KevinR

Patrick, I sometimes wish that I could show of the internal framing. I too like the way it looks. I like the way you do the cut-away on your models.
 
I left off a "8 hinges" from the list of items I need to make.
 
A last update before the end of the weekend. I made the deck beams that will support the forward cabin. It went pretty quick, I only had to remake a couple of the parts.

HinKevin
 
You're back!!! I was wondering what had happened to you. I'm sorry to hear that you've scrapped your original Skipjack. It must've been a hard decision, but I wish you every success with this new ship.
 
All the best!
 
Patrick

Patrick,
Thank you for stopping by and for your kind works. This being my first scratch build I am happy with how the planking has turned out. But the pictures do not show everything, there are gaps at the edges and some of the planks did not lay as flat as they should. The plank thicknesses are not uniform, so I have had to soften the edges of some with a chisel blade or else they would be trip hazard.
 
I am also working at 1:24 scale, not the small scale you work at. Patrick, your planking on that scale is amazing. 1:24 scale has some advantages. I believe the gaps are not as obvious as they are in smaller scales. The drawback I am finding, is that a lot of the detail that can be omitted at the smaller scale, would be noticed if missing at 1:24 scale. When I started I figured I could get this done in about a year. I have been working on this for 7 months (I did take 2 months off over the summer, so say 5 months actual working). I think I will be doing good to have started the deck planking when 1 year rolls around.
 
I am trying to plan out long term, so I will not have to rush to get supplies when I need them. There are several items that will need to scratch built.
Windlass Stove Coffee Pot ( You can't go to sea without Coffee) Winder (Dredging Winch) Dredge Rollers Oyster Dredge Dredge A-Frame Steering Mechanism 2 Lanterns Running Lights I have been on the look out for Items that would be useful in building those parts. I believe my best find was some decorative gears at the local Michaels Craft Store. I have picked up 2 sizes of wooden barrels, fish hooks with straight shanks and some assorted brass.

Hopefully I can use some of the gears in the winder and the windlass.

Hi Everyone,
Well I spent the past 3 days planking the Ceiling Floor in the hold and the forward cabin. Next I think I am going to finish the deck beams and the forward cabin bulkhead and bunks. I need to stat planning for paining as well. I want to paint the interior before I glue the deck beams on. Ben Lankford in his book stated that the interior of the boats were painted grey. I would have thought the interior would have been white to reflect as much light as possible. I guess I will look for a light grey. I have not decided weather to paint the interior by brush or airbrush. When I have been around wooden boats the interior seems to have had a buildup of paint on all of the surfaces. I am planning on airbrushing the hull.

Mike, Welcome aboard!
 
Michael, I believe I read that the average life expectancy of a Skipjack was 20 years. Of course The actual life expectancy for each boat varied based on how well they were maintained. The Skipjack Kathryn was built for oyster dredging about 1901, and worked until ~2008. From the survey Kathryn appeared to have been in much better shape than EC Collier and to have had fewer stop-gap repairs.
"KATHRYN is not typical of the skipjacks in her construction. Most skipjacks were cross-planked and built principally of pine. KATHRYN's bottom is plankd fore-and-aft, and most of her original structural members and her bottom planks are oak. This construction technique allowed the builders to round the chin much more than is found on cross-planked skipjacks. Kathryn is the only skipjack known to have fore-and-aft planking and a rounded chine." (Taken from the "Historic American Engineering Record" for the Two Sail Bateau "Skipjack" - Kathryn.) I believe the Kathryn was built by someone who, just believed, that the boat should be built to last.
 
Thanks everyone for stopping by,

A belated welcome to JesseLee. And Welcome Dave and Druxey.
 
Thank you everyone for all the complements and the likes.
 
Cap'n'Bob, I like the detail of the framing and the cross planking as well. It it is a shame to hide it, I just hope the ceiling floor will look good enough to make up for it. What is really a shame, is the whole thing will be painted except for the wainscoting in the aft cabin.
 
Marty, after drilling a couple of holes in the keelson and trying to join the holes together, I decided I really did not want a working centerboard. Maybe next time.
 
My first foray into scratch building should have been with a set of plans, not a book showing how easy it is to build a skipjack. If I was to do it all over again I would build the EC Collier. The plans are very detailed and combined with the information for the Willie Bennet, would make a beautiful and detailed model. 
 
