Corsair by DCIronfist - FINISHED - OcCre - 1:80 scale (First wooden ship build)

[augie]

David-

 

CA comes in different grades and setting times.  The 'thin' grade sets in about 10 seconds, 'medium' maybe 30 seconds and there is a 'thick' that gives you still more time.  Good old fashioned 'wood glue' (PVA) gives you much more time to work with.  I like to have all 4 sitting around depending on what I am doing.  If you really need time to get something aligned and set, there are 2 part epoxies with set times from 5 minutes to 2 hours.

 

Just something to consider.

[DCIronfist]

Thanks Augie I currently have wood glue and not sure which CA but it seems to dry quick ...I thought it was medium but not too sure now.

[augie]

Thin flows like water, medium like pancake syrup and thick like honey.  Varies from brand to brand. 

[DCIronfist]

I guess it should be like medium but will confirm at a later point lol. Now I want pancakes... :)

Edited May 19, 2013 by DCIronfist

[RiverRat]

Hi David,

 

Try to use wood glue (PVA) when you can. Reasonable working time and a strong bond. I would suggest "medium" CA (5-15 sec) if you need something quciker on a spot that's, for example, difficult to clamp. I would reallyreallyreally avoid the "thin" CA (3-5 sec). It wicks to a great extent and may create an area that won't take finish like the surrouding areas not affected by the CA.

 

Brian

[DCIronfist]

Thanks Brian I will try to do that :)

[DCIronfist]

Ok have had the deck clamped for a week while other stuff came up so will glue on poop deck lol

[Sjors]

Hi David,

 

I think when you remove the clamps everything stays at it was 

There is no movement anymore….

 

[DCIronfist]

Lol yes Sjors I went crazy with clamps trying to get the deck flush to hulls shape :)

Edited May 26, 2013 by DCIronfist

[Sjors]

But you didn't isn't it.

So put some glue on it and yes….again clamps!

 

[DCIronfist]

Ok so I lined the inside of the bulwarks and cut out the shape and the gun ports ( a more time consuming project then one would think ) and the next step is to glue it on........now to my question...... I know I still have to shape the front a bit but how does one get that bend in the bulwark for the front? Does one use water brute? Putting this on hold until my trustworthy help support team lets me know.... Thanks in advance :) just need pencil lines

[DCIronfist]

By the way the bulwarks are mde of plywood with the tiny Raman wood lining it and my ca is medium :)

Edited May 27, 2013 by DCIronfist

[Adrieke]

hello David

 

soak the plywood in some hot water for just  a few seconds then using rubber bands make it bend agsint the hull and let dry

 

it will spring back after wards so the next step is to soak again and then use somethign like a round paint tin to bend it a bit further . not too much as it wil break. i usualy make it so the bend is more then it sould be and then resoak and put aginst hull again that wil get the best fit and glueing it afterwards goes easy

[Timothy Wood]

Davis,

 

Looks great!  I really like the selection of clamps you use...     

 

Cheers,

Tim

[Shazmira]

What Adrieke said, usually takes a couple water baths, until you have the bend you need.

[DCIronfist]

Ok thanks I will give that a try in a few days then. This build will be an endurance one as I like building but seems everything takes twice as long for me.

[DCIronfist]

Just a quick update nothing picture worthy but filed/sanded ( faired if I knew the lingo lol ) the top of the bulkheads down so the bulwarks can fold around them after I wet them so they will take the shape. Will try that maneuver tomorrow Look at me taking words from the instructions like I know what I'm talking about lol.

[Shazmira]

It is amazing how as the build grows so does your vocabulary...but then if you are like me, you move to the next step and forget all over again lol.

[augie]

David-  don't worry about the time.  I'm really slow myself.  Just think of it as getting your money's worth

[DCIronfist]

Ok I'm on the edge of completely giviving up today......I soaked the bulwarks a couple minutes and then tro to bend around the curve and am rewarded with a crack sound. I look and sure enough the plywood had craked at the bend.....here I am just trying to get the shape and man there is just no easy way to hold the shape......some pictures follow have not glued anything but not sure what to do about my cracks and the shape bieng not quite right........perhaps in a few days I will be better equipped mentally to deal with it........

