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Posted

Hi all,

 

Well at last I can report some progress..........of sorts.

 

I've decided to pause on the rigging for a little while, while I wait and see if I can work out how to replicate Chuck's block making method.  If I can, I'll make my own blocks for the remainder of this build.  If not, I'll proceed with the kit-provided blocks.

 

In the meantime, I made a start on scratch building another versions of the 34' Launch (back on page 13).  At last post, I'd made the plug and the building board.  I'd been having some difficulty making the keel for this boat.  Basically, the material is so thin and fragile that I couldn't seem to keep a keel/stem post in tact while cutting it out.  I tried making it in separate pieces, but making the joints at this scale seemed nigh on impossible.  I scratched my head (pardon the pun) about this for a few weeks until I had a "light bulb" moment a few days ago and implemented it today.  I remembered that I had a "vibra" saw in addition to the big scroll saw.  The vibra saw is basically a miniature scroll saw.  I inherited this from my Dad a while back when he gave up model building, but I'd forgotten it was there (I know, too many toys!).  I worked out that I if left a lot of "meat" on the outside of the keel, while I cut the inside section out, it would give it some stability while I fine tuned it.  The vibra saw was also a lot more gentle in its cutting, so at last I had some success.  Once I had fine tuned the inside shape, I then used an Exacto knife to slice off the outside bottom edge.  Here is the basic keel, made from 1/32" thick boxwood:

 

post-242-0-63855200-1370087772_thumb.jpg

 

The next step was to add a piece of 1/32" sq deadwood to the keel and mark and notch it for the frames, using the building board notches as a guide.

 

post-242-0-58029100-1370087774_thumb.jpg

 

The frames for this little boat will be made from a laminate of two layers of 1/64"thick x 1/16" wide Boxwood.  In order to achieve the bends, I will be using some formers from patterns provided within my practicum.  To cut the formers, I laminated together two sheets of 1/32" thick cherry in a cross-grained pattern to add strength.  Here are a few patterns stuck on ready for cutting out:

 

post-242-0-74202700-1370087770_thumb.jpg

 

Then it was a simple case of cutting them all out on the vibra saw and sanding to final shape.  There are a total of 25 frame formers, including the cant frames, which have been cut in pairs for forming. Here's a few pics of the state of the parts as of close of play today.  Note that the keel has had a stem apron added.  This is twice the thickness of the keel and the overhang either side will form a small rabbet for attaching planks later on.

 

post-242-0-77125200-1370087776_thumb.jpg

 

post-242-0-13080500-1370087779_thumb.jpg

 

post-242-0-61408900-1370087781_thumb.jpg

 

Tomorrow I hope to start forming up the frames and installing the keel into the build board.

 

 

 

Posted

The dimensions you are working with are pretty scary.  Really great thusfar.  I hope that little vibra saw works on the frames themselves.

Augie

 

Current Build: US Frigate Confederacy - MS 1:64

 

Previous Builds :

 

US Brig Syren (MS) - 2013 (see Completed Ship Gallery)

Greek Tug Ulises (OcCre) - 2009 (see Completed Ship Gallery)

Victory Cross Section (Corel) - 1988

Essex (MS) 1/8"- 1976

Cutty Sark (Revell 1:96) - 1956

Posted

This is very impressive work Grant, I have no idea what a Vibra saw is but it's obviously doing the job for you.

 

Are you going to rebuild all your boats or just the launch.

 

mobbsie

mobbsie
All mistakes are deliberate ( me )


Current Build:- HMS Schooner Pickle

 

Completed Builds :-   Panart 1/16 Armed Launch / Pinnace ( Completed ),  Granado Cross Section 1/48

Harwich Bawley, Restoration,  Thames Barge Edme, Repair / Restoration,  Will Everard 1/67 Billings 

HMS Agamemnon 1781 - 1/64 Caldercraft KitHM Brig Badger,  HM Bomb Vessel Granado,
Thames Steam Launch Louise,  Thames Barge Edme,  Viking Dragon Boat


Next Build :-  

Posted (edited)

Thanks very much Augie, B.E., John, Andy and Mobbsie.

 

@Augie - Yes, the scale is the hardest part of this job. The vibra saw won't be used on the frames themselves. I will be using pre-milled strips that I will laminate together and bend around the formers.

 

@Mobbsie - my current plan is to scratch build all of the boats, trialling a variety of different techniques as I go. Of course, I may get fed up with them at some point - this is not an easy scale to do boats. Still, it's all a good learning experience.

Edited by gjdale
Posted

You certainly have my admiration for your tenacity, as you rightly say working at that scale is no easy matter, but hey, who ever wanted this hobby to be easy.

 

Good luck my friend.

 

mobbsie

mobbsie
All mistakes are deliberate ( me )


Current Build:- HMS Schooner Pickle

 

Completed Builds :-   Panart 1/16 Armed Launch / Pinnace ( Completed ),  Granado Cross Section 1/48

Harwich Bawley, Restoration,  Thames Barge Edme, Repair / Restoration,  Will Everard 1/67 Billings 

HMS Agamemnon 1781 - 1/64 Caldercraft KitHM Brig Badger,  HM Bomb Vessel Granado,
Thames Steam Launch Louise,  Thames Barge Edme,  Viking Dragon Boat


Next Build :-  

Posted

Aha.  Great to learn something every day with you folks.  It's usually the simplest idea that evades me.

