HM Cutter Cheerful 1806 by Blue Ensign - FINISHED - Syren Ship Model Company - 1:48 scale

[Blue Ensign]

Post 29

Progressing the second band.

My initial job was to add the first strake of the lower band meeting up with the Square Tuck.

 

I then re-lined the hull  using full 3/16" plank widths for the centre five bulkheads, and tick strips and the fan to mark the others.

 

The lower band of planking is designed to take ten 3/16th strakes at mid-ships including the Garboard Strake.

 

Allowing for the rabbet into which the Garboard strake fits, I calculated that a 9/32" strip would give me a little wriggle room to form the Garboard altho' at a push I think I could have got away with a 7/32" as used by Chuck.

 

Suspecting that some wider stuff would be required over the kit package, I ordered additional width strips from Jason. These comprised 9/32" and 3/8" wide strips which should allow for the Garboard and any spiling requirements.

0305

To make the Garboard I cut the plank to length to butt against the Stern post and reach forward to the edge of Bulkhead J.

 

0310

I then ticked off forward to produce the taper which ends in a point at the forward end.

 

0306

Aft of the centre section the width was left at 7/32"

I found it necessary to bevel the Garboard plank edge where it fits into the rabbet from the centre bulkhead ⊕ forward to allow for the plank to lie flat on the bulkhead.

From the 5th bulkhead from the stern the plank lies flat against the false keel and butts up against the keel rabbet, and some heat applied twist is required for this section.

 

For the adjoining plank I used 3/16" heat bent and shaped to fit.

0316

This is always a tricky plank to fit requiring quite a severe curve where it rounds the garboard plank to fit into the keel rabbet just before it curves up the stem.

0319

Achieving the curve required starting the process from a much longer strip than required.

0331

Having fitted the two lowest strakes I return to planking from the top.

0332

There is a reasonable match to the strakes each side of the stem.

0336

 I finish this section with five strakes to go.

I hope that four 3/16th planks plus a spiled strake made from a wider plank will complete the job.

 

I'm now off to North Yorkshire for a week and will hopefully complete the hull planking on my return.

 

 

B.E.

 

29/06/2018

 

[Beef Wellington]

Lovely planking BE, can only look even better when sanded down.  Nice work on the garboard planks, look tricky to shape, and I can see the advantage of the having the upper planking in place to help provide perspective.

[Blue Ensign]

Thank you Jason, fortunately the Garboard and its mate went on first attempt, on some builds it has taken me two or three goes, and we all  hate wasting timber, especially expensive Boxwood.

Hopefully there will be a much improved look once the hull has been sanded, and has been given a coat or two of varnish.

 

Regards,

 

B.E.

[Martin W]

Indeed, that really is a curve on that second strake.  Wow.  But it looks like it's set up the next one to go on fairly easily.

 

I hope you'll pass through Whitby!

 

Cheers

 

Martin

[davyboy]

Your planking is looking very good B.E. Top job if I may say so.

 

I reached a milestone yesterday,all deck fittings,guns,cleats et al are now fitted on my Cheerful. I am now debating whether or not to make 4 dozen 1/8" hooked blocks for the training tackles. Masts,spars and sheaved blocks are already made so will have to decide soon methinks before starting masting and rigging. Enjoy your holiday in North Yorkshire,some lovely scenery there. Good ale too 

 

BTW,have you any idea whether or not there should be cut-outs in either the main or forward grating to pass the anchor cables below. Nothing shown on the plans.

 

Dave 

[Gahm]

Beautiful planking, BE!

 

Thomas

[flyer]

Hi B.E.

 

Your Cheerful comes along very nicely. There is much to say for building smaller ships as you can concentrate on every aspect and detail while when building a 74 you have to take some shortcuts or take an eternity to finish.

 

However, I'm a bit confused about the run of the planks. As I understand you are following Chuck's planking pattern which is based on an original plan. From some angles the run of your planks looks fine (pictures 332,336) while others give the impression of a distorted run (306,331).