If someone wanted to build a plank on frame model of a Skipjack, the plans for the Kathryn are almost as complete as the EC Collier's. I thought it was funny that the skipjack was suppose to be an easy and cheap boat to build and someone comes along and spends the extra money to build one plank on frame. i.e the Skipjack Kathryn. The Kathryn may look like the other Skipjacks but she was built to last. The EC Collier was made of pine and fir. The Kathryn used oak framing and I believe pine planking. The plans for both describe the materials used in the original construction. 
 
My plan is to leave the hatches open to both of the cabins and allow the hatch covers to be removed. This will allow viewing of the inside details. My fall back plan is to glue them shut if I screw it up. It is always good to have a plan.
 
Speaking of planning below is some of my planning for the aft cabin. I need to reduce the cabin hieght by about 6 inches.

 
 
 
 

Hi Everyone,
Well The weekend is over and I have made some progress. Most of the progress was in researching and planning my next move. I spent 3 days planning where to put everything. My skipjack is very close in size to the Willie Bennet, so I did not want to use the same deck layout. I was hoping to put the second cabin midship like on EC Collier and Kathryn, but there was not enough room. So I believe my only concession to be different is that the forward cabin will have a flat roof and not sloped like the Willie Bennet.
The living accommodations on the Skipjacks were pretty slim. The headroom in the aft cabin on the Willie Bennet was only 3-1/2 feet. On the EC Collier (50') which was 7 feet longer, the headroom was 5 feet in the aft cabin and 3-1/2 feet in the midship cabin. Apparently the second cabin on Skipjacks was only big enough to lay down in and the aft (main) cabin was barely big enough to sit and cook in.
 
I got back to work on the boat and added the aft strongback, the forward strongback with knees and started adding the ceiling floor in the fo'c'sle cabin.

I am trying to figure out where the mast goes. Looking at the three plan I get three different ratios for the mast placement.
1) Willie Bennett: Length of Deck 42' 6"; Distance of Mast from Stem 7' 4"; Ratio: 0.17254
2) EC Collier: Length of Deck 49' 8"; Distance of Mast from Stem ~8'; Ratio: 0.16108
3) Kathryn: Length of Deck 50'; Distance of Mast from Stem ~10' 6"; Ratio: 0.21
 
My Skipjack: Length of Deck 44' 6"; Distance of Mast from Stem 1) 7.678', 2) 7.168', 3) 9.345'
 
In am going to discount Kathryn's measurement because she is not typical. She is not cross planked like the usual skipjack. She is framed and fore and aft planked.
 
Using the Willie Bennett's and the EC Collier's measurements give me 6" (1/4" in scale) to play with when placing the mast. The rake of the mast is 80 deg. The top of the mast should be centered over the hold.
 
My spreadsheet says the mast should be 59.88' and I calculate it should be 10.4 feet foreword of the center of the hatches. That places my mast 1' aft from what I figured.  I also noticed the Willie Bennett's and my centerboard are place way forward of the other 2 skipjacks. Steve Rogers based his plans off of the Willie Bennett so that is why they match up. Was there that much variation is the placement of the Centerboard? I wouldn't thank so. The placement of the centerboard would affect the way the boat handled.  If I move the centerboard aft 1.8' that will change my inboard layout some. O well I will figure it out.
 
Thanks for reading my ramble. More will probably be coming as I try to figure out what I am doing.

Cap-n-Bob, Thanks for the complement. The cross planking is something different and it is a lot easier to install.
 
I have been working on the Centerboard Case and the midship deckbeams. When I started I ran into some problems with the plans and instructions by Steve Rogers. The Center Board case is suppose to be 1-1/2 inches (3 feet scale). The deckbeams are 1/2x1/4 inch strips. The deckbeams are suppose to be notched to fit over the shelf clamps (deck beam supports). The shelf clamps are installed 1/4 inch below the top of the side planks. When I started laying it out, for the deckbeams to be even with the top of the Centerboard Case, they would have to rest on top of the shelf clamps. This would also make the height of the deck camber 1/4 inch (6 inches scale). At the time 6 inch camber seemed excessive so I shortened the center board case by 1/8 inch and notched the deckbeams.
 
I notice today in the photos in the plans, that the shelf clamps looks like they are installed 1/8 inch below the top of the side planks. I also noticed that the deck will have a good rise at the bow. Re-thinking the 6inch camber now, it does not seem so excessive for a boat with a 14 foot beam.
 
