Barque Stefano by donrobinson - MarisStella - 1:63

[DocBlake]

Somehow I missed this log!  My loss, but I’m here now.  

 

Don:  Do you have a mill in addition to your lathe?  What brand and model for each?

[drobinson02199]

Don:

 

The planking looks terrific.  As to your deck, it's way above the average standard on my builds, and looks great to me.

 

I know what you mean about finishing planking.  Seems like it will never end -- until it finally does!

 

Regards,

David

[donrobinson]

Thanks Dave. Yes I have a mill also they are both Sherline the lathe is a 4400 and the mill is a 5400, if you are thing of buying get one of their packages that come with accessories. I also highly highly recommend getting the digital read out at the same time, it really helps with accuracy and is a real saviour when it comes to repetitive cuts.  

[donrobinson]

Thanks David, you are soooo right about it being never ending 

[Heronguy]

The deck looks like a dance floor!  Beautiful and smooth.  You're going to miss the planking - admit it 

[mikiek]

Hey Don - while I see what you are talking about with the deck plank edges, I still think it's a winner. I can pick up the grain running in different directions in different planks. Almost a herringbone look in places. I know you usually use the wipe on finish but I got to wonder whether a liquid applied thick might seep down between the joints and darken a little. I know when I paint the stuff over a small gap it fills up and will be a tad darker than the plank when it dries. Of course with the smooth/tight fit you've made there may not be much of a gap to fill  The price of a job well done.

 

Ditto on the Sherline products. If I just knew what to do with them

 

Take a break and enjoy what you've done. I want a front row seat at the plank bending station!

[donrobinson]

Doug: I must miss planking because I started planking the Pasara yesterday.

Mike: Thanks Mike. I made a rough bending board yesterday and started experimenting using soaked planks and a heat gun, the kind that are used for stripping paint. I had to quit after a bit as the wooden dowels I was using to hold the plank in place were burning, so had to stop and make some out of aluminium on my lathe(hint hint). I will post my results when I get back at it

[Heronguy]

Good for you Don!  By the way are you working your way through the entire MarisStella catalog?  Are you going to do a build log for little Pasara?  I'd vote yes for one.

[mikiek]

Don - the electric plank bender I had (really just a soldering iron with a special tip) came with a thick strip of wood that had various curves carved into one edge. It's what I eventually used (minus the iron) to bend those ribs. Having something on the back side of the stick while I applied heat & pressure to the other side kept the sticks from breaking. You could easily make something with the curve you are looking for.

 

You probably know what I'm talking about but if not I'll post a pic when I get home.

 

Good luck!

[r63701]

Hi Don, had to come in out of the heat in southern CA. to read up on your excellent progress. Do not have the ship plans etc. with me but would like to know what you used for the centre strip of the deck. Have decided to follow original instructions and use supplied .5 beech  for the hull, that said am seriously contemplating using the walnut 1.0 for deck and use a clear finish. Also, looks like you have painted the inside of the upper hull, do you recommend finishing deck work before plating the hull.

Thank you for your time and well taken advice,

Robert.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[donrobinson]

Doug: That's a good idea, I could have my own MarisStella show room. 

Mike: Would you mind posting a picture here?

Robert: The middle plank is 1.5 x 7 mm walnut. A walnut deck would look good too, I would change the centre board to something lighter like cherry then. The contrast would look very good. There is a certain amount of the deck gets finished before plating , but not all of it. I painted a little ahead of time as I was worried about ruining the deck.

[mikiek]

Nothing revolutionary here but it worked. Lay the wet plank flat on top of the curve. I ran the shaft of a soldering iron back & forth on the top surface while pressing down. A couple of swipes and the stick will bottom out in the curve. It just helps keep you from pushing too hard and snapping the stick.

 

From what I remember you have almost a U shaped bend? Some scrap 2x4 would work. You might even have to crank up the mill.

 

Edited February 3, 2018 by mikiek

[Old Collingwood]

48 minutes ago, mikiek said:

Nothing revolutionary here but it worked. Lay the wet plank flat on top of the curve. I ran the shaft of a soldering iron back & forth on the top surface while pressing down. A couple of swipes and the stick will bottom out in the curve. It just helps keep you from pushing too hard and snapping the stick.

 

From what I remember you have almost a U shaped bend? Some scrap 2x4 would work. You might even have to crank up the mill.

 

I have the same thing its very usefull.

 

OC.

[samson]

Hi Don.  

 

It's probably the most exciting building kit I've seen, I did not know it existed. I am totally envious of the high quality and building information - lucky you,

 

I'm looking forward to keeping track of your construction project.

 

Jens

[donrobinson]

Hi Mike: You are right I have seen that before, probably on your log. Not so sure how good it would work for edges bending a 1,5 x 7mm walnut strip almost 90 degrees. My first few attempts have not gone so well but will try again to day.

Samson: Thanks Samson, you are more than welcome to join along there is always room

[mikiek]

Don - with those types of "molds" I had to go thru a succession of bends and molds. The bend in the mold getting more acute each time. If you have those crimping benders, put just a slight crimp in a few spots.

