U.S.N. Anchor Hoy by Hank - 1816 - 1:48 Scale POB

[Hank]

Rather than tackle another large warship which I had originally planned (USN Frigate BOSTON - 1799), I am currently working on a harbor craft from the 1816 period usually seen in the Gosport, VA area servicing USN warships with supplies, water, anchors, etc. This particular craft was designed by Wm. Grice and the plans are in the book American Shipmodels and How to Build Them by V. R. Grimwood. This will be a 1:48 scale Plank on Bulkhead scratchbuilt model. The model illustrated in the book is drawn at 5/32" = 1'-0" and I have scaled up the plans to 1/4" = 1'-0". It is a sloop rigged vessel with one mast.

 

Currently I have the bulkheads drawn out and adhered to basswood blanks and have now cut them out. In addition, the keel, stem and sternposts have been cut and shaped (boxwood). I have constructed some of the deck furniture (also boxwood & walnut) and will post photos soon.

 

As of last Thurs.I am in the early stages of faring the forward bulkheads into their final shape (no photos yet). I don't believe I will join the Stem and Sternposts or keel to the center piece and bulkhead ***'y until all the bulkheads are mounted and shaped to fit.

[justsayrow]

Hank,

That drawing in Grimwood always fascinates me!  The boat is so small and the anchor so big.

 

I'll be watching your log.  The hoy might have to be my first atempt at scratch.

[mtaylor]

Hank,

 

I'm looking forward to following along. 

[Jim Lad]

This will be interesting, Hank!

 

John

[Hank]

Thanks for the early replys! I'm glad there is some interest.

 

I've also purchased the Anchor Hoy plan from S.I. by Doughty which was a Boston harbor craft (1818) used for similar purposes. It is a redrawn Chapelle plan and I'm thinking of following the Grice Hoy with this one only building this hoy Plank on Frame. That will be a first for me. Also, same scale 1:48. Since it is a double ended design, there will be less chance to screw up the frames on this 1st attempt.

[trippwj]

Hank - I will definitely be following this one along with the crowd.  I have seen it discussed in several books (Grimwood, Chapelle, etc) and have been hoping someone would build one!

[Elia]

Hank,

 

I'll enjoy watching this build up - another of your gems.

 

Cheers,

 

Elia

[Hank]

Wayne, Elia:

 

Thanks for the support! As I mentioned - it isn't hard to screw up right off the bat. I managed to sink my Stanley 1/4" chisel into my right index finger Sunday night while trying to remove one of the bulkheads that was out of alignment. It's OK - a day's worth of bandaid and I'm back to shipmodeling. When I cut out the slots in the centerboard & bulkheads they were not precise - my cheapo scroll saw is mainly to blame - I reserve the rest of the blame for myself for buying the piece of #$%^&*! That is one item (QUALITY scroll saw) on my To Purchase list.

 

I hope tonight to get the camera into action to record the current status of the project.

[Jim Lad]

Henk,

 

Just keep remembering to cut the slots in the bulkheads and not yourself!

 

John

[Hank]

John - Yes, that's a good thing to keep in mind

 

The attending photo is the work as of last night - I have all the bulkheads (except for the transom) now in place on the centerboard.

As with the construction of PEACOCK, I cut 1/4" square stock for the blocks that hold each of the bulkheads in place. This (more or less) assures that the bulkheads are all at right angles to the centerboard.

 

Since the article in Grimwood doesn't specifically give scantling sizes (his model is a lift construction hull), I'm going to use the sizes described on Chapelle's redrawn plan of the Boston (Doughty) Anchor Hoy which should work out well for this model. That wil give me the deck & hull planking widths and thicknesses that I'll use.

 

Next week I'll begin fairing the bulkheads and also get the transom board ready for placement.

[Timothy Wood]

Hank,

 

I'm looking forward to seeing more of this build.  Keep the photos coming!

 

Cheers,

Tim

[Hank]

As of Tues. night (03/26) I have added deck curvature brackets (my definition) to some of the bulkheads that did not conform to the deck layout. Also, the keel, stem & sternposts were added. I've also got the transom constructed and outside painted, trimmed. Photos should show that progress.

 

What do you mean you can't see the model for the guitar?

 

Simple pleasures...

 

Wed. night I added the three brass stars to the transom (holes are visible in photo) and will install next week. I will also begin the hull planking with the wales.

[Jim Lad]

Nice to see some progress, Hank.  That transom looks really good.

 

John

[Hank]

John,

 

Thanks for the kind remark! The hull planking will not be easy given the blunt bow and the curves associated with it - a real challenge. Starting with the wale kind of defines how the curves will go, so that's the plan anyhow.

[Timothy Wood]

I like the choice of colors!

 

Tim

[Hank]

Well, at this point I have begun planking on the starboard side and realized that the bulkheads present a problem as they are currently laid out. I did fair the bulkheads, but this was not enough to prevent the planks at the stern from drying mishapened to the amount that I can't sand away.