I believe that the error was in the placement of the shelf clamps. They should have been placed at 1/8 inch vice 1/4 inch.
 
Now the big question is do I scrap the centerboard case and deck beams I worked so hard on this weekend or keep going with what I have? I had a lot of fun and learned a lot, this weekend working on the inside of the hull. I also believe I could do a better job if I did it all over. The Centerboard Case and deckbeams are just dry fitted so replacing them would not break any thing. The shelf clamps are glued on. I could cut them off and place a new one in the correct location. I have also thought about just running a 1/8 inch strip right above the current shelf clamp.
 
Now for the photos.

I have completed the planking on the Skipjack this evening.





I still have a lot of sanding to smooth out the planks and shape the blocks at the bow. The planks were purchased from National Balsa. The dimensions of the bass wood strips are not consistent and leave a lot to be desired. You get what you pay for.
 

Cap'n'Bob,
I check with my square after each plank. So far I have not had to taper any, but I am watching.
 
dgbot,
Actually the skipjack is a simple design, that is why I picked it as my first scratch build. Skipjacks were not built to a plan. The dimensions are all based on the length of the skipjack. Skipjacks were built in back yards, in some cases by the local carpenter with no boat building experience.
 
*Edited to clarify my meaning.

The skipjack is a traditional fishing boat used on Chesapeake Bay for oyster dredging. Skipjacks vary in size, usually 40 – 60 feet in length. They were not built from plans. Almost every dimension of the hull and rig is a ratio of the length of the hull.

Several weeks back, my wife and I went to the Reedvillle Fisherman's Museum in Reedville Virginia. They have a skipjack, Claud W. Somers, a deck boat, Elva C., a replica of Captain John Smith's barge (circa 1608) and what remains of a Chesapeake Bay Log Canoe. It is a small museum with lots of models, model train layout and a boat yard. While perusing the gift shop I came across Steve Rogers, Patricia Staby-Rogers  book “Model Boat Building: The Skipjack” and bought it. I was already working on MS Phantom, but I kept going back to this book.

So here is my build log for a 45ft skipjack. This is my first scratch build model. My primary source is the book “Model Boat Building: The Skipjack”. For reference and additional information I am using the plans for the MS Willie Bennett, Ben Lankford's  book “Modeling Guide for Model Shipways Kit willie L. Bennett” and a spreadsheet I found on line at http://msuweb.montclair.edu/~lebelp/Miscellany.html. The spreadsheet has the dimensions ratios used to build skipjacks and has come in very handy. “Model Boat Building: The Skipjack” talks about the ratios that are used to calculate the skipjack dimensions, but no where in the book are they listed.
 
The books I am using for reference.

Cutting the keelson.


Gluing the keelson.


Adding the stemliner and the transom.





Attaching the strongback. The strongback is nailed in place and will be removed after the bottom planking is completed. There was no specific location given for the strongback so the placement was based on the Willie Bennett plans.

Adding the first plank. This is where you determine the shape of the hull.



The side planking completed.






 
Edited to add links

Hello Everyone,
Sorry for the big delay on updating. It seems summer conspires to keep me away from the shipyard. Well I am back at it again, hopefully with out any major interruptions, at least until next summer. Well here is were I stand. I have scrapped my previous attempt at building a Skipjack due to some issues with the shape of the bow. (1/4" difference from center-line)
 
My current project is the Skipjack Albatross as she was originally built in 1899. Based off of drawings found in "Notes On Chesapeake Bay Skipjacks" by Howard Chapelle. This go around I am working at a smaller scale (3/8" = 1') and using forms to ensure the correct shape and no gaffs.
 

The Plans.
 


Gluing the forms down.
 

The Forms glued and the keel laid.
 


The Bow Stem tapered
 

The Rudder Housing/Sleeve
 

Centerboard slot.
 
I will be starting a new build log and post the link here shortly.

Hello Everyone,
Sorry for the big delay on updating. It seems summer conspires to keep me away from the shipyard. Well I am back at it again, hopefully with out any major interruptions, at least until next summer. Well here is were I stand. I have scrapped my previous attempt at building a Skipjack due to some issues with the shape of the bow. (1/4" difference from center-line)
 
My current project is the Skipjack Albatross as she was originally built in 1899. Based off of drawings found in "Notes On Chesapeake Bay Skipjacks" by Howard Chapelle. This go around I am working at a smaller scale (3/8" = 1') and using forms to ensure the correct shape and no gaffs.
 

