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

[_SalD_]

Elijah, good luck with the decking, the boat should look real nice with it.  Sounds like you've joined a great club.

[gerty]

Nice work Elijah - look forward to following along.

[Elijah]

Thanks for the comments guys! I've learned that string is very useful when measuring curves! You can hold it onto the deck and cut it to fit. You can then remove and measure it, and repeat the process. Also, you don't have to do every plank on deck, you can start at the centerline and progress outwards. Once you are done, throw away your excess string, and multiply your results by two. Though, this would only work with a symmetrical deck, otherwise, you are stuck doing all the planks. That's the best way for measuring curved planks I know, but if there is a better or faster way, I would like to use it next time. Also, I might be able to finish remaking the paper hull profiles. Next will be transferring them onto wood. Even after that, I will test out my new saw blades Kurt gave me, and start cutting them out.

Until next time!

[dgbot]

I am happy that you found a great club with very knowledgeable and skilled people.  Too bad I am unable to be there to have a look myself.  I am sure you willl enjoy looking at Toni's Atlantia when She is able to transport it.  

David B 

[Elijah]

David, did you go to the NRMSS at one point?

[kurtvd19]

Elijah:

Dave was and still is a member of the NRMSS and was Secretary for many years until he had to drop the job due to health and now his living in IA.

Kurt

[Elijah]

That's too bad . Raymond IA is only 22 minutes away from my grandma's house. It would be cool if I could visit sometime!

[dgbot]

Elijah I was the secretary as well as the photographer for the newsletter.  I always enjoyed the meetings and learned many things about ship modeling and maritime history.  Also how to work with airbrushes metal working and soldering.  Next time you visit your grandmother give me a heads up.  I would be happy to meet you and answer any questions you have.

David B

[Elijah]

I decided I wanted to take a short break from cutting paper, and tried to make a side frame. I'm not allowed to use the scroll saw, so I used a coping saw and this nice small saw Kurt gave me. I'm sure it would have turned out great, had I used the scroll saw or positioned it so the grain ran in a different direction. This wood is a soft wood, and it split along the grain. Oops !

I will have to re-draw the frames with the grain in better position, but first, it's back to cutting paper. Once I'm done cutting the paper and drawing the frames, I will try to make the frames again. I hope I have better luck! I wonder if I should keep or re-do frame number 7. Hmmm…

Until next time!

[Turatopgun]

Elijah.

 

Remember, everything in life has a learning curve and this hobby is no exception.  Keep your eyes on the goal and keep at it and you can only learn from every step you have to take backwards.  You're doing great mate.

Phill

[Elijah]

Hello all! I got a good amount of time in my papas shop on Saturday, and I was able to do a couple things. Firstly, I finished cutting out the paper hull templates.

I then made a wooden side former and made sure it fitted along the second station line on the building board. I also started another one. I may have to adjust the height, but not at this time.

I got an idea from David (dgbot). He suggested that I make something that will make sure the hull always ends up in the same place when I place it on he building board. I needed to make a sternpost simulator that is removable because I might want to use the building board after I have the keel on. I made a cutout of the sternpost. I think I am getting better at cutting paper with an Exacto knife !

I then nailed it, with miniature nails, to a sheet of wood.

After that, I cut it out with my papa's coping saw. I will need to buy my own soon.

Sadly, the little nub sticking off, that would help support the rudder, came off. It isn't essential, but I will have to be careful when making the real thing. The smaller photo in the bottom right corner is the unedited photo.

I will finish touching it up with sanding, when I am home, and I will start work on the stern holder. I will call it the stern holder from now on, unless there is a better name.

Until next time!

Edited February 22, 2016 by Elijah

[Elijah]

Last night I finished the stern holder. I still need to do some minor sanding. First, I cut out a paper template and nailed it to a wooden board.

Next, I cut it out. This wood is crumbly, and a small piece came off. The spot is circled in red.

I used ca for the first time to reattach the piece. I test fitted the sternpost simulator with it. I will do some sanding to make it fit better with the stern holder.

After I'm done sanding, I will work on other components of the building board.

Until next time!

[captgino]

Yay!! Some cutting and building in progress

Looking forward to your next post...

[Turatopgun]

Hi Elijah.  You are moving ahead now, well done.

