Sultana by CharlieZardoz - Model Shipways - 1:64

[CharlieZardoz]

Greetings everyone! After a brief hiatus I am back and ready to show what I have done so far on Model Shipways 1:64 scale Sultana.  It isn't much yet but I've been in between a lot of things especially work in Real Estate which is super busy these days.  I've already encountered a few issues with the build and any assistance on these matters (which were discussed in the practicum) would be greatly appreciated.

 

First below you see the untouched solid hull before carving and my tiny cramped work space

 

Charlie

Edited May 8, 2015 by Dan Vadas

[CharlieZardoz]

Below is the carving process to remove the bulwarks. I mainly did this using basic woodcarving tools (though tried the dremel a bit but didn't really need it). The hull still needs a little work by the fore and quarter deck areas. Should I use a small saw to make them even?

Edited May 7, 2015 by CharlieZardoz

[CharlieZardoz]

I cut out the little paper frames as so and as confirmed by Chuck in the practicum they don't match the actual plans.  Based on this I'm wondering if what I need to do is cut the plans up and make templates from the decks etc to better shape hull as well as the paper frames. 

Edited May 7, 2015 by CharlieZardoz

[CharlieZardoz]

You can see the offset between the lines and numbers with these pics which I am going to modify by pen and cut to the shape of the plans.  Am I holding them to the plans correctly? I am wondering if they need to be exact with the outer or inner lines of the -uh "rabbet"?

 

Also I attempted a few times to photocopy the plans and for some reason they either came out slightly too small or too big and I know they need to be perfect to avoid mistakes.  If I cut up the original plans is having a copy slightly off size to work from going to cause me problems in the long run? Or maybe should I just contact ME and order a second set?

Edited May 7, 2015 by CharlieZardoz

[dgbot]

Call ME and ask them for another copy I have not seen your plans but if you see a double line along the keel the plans should be drawn to the rabbet.  Glue the frames to a piece of styrene or aluminum siding and make sure they are square.  Good luck.

David B

[CharlieZardoz]

So by rabbet you mean it should be cut to the top line to allow for planking?  The templates look like they were cut to fit the bottom line so should I modify them to fit the top line?

Edited May 8, 2015 by CharlieZardoz

[dgbot]

My advice would be to forget the templates and make your own from the plans.  This entails some work and can give you a headache but is worth it down the road.

David B

[CharlieZardoz]

Well for now I've modified the original templates (since working with styrene got a bit fustrating), however I plan on giving them so added support so they don't bend.  Here's the bottom templates with my modifications.  I think they look a lot better now 

[CharlieZardoz]

Here are the side templates.  I'm not sure if I am lining them up correctly since the center lines and rabbet lines do not match the plan so I redrew the lines accordingly.  Template 4 was modified with tape a bit to get the right shape. If anyone who has worked on Sultana before sees me doing something wrong please let me know

Edited May 10, 2015 by CharlieZardoz

[CharlieZardoz]

Next step is to carve the hull.  Am I up to the task? Stay tuned folks....

[dgbot]

To make things easier make up a building board.  This will help you tremendously down the road.  The PDF should explain some of this.

David B

BUILDING BOARDS.pdf

[CharlieZardoz]

Got ya! Will see what I can put together

[Devin Poore]

Off to a great start, Charlie!

[CharlieZardoz]

Greetings everyone! Just a few quick updates to show what I've been up to.  Was on vacation last week so progress has been a bit slow.

 

First order of business has been to construct a base to put Sultana on which includes measurements etc.  This is where utilizing the plans comes in handy as you can see.

[CharlieZardoz]

Next up was to create some sanding sticks for fairing the hull.  Using Dan's method I went to a hardware store to get the appropriate wood piece then wrap some sandpaper around like so. This gives you a straight edge and curved with which to sand the hull.

