Phantom by Elijah - FINISHED - Model Shipways - 1:96 - New York Pilot Boat

[Elijah]

Hello, this will be my build log of the Model Shipways Phantom New York Pilot Boat. Some things about myself: I got this kit for Christmas. I am thirteen and don't have a very high budget for tools or other things. My parents are divorced, so I will have to bring my kit back and forth. Fortunately, my papa (father) has a good amount of tools at his house. I do have some tools at my mama's (mother) house which I am currently at. My work space is also a little small, but it is a small boat . I will now start counting and sorting all the pieces. Have a Merry Christmas and I'll be back!

[trippwj]

What a wonderful Christmas present!  The Phantom is a nice kit and fun build - will look forward to following your log!

[Elijah]

Thanks Wayne! I have sorted through all the pieces and everything meant to be in the kit is here.

This is at my papa's house and is on the dinner table. This is not a permanent space. I will need to find somewhere though. I will print out Chuck's practicum. I will also update my signature.

Till next time.

[Canute]

Looks like you're off to a good, Elijah.

[MikeB4]

I don't know what your experience with ship model building is, this same kit was my first model and I didn't quite get the deck whittled out to the specs they needed to be. Once I got to the point where I was to install the deck furniture I found that everything didn't fit on the deck the way it should have. So if this is your first wood kit my advice to you is take your time and make sure you carve the hull to it's proper dimensions this is in my opinion the most important aspect of the build, it's your foundation basically everything is added to that hull and if it's off everything is off.

[Elijah]

Looks like you're off to a good, Elijah.

Thanks Ken!

I don't know what your experience with ship model building is, this same kit was my first model and I didn't quite get the deck whittled out to the specs they needed to be. Once I got to the point where I was to install the deck furniture I found that everything didn't fit on the deck the way it should have. So if this is your first wood kit my advice to you is take your time and make sure you carve the hull to it's proper dimensions this is in my opinion the most important aspect of the build, it's your foundation basically everything is added to that hull and if it's off everything is off.

I am not experienced yet. I will use the hull frames and Chuck's practicum to get the hull done correctly. The nice thing is, if I mess anything up I can get it replaced for free!

Till next time. -Elijah

[Elijah]

I decided not to print out the practicum, but instead I downloaded it to my iPad. I have also run into a couple problems and concerns. The first thing is that the hull templates are too large. In the below pictures, they overlap and the lines don't line up.

They also overlap each other on the solid hull. I thought of three reasons of why it might not fit the hull.

1. The hull profiles are to large.

2. There seems to have been some carving done already.

Or 3. It's a little of both.

I think I will print the side view of the ship in the plans and make profiles from that.

I think I will also play it safe and use the front view to cut side profiles. After I print it of though .

Once I'm done with that I can get to shaping the hull correctly! Any comments, advice, and constructive criticism is welcome! Sorry that this post was kind of long.

Till next time. -Elijah

[Elijah]

I checked the plans one more time, just to be safe, and concluded they they were in scale. I did this by going on Model Shipways and looking at the kit information. The model should be 13 1/2 inches long when finished. I measured the boat in the plans and it was 13 1/2 inches long. I then started shaping the hull to the correct length. Tomorrow I will finish doing this.

Until next time. -Elijah

[dgbot]

Elija, remember to take your time and when you make your templates glue them to a piece of aircraft plywood this will keep them from bending.  

David B

[_SalD_]

Elijah just found your build and it appears that you're off to a great start.  As the others above have said take your time and plan out your steps and if you have questions don't hesitate to ask.  I also envy you building your first ship at thirteen, it only took me sixty four years to do my first.

 

Good luck and enjoy.

[Elijah]

Elija, remember to take your time and when you make your templates glue them to a piece of aircraft plywood this will keep them from bending.  

David B

That's a good idea! I don't have anything currently, but I might be able to find some wood at my papa's house. He has a workshop in the basement and has some wood scraps that might work for the job. In the meantime I will probably cut out the side hull templates, and start the next few steps that don't need the hull done, if any.

Elijah just found your build and it appears that you're off to a great start.  As the others above have said take your time and plan out your steps and if you have questions don't hesitate to ask.  I also envy you building your first ship at thirteen, it only took me sixty four years to do my first.

 

Good luck and enjoy.

Thanks Sal! You are right, I should start planing out the next steps as well. Also, at least you have built a model and are building another one, which is looking fantastic!

Until next time. -Elijah

[kurtvd19]

Elijah:

Sal had real good advice to plan ahead.  I always recommend a careful reading of the instructions before you start anything and then to keep looking ahead for things that might be better done a bit sooner.  As an example, some part installed at step 5 might be in the way of step 7 so look ahead to see that you will have access for step 7.

Glad to see you have a good start.

Kurt

[_SalD_]

..... when you make your templates glue them to a piece of aircraft plywood this will keep them from bending.  

David B

 

Elijah, if you don't have any thin plywood you can also print the templates out on thicker card stock or glue the paper templates to cardboard like you find on the back of pads of paper and then cut them out.