One thing, the timber looks from the photographs like chipboard with a pine veneer. Is it, or is it a solid piece of Pine.  Normal timber shouldn't be as crumbly as your pieces appear to be. I am probably wrong but just an observation. If it is a solid piece of timber you may have to find some closer grained wood which will hold together better when cutting the finer curves of the templates.

 

Phill

Edited February 26, 2016 by Turatopgun

[Elijah]

Phill, you are correct, the wood is very soft and crumbly! I am starting to think of purchasing some styrene and using that for templates. It would make cutting easier, and it wouldn't crumble! Maybe I can make a trip this weekend…

[Elijah]

A quick update, (mostly to post on leap day ). My father is going to pick up some styrene sometime soon, and in the meantime, I am going to mark station lines on the hull.

Until next time!

[Elijah]

I have attached the stern holder!

I had to add some wood to get the stern holder to the correct height. This way, there is a uniform height for the waterline, helping to establish the height of the side templates. I will make the templates once I have the styrene.

I will have to shape the stern to make it fit correctly. The biggest part of that is carving the indent. That area is the wood above the red line.

Once the stern fits, I can start applying the station lines to the hull, wich should help me get the base for the keel drawn on. I will need to create a centerline, with two parallel lines, 1/16" away, one on each side. I have noticed, whatever I say I have to do takes longer to do than I thought. That's fine though, I have an extra 24 hours this year !

Until next time!

[alde]

Elijah, You are doing great. You are thinking things through and taking your time with your build. The rewards will be worth it. Keep it up.

[Elijah]

Thanks Al! I sure hope they will !

[dgbot]

Keep up the good work Elijah you are doing a fine job.  

David B

[_SalD_]

Nicely done Elijah

[Turatopgun]

Looking good Elijah.  Well done.

Phill

[Elijah]

Thanks guys! Maybe I will get the stern shaped today, but first I must do schoolwork. Happy modeling!

[dgbot]

Keep up the good work Elijah, you are doing well.

David B

[John Maguire]

Elijah,

 

Wow, I am impressed with your awesome work and how well things are coming along.

 

May I ask what your education goal is and how your budgeting of time between school and modeling works out? Please keep your posts coming.

 

Respectfully,

John

[DocBlake]

Keep up the great work!  Carving a solid hull model isn't easy.  Yours is coming along nicely.

[Elijah]

Thanks guys!

Elijah,

 

Wow, I am impressed with your awesome work and how well things are coming along.

 

May I ask what your education goal is and how your budgeting of time between school and modeling works out? Please keep your posts coming.

 

Respectfully,

John

John, do you mean my educational goal for the ship modeling project? If so, then it's to build a decent looking model and learn lots of things along the way. I have already learned a lot about building boards and solid hulls! There is a long way to go still. Basically, if my homework is done, I will work on whatever I am working on. I didn't have a lot of homework last week, so I got the stern holder finished. I have more homework this week, especially because I'm sick, so that, plus being sick makes getting building time hard. It all depends on school and outside of school activities. I hope to finish this project sometime in the summer, but I know my estimations are usually under estimations. I might get some relief soon, because the trimester is almost over.

 

Dave, it's too bad I don't get to do hull planking, but I probably will in my next project (in the far future). Not to say hull planking is easy, I hear it's difficult as well! But you get more of a feel of how a ship is built.

 

Thanks again guys!

[dgbot]

Elijah, solid hull models have been planked all the time.  On my model of the Benjamin W Latham, I planked the hull.  In fact the planking was easier since I had a solid surface to glue to.

 

Here is the waterline marker I told you about to give you an idea of what to do.

 

David B

 

[Elijah]

Thanks David! The waterline marker looks good! Planking the hull would add a nice look, but wouldn't I have to thin the hull by the width of the plank? Or did you just use some really thin planks, to the extent that it wasn't really noticable?

[mikiek]

WOW Elijah!!!I didn't realize you were building the pilot boat. It sounds like you have things well in control and are making good progress. I was considering that build for displaying next to some books on a shelf.

 

What a great thing to be doing at your age! I wish I had that opportunity. It might have helped keep me out of trouble.

 

I know I'm joining the party late, but I would like to follow along.