Bluenose by CPDDET - Model Shipways - Scale 1:64 - First ship build

[CPDDET]

Morning Joe,

As I understand it her primary purpose was fishing. When racing, much of the deck fishing gear, as well as the small fishing boats she carried, were temporary removed.

 

My build plans show which deck gear to install or omit for each configuration. Hope that clears things up.

 

And thanks to all for the kind comments and encouragement.

 

Dave

[Sailor1234567890]

There's a shop down the street, 3 blocks away, with a copy of her plans. I remember seeing them and deciding they were over my price range. Can't remember what they were asking. 

[CPDDET]

Yes, this can be an expensive hobby. But you could get an 18th century longboat kit for less than just plans for Bluenose.

[CPDDET]

After finishing the corner pieces I decided to build the front, side and back panels. Instead of making these from thin strips and then trying to bevel them to show separation, I decided to simulate the individual boards.

 

I used 1/16 inch thick basswood and, after marking them, I used a very small stylus to make the impressions.

 

 

 

After rough cutting the pieces I used a round escapement file to smooth and deepen the score marks a bit more. Then did the final sanding and dry fit them.

 

 

Then airbrushed the pieces, holding them down with double sided tape, and gave them 3 light coats of matt acrylic sealer

 

 

 

Then glued the panels in place

 

 

Since I was going to stain the top piece I wanted to build it from separate “planks”. I marked a piece of basswood and built a jig to get consistent pieces.

 

 

 

Taping a piece of wax paper to a metal plate, I edge glued the “planks” with TiteBond and used magnets to clamp them. While the wax paper worked pretty good to keep the glue from sticking to the metal, I later found plastic wrap worked even better.

 

 

After cutting to size and a final sanding, I mounted the piece on some scrap wood to make a stand. I used a very small about of CA so I could snap it off when I was finished. Then painted on a coat of wood conditioner.

 

 

After 3 coats of Stain & Poly I was done.

Next I cut 4 small pieces for the bottom trim

 

Hand painted these and gave them 3 very light coats of matt acrylic sealer (spray can). Then glued them in place

 

 

After a final sanding of the top and bottom to level everything out I added the top.

 

 

I realize the bottom trim on the actual ship (Bluenose II) goes over the corner pieces but I wanted to show off the stained wood corners and decided to place the trim between the corner pieces. While this is a Bluenose kit, not a Bluenose II kit, I’m mixing the styles a bit. Since I will be looking at the ship for a long time, I want it pleasing to my eye.

 

Now it’s on to the ships wheel. I hate britannia metal parts and need to figure out something else. I have ordered both a wood and bronzed wheel but may attempt to build my own. Seems like the further I get into this build the more scratch building I’m doing.

 

Here in Illinois there is an order to shelter at home and all non-essential business will be closing at 1700, and that includes hobby stores. So I ran out and stocked up on various basswood sheets, strips and squares. I’ve been raiding the kit box and too sure of my inventory.

 

Be safe, mates!!

 

 

[Retired guy]

Very nice Dave isn't it fun to do scratch building, but when you think of it the kit comes with a few pieces which are laser cut, or white metal but all the wood you need to something with it, so that is scratch work 👍

 

Regards

Richard

[CPDDET]

So true, Richard. Not sure I can build a wooden ships wheel from scratch with hand tools but I'm looking forward to trying.

Why do things the easy way when you learn so much more going the long route.

Be safe and stay healthy!

 

Dave

[CPDDET]

This took a bit of time but I really wanted to build my own wheel for my model. After a few failed attempts the following worked pretty well.

 

I started with 3 pieces of 1/32 inch basswood.

 

 

Drew the outside diameter on the first piece with a compass and divided the circle into 6 parts.

 

 

Cut the square into 6 pieces

 

 

Reassembled the 6 pieces, spacing the 1/32 inch apart, and glued them to the second square. I thought I would have to shave off 1/64 inch from the edge of each piece to keep the correct diameter with the spacing but it seems the hand saw kerf took care of that.

 

 

 

Using my pin vice I drilled a 1/16 inch hole through a small piece of 3/16 inch dowel for the center hub.

 

 

I drilled a 3/16 hole in the center of the 6 pieces and inserted the hub. Then, using the 1/32 inch gaps as a guide, I drilled 1/32 inch holes through the hub with a pin vice.

 

 

Using a compass circle cutter I cut the “wheel” from the square.

 

 

Placed small pieces of 1/32 inch brass rod into the groove and into the center hub holes. Tacked these in place with CA.

 

 

Using the compass circle cutter I cut another “wheel” from the third piece and glued this on top with wood glue. Clamped and let dry overnight.

 

 

Cut down 6 brass belaying pins and glued then into the six, 1/32 inch square openings for handles.

 

 

Did some final sanding, staining and mounted it to the wheel house.

 

 

[jamcdonel]

Well done on the wheel. 

[Nirvana]

Very nice wheel, I am going to steal the idea from you......😇

[Fright]

Wonderful job on the wheel! 