 

After consideration of various solutions and realizing that the bulkhead layout needs refinement I am temporarily pulling the plug on this build. There are a couple solutions that might produce (well, SHOULD produce) a better model in the long run:

 

1) I am going to re-draw the hull centerboard/keel assembly/stem & stern posts in MicroStation as well as all bulkheads to ensure a uniform layout.

 

2) The bulkhead layout will be studied and additional bulkheads added to ensure a smooth planking from one end to another. the original Grice layout that I am working from leaves a bit to be desired as far as bulkhead spacing. I intend to correct this and thus improve the overall carcass of the model in order to make the planks lay truer without abrupt or sharp changes in shape. I think there should be a smooth and even curvature of the planking from one end of the ship to the other. I also intend to widen the current bulkheads to 1/4" thick which will enable better adhesion of the planks. Utilizing Chuck's laser layout method I intend to have the bulkheads printed out and laser cut by a professional laser cutting service.

 

3) I hope to salvage the transom as this was not affected by this decision.

 

Stay tuned - I will continue this build when I'm ready with further modeifications and progress.

[Jim Lad]

Sorry to hear that you've run into so much trouble, Hank.

 

I'll be here waiting for updates when you get it sorted out.

 

John

[mtaylor]

Hank,

Sounds like a carefully thoughtout and rational decision, albiet a tough one.  I too will be here for your hoy's return.

[Hank]

John, Mark -

 

Thanks for the support. I don't like having to re-do things, but at the same time I think it was the proper call on this one. Time to go back and rethink and redraw and then begin construction anew.

[Hank]

Brian,

 

Thanks for the info. FYI - there are many of that title available used. Was this a one time book or a series, etc.? As for the article on the anchor hoy, would it be worth having?

 

Let me know when you can.

 

[druxey]

Best wishes as you embark upon Round Two, Hank.

[Hank]

Brian,

 

Thanks so much - I've now got it on order - many available from various vendors. I figure that perhaps his approach to the model with help me also.

[Hank]

Brian,

 

Well, that's interesting...the plan in the Grimwood book only gives station lines and no frame sizes, spacing, etc. Of course, the plan in NRG may be quite a bit more detailed, although I wouldn't think that Grice would have drawn up two different plans of the same simple craft...well, I'll soon find out.

 

Much appreciate the details...my curiosity has been aroused.

[Hank]

Since June I have been working off & on on various aspects of the Anchor Hoy. I've started redrawing the hull and am at the point to where the bulkhead elevations will be redrawn. The end result will be several more evenly spaced bulkheads than the original plan calls for and will produce a better model in the long run.

 

From the workbench however, I've not been idle. I have been working on several parts of the deck furniture and have a photo of the anchor  to share. It's in the 3"+ size in reality and will be hoisted up by the forward anchor davit (anchor "cat") when the model is completed. I thought I had brought the photo of the anchor parts prior to assembly but that must still be on my computer at my workshop. The parts were made from boxwood, walnut, and brass rod and bar. The anchor cat is finished, as well as both deck hatches, and the after companionway is almost complete. While I built the hatches & companionway from hand sketches, I may actually produce finished drawings in CAD for each of these assemblies.

 

My Proxxon DB250 arrived and I've had a chance to use it. I have the bowsprit turned and finished but that was turned on my Turncrafter Pro Midi lathe due to its size. Right now my modeler/machinist friend Ken Smith in Advance, NC is once again working his magic on the Proxxon lathe in order to improve on the tool rest. I will post further information re. this tool in the post under Tools that's already started.

 

In the CAD dept. I've created drawings for the anchor cat, anchor, all masts & spars, and as mentioned, some hull layout drafting.

 

I am keeping these posts to a minimum as time is rather scant these days. I will try to get more camera work done on the other parts that are finished as well as those being completed

 

 

[mtaylor]

Hank,

 

You should know by now that we are a patient lot... with one or two exceptions....

[Jim Lad]

Happy to wait and watch, Hank!

 

John

[popeye the sailor]

I look in on your build Hank.......your very talented.  I was sorry to read about the loss.........glad to see you haven't given up.  this will be a super build to follow

[Hank]

Thanks all for the gracious replies. The hoy lives on - at the moment! The drafting of the bulkheads will be an interesting endeavor. As most are already drawn in the original plans, they present little problem. It's the new ones I've added that will need to be calculated in both views - body plan and waterlines; something that will take several evenings with the calculator and notepad to figure correctly. And then applying to the drawing. The Les Paul and my new John Fogerty CD will just have to gather dust!!!

[popeye the sailor]

I heard he had a new album out........miss the old CCR days.  don't leave her too far away......it's a great tension reliever,  I have come to find

[Hank]

You are so right - breaks the frustration level and channels it in a different direction.