 

I'm trying to remember who told me not to try to do the full bend in one shot 

[Seventynet]

Don if you can make that bend I want a full description of how you do it. Edge bending walnut that thick that much would be beyond me. Which of course is not saying much. A scarph joint might look pretty good?

[Heronguy]

1 hour ago, donrobinson said:

Not so sure how good it would work for edges bending a 1,5 x 7mm walnut strip almost 90 degrees. My first few attempts have not gone so well but will try again to day.

 How about starting with a 1,5x50mm sheet and cutting out the shape you need?  I'm half serious Don.

[MarisStella.hr]

Hi good fellows !! I have just seen this posts so I decided to fill it up with this stuff :

 

At this Stefano model the covering board width varies from 3 (3.5)mm to 6mm. So here is the space for forming it and cutting… It is , let say, impossible to bend it to the shape at the stern. So You have to cut it. The covering board is , in reality, composed of several independent pieces. This is not a single plank. It is put together of two or more narrower planks fixed to each other. Here AT THE STERN  is to do next: use 1,5x7mm strip and make two or three narrow strips by cutting it. Make fragments about 10cm long. 2 or 3 mm width. Then bend the fragments, glut the fragments at the round hull planking and the deck at the stern. Glue the fragments one to the other. Get the shape of the covering board as in the drawing… polish it and it is it !! So remember: the king plank (in the middle of the deck) and the covering board are NOT the single piece planks. They are composed of several narrower planks put close one to the other. They are the same sort of the planks, so in the end, the connections are not visible …

 

Regards, Zoran

 

[Heronguy]

Zoran, that is a very helpful explanation!  Thank you.

[MarisStella.hr]

Mr. Mike... I have just illustrated and wrote a booklet about handmade molds for the shaping the strips by bending. It is a part of the Beginner set Level 3 booklet about Santa Maria reconstruction. This text needs to be reviewed before showing it around, so please for a bit of patience... Don is guilty for the English language connected with this ...

Anyway, the molds for the strips are very simple to make and it is a real pleasure to make and use them ... You will see this very soon ...

 

 

Regards, Zoran

 

[donrobinson]

Mike: I've been slowly trying to bend these pieces since last week but to no avail. I am going to accept defeat on this one and try a different approach. The biggest problem with bending this wide of a plank is the wood on the inside of the curve has no where to go and "bunches" up. I tried cutting kerfs in it, as you would a 2" board, but with this scale the pieces in between the kerfs chip away. I was not too confident in this method but thought I would give it a try. That's all good, lots of options left yet.

Ian: I am surprised you did not hear my description in Calgary, it was defiantly loud enough . As I mentioned to Mike bending is not an option for something this size and scale. Not to worry we will conquer this beast!! 

Doug: I have thought of that, and would have been done this by now, but I am saving that as a last resort. I would really like to complete this build with kit materials if possible. If it does come to it I will have no shame in using that method 

Zoran: that was my next thought, I was a little worried about the looks but it will all be covered with the grated deck and the joint could be hid under a pin rail. I will make a bending form first then cut some strips and give it a try.

 

[mikiek]

Looking forward to your booklet Zoran. Any and all help is appreciated.

[Old Collingwood]

On 05/02/2018 at 4:59 PM, donrobinson said:

Hi Mike: You are right I have seen that before, probably on your log. Not so sure how good it would work for edges bending a 1,5 x 7mm walnut strip almost 90 degrees. My first few attempts have not gone so well but will try again to day.

Samson: Thanks Samson, you are more than welcome to join along there is always room

Did you give them a good soaking first before applying heat?  that might help.

 

OC.

[donrobinson]

OC: I have since cut them down to 3 mm strips, I'll give these a good soaking then try again

Lawrence: Sorry about that Lawrence I've been busy lately and and not spent much time on the Stefano, this is about to change real soon

[donrobinson]

Good morning all. Thanks to all for your likes, comments and for stopping in.

 A month has passed and there really is not much progress to show. Time has been spent on other little projects and of course the all important holidays. As our spring is far from starting this year the next few weeks should prove to be a little more productive, I'm hoping.

 At any rate here is the progress:

The bending problem was solved by milling some walnut and cutting to shape, three pieces per side

 

The results for the freeboard, scarf joints cannot be seen but I know they are there

 

Scuppers drilled in hull

 

scuppers in deck

 

$ holes made in hull for mooring ropes

 

Hull blocks assembled

 

Hole started for block

 

Block installed

 

How it looks now with two coats of flat black paint, below waterline will be copper plates.

 

 Thanks for stopping in and have a good modelling day!!

 

 

[drobinson02199]

Don:

 

Those hull blocks are incredibly cool!

 

Regards,

David

[Jim Rogers]

Very nice sheaves. A skill I have not acquired yet.

[mikiek]

Welcome back Don. As has been said, nice job on the blocks.  I am also still really liking your deck. That wood stands out but at the same time doesn't dominate the overall look. Great choice.

[DocBlake]

Nice work, Don!  The hull blocks are fabulous.  I noticed the Norton detail sander in the picture above.  Aren't those great?  I have three so I have a range of grits ready to go at any time!

Edited April 4, 2018 by DocBlake