HMS Halifax 1768 by alde - Lumberyard Kit - 1/48 scale - Based on Harold Hahn Drawings and Book

[Dowmer]

Al, I know it was tough, but like you said, it will be better in the end. 

 

Carefully measure out the sheer and rails where they are mid ships and where they terminate at the stern and stem on the plans. Also measure the distance between each section to make sure the width is correct with the right number of strakes. The bend or sheer created by the wales should set this up pretty well as they look to be parallel. 

[alde]

Dowmer, I will do exactly as you suggest. Once it's all cleaned up it should go pretty smooth. It will also give me a chance to improve the quality of the planking in general too. They could have been fitted better.

[Dowmer]

See, just an opportunity to excel and hone your skills 

[mtaylor]

That was a tough decision, Al.  But the right one, IMO. I think you'll be much happier now.   BTW, will you be using that cast stern or scratching it?   

[alde]

17 minutes ago, mtaylor said:

That was a tough decision, Al.  But the right one, IMO. I think you'll be much happier now.   BTW, will you be using that cast stern or scratching it?   

Now that all the planking is off including the shear plank I know it was the right decision. My plan is to try to carve all the decorations including the stern, figurehead and side lights in boxwood. I figure I’ll just keep trying until I get it right. Its the only way I’m going to learn.

[alde]

Here is the method I’m going to use to get accurate elevations from the plans. I picked up a tri-fold foam board and used plastic drafting angles to fix it at 90 deg. Then I folded the plan on the top surface of the building board. Now accurate dimensions can be taken and transferred right to the hull.  I wish I had done this the first go around.

[Dowmer]

Al,

Just make double sure that the upside down plan of the hull is exactly the same distance and angle from the table as the ship hull is off the table.

 

 

 

 

[alde]

Downer, I folded it right at the top surface of the building board and it should be right on. It’s going to be much better this time. I’m excited about planking it this time.

[Dowmer]

Ok, sounds good. 

I was just suggesting perhaps take a couple measurements one from each end of the ship from known points on the model and make sure they match on the plan or vice versa.  To give you a warm fuzzy that everything is aligned and correct and you will get correct marks when you measure off.

 

Looking good and a nice idea mounting the plans like that.  Cant wait to see the new planks.  👍

 

 

 

[alde]

I checked bow and stern and it’s right on the money. This even gave me a shot at improving the fairing a bit.

 

[alde]

First I want to say how glad I am that I removed the old planking. The new is far from perfect but way better. I'm still working on the stern which has had its own issues. I think I finally got it figured out after 3 times. 

 

I was hoping for an opinion from you guys though. After so many do overs the planking on the stern has gotten thin. I really don't want to rip it out and start over. Would it be appropriate to paint the stern planks and if so what would be an acceptable color?

 

When I look at my pictures ompaired to some other builds I realize what a wood butcher I am. It's getting better though.

Edited August 16, 2018 by alde

[mtaylor]

Al,

The stern planking doesn't look thin from here.  Are you thinking fill with putty/filler and then sand and paint?   I guess I'm not grasping the problem.

[alde]

1 minute ago, mtaylor said:

Al,

The stern planking doesn't look thin from here.  Are you thinking fill with putty/filler and then sand and paint?   I guess I'm not grasping the problem.

Mark,

 

You can see under the hole a bit of the pear wood showing through. 

[mtaylor]

Oh... I thought that was shadow.   I really need to have my eyes and brain examined. Are you planning on painting anything else on the hull?    Maybe some ebony stain would look good.

[alde]

I was thinking of making that thin strip above the top molding strip a nice blue like I see on some of the builds of ships of this era like on some of the Swan class. Then the color on the stern would fit.

[alde]

This is kinda what I had in mind but just the blue.

 

Edited August 16, 2018 by alde

[mtaylor]

I like that.  

[lmagna]

Hi Al

I thought I would throw in a comment here even though I am not really qualified. Was your original desire to keep the counter as raw wood like the sides of the hull or were you always intending to paint it?

 

If you are going to paint the transom blue anyway then it would possibly be silly to not paint the counter to match. If you were really wanting to do the wood thing then it would be a shame to have to give up your real desire.

 

Would it be possible to just double plank the counter with very thin veneer strips of the same wood you are using as planking elsewhere? The trim fashion pieces should hide the fact that the counter is double planked.

 

Just an idea from a real wood butcher, not just a rank amateur like yourself. 

[alde]

Lou,

 

I was tossing around the idea of the blue paint for a while. On the other hand double planking would be a great solution. Once I do the paint I'm stuck with it but some of the models I've seen with blue trim look great. I have to make my decision soon.

[lmagna]

You could make the decision pretty much at any time before installing the rudder really. If you intend to pain it then you could do so and if later you decide you really want that part to be wood you could just double plank it. Then if you change your mind again you can just paint it again.

 

I have it easy with the Providence. I always intended to paint everything that in my opinion should be painted, so for me it's just a matter of color and paint/stain method.

 

Good luck 

[alde]

Lou,

I think the blue is winning out. I like the look and it’s not out of place for a ship like this. Once the trim pieces are on it would be too hard to plank the area over. I think it will look pretty nice.

[alde]

I think I may have solved my problem. The stern was a bit too high according to the plans. The aftermost stern plank went too far back if that makes sense. I trimmed that plank forward and sanded the stern to blend it. This gives me more room for the molding and stern decoration. These pictures can probably describe it better than I can with words. I still may go with the blue. I think it will look pretty nice a d be just a bit different than all the other Halifax models.

 

[mtaylor]

I think you've got it.  

[alde]

12 minutes ago, mtaylor said:

I think you've got it.  

I think so Mark. This way all the trim and everything should line up much better. Now I need to get that one more piece of molding with a little plank between them then it's time to lay out the windows. That should go pretty smooth. After that I'm going to start on carving. The resin parts supplied with the kit are junk. It will all be a learning experience so it will be slow going. Hahn has some pretty good guidance in his book.

[Elijah]

Nice fix Al, looking good!

[alde]

Thanks Elijah, I’m always apprehensive about redoing things but it always turns out better. I already know the next build will go easier from the lessons here.

[alde]

Much better now. My workmanship is still not as clean as I would like but all in all I'm happy with it. It all counts toward learning and getting better.

 

[alde]

She’s free. It was pretty stressful thinking the whole thing would collapse but Bob is right. The hull is pretty darn sturdy with no internal structure. It didn’t flex out of shape at all.

 

[lmagna]

Congratulations Al

 

NOW you have a ship model rather than a turtle! Must be nice to be able to pick her up and look at your work rather than having to hunch over the table and guess.

[alde]

47 minutes ago, lmagna said:

Congratulations Al

 

NOW you have a ship model rather than a turtle! Must be nice to be able to pick her up and look at your work rather than having to hunch over the table and guess.

Thanks Lou,

 

What amazes me is how light it is. It almost feels like a balsa airplane model.