it is just the explorer in me. Thanks again and your ship is going to be quite fantastic, as it already is and its not near completion. I'm looking forward to watching as you progress.

Hello Matt

You have a beautiful build going on a magnificent vessel. Your carvings are amazing and I especially like the carving in the stem.

On your recipe for the beeswax finish you mention parish? I'm not sure exactly what that is, could you give further information. Also I was wondering is the rosin added for colour or other properties. Also the same with the soap, what properties does it impart? I also was wondering if you have ever used carnauba wax in a mix as I read it helps create a harder surface? I have also seen boiled linseed oil used in some recipes, do you have any experience with that.

Sorry for so many questions, but as you said, one must get there hands dirty and experiment and I am in the process of gathering ingredients for testing. Knowing what properties each ingredient imparts helps in making the correct mix. Thank you for any advise you can give and also for sharing your Dutch Pinnace build Papegojan.

Very interesting video.

I like how they made the little guys arm move with the tiller. Plus the scratchy sound of that old ragtime vinyl was perfect background music.

Looking at the waterline on that build, it looks to be up on the side further. On masking tape, width is important. using thinner tape or electrical (which would stretch) would help.

Nice job Shawn. I never think waterlines look correct unless viewed from one angle. On some hulls they seem to look odd no matter how you look at them. To me it seems that it would come up more on the side in the mid-section... but then I've never done a waterline.

It also just occurred to me that it will appear as a ghost is steering as the tiller will move with the rudder, how cool

Since my disability, the pool out back has kind went back to nature, so to speak. I've mentioned turning it into a fish pond by stocking it with fish and sinking a few small tree in it. I could sit out back and fish. Anyway, your build has given me another use for it now also. I'd definitely be with you on the not being able to wait until spring side of things. Thanks for sharing this build and don't forget we all want to see her maiden voyage. Video preferable to just pictures so we can see her steam along.

Too another completed build

Nice job on the railing.

That should help make her less of a sleeve snag while working on her.

That last picture is at just the perfect angle to really show my favorite aspect of the Wasan. That teardrop shaped profile is just so gorgeous.

...and your painting highlights and washes really make her look real. Its funny, you find the shaping and sanding tedious and the painting Fun and it is the opposite for me. Keep up the excellent work my friend, she's really stating to take shape.

Nice detail.

Its all straight lines, but the angle of intersection make this a real work of art... and patience.

So the foresail, jib and flying jib (if present) are always stacked with the foresail windward, then the jib and then the flying jib (if present) most leeward? Is that correct?

So clew lines must be changed as the ship/boat changes tack angles? 

The picture also shows a boom on the foresail. is that attached at the foremast or the stem, from the picture its hard to see. From my study of pilot boats, one of their key build parameters was to run as light a rig as possible. Most fore gaff sails are boomless, I'm I correct in that they call that flying sheet and the clew is tied as discuss above.

So what is the advantage of the boom, or is it a necessity with a larger sail?

Sorry for being mister question, but I love understanding the mechanics of how it works.

I thought I smelled sawdust.

I just love the fore and aft rig of a schooner. That's one of the issues on my DSotM build is whether to increase the canvas. I love the jib sail but on the DSotM the fore mast is too far forward and would require adding a jib boom. Although I'd love to do that the rigging would obscure the figurehead. I'd planned a bluenose but really like the Lettie G Howard as she's a beauty and somewhat less built. Nice Choice of topics to build, Sir. Can't wait to see how she finishes out and at the rate your building Cap'n'Bob, she'll be done by March.

So for those of us that are learning, what does "her jib is backed" actually mean.

I calculate at 75' and 1:48 she should be a nice sized build around 18". I do question if she breaks the rule of building what you can singlehandedly sail thouhgh. So I'll sign on as a student to learn sailing if you need the extra hand. I know one thing, We'd have FUN

Congrats Elmer, Rons work has also made me consider the LumberYards Oneida kit.

Having watched Ron's methods of extreme hand work, I have a sneaking feeling his first lesson will be like the karate kids mentor with a twist...

Sand on, Sand off

I've never seen any builder use so little and achieve so much. Ron proves with patience and sanding anything is achievable.

As when I did automotive body work, I'm sure its the same... 90% of the work goes to the prep and 10% the paint or finish.

Beautiful work Andy, Its obvious you have "mad" styrene forming skills, no wonder your serving machine design was styrene.

In my experience with glassing, the resin makes the mat/clothe disappear...but I've always used white chopped matting or clothe. Of course my experience with glassing is limited to automotive use and I've never mixed it and wood so this is new to me. I thought the tan colour might not disappear as well, but its invisible. So what type of epoxy did you use? and what did you thin it with? 

I enjoyed the video on glassing you posted, I like that he mentioned where to purchase the cloth. Its a much thinner cloth then I've used in the past. Although the stocking seem to have done the trick and they are cheaper and more easily accessible. 

You can't even see the stockings. I figured the tan colour would show more. This should really toughen up the surface and waterproof also.