[Elijah]

Hello again! I haven't been able to get anything done for the past few days, but I plan on doing more modeling this week. On a side note, I will be receiving some late Christmas gifts this weekend. I will most likely receive a Nautical Research Guild membership, and some 1/16" by 1/32" by 24" boxwood strips for planking from Crown Timberyard. I have heard a lot of good things about Crown Timberyard, and look forward to seeing the wood (and using it of course).

Until next time.

[trippwj]

Sounds like a couple of well thought out gifts!

[Elijah]

Hello again! This will be a mini update that will hopefully be followed be a larger one sometime soon. I have a correction to my previous post. I will be receiving the gifts this next weekend instead of this weekend. As of progress, I have cut out the main template in cardboard. When I held up the template, I noticed I had sanded too much at the bow where the keel will be placed over. I will sand the ship to the correct length and then see how much wood filler needs to be used. If you have any suggestions, questions, or better ideas they are welcome.

Until next time.

 

Edit: *much

Edited January 10, 2016 by Elijah

[Elijah]

Hello again! I have realized something… I am a really slow builder ! Please excuse the snail pace of this build log. I (finally) finished getting the hull to the correct length. There is one large dent I will need to correct with a lot of wood filler that I will have to purchase, due to the fact that I don't have any.

You can see it at the bow area. I will have to get to cutting cardboard again for the side templates. Also, I have a new baby brother as of this night, which is super awesome! I hope to have some more building time this weekend as well.

Until next time.

[trippwj]

Not slow at all, sir! You are moving along quite nicely. Congratulations on your baby brother!

 

Getting that pesky bow to fit drove me crazy as well (I have a log here somewhere for the Phantom, renamed the Elsa - building it with my 9 year old grand daughter). As I recall, I overcame that gap by making my keel piece a mite thicker.

 

Carry on, you are doing well!

[Canute]

Elijah, boat building isn't a race. The fun is in the doing. The fact that you end up with a nice looking model at the end is a bonus, giving you good memories of your build. And congratulations on your new baby brother!

[Elijah]

Thanks guys ! Sorry that the picture is upside down. I have noticed that the spot where the keel will be at about the middle of the ship is very thin. I am not sure if it is supposed to be like this, but I will find out when I am (for the most part) done with shaping the hull. I should think start making some jigs for different things because I can only make them at my papa's workshop. I'm sorry I can't post pictures right now, I am in the school library !

-Wayne, that's a cool idea, using the keel to fill the gap! I will keep that in mind.

Until next time!

[_SalD_]

Nice progress Elijah and as the others have pointed out there's no need to rush and congratulations on the new baby brother.

[markjay]

Elijah, your are doing a very nice job. As others have said take you time, this is not a race, and enjoy your accomplishments.

[Elijah]

Following chucks practicum, marking the centerline is next. The first thing I did was draw the centerline on deck.

I knew that making the centerline travel down under the boat would be more difficult, but I had an idea. I used some string to define the centerline. It follows the centerline on deck, then it goes down under the ships hull, and comes back around on top, right where the line started!

So far, this looks to be a good idea, but if it isn't, please tell me so. Also, if it isn't a good way to mark the centerline, would you suggests any other ways? I have not drawn the line yet, just in case it is incorrect. Comments, questions, and constructive criticism are welcome.

Until next time.

Edited January 15, 2016 by Elijah

[kurtvd19]

Elijah:

Good start.  The string idea works well.  You have connected the line on deck and the line along the keel, stem and stern.  You need to make sure that with these lines connected that the centerline at the bow and stern are both parallel.  You can check this by leveling the hull port to starboard and lock in place with some heavy objects on each side so it does not move unintentionally.  Using a square or something else that will sit perpendicular to the table top make sure the line at the bow and at the stern are both also perpendicular to the table top. 

 

A building board would be the perfect way to hold and align the hull while you do this.  I sent you a PDF on building boards and I know your tools and materials are limited but the data will show you how a building board works and you can improvise a similar arrangement.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Kurt

[Elijah]

Thanks again Kurt! I am currently at my grandma's house and am not able to work on my ship. I have some great news though, I am now a full member of The Nautical Research Guild! I also received two other gifts.

The book on the left looks very cool, and is packed full of information and drawings. The timber on the right is from Crown Timberyard, and from what I see, looks to be of excellent quality. I can hardly wait to get back at the shipyard, and hopefully I will with time to make a building board.

Until next time.

[trippwj]

Those are 3 wonderful gifts - please share your opinion on the book in the book review section after you get a chance to look through it (I am interested in whether I should add it to my collection).

[captgino]

Hey Elijah, nice kit you got there! From the look of it, It seems like you are off to a great start.

Looking forward to your next post and pics.

[Elijah]

Thank you captgino !

[kurtvd19]

Elijah:

Welcome to the NRG.  Mary processed your membership this morning.  Look for your membership card in the mail.

Kurt

[Elijah]

Thank you! I will do so!