[DCIronfist]

Picture don't make it seem as bad as it feels but I see a mess

[themadchemist]

Hey DC (david)

don't you just hate the sound of breaking wood. UGH!

One thing I've found, anything can be fixed.... Take a few minutes off and cool down... fixing your spirits comes first.... realize its just part of the hobby, albeit a sucko part.

 

I just decided I'm going to have to remake the port Top rail of the Swift due to breakage. It sucks but its part of the hobby.

 

One suggestion which would be more work on your Corsair then my Swift. I replaced the plywood bulwarks with solid basswood of the same thickness. It has way better fexiblity and soaking isn't an issue. Of course they'd be alot more complex to cut out, but it worked for me.

[Shazmira]

Best advice...for me...remove the planking and bend the bulwark by itself. Even though those planking strips are really thin, they do add support and make it harder to bend. looks like a nasty break, if you don't have additional plywood to cut a new one from you have a couple of choices. Buy some sheet basswood from Model Expo and make yourself new ones from that. Second choice, fix what you have. If it were me, I would remove the planking, use wood glue liberally over the broken area, allow to dry for 24 hours then sand the bandaged area. Then I would wet a towel and wrap the bulkwark in a towel and place in the microwave for 30 seconds to 1 min to get it "pliable" . In the meantime make yourself  a "frame" of nails that follow the curve you need to acquire. Gently take your softened bulwark and bend it to your nail curve. Use a blowdryer to dry to the shape you need.  I am not sure how well the break will hold up, but even a bit of a sharp edge on the broken edge can be sanded smooth and filled with putty and once planked will disappear entirely.

 

Don't give up David, each set back is a learning experience....the worst result of this one is waiting for the basswood sheet from ME

[augie]

Tough one, David.  Step away for whatever time is needed and cool down. 

Bending sometimes has to be done in several stages soaking and drying as you go.  TMC is right in that solid wood would be better than ply.  But I think the real problem is that the planking was attached before you bent the bulwark......and CA was probably not the best choice.  One it sets, it's very brittle.  Wood glue would have softened a bit. 

 

Trying a repair as suggested by Robbyn is worth a shot as is ordering some replacement wood in case you need a total do-over.  All of us here know how discouraging this can be.  But you will overcome this.

[Adrieke]

ouch David. nasty break but fixable ( i had some of those on my curved walls onthe kom)

 

if you go for making a new part in plywood make sure to feel which way it bends best that was the last mistake i made.

 

for holding things when there is no hold like the bow what i do is use rubber bands. ofcourse they d slip off but not if you just clamp some  pegs on top and let the band rest against it

[Sjors]

Hi David,

 

Maybe you feel a little bit better when I tell you that this is happened to me also when I try to put the bulwark on to my Corsiar…….

I just glued the crack and hold it together with a clamp.

Then sanding and filling because you still have your planking that goes over it.

But Robbyn makes also a good point.

You have to see what works out for you.

 

[augie]

AHA- Sjors had come through with what might be the best answer.  Didn't realize that bulwark would be planked over.  Some glue, filler and creative sanding should allow you to get it smooth enough to plank over and no one will be the wiser.

[DCIronfist]

Thank you everyone for the encouragement ( really needed some right now) I will attempt to glue clamp it and sand it smooth. I only planked it first because the directions had me do it that way. I am sure this is not the last thing I will break, bieng the oaf I am, but with friends here I will get through each trouble. I will attempt this tomorrow when my shift is over( if the night runs are not too bad ). More info to follow soon.......

[Shazmira]

Looking forward to seeing your fix David....haven't you learned yet...the instructions are never right lol

[maso]

David, I  think we all feel for you. There is nothing worse than the sound of cracking wood after many hours of work. When it has happened to me, I get up and go to the kitchen & shake hands with "Gentleman Jack". After about 10 min. to calm down, I can normally find a fix for the problem. By the way, good work on your build so far.

Dave.