The Plans.
 


Gluing the forms down.
 

The Forms glued and the keel laid.
 


The Bow Stem tapered
 

The Rudder Housing/Sleeve
 

Centerboard slot.
 
I will be starting a new build log and post the link here shortly.

Hello Everyone,
Sorry for the big delay on updating. It seems summer conspires to keep me away from the shipyard. Well I am back at it again, hopefully with out any major interruptions, at least until next summer. Well here is were I stand. I have scrapped my previous attempt at building a Skipjack due to some issues with the shape of the bow. (1/4" difference from center-line)
 
My current project is the Skipjack Albatross as she was originally built in 1899. Based off of drawings found in "Notes On Chesapeake Bay Skipjacks" by Howard Chapelle. This go around I am working at a smaller scale (3/8" = 1') and using forms to ensure the correct shape and no gaffs.
 

The Plans.
 


Gluing the forms down.
 

The Forms glued and the keel laid.
 


The Bow Stem tapered
 

The Rudder Housing/Sleeve
 

Centerboard slot.
 
I will be starting a new build log and post the link here shortly.

Hello Everyone,
Sorry for the big delay on updating. It seems summer conspires to keep me away from the shipyard. Well I am back at it again, hopefully with out any major interruptions, at least until next summer. Well here is were I stand. I have scrapped my previous attempt at building a Skipjack due to some issues with the shape of the bow. (1/4" difference from center-line)
 
My current project is the Skipjack Albatross as she was originally built in 1899. Based off of drawings found in "Notes On Chesapeake Bay Skipjacks" by Howard Chapelle. This go around I am working at a smaller scale (3/8" = 1') and using forms to ensure the correct shape and no gaffs.
 

The Plans.
 


Gluing the forms down.
 

The Forms glued and the keel laid.
 


The Bow Stem tapered
 

The Rudder Housing/Sleeve
 

Centerboard slot.
 
I will be starting a new build log and post the link here shortly.

Here is another concrete ship off of Galveston Island Texas. SS Selma - Google Maps and Wikipedia. I grew up seeing this ship every time we rode the ferry to Galveston.

Three John Adams 1799 plans do survive, enough for a complete reconstruction. Chapelle missed them.
 
1. Original body lines, pre 1829: National Archives, presumably (published in Charleston's Maritime Heritage, Coker.)
 
2. Out board profile, which includes partial inboard profile, partial waterlines (or are they diagonal projections?), as designed, 1/4" scale
Peabody Museum, Fox Papers. Note twenty-four broadside ports, but with no bridle port. The latter was added, along with a five feet extension of keel in Charleston. Not labeled as JA in Fox Papers.
 
3. Half-breadth of Decks, all, with stowage, 1/8th scale, as converted to a corvette, circa 1807, Fox papers. Position of projected stern chase ports indicate an original six window design, with ports in the two and five windows, with the others planked over. All they did was remove the spar deck in 1807-08. Shows length, mast and gunport position as built. (Labeled as "Decks Chesapeake" in Fox Papers, by some long dead, blind, crack-smoking staff volunteer!!)
 
I forgot one!
 
4. There is an inboard profile plan from the 1850s showing her final configuration. I've seen it, but I don't have a copy, from the NA, that shows ten ports aside - down from the 1829 rebuild's twelve - a full projecting stem-post, and a sketch of her bust figurehead.

Greetings everyone! I wanted to start a post to discuss certain historical ships where information is sketchy and as far as I can tell no plans or diagrams exist. This is an opportunity to pool together resources if you happen to know of plans or details and resource info for some of the ships mentioned please join in and offer what you've got. Specifically the ships in question I've listed below.  Feel free to add more content or correct any inaccuracies to the info as this list is by no means complete just all I could think of off the top of my head. Also not putting down ships which were never completed.
 
-Alliance 1778 35 gun sister to the Confederacy
 
-Warren 1776 32 gun Randolph class
 
-Providence 1776 28 gun
-Trumbull 1776 28 gun both were captured by RN so wonder if plans were taken?
 