Edited June 1, 2015 by CharlieZardoz

[CharlieZardoz]

A quick note on template #9 I can to realize that when I altered the template to match the plan the template may have actually been correct.  Since I'm not 100% sure either way, using the template cuttings I redid this template to have as an alternate like so and will figure out which works best as the fairing begins. Another reason why you should never throw anything away when modeling

[CharlieZardoz]

Another step was to cut the deck diagram out of the copy of the plans and make templates like so.  I used the leftover cardboard from the template sheets and glued them using rubber cement making these deck templates thicker so they wouldn't bend. As you can see lined up on the model itself there is still a lot of wood that needs to be removed from the front stern and sides.

[CharlieZardoz]

While on vacation I took a trip to The Book Scout in Greenport LI.  Any of you who might be familiar this is one of the few places I know that still has ship books and was the place I got my Chapelle books from as a kid. He still had a nice collection and was happy to see the old place was still around.  Here's what I picked up

[dgbot]

You are making headway keep up the good work.

David B

[CharlieZardoz]

Thanks! Got the CD today I'll look it over in a bit when I'm ready to get back into it this weekend

Edited June 2, 2015 by CharlieZardoz

[dgbot]

Any questions just ask.

David B

[CharlieZardoz]

Ok so been tinkering away for the last couple of weeks and here is where I am at now.  First thing I did was to assemble a cradle.  While this isn't so much important at this point it gives you something to lay the model on while you begin the fairing process.  I used #3 and #7 template to get the general shape.  While it doesn't fit snug at this point it doesn't have to. BTW thanks to Dan for the use of his cutting machine

[CharlieZardoz]

The next major step is to fair the deck.  Reason why I chose the deck first is because I intend to fair the hull itself by nailing it to the measurement board and wanted the top of the hull to be level to the board.  With the board I placed the deck pieces as so and added the lines on the deck templates.  Then using a piece of styrene and a ruler I slowly placed the template lines around the hull. These will be erased many times during the fairing process but they let you know where everything should be.

[CharlieZardoz]

Now that all the lines are drawn I can clearly see what parts of the top of the hull need to be sawed off and where.  Using the camber piece noted on the plans I made a little camber template.  Then lined it up to the hull.  As you can clearly see the hull camber is not even close but this will change... Shhh, pay no attention to the spy in the corner

Edited June 19, 2015 by CharlieZardoz

[CharlieZardoz]

Using a sharp knife and sander start cutting off all the excess from the quarter deck and forecastle area (I think that's the proper terms for a tiny ship like this).  Cutting these areas give us an even line by which to judge the deck camber.

[CharlieZardoz]

Making the deck look just right requires looking at it from just about every direction, top, forward, backwards and sideways.  To help with this process I made another template form the plans.  This is a side profile view that shows the angling the deck should run from fore to aft.  See the area circled is not even  and dips down due to the cutting away of the excess wood.  This was easily fixed with wood putty which I apply and smooth out with the good ole' fingers.  The method model shipways uses to camber the deck looks like a dremel so while it's pretty close to where it should be, using wood putty ensures the camber is smooth with as few flaws as possible. Doesn't have to be perfect since this will be covered with planking.  

Edited June 19, 2015 by CharlieZardoz

[CharlieZardoz]

Using a ruler and one of those thingies which name currently eludes me, I kept sanding away the edges with my sanding sticks until the angle was just right, redrawing the lines each time to use as a guide.  See how much nicer the camber is now.

[CharlieZardoz]

The process wasn't nearly as hard as it sounds but this is the finished result.  The top of the hull all nice and even so now I can flip her over and nail her to the board. Note the deck templates laid out, the middle one seems a bit small but that's because the sides of the quarter and forecastle deck's will be planked 1/8" by 1/16" inch planks.

Edited June 19, 2015 by CharlieZardoz

[CharlieZardoz]

Just a quick question to anyone reading, I want to sand down the rear of the hull but not sure what's a good way to keep the sanding even since it needs to be on an angle as per my lines on the hull.  What's a good tool anyone?

[dgbot]

You are doing a bang up job keep it up.  Try a sanding block this might work.

David B