Altair 1931 by KeithAug - FINISHED - Scale 1:32 - schooner

[KeithAug]

Over the weekend I almost completed the launch.

 

The foredeck was planked - hard to tell though. I also made the foremost bench together with the 4 gussets that reinforce the attachment to the hull.

The trickiest bit was the splash rail. The corners were much too tight to bend so these were cut from solid. Once mounted on the deck  rail the were joined buy 3 bent planks.

.

It's probably worth explaining that I am using 2 sources of mahogany (one much lighter in colour) to add interest to the launch.

 

I then added the interior detail of the engine housing, prop shaft cover and instrument bulkhead. The engine housing has the gear lever mounted.

The rudder then went on with the bracket to support the lower end.

I made and mounted the brass fittings on the small foredeck. The brass protective strip for the stem was also made and mounted. By this stage I had given the inside a coat of poly - still a bit wet when the following photos were taken.

I have delayed mounting the wheel and throttle lever until the internal painting is complete. I now need to make the cradles for mounting the launch on the deck.

 

Edited January 14, 2018 by KeithAug

[BANYAN]

Wonderful detailing Keith, the launch is a mini-project in its own right.

 

cheers

 

Pat

[John Allen]

15 hours ago, KeithAug said:

I have delayed mounting the wheel and throttle lever

Keith,

 

You have really disappointed me for the first time. With your undeniable machining skills I cannot believe you haven't constructed a workable mini diesel motor for the launch, I see the engine cowling and hump for the transmission. All kidding aside the launch is a 10+

[Jim Lad]

Well, I suppose the launch looks fairly reasonable, Keith. 

 

Seriously - great work, mate!

 

John

[Guest Riccardo1966]

Hello Kieth,

The launch is beautiful, easily good enough to display on its own. The colour of the wood and the finish that you have achieved really shows up well in the last photo. First class scratch building.

Richard

[KeithAug]

Thank you Pat.

 

John,

On 15/01/2018 at 12:37 PM, John Allen said:

You have really disappointed me for the first time. With your undeniable machining skills I cannot believe you haven't constructed a workable mini diesel motor for the launch

 Sorry, I would have but I could not find spark plugs small enough ( i think in 1931 it was a petrol engine).

 

John,

On 15/01/2018 at 7:18 PM, Jim Lad said:

Well, I suppose the launch looks fairly reasonable

You sound like my wife, have you been taking lessons?

 

Richard - thank you. 

[mojofilter]

Paint on the inside?!?  The wood is beautiful! - especially like the contrast light/dark mahogany.  Interesting choice, mahogany is such an open grain/large pore wood, but it looks great!

- Tim

[KeithAug]

6 hours ago, mojofilter said:

especially like the contrast light/dark mahogany

Thank you Tim.

 

The darker mahogany is circa 100 years old. It is quite dense and close grained. It came from a once very nice dining table which i suspect was made from prime timber. Not very much like the mahogany sold today. The lighter mahogany was from block flooring recovered from a old building before being relaid on my daughters kitchen floor. I'm using up the offcuts. I think its about 50 years old. It does have a more open grain and fibres lift when coarse sanding.

[KeithAug]

I finished the launch by attaching the wheel and throttle lever.

 

[BANYAN]

That is superb Keith, love that polished detail against the wood - exudes 'luxury', or should I say 'money'

 

cheers

 

Pat

[Wintergreen]

That is a very sharp looking launch. Well done!

[John Allen]

Keith,

 

It goes above and beyond any description. maybe the best word is PERFECT. Double Toddy

[KeithAug]

Pat, thank you and yes she is a rich mans toy.

 

Hakan, Thank you.

 

John, Thanks. a wee dram sounds like a good idea.

 

The time came to introduce the launch to it mother. I made it cradle from mahogany strip, shaped using the templates for the frames. The holes for the lashings were reinforced with brass rivets (visible in the photos). The cradles are each held down using 4 spectacle repair screws. I made a card template to align the cradles and get them in the correct position.

When the launch is on the cradles it fills the available space and must restrict deck operations to a significant degree. 

Altair actually has 2 other boats, both smaller than the launch. Photographs of Altair frequently show no boats on deck and when they are carried the smaller boats seem to be favoured. In the photograph immediately above I have removed the aft davit to ease access.