[Retired guy]

Well you said you were going to make a wheel out of wood (and a bit of metal 👍) and you did it well done Dave it will look good on your model.

 

Regards

Richard

Edited April 3, 2020 by Retired guy

[CPDDET]

6 hours ago, jamcdonel said:

Well done on the wheel. 

Thanks!

[CPDDET]

6 hours ago, Nirvana said:

Very nice wheel, I am going to steal the idea from you......😇

You're welcome to it, but there may be easier ways. I'm still a beginner at this.

[CPDDET]

3 hours ago, Fright said:

Wonderful job on the wheel! 

Thanks, Fright. It's not as perfect as I would have liked but I'm pleased with it.

[CPDDET]

3 hours ago, Retired guy said:

Well you said you were going to make a wheel out of wood (and a bit of metal 👍) and you did it well done Dave it will look good on your model.

 

Regards

Richard

Thanks Richard. I loved the challenge, even when my first 2 tries failed. Took me a bit to reach a doable method.

[Schooners]

Congrats, I really like the brass hand holds.

[CPDDET]

9 minutes ago, Schooners said:

Congrats, I really like the brass hand holds.

Thanks, Schooners. The idea of using brass belaying pins for hand holds seemed to come out of nowhere.

[CPDDET]

I finished some of the smaller parts for the aft end of the ship. Namely the boom crutch, quarter bits, small grate that goes on the starboard side of the  wheel house and the "unidentified" object which goes on the port side of the wheel house. I decided to dress the "unidentified" object a bit by placing a brass band around the base.

 

 

I haven't installed these because I still need to to deal with the boom sheet buffer and didnt want to black my access. The britannia metal part supplied with the kit looks awful.

 

 

 

The plans show the actual buffer in detail. But one view shows the buffer mounted to the deck while the side view shows it on some sort of platform.

 

 

 

Anyway, I'm still contemplating on just how to build this piece. I doubt that I can create it in all the detail shown in the drawing but I have to make something better than the britannia metal piece that came with the kit.

 

This may take some time .........

[Schooners]

Take a look at Matt's solution:

Search his build log for Boom Buffer

 

[jamcdonel]

I am struggling with this piece too. I found a photo on the Nova Scotia website, it is barely visible even under the best of conditions, but still. This piece is awful looking. I’m wondering if it can be “dressed up” to at least look somewhat like the thing it represents. 

Matt’s piece looks better, but I’m not sure I have that kind of talent or experience.

 

I am really impressed by your other work. Keep it up!

[Retired guy]

Small bits coming along nicely Dave did find the Boom Buffer/sheet Buffer pretty bad, the sheet buffer I installed after I finished the planking did have it black but when I painted white I over sprayed, did make a Boom Buffer........ but then I looked at the drawing 🤔

 

 

 

You can have these if you want pm me if you do

 

Regards

Richard

[CPDDET]

This morning Im a bit torn as to what to do with the boom buffer.

 

While the buffer on Matt S.S's Latham model is exposed (and quite a beautiful job), the buffer on the Bluenose is tucked away and almost unseen. So I'm undecided if I should take the time to build my own or clean up the white metal part, paint it. One part of me wants to move on with the build and the other relishes the challenge of building my own. It's these challenges that provide real learning and honing of skills, and I need all I can get of that. LOL

 

Going to play with it today and see how it goes.

[jamcdonel]

I’m going to try to make something out of glasses repair parts. And a few other “bits and bobs”. I have already raided the repair cabinet here at work.

[CPDDET]

13 minutes ago, jamcdonel said:

I’m going to try to make something out of glasses repair parts. And a few other “bits and bobs”. I have already raided the repair cabinet here at work.

I'll be following closely! Do you have a build log going?

 

Dave

Edited April 14, 2020 by CPDDET
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[jamcdonel]

36 minutes ago, CPDDET said:

Do you have a build log going?

 

Not at the moment, I just restarted after a long hiatus. I guess I ought to get that going again.

[bridgman]

Details of your mainsheet boom buffer can be found on pages 558,549 and 550 of Chapelle's "American Fishing Schooners 1825-1935".

It consists of a cut from the catalog from the Edson Corp., manufacture of the device, which details dimensions and recommendations

based on vessel size. The amount of details of various schooner components is almost overwhelming!

 

[Schooners]

[CPDDET]

Thanks, Schooners!

 

Dave

[CPDDET]

Started building the main cabin. The following sequence of pictures pretty much sums up my progress so far. I used a stylus to press the board lines in the side panels and scrapers to shape the corner pieces and mouldings.

 

Still have some minor paint / stain touch ups to do and then start on the skylight. My plan is to place a piece of flat black craft paper below it so the finished roof doesn't show through. I found that CA readily adheres to the poly coating on the roof, so mounting the skylight and compass housing won't be a problem.

 

How are most people handling the glass panes and bars?

 

 

 

 

 

[Fright]

Nice craftsmanship on the cabin!