Good work Shawn.

There nothing wrong with a good stalling. I've been stalling on the DSotM rigging for a bit now. I'm using the excuse that I need more time to make decisions.

I seem to do this at every step, but I feel it pays dividends as I do a better job when I don't rush things. Sometimes one needs time to let ideas sit and develop before jumping into a new part of a build. I assume that maybe this is worse on a first build, or a part of a build that one has never attempted before. Say rigging a gaff fore and aft rig versus a square rig.

To prevent too much guilt for loafing, I started my longboat project, which is turning out to be a lot of FUN .

Of course Popeye goes into Henry Ford mode and starts an assembly line. Everyone reacts differently to those mid-build blues.

I suggest some good tunes and a few hours on MSW, cruising through some of the great build logs. Although that sometime can make things more clear, but sometime worse. Michael Motts Bristol cutter gave me some great ideas on rigging that I want to use for my pilot boats rigging but now I must think about scaling them down. The 2 edged sword of reality. Don't forget that thinking things through is part of building also.

No matter how long you need. Your fans will be here waiting to see what you've done. Genius can not be rushed and the Berlin deserves only the best.

Appendix surgery, YIKES  ...and you shouldn't be renovating the kitchen after surgery. Relax and heal my friend.

This can give you some good study time.

I hope you are soon mended and back to 100%.

9 pages before I discover this build. I must be a sleep at the wheel.

Nice project! Can;t wait to see where this all leads.

For some reason ..I'm seeing reindeer pulling a boat.  That and a Griswald-esk million lights all over one    and a third called "no room at the inn" with a manger

Hey Matti

In the 2nd picture is the inset pic of the actual ship? The reason I ask is if so, it appears you've got it more correct then the engraving inset in the 1st pic.

I'm basing this on the doors which in the engraving from above appear vertical and yours are tilted back.

In the 2nd pic inset, the doors are tilted back also. The planking appears very close in picture 2. You are right about them needing some Matti Magic, it'll look great with some aging.

The actual pic also looks to have the planking closest to the stem canted as you have it. Although its really hard to tell for sure with the steps in the way. Those should be fun to fit. Also the stbd steps look different, are those replacements, or do you know? Your also right about an unevenness in the planks, especially in the cross pieces that form the gammoning holes. You have done a great job recreating a better build!

Is there any chance of a photo like #2 where your Wasan is tilted to match the picture. Enough to see the inner port in comparison to the actual. 

Have you ever considered a model of her as she sits now. That would really show off your abilities to weather and age.

I personally think the plank adjacent to the garboard is one of the hardest to lay, especially at the stem end. I remember having to force a lateral bend in them to get a good fit at the keel. The garboard could have had a tab longer (less rounded) shape. Its hard to guess that until trying to fit that next plank and as its second planked it won't show.

Looks like you have a perfect twist on the garboard, meaning they are edge to edge at the stem and twist nicely to sit flat against the false keel in back. Don't forget that part will have to be thinned to the thickness of the keel before fitting the keel. You will also need to start tapering the plank fore and aft otherwise the stem will fill and you'll have to drop planks. Of course that again is up to how picky you want to be. I did the 1st planking as though it was going to show, that way it gave me the practice. That experience taught me the I don't think I'll ever double plank again.

Keep on Planking, Your doing a fantastic job!

As far as my research goes on the pilot boat I really liked Cunliffe's - Pilots: the world of pilotage under sail and oar.
I haven't purchased it yet as there a google version but it is not complete and It's one on my list to have in hard copy.

It has some really great pic's, both art and photos. 

http://books.google.com/books?id=VNsGi3nmuaQC&pg=PA37&source=gbs_toc_r&cad=4#v=onepage&q&f=false

http://www.amazon.com/Pilots-Pilotage-Schooners-America-Britain/dp/0937822698

and here's the 2nd volume, I haven't seen it but assume its as nice a text as the 1st.

http://www.amazon.com/Pilots-Pilotage-Schooners-European-Watermen/dp/0937822760/ref=sr_1_22?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1387085566&sr=1-22

Has anyone seen or own this vol 2? I'd love a review and assume Dee Dee wouldn't mind the information. Cunliffe also has a new book titled. PILOT CUTTERS UNDER SAIL: Pilots and Pilotage in Britain and Northern Europe

I'm also curious about this one

http://www.amazon.com/PILOT-CUTTERS-UNDER-SAIL-Pilotage/dp/1848321546/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1387085915&sr=1-5

Hello Dee Dee

I've been spending more of my hobby budget recently on literature and am looking to add a few of Chapelle's texts. Which of his texts are you using for the lobster smack build?

Thanks

Thanks for the info as I'm working on filling in my library with more of Chapelle's work. As Chapelle passed away in 1975 I'm thinking the newer version is just a reprint by a differing publishing house. I've seen 2 different covers on the older book also. If I recall the other version has a white spine with blue covers and a black silhouette of a ship on it, that may be the just the text without the dust cover though.