Marie Jeanne by Jack12477 - FINISHED - Artesania Latina - 1:50 scale

[Jack12477]

Guess it is time to stop procrastinating and get into the shipyard for some serious ship building. I was debating all summer which of my Artesania Latina kits I would build next, Marie Jeanne or Constellation. I decided on the Marie Jeanne for a couple of reasons, first, it is the kit that I have had the longest, and second, its overall size of approximately 22 inches would allow me to display it alongside my other completed Artesania Latina kits, Swift, Armed Virginia Pilot, Morgan Whale Boat and the Santisima Trinidad Captain's Launch. The Constellation will be done at a later date.

 

Some background on the Marie Jeanne:  She is a tuna boat from the French harbor of Concarneau, was part of the fishing fleet which sailed from 1900 till 1950.. She fished for tuna between June and October sailing as far as the coasts of Mauritania.. The outings could take two months, as tuna is found in the high seas far from any coasts. The general trend towards engine propulsion contributed to the disappearance of these elegant fishing boats, which often sported colorful sails.

 

So we will begin with the traditional views of the kit box and contents.

 

 

After cutting the backbone/false keel and bulkheads from their laser cut sheets, I have dry fit them in place for now, so I can check the fit and placement of the false deck, which according to the instructions is planked and installed before the hull planking. I also have to determine whether the open hatch floor(s) (lower decking) is visible once the deck hatches are installed.  So once I get that all figured out I will start gluing things in place.  Since the bulkheads extend to the keel itself I could not use my normal keel clamp, otherwise the bulkheads won't seat properly.

 

 

As an aside: I'm a little disappointed with the instructions in this kit compared with the instructions AL provided with all of my previous AL kits.  The instructions are pretty skimpy - 2 sides of a single page and a rather large souvenir-postcard-style color fold-out with lots of pictures and part #s but no text.  However, the rest of the kit is high quality like I've seen in all my previous AL kits. The plans are large and very detailed.  So a lot of "read-ahead"  and dry fitting is in order on this build.

 

So pull up a chair/barrel/bench !

[Cabbie]

I am actually in the recliner with the footrest up. Is that ok?

[GLakie]

Got a ring-side seat Jack.   It certainly seems like a different approach by AL, with no keel for the rabbit,and mounted on the former before the bulkheads. Curious!  

 

Cheers

[Jack12477]

Yes, George, you plank the hull first then add the keel, stem, and stern posts. My other 4 AL kits had the same construction technique. Personally I find this a little harder to do than if I had to cut a rabbet and install the keel first.  Also this kit is double planked, there is some very nice walnut/mahogany colored super thin veneer wood in the kit for the 2nd planking, as was the case in the other 4 kits..

[Mirabell61]

Hi Jack,

 

that is a nice kit and boat model.......,

I remember The "Marie Jeanne" in scale 1:50 of Billing Boats with it`s two huge poles for thunny fishing was my very first kit, many years ago..

I wish you much fun and enjoyable hours with the build of the model. I loved the lines so much, that I built a second boat after the overview plans (21/2 times larger and for RC controled sailing with removeable 3 KG Ballast. The large model needs restoration for it`s rigging, the small one is in it`s own glass case

 

Nils

[GLakie]

Thanks Jack. Obviously I'm not familiar with AL and their methods. 

[michael mott]

I will be following along too Jack, I must say I am partial to peaceful work and recreational boats..

 

Michael

[Jack12477]

Cabbie, George, Nils, Michael, and those who clicked the LIKE button, welcome to my build log.

[Jack12477]

A brief update:

 

All of the bulkheads are now glued in place. I use small 1" square machinist squares I got from MicroMark to get the bulkheads square with the backbone.

 

 

Next step is glue the planking to the false deck - the decking material is 0.6 mm thick x 5 mm wide ramin veneer. Too thin to edge bend so I plank in a straight line and trim the excess. I have not been successful using  a pencil along the edge to simulate the between planks caulking so instead I use Elmers glue for dark woods (shown below) which seeps up thru the joints, it also has a tendency to randomly darken the planks for a somewhat weathered look. I put the glue down with a small stir stick in very thin coats.