 

Most planking tutorials emphasize that you should avoid bending planks sideways - something you definitely have to do. I got the impression that the small tape you used as battens did allow more lateral bending than a wood strip and therefore created a pattern with laterally bent planks. On the other hand the frontal view onto Cheerful's bow looks fine while on my models, where I usually start tapering with or just below the wales, I can keep a natural run on the planks but get a rather crowded bow planking and need quite a few drop planks.

 

I don't mean to criticize your work, I just wonder if you are happy with the way the planks are running - especially the one above the garboard? Do you think this is how it was done on the prototype and wood will eventually give up its tendency to warp?

 

Cheers

Peter

[Blue Ensign]

Sorry for the delay in responding to your post Peter, I have been away enjoying North Yorkshire, and our present run of hot weather has reduced my enthusiasm for  return to the work bench.

I know what you mean about the apparent distortions in the planking run. I have been aware of it, and I wasn't quite sure what caused it or indeed how to cure it, apart from stripping it all off,  which I was disinclined to do.

However, with the hull the correct way up that area falls below the curve of the hull and visually has little impact.

Regarding the plank adjacent to the Garboard, I'm not unhappy about that one at the moment, the Garboard Plank looks as it should do, and in order for the next plank to meet the stem rabbet, that is the shape required.

I'll see how I feel when the next one is added.

 

B.E.

16/07/2018

[Blue Ensign]

Post 30

The last few Strakes

To speed up the final planking process I used a previously made bow section plank as a template. With the intended plank pre bent, the template pattern was marked on and a scalpel used to shape the actual fit.

1149

I sited the last strake to be third up from the Garboard which places it on the underside of the hull.

1162

I used wider 7/32" stuff for this plank gradually pared down and shaped to fit.

1158

The final strakes were fairly well matched for size and shape.

I also used wider stuff for the aftermost plank in strake five, to allow for the increased flare as the plank  meets the Stern post.

So eight months on the planking is completed.

1295

1296

1298

1299

1303

1306

1308

1318

At this point very little sanding has been done.

1313

Not too sure I have the full approval of my shipwright assistant, and I think he is probably right to cast a critical eye over my progress.

Still a lot of work to do on the hull planking to get it looking as good as I can, but I fear it will never match some of the work done by my fellow Cheerful builders.

The sanding process will now continue followed by the delightful prospect of treenailing, what joy.

I intend to use the simulated method of indicating treenails.

 

B.E.

30/07/2018

 

 

[Barbossa]

With all due respect to the shipwright assistant : Nice Job on the planking B.E. ! Many of us (me included) would settle for this.

Looking forward to the treenailing chapter

[flyer]

Hi B.E.

 

The planking looks good, especially in pictures 1295 - 1298, which show the most important viewpoints.

 

However, if I'm interpreting your assistants facial expression correctly he's only appraisal criterion is:

edible?      yes/no

Good luck in convincing him to do the treenailing.😉

 

Cheers

Peter

 

[Landlubber Mike]

Great work BE, nice to catch up on your build.  Always nice to have a shipwright assistant with a critical eye to keep you at your best.

[Tigersteve]

Nice progress! Congrats on the finished planking. 

Steve

[davyboy]

Good evening B.E. An excellent job of planking,I'm sure it will be as good as any planking to be seen on the forum when sanded and a finish applied. Best of luck with treenailing,I elected not to do this at the time due to poor eyesight. I'm currently making up all my rigging and bagging the finished articles then it's just a case of fitting it when I put the mast and spars in. The end of the tunnel is in sight after 3 years.

 

Keep up the good work,

 

Dave 

[gjdale]

Congratulations on reaching this major milestone BE. Your planking looks pretty darn good from this distance. I’m sure your assistant is merely guarding the finished product from marauders - and expecting some treats in return!

[alde]

Nice planking job. Chucks Cheerful sure makes for a beautiful model.

[Dowmer]

Nice planking BE. I know sometimes it must feel like planking is like running a marathon, but it feels so good to see those curves and planks in place. Nice job. 

[Gahm]

Beautiful planking job, B.E.! This will become another wonderful addition to your model fleet 🙂 

 

Thomas

[bigcreekdad]

Your build log will be my guide when I get to the planking stage. Well done!!