 

Thanks Grant.

Augie

 

Current Build: US Frigate Confederacy - MS 1:64

 

Previous Builds :

 

US Brig Syren (MS) - 2013 (see Completed Ship Gallery)

Greek Tug Ulises (OcCre) - 2009 (see Completed Ship Gallery)

Victory Cross Section (Corel) - 1988

Essex (MS) 1/8"- 1976

Cutty Sark (Revell 1:96) - 1956

Posted

Grant,

 

Are you taking Anja by the hand into the dark side??????

Brave of you to start with scratch.

I will follow you also with this one closely…...

 

animaatjes-sjors-94584.gif

Posted

Ah... stubbornness under fire.  I love it.  Great job and idea on the boat keel.

Mark
"The shipwright is slow, but the wood is patient." - me

Current Build:                                                                                             
Past Builds:
 La Belle Poule 1765 - French Frigate from ANCRE plans - ON HOLD           Triton Cross-Section   

 NRG Hallf Hull Planking Kit                                                                            HMS Sphinx 1775 - Vanguard Models - 1:64               

 

Non-Ship Model:                                                                                         On hold, maybe forever:           

CH-53 Sikorsky - 1:48 - Revell - Completed                                                   Licorne - 1755 from Hahn Plans (Scratch) Version 2.0 (Abandoned)         

         

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Posted

Thanks Sjors and Mark.

 

@Mark - sometimes I just need to mull something over for a while before the solution hits me.  Mind you, it's usually a BGO (Blinding Glimpse of the Obvious)  :blush:  

 

Some more progress to day.  The laminating of the frames is going well.........so far!  :dancetl6:

 

I've used two pieces of 1/64" thick by 1/16"wide boxwood for each frame.  I simply soak them for a few minutes in hot water, then dry them off lightly with a paper towel, apply some PVA glue to one piece then join the two together and clamp around the relevant former.  It's proving to be a lot easier than I expected so far.  Mind you, I suspect it will get a little more difficult once I get further away from the centre of the boat and start trying to bend some pretty sharp curves.  :o  

Here's how it looks glued up and clamped around the former:

 

post-242-0-37233600-1370164123_thumb.jpg

 

It only takes about an hour or so to dry sufficiently to be able to remove the laminated frame from the former.  Each frame is marked for the centreline and also for the sheer line will on the former.  Note in this picture how little "spring back" there is once removed from the former:

 

post-242-0-85543300-1370164125_thumb.jpg

 

It's then a pretty straight forward process to glue the frame to the keel and the building board.  The plug simply acts as a bit of backing when installing the frame.  Here's a shot showing several frames completed:

 

post-242-0-56153900-1370164128_thumb.jpg

 

It looks to me that there may be a re-do necessary on some frames once all are in place.  Sanding these little suckers is not really going to be an option, so getting the right shape is pretty important.  Removing and replacing though is pretty easy.

 

The slow part of this process is actually waiting for the frames to dry on the formers.  I can only really do two at a time, but then again, there's no hurry.  ;)

Posted

Looks like the process is going to work.  Not really much in the way of springback there.  Best of luck on the tighter bends!

Augie

 

Current Build: US Frigate Confederacy - MS 1:64

 

Previous Builds :

 

US Brig Syren (MS) - 2013 (see Completed Ship Gallery)

Greek Tug Ulises (OcCre) - 2009 (see Completed Ship Gallery)

Victory Cross Section (Corel) - 1988

Essex (MS) 1/8"- 1976

Cutty Sark (Revell 1:96) - 1956

Posted

Grant, this is really cool to watch it start coming together.  These are a whole project in themselves.  Nice work.

John

John

Current Current Builds:

US Brig Niagara on my website

FINISHED BUILD LOGS:

New Bedford Whaleboat - page on my Morgan Website:  http://www.charleswmorganmodel.com/whaleboat-build-log-by-john-fleming.html

C.W. Morgan - Model Shipways 1:64 http://modelshipworld.com/index.php?/topic/1785-cw-morgan-by-texxn5-johnf-ms-164-kit/

USS Constitution - Revell 1:96 http://modelshipworld.com/index.php?/topic/1796-uss-constitution-by-texxn5-johnf-revell-196-kit/

 

website US Brig Niagara Model http://www.niagaramodel.com

website Charles W Morgan Model http://www.charleswmorganmodel.com

website PROXXON DISCOUNT TOOL STORE http://proxxontoolsdiscount.com

Posted

Looking good so far, Grant.  As Augie says, watch the tighter bends - you may have to do a two stage bending process as you get towards the ends of the boat.

 

John

Posted

Thanks Augie, John, Robert, Sherry, and John for your kind words and encouragement. It's very reassuring to know you're with me on this interesting little diversion!