 

 

Once the false deck is planked it is then glued to the bulkheads. I think while I have the deck flat on the workbench I will jump ahead and add the walnut coaming around the open hatches as well. After the false deck is glued to the bulkheads I can start fairing the edges to accept the hull planking.

[Burroak]

Jack your doing a great job. Looking forward to your future posts.

 

 

Greg

[GLakie]

Looks good Jack!! 

[Jack12477]

A brief update:

 

Planking of the false deck is now completed. However, when I went to install the false deck to the former and bulkheads the design of the stern piece (see post #9 photos 3 and 5 above) prevents the deck from sitting flush to the former and engaging the slot in the stern deck with the post on the former. The deck has a concave curve bow to stern and convex curve port to starboard; with this stern piece in place (triple checked for fit before gluing) the deck would not align correctly - so out came the isopropyl, Q-tip, knife and some deconstruction took place. See the last two photos below for the stern re-do.

 

Second issue was the lack of clamping ability due to the shape and curvature of the bulkheads.  More improvisation needed. Took a long piece of 1/4 inch sq basswood, cut it into short blocks, then glued the blocks to the top of each bulkhead, flush to the top edge and back from the outer edge.  Let them set up for about 36 hours.  My usual spring clamps didn't have enough clamping power to pull the deck down tight to the bulkhead outer edges, so the black machinists parallel screw clamps were used to pull the deck down tight.

 

You'll notice the already "weathered" look to the deck planking (this is a working tuna fishing boat) !  That's my new "innovative design"  

 

The deck is now secured to the former and bulkheads. The stern piece is temporarily attached with a clamp, when the glue cures I will re-glue it in place.

 

 

 

[GLakie]

Nice job weathering the deck!  Where did you find those cute little "Jorgenson"-style clamps Jack? 

[Seventynet]

I like your clamping solutions. Nice job!

Ian

[Jack12477]

Nice job weathering the deck!  Where did you find those cute little "Jorgenson"-style clamps Jack? 

 

Thanks George.  The weathering was an "OOPS" - the machinist squares I was using to weight the planks down had rust forming on them which I did not see. Took me a while to figure it out.  Saves me getting out the paints and chalk tho.

 

The clamps are Lee Valley  - they work well.

[GLakie]

Ah! - A "happy accident".  Thanks for the link. 

[mtaylor]

Late to the party, I guess which is better than never.  Looking good, Jack.

[Jack12477]

Hi Mark, welcome to the party, pull up a barrel.  We're taking a brief intermission while I fair the bulkheads and figure out a few other things

Edited November 18, 2015 by Jack12477

[Jack12477]

Brief Update:

 

Planking this model is a real challenge. The plans do not show much detail regarding the planking other than the small pictures below;  The instructions call for the planking to start 3 mm below the top of each bulkhead bow to stern with each succeeding plank tight against the previous. Installation of the gar plank is somewhat obscure but it would appear from the written instructions (very sparse I might add) and the small picture that it is installed straight across bow to stern with no curvature.  At any rate the first two planks have been installed on both sides.  I've been using Chuck's method of edge  bending using a hair dryer bending it edgewise and length wise.  Slow and tedious but so far so good.

 

The plans:

 

Planking the first two planks:

 

 

 

 

There are some light refreshments over on the side bar for those in need of nourishment during the intermission.

Stay tuned

Edited November 20, 2015 by Jack12477

[Canute]

Better late than never, Jack.

 

Pulling up a stool to watch all this. The sparse instructions have to be disheartening, but superior skill and cunning will overcome. And an adult beverage for when you run out of ideas. I like it!

[Jack12477]

Welcome to the party, Ken.

 

Yes, disheartening but more like frustrating - I just figured out that the stern piece which I had to remove and re-attach to get the false deck glued down is still not right - I'll have to post pictures later.  Also can't see how the planking is supposed to terminate at the stern.  Looks like I may have to improvise once the hull is planked and I can see how the stern looks.

