International Dragon Class II by captainbob - FINISHED - 1:48 scale

[captainbob]

Hi All,

 

In my signature there is a dragon in the gallery.  I built it in MSW 1. I did not keep the info on my build. and when MSW 1 crashed all was lost.  It was a good build and it sat on my shelf where I could enjoy it. Then when my brother visited I gave it to him.  He took it home and placed it on his mantel. After this my admiral looked at me and said, “That was my favorite boat”.  I had disposed of all the drawings and references  not wanting to build the same boat again.  So I showed her a picture of a yawl and asked if I could build it for her, she agreed.  This went on and on.  I built the yawl, a cat boat and the schooner all for her and her response is as always, “How about the dragon?”  So here is another dragon.  When building dragon 1, everything really worked.  There was even a groove in the mast and boom to slide the sail into.  This time I don’t know if I’ll go that far but I do hope to make it look better.  So this will be “Dragon II”.  Now I need to redraw the keel and bulkheads.   I hope you will enjoy following this build. 

 

Bob

[usedtosail]

Well, since I wasn't around for MSW 1.0, I will certainly enjoy this build, as I have your previous builds on MSW 2.0

[cog]

This is easy ... count me in. Should turn out marvelous as you have been practising ...

[GLakie]

Like Tom, I too wasn't around for MSW 1, and very much look forward to seeing you construct the Dragon II. 

Edited June 18, 2015 by GLakie

[NenadM]

Another more to silently watch

[Cabbie]

I'm new here myself, and keen to watch. Can you show as much as possible on the drawing process. Thanks Chris

[Jim Lad]

All ready for another 'Dragon', Bob.

 

John

[Jack12477]

I wasn't around for MSW 1 either so I will pull up a barrel and sit and watch

[Omega1234]

I'm in!!!

[Mirabell61]

congrats to Dragon II  building decision Bob,

 

never learnt  to know MSW 1, but had a look at your Gallery, ist a very nice boat. The actual Dragon-class calls for clinker planking, that will look great, hope you can put it on to your model. Wish you good success with Dragon II

 

Nils

[captainbob]

I want to thank you all for joining me on this build, I will make it as fun as possible.  After all that's what it is all about.

 

Chris this is how I do it.  First is to trace the line drawing into the computer (or on paper) and separate the sections. These will become the bulkheads to plank over.  Now at each station line draw a line from the top of the keel to the associated section drawing.  This is the top of the slot for the keel to fit into.  Draw the keel slot at half the keel width.  Now decide how thick the hull and deck planking will be and offset lines to the inside of the section and erase to outside lines.  Draw a base line above the section.  I usually make it one to one and a half inches above the top of the section.  This line is measured up from the water line and must be the same on all sections.  From the top of the new hull line, draw a short line out from the hull and another connecting this up to the base line.  Now by mirroring the half section around the center line of that section you end up with the bulkhead.  Hopefully between this and the pictures the process is clear.  I did show it in the pictures, but it is best to number the sections.

 

Bob

 

 

[pete48]

Wow Cap'n'Bob Great decision on the Dragon ,( I still have not decided, I am leaning toward the H-28 ),I look forward to following along, Count me in. I see that seats are filling quickly

 

Best Regards,

Pete

[captainbob]

Don't worry Pete.  The seats are filling but there's no limit.  Welcome aboard.

 

Bob

[popeye the sailor]

whew........glad I made it here in time!      count me in to watch as well Bob!

[captainbob]

Popeye, you're always welcome to come aboard.

 

Bob

[Mahuna]

Hi Bob:

 

I'm looking forward to following another of your great builds.

 

[captainbob]

Glad you're here Frank.  Pull up a chair and enjoy the show.

 

Made the first major change.  Instead of 1:32 like the first Dragon I've decided to try this one in 1:48 to match my other boats.  That means 1" = .020".  Now to figure out how to make that 1/2" square stock.  It's back to the drawing board for now.

 

Bob

Edited June 23, 2015 by Cap'n'Bob

[BenF89]

Count me in to watch this one, too! Looks like a sleek hull.

[captainbob]

Ben welcome aboard.  If you are not familiar with the dragon you need to look it up.  It was designed in the 1920's as a daysailer/cruising boat but sailed so well and fast that with minor changes it became an Olympic racing boat.  There are still large fleets of these sleek boats.

 

Bob 

[captainbob]

Hi All,

 

Now to get started.  I finished the drawings and cut out the bulkheads using 1/32” scrap plywood.  The bulkheads were glued to 1/4” square stock and then glued to the build board.  The keel was cut from 1/16” mahogany. I think its mahogany, its a little redder that walnut so I call it mahogany. I will plank with the mahogany veneer strips that can be found in most kits, the planks will be glued to each other but hopefully not to the bulkheads.  Edge gluing the veneer strips should be fun (read as possibly frustrating), we’ll have to see how that goes.  Anyway here’s a picture of where she is today.

 

Bob

 

[pete48]

Hi Cap'n'Bob, Looks like you are off to a great start. Edge gluing the planking should give you hours of enjoyment , I am sure it will turn out amazing

 

Best Regards,

Pete

[GLakie]

You're off and running Bob!  She's going to be fun to watch coming together!  

[Jparsley]

Hey bob very interested in this lovely girl If you would be so kind as to explain what edge glueing and purpose that it is for and why you don't want it on your bulkheads I'm a new builder and that concept just went over my head Thank

[Omega1234]

Hi Bob

 

You can't ignore a beautiful hull when you see one...and the Dragon is certainly nice and streamlined.

 

I like! Can't wait for the next update, that's for sure.

 

Cheers

 

Patrick

Edited June 26, 2015 by Omega1234

[Mahuna]

Hi Bob

 

It looks like this will be a very delicate build for a while.  I'm looking forward to seeing how you develop the hull strength.

[IgorSky]

Hi Bob!

Congratulations on the beginning of the new project!

Our wives inspire us! Some time ago I promised to make a ship in a bottle for my wife. Now she is asking to me every day when I will start doing it.

[captainbob]

Pete, I’m not sure yet what I’m getting myself into with this edge gluing of veneer.  I’ve decided to make a minor change.  I will place a narrow strip of the veneer over the edge of the bulkheads as something extra to hold it all together.

 

George, I’m already having fun just figuring out what in the heck am I doing.

 

Jparsley, welcome to ship/boat building.  In most cases when bulkheads are set up in this way the planking is glued to the bulkheads and they become part if the boat.  In my case I want an empty hull so I can maybe show the interior.  In order to do this and hold the planks together they would have to be glued together edge to edge.

 

Patrick, in my twenties I lived on a boat.  Not too far away was a dragon.  That is when I fell in love with them.

 

Frank, the strips I mentioned above should add a lot of strength, at least that’s the hope.

 

Igor, yes, I get into trouble all the time by making promises to her.

 

Now It’s back to the boatyard hope to have more soon.

 

Bob

[Jim Lad]

Now she's really moving along, Bob - great stuff.

 

John

[captainbob]

Thanks John

[captainbob]

Lawrence, Glad to have you aboard.

 

Well it's back to the drawing boards again.  All seemed to be going well with the veneer as the first planking for two or three strakes and then I squeeze too hard and break them, tear them off and try again same thing, try again . . .   Wait I know what they call people who try the same thing over and over and expect different results.  So I will go back to my faithful basswood for first planking and cover it with the veneer.  Now to make the bulkheads smaller to allow for the thicker planking.  Ah well I learned something also.  You need to be down to SIB size to use veneer as a structural member.

 

Bob