 

I bent a few more frames around the formers tonight - have sorted the technique so that I can do four at once now. The only limitation now is the number of suitable clamps. The brass ones shown in the previous post are ideal for the job - but I only have four of these.

Posted

Hi Grant,

 

I don't know a thing about it but it looks good  :D

Still one question…….correctly if I'm wrong but do you have now to builds in one build log?

 

animaatjes-sjors-94584.gif

Posted

Thanks Sjors,

 

If you count the Launch as a separate build, then I have three builds in one log since I've already done one ships boat before. ;)

Posted (edited)

I really cannot imagine what it must be like doing a scratch build of anything as it is not something I have ever tried apart from simple dolls furniture

Love that curved timber Grant

I have split a few over time by trying to bend them too quickly  :huh:

Slow and patient and leave clamped for a while

Nice job

I have quite a bit of bent on the tram build when I get to it

 

Keep it up  :10_1_10:

Mick

Edited by Micklen32

<p><strong><span style="font-family:'times new roman', times, serif;"><span style="font-size:18px;">Keep it up :10_1_10:</span></span><span style="font-size:18px;font-family:'times new roman', times, serif;"> </span></strong></p>

<p><strong><span style="font-size:18px;font-family:'times new roman', times, serif;">Mick</span></strong></p>

<p> </p>

<p><span style="font-size:12px;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman', times, serif;">Current Build --- Will Everard --- </span><a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://modelshipworld.com/index.php?/topic/3636-will-everard-by-micklen32-billing-boats-167/'>http://modelshipworld.com/index.php?/topic/3636-will-everard-by-micklen32-billing-boats-167/</a></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12px;">Current Build --- Endeavour --- <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://modelshipworld.com/index.php?/topic/2804-hmb-endeavour-by-micklen32-occre-154/'>http://modelshipworld.com/index.php?/topic/2804-hmb-endeavour-by-micklen32-occre-154/</a></span></p>

<p> </p>

<p><span style="font-size:12px;">Completed --- Guitar --- <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://micksjem.blogspot.co.uk/'>http://micksjem.blogspot.co.uk/</a></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12px;">Completed --- Barcelona Taxi --- <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://micklen-taxi.blogspot.co.uk/'>http://micklen-taxi.blogspot.co.uk/</a></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12px;">Completed --- London Tram --- <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://micklen-tram.blogspot.co.uk/'>http://micklen-tram.blogspot.co.uk/</a></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12px;">Completed --- OcCre Mississippi --- <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://modelshipworld.com/index.php?/topic/1803-spirit-of-mississippi-by-micklen32-occre-180-a-hopefully-accurate-rendition/'>http://modelshipworld.com/index.php?/topic/1803-spirit-of-mississippi-by-micklen32-occre-180-a-hopefully-accurate-rendition/</a></span>

Posted (edited)

Thanks Mick, yes slow and patient is the go with these. Then again, "slow" has been what this build has been from the start! :) I don't get much time during the working week, so just gluing up a few frames in the evening and leaving them for a day or two works well at this stage.

 

Your London Tram is looking very nice, by the way.

Edited by gjdale
Posted

Grant,

Looks great...  On the tighter bends, apply heat after soaking and while bending.  A low wattage soldering iron or an old curling iron (smallest one you talk the Admiral out of or go buy one... and trade for it. :) ) will help a lot.

Mark
"The shipwright is slow, but the wood is patient." - me

Current Build:                                                                                             
Past Builds:
 La Belle Poule 1765 - French Frigate from ANCRE plans - ON HOLD           Triton Cross-Section   

 NRG Hallf Hull Planking Kit                                                                            HMS Sphinx 1775 - Vanguard Models - 1:64               

 

Non-Ship Model:                                                                                         On hold, maybe forever:           

CH-53 Sikorsky - 1:48 - Revell - Completed                                                   Licorne - 1755 from Hahn Plans (Scratch) Version 2.0 (Abandoned)         

         

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Posted
Posted

Hi Grant,

 

It's all coming together nicely my friend, precision work as usual, it's a joy to watch.

 

mobbsie

mobbsie
All mistakes are deliberate ( me )


Current Build:- HMS Schooner Pickle

 

Completed Builds :-   Panart 1/16 Armed Launch / Pinnace ( Completed ),  Granado Cross Section 1/48

Harwich Bawley, Restoration,  Thames Barge Edme, Repair / Restoration,  Will Everard 1/67 Billings 

HMS Agamemnon 1781 - 1/64 Caldercraft KitHM Brig Badger,  HM Bomb Vessel Granado,
Thames Steam Launch Louise,  Thames Barge Edme,  Viking Dragon Boat


Next Build :-  

Posted

Thank you very much Mobbsie and Robboxx for the good words - you are too kind.

 

On the road again for a couple of days tomorrow, so no progress until the weekend. But it is a long weekend here, so hopefully some real progress in the shipyard. And tomorrow night I'll be glued to the TV in the hotel room - it's State of Origin football time! Queenslander!!!

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