 

That's okay ! It's the challenge that excites !

[mtaylor]

So far, so good, Jack... Looking very prim and proper.   There's no pics of the stern?   I would think there should be...  Hmm...  Have tried Googling and seeing what others out there have done?  <scratches head>.... 

[Jack12477]

The only photos that came with the kit, Mark, are the ones in the photos above.  I did Google the kit for additional photos (besides getting a gazillion "girlie" photos ) I came across these by a Russian modeler but no photos of the actual planking (he went from these to the finished/painted model).

 

When I installed the stern piece as shown in his photos the deck would not clamp down to the backbone/former at the stern, so I had to remove it, install the deck and then reinstall the stern piece but it does not install as shown in his photos. Not sure at this point if it makes a ton of difference. But it's aggravating ! See below

 

 

If you look back at post #9 photo 2 and post #12 photos2, 6, and 7 you will see the attachment point (photo 6 just above the red clamp). It's supposed to fit flush against the notch and against the upward slope of the former. But the deck prevents it from getting the right angle to the rest of the stuff.  GRRRRRRRRRRRRR !

 

What I really would like to see in the plans is how the planks terminate at the stern. I think the terminate at the last bulkhead and not on that sloping back piece.  The finished stern looks like this (from AL's website)

 

 

 

Oh well, more fiddling and sanding. Going to install the 4th plank on the other side, then try installing the gar plank and work up and down till I get it right

[mtaylor]

Go for it Jack...        I guess you're in one of those "I've got 2 choices" situations.   I would have thought they ran fully up.... but then again... <shrugs>  I have no idea.  Have you tried running a batten or two and see how they land?

[Jack12477]

Going to try that next, Mark. Still fiddling ! I want to get the 4th sheer plank on first so I have it "balanced" port to starboard, then I'm going to fiddle with various batten to figure out how they run. After a couple of test fits I'm not even sure how the gar plank runs (I know in theory how it should run but this one's a mystery).

 

Stay tuned !  Enjoy a beverage in the meantime

[mtaylor]

Aye... lots of beverages on this one... I've not done the yacht/schooner types.   I think I'll stick with something simple like frigates and 74-gun ships...   :P  

[Jack12477]

something simple like frigates and 74-gun ships...   :P  

 

Hmmm ! Simple !?!?! Hmmm  !  I believe a consultation with the Three Philosophers is advised ! Maybe even a couple of consultations

[_SalD_]

Jack, just found your build.  Looks as though you have quite the challenge here.  Looks great so far.  I think I'll pull up a bar stool and tag along.

[Jack12477]

Welcome aboard Sal. Yes, challenging indeed!

Edited November 24, 2015 by Jack12477

[Jack12477]

Just a quick progress update before I take time off for that great American bacchanalian feast, Thanksgiving;  otherwise known as "Turkey Day"

 

Planking is coming along smoothly - lots of edge bending using Chuck's hairdryer method, works pretty good I must say. Thanks Chuck for the advice.  Kit directions call for me to plank from the deck downward and from the keel upward meeting in the middle "where planks with pointy ends will be needed" (Their words not mine)..... I don't think pointy ends will be needed tho.

 

If you're wondering about the gap in the planks at the bow; it's were the pre-formed stem piece goes so I had to leave some room to slide it in. I have to keep test fitting it as I go along.

 

Marc, I took your advice and laid some battens across the hull at various points and they all appear to terminate at the last bulkhead - maybe curving down to the stern piece - I didn't try bending them yet, I'll do that as I hit that point in the planking.  So far I've been able to keep the planks tight against each other in spite of the difficulties in finding ways to clamp them.  I'm using gap filling slow cure CA to attach the plank at  the bow and PVA carpenters yellow glue for the rest. 

 

Here's some progress photos:

 

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Hope you all have a great time with family and friends. And as my Admiral would say "Get Stuffed !".

Edited November 25, 2015 by Jack12477