-Delaware and Boston 24 gun ships taken by RN (there is a plan is Chapelle's book figure 4 dates 1748. I am wondering if this is the correct plan for this Boston)
 
-Lexington 1775 brig (I have seen models and plans of this ship but are they based on actual plans taken by the RN after capture?)
 
-Congress 1799 38 guns while Humphrey's plan for the Constellation/Congress survives and a sail plan from national archives but do plans/details exist for the specific ship as built? 
 
-Enterprise 1799 brig this topic has been discussed before
-Experiment 1799 brig sister to the Enterprise
 
-John Adams 1799 frigate broken up in 1830 then according to Howard Chapelle rebuilt as a Boston/Vincennes class sloop of war. To my knowledge no plans exist of either incarnation of this ship
 
-Adams 1799 28 gun frigate
 
-General Greene 1799 28 gun frigate
 
-Columbia 1836 Potomac class frigate
 
That's most of them though no doubt there are more, such as shame much of the info of these ships has been lost to history especially since quite a few of them had rather impressive careers like the Alliance or John Adams. I am also noticing that even with ships where plans exist I see no stern or billet details for ships like New York, Boston or Philadelphia in Chapelle's books.  I'm wondering if he just didn't include them or are there no records of those details via the official plans in the national archives. Since models have been built of Philadelphia etc. I assume they were. Thanks and happy hunting
 
Charlie

Interesting topic, sir. There could be some spiritted discussion here.
 
Let me start by suggesting that, even in Great Britain, it was not the norm to show the stern decoration on the plans. The level of detail and type of carving would be included in the written specification documents, and then only in general terms. The builder did what he felt was appropriate within cost. The plans were to build by, not to record what the ship looked like, in the US.
Next up - the dirth of documentary records, and some possible sources.

Gary,
Welcome aboard. The Library of congress plans for the Skipjacks EC Collier and Kathryn are quite complete. I have seriously considered starting over using one of those plans, but, I have to much tied up in my current build just to throw it all away. I recommend getting Ben Lankford's  book “Modeling Guide for Model Shipways Kit willie L. Bennett”. I started off using Steve Rogers, Patricia Staby-Rogers  book “Model Boat Building: The Skipjack”, but have found that Ben Lankford's book more useful. As for as fittings, My build is at 1/2 inch scale (1:24). I wouldn't know where to look for them. I am looking forward to trying my hand at creating some of them. The plans for EC Collier and Kathryn are 3/8 inch scale (1:32) the same scale as the Willie Bennett. You may be able to get fittings from Model Shipways if you use the 3/8 inch scale. I hope this information helps you.
 
Catch Yall later.

Cutter; 12 Guns. Object ID SLR0704. 
The description provided on the NMM web site is: "Scale: probably 1:72. A contemporary (?) plank on frame full hull model of a 12-gun cutter. The fact that the hull is planked in carvel fashion, (edge to edge planking), and that a square topsail is rigged would suggest a date of about 1820. Also the decoration on the stern indicates the name ‘Pelican’ although a cutter of this name cannot be traced either as a man-of-war or a revenue cruiser".
 
The interesting thing here (for me, at least!) is that again the belaying rack at the bow is running fore-aft by the bowsprit.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Tony

Smokey Joe, Object ID SLR2631
 
The next one I saw is an unarmed cutter, probably acting as a pilot cutter. Its standard of construction is not as good as the others, but there are interesting details. Its name, Smokey Joe, is thought by the Museum to be fictitious, although very appropriate given the appearance of the model.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Tony

Trial 1790, Object ID SLR0150Next was a model I had previously seen on display at the NMM in Greenwich. Its name probably refers to the fact that it had an experimental sliding keel. It is really beautifully constructed, but Nick said that it might have had some re-working at the museum.
Its original caption at the NMM stated:
 

 
The other photos really just show the beauty and detail of the construction
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Tony
 

Cutter Hawke 1777, NMM Object ID SLR0314
Next of the models I saw is the model referenced by Goodwin in the AOTS book on the cutter Alert. Unfortunately, when the model was taken out Dave Lindridge noticed that someone had damaged the topsail and had put it back in position totally out of place. This is something they will fix, but as the details are so interesting I am still posting the pics for those who have a particular interest in the Alert. As I mentioned previously, this was the only cutter with the topmast aft of the main mast.
 
It is interesting that there are many details quite at variance with the Alert shown by Goodwin. See, for example, the shrouds.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Tony