[Martin W]

From all perspectives (even the one that counts most) that planking looks might good.  And perhaps more than anything other than rigging, it's planking that can really make a build delight the eye.

 

All hail William!

 

Cheers,

 

Martin

[Rustyj]

Very nicely done B.E.

[Seventynet]

Great job B.E., it will look even sweeter with a sanding and finish. 

[Blue Ensign]

Thank you Gents for all your supportive comments, I still envy the ultra crisp planking so evident on  many of my fellow builders of Cheerful, at times I was pretty Surly about the whole process.😉

 

Still with some sanding I am starting to feel better about the look of the hull and I think she will pass (my) muster eventually.

My mind is now taken up with Treenailing and the best approach to achieve:-   1) a regular distribution, I doubt it can be done by eye alone, over such a large area, and 2) a subtle look where the hull doesn't look as if it is festooned with dark dots.

 

I have decided to follow Chuck's method and have trialled using a 0.4mm diameter drill for the holes filled with an only slightly contrasting filler, but sufficient to give an awareness of their presence. Holes greater than 0.4 seemed too prominent, and smaller  not worth doing.

 

My main concern is getting a nice run along the planks of the treenails between the butt ends, and I've not got my head around how to do this yet. 🤔

 

B.E.

01/08/2018

 

 

[Martin W]

Have you ever tried setting out the lines with blue tape?  You could decide where the frames would lie, and lay out the treenails there.  Theoretically, anyway.

 

 

[Dowmer]

That's what I do.  Use tape to mark a straight line on each side of the frame for the holes.  Then I use a small awl or pointed tool to make indents where I want to drill.  This keeps the drill bit from wandering and allows you to see how everything lines up before you drill.

 

 

 

[Blue Ensign]

Post 31

That Treenailing business

Can't put this off any longer.

I am following Chuck's method of using drilled holes and filler to replicate the Treenails.

I am using a 0.45mm ø drill, a lightweight wood filler, coloured to a pale beige, a fine awl to clean the holes, and a 9H graphic pencil.

I am also finding that I need tape on my thumb and forefinger to ease the pressure of the repetitive drilling using the pin vise.

1502

I started by creating the treenails for the butt joints on the hull, followed by the intermediate ones above the wale.

1501

1506

The pattern I took from the plans using dividers to mark the spacing.

With the topsides completed I applied a coat of wipe-on- poly.

1509

1492

1499

1494

The wale had received some scuffing, so at this point I have also re-coated it.

1498

1491

Losing the will to live with the prospect of the rest of the hull to do; time for reflection on the effect thus far on the first section.

Are the treenails too prominent/ dark/ over fussy?

I think I can live with them but I need to do a little more sanding on the lower hull and a little time to gear myself up to start this next phase.

 

B.E.

 

12/08/2018

 

[Seventynet]

Good job B.E.! I think it looks great. I’m sure you will feel a tremendous sense of accomplishment when you’re done. Keep the faith.

ian 

[Martin W]

I don't think they're at all fussy.  Quite the contrary, I think they add to the overall tidiness of your work.  After studying these last photos, I'm hard pressed to see how you can exclude yourself from the category of "ultra-crisp" planking. 

 

Cheers,

 

Martin

[Blue Ensign]

Cheers Seventynet and Martin, your encouragement is much appreciated. 🙂

 

Post 32

Mark, drill, awl, mark again, fill, and scrape.

The monotony begins.

1538

To help guide me I used a length of  flexible 7mm  x 0.6mm strip to mark the  presumed frame lines for the treenails down the hull.

1541

Five strakes per day is as much as my patience will tolerate.

This equates to around 450 treenails.

1552

I'm reasonably satisfied that the completed  strakes are sufficiently muted.

Two strakes show the holes drilled and blackened ready for filling.

There are in excess of 1900 holes to drill each side below the wale which means a total of around eight days to complete the job at current rate of progress.

Feels like a lifetime, but until this is done I cannot move forward.🙄

 

Onwards...…..

 

B.E.

14/08/2018

 

 

[Barbossa]

Hi, B.E. quite challenging. But I'm confident as your commitment to this hobby is as huge as the support you'll receive from many MSW-members.

Keep up the good work !