 

I lashed the launch in place using a length of twine. Several photographs show the launch lashed in place. Mother is very pleased to have baby on board.

 I'm going to try and make some progress on the stand this week - before a diversion into refurbishing my daughters bathroom - yuk!!!

Edited January 22, 2018 by KeithAug

[Mirabell61]

Wonderful work Keith,

 

a real classy launch for a top classy yacht, looks awesome !!

 

Nils

[Jim Lad]

She looks very special, Keith!

 

John

[KeithAug]

Thank you Nils and John.

[KeithAug]

Over the last couple of days I made progress on the stand. Im planning to suspend the yacht on 4 legs and the starting point is to work out the proportions of the legs. This I have done by selecting the frames where the legs will sit and then drawing the adjacent leg to scale.

The legs are made from polished stainless steel. Not a material I am very fond of working with.

Where the side arms abut the hull I wanted something more forgiving than metal so the ends are machined from nylon. A brass insert between the side arm and nylon end will can be machined to tune final fitting.

The top of the legs provide side restraint and where they bear on the hull they softened with "O" rings. The "O" ring grouves could have been machined directly into the stainless but I thought the brass end added a bit of interest.

The bottom of the legs are drilled and threaded to take the base attachment bolts.

A 1/4 inch thick stap joins each pair of legs.

The base board is next.

[Wintergreen]

Stylish Keith :-)

[Landlocked123]

Very, very nice. A really elegant and stylish way to set off the Altair.  Best, John

[BANYAN]

A very complimentary stand Keith; just like an upmarket hard stand cradle?

 

cheers

 

Pat

[Guest Riccardo1966]

Lovely work , a very elegant looking stand.

Regards

Richard

[Mark Pearse]

Hi Keith

 

that's an elegant & original design idea, I look forward to seeing it develop.

Mark

 

[michael mott]

Hi Keith, Beautiful work on the launch, I have to admit I am not fond of the white line holding it to the deck though. I would have thought that a couple of leather covered straps would suit the luxury of the launch.

Your solution for the stands are not only very elegant but are very nicely crafted. I look forward to seeing the yacht in her cradle.

 

Michael

[KeithAug]

Haken, Pat, Richard, Mark. thank you all very much for your kind comments.

On 29/01/2018 at 8:36 PM, michael mott said:

I would have thought that a couple of leather covered straps would suit the luxury of the launch

 

Michael, an interesting thought. The only photograph I have is one of the smaller dingy strapped to the deck. Here the straps seem to be of webbing.  To carry off the leather idea the leather needs to be very thin and i know of a source as my wife is addicted to fine leather gloves. She is also apt to lose one every now and again so next time she does I may do the upgrade.

 

No boat progress this week although I have ripped out tiles, rebuilt walls, plumbed in sinks and radiators, and laid 140 sq ft of ceramic tiles. My daughter is pleased.

Edited February 1, 2018 by KeithAug

[KeithAug]

I really must crack on and get this build finished. At least I have had time to finish the display stand. It took some time to trim the front legs to get Altair to sit with her waterline level. Now all that’s left to do is make and mount the ensign and the Royal Thames Yacht Club flag. Oh and replace 3 stays that have loosened as the model has acclimatised to the house conditions.

I must catch up on other people’s logs before I get withdrawal symptoms.

 

[BANYAN]

That is a very nice display stand Keith; it should set off the model beautifully.

 

cheers

 

Pat

[shipmodel]

Truly beautiful work, Keith - 

 

The launch and mother ship are beautiful together, and the stand is a piece of engineering worthy of any Museum of Fine Design.  It has been a privelege to follow along on your journey.

 

Dan

 

[wyz]

That stand is unlike anything I've ever seen....really classy looking. 

 

Tom

[Bedford]

6 hours ago, shipmodel said:

Truly beautiful work, Keith - 

 

The launch and mother ship are beautiful together, and the stand is a piece of engineering worthy of any Museum of Fine Design.  It has been a privelege to follow along on your journey.

 

Dan

 

What he said!

[KeithAug]

Pat, Dan, Tom and Bedford - thank you all for your supportive comments.

 

Today I was looking at the yacht  thinking “that’s it” when I noticed the obvious omission. 

 

Sometimes in life we lose the big picture in all that detail and end up rudderless. 

 

I made the rudder in September 2016, now I just have to find it.

 

Edited February 10, 2018 by KeithAug