Medway Longboat - 1/2” scale by RichVee

[Richvee]

I wasn’t going to start a log being a “rookie” at planking and probably having very little to offer, but I’ve decided to join the crowd anyway. I got a bit of a jump on some being able to pick up a kit from Chuck at our club, but Im sure you will catch me as I slow down now that I’m ready to start fairing the hill, something I’ve never done before.

here are a few shots I took.

The first two show the completed keel and the 5 one piece frames test fitted. 

These next two show all the frames finished and glued up. Everything went together real nice with minimal amount of sanding. I do however think I rushed the gluing process and have I a few frames that could have been more snug in the keel notches ..I think I may have to add a shim or two on some frames. 

I plan on bringing the model to our next meeting to get some input on fairing and the like. 

[Chuck]

Looking excellent Rich!!!!  Brind some 220 grit and 320 grit sandpaper to the meeting.  We will do a little demo.

[Jim Rogers]

1 hour ago, Chuck said:

Looking excellent Rich!!!!  Brind some 220 grit and 320 grit sandpaper to the meeting.  We will do a little demo.

Can you video demonstration and post.🤗

[Chuck]

Doubt it.....there really isnt anything extraordinary about it.  Its just a matter of being careful.  But we will see.

[Richvee]

It’s not the actual fairing, but the process of looking at the frames, and figuring out/deciding where and how much to sand/file is what I need a primer on. I basically need a clearer picture in my mind of what the final results need to look like. 

[Chuck]

You can use the laser char as a guide and when he char has been removed from each frame edge you are done.  

[Richvee]

Started the fairing process using 220 grit paper, triple folded, edges cut round and turned up so they do not slam adjoining frames while sliding across the frames 

Masking tape on the keel to keep it clean. 

So far so good. Everything is still in one piece. 

[Richvee]

Frames seem to be pretty well well faired. A new endeavor for me. Running a thin strip across the frames looks nice and smooth to my eye.  I'll proceed to marking and lining the hull, then take another look for dips or bumps.   

 

 

[Richvee]

Just read KenW's log and I see I'm not done fairing. There should be no char left on any part of the frames edges. looks like I'll be taking off the tape I stated lining the hull with and fair some more, then re-do the tick marks and lining. 

 

[Chuck]

You are correct.....no char left is the way to go.  More sanding 

[Richvee]

Thanks for all the "likes" guys...

After additional fairng, and re-lining the hull, I have started the task of planking a hull for the first time. Special thanks to Chuck for a tutorial on plank bending this past Saturday at his place for our club workshop day. It sure helped seeing it done, but it didn't stop me from cracking plank #6---   Good thing there's extra space on each sheet for cutting new planks. I cut a new plank, and after some sanding and shaping and bending, it looked good.  I was so excited it came out nice, I went and glued it on without shading the edge with a pencil!! 😱. So that plank came off, and of course, not in one piece. So back to the sheet to cut another. Third time's a charm.  So I'm at 3 strakes on one side and two on the other. Holidays are going to be busy so I'm not sure when more will get done. But I'm  happy with the progress so far. 

 

 

[Rustyj]

Looking good Rich.

[Richvee]

Hard to believe it's over a month since my last update. Planking continues. I've broken more than my fair share of planks, so I got a lot of practice cutting planks. Also had to cut one a bit wider to get each side back in alignment.  I cut so many planks, I actually ran out of extra space and I had to get another sheet of wood from Chuck to continue. (Thanks Chuck!)

 

I'm having better results soaking the planks in water a bit and then bending with heat. 

There's some bumps at the bow I'm not real happy with. I'll need to do some work there, and touch up and sand other areas to get a smooth shape, but all in all, for my first attempt at planking anything, I guess it could have gone worse. 

3 more strakes to go...

 

[Chuck]

Looks pretty darn good to me.  This is not an easy hull to plank.  You have done a very very good job of it!!!

[Richvee]

Thanks Chuck. And thanks for the likes from all. I have a question.

When I get to that final strake, should the top of each frame sit flush with the top of the last strake? I'm guessing if the frame protrudes over a little we simply sand it down? What if a frame doesnt reach the top? 

[Richvee]

Well, here it is. My first planked hull. Sanded and ready to remove the frames.  I made a lot of mistakes. Not thrilled with the seam at the bow on a few planks, got a little over zealous thinning the wales near the stern on the port side.  But for a first attempt, I'll take at as a learning experience. I know if I did it over starting tomorrow it would come out better. That's the important thing. Keep getting better. 

 

I'm pretty happy with the overall symmetry. A little sanding at the sheer and I think it will be OK. 

Some more sanding at the bow is also in order. 

[JeffT]

Its a learning process, you'll get there 

[Richvee]

Frame centers removed, cap rail installed, and the task of making the bolsters has begun. I've got one I'm satisfied with. I'm thinking the tough part is going to be making a matching set. 

 

[Richvee]

The bolsters are in place. Started sanding a little of the outside of the caprails. Lots of sanding inboard ahead. 

[Richvee]

Some progress to report

Sanding of the cap rail is done, and my horrible paint talents are on display. 

had some fun with the frieze. Turns out the sheets Chuck included with the club's packages were a bit small. Led to a little angst wondering if I've done something terribly wrong. Downloaded to PDF from here, and there was no issue with the length. 

 

 

 

next up, moldings. This is my first time scraping a molding, so I'm keeping the design very basic.  About have a dozen razor blades later, I was able to come up with a shape I can live with. 

Next up will be adding the moldings, then it's time to start the nails. 

Edited June 28, 2019 by Richvee

[Sea Hoss]

Very nice! You came to the table with some abilities!  

[Richvee]

Haven't updated the log in a while, but work continues. 

 

Molding installed and nails done. Again, if I had it to do over, I'd add the nails after installing each plank.  

Floorboards were up next. Bending these boards was fairly easy. Even the thicker ones. The tougher part was shaving the nylon line flush with a razor on the bent boards without shaving pieces of the floorboards with the edge of the razor blade.

 

           The platforms were next up. The aft platform is easy compared to the little platform at the bow. The angles are tricky, and I cut a few cardstock platforms before I liked one and then transferred it to the wooden platform. I still had filing and shaping to do until I was happy with the fit around the inside edge, and making sure it sat fairly level. 

 

Next were the risers and thwarts. I marked the distance from the top of the rail to the top of the risers on each frame as Chuck suggested. Then measured again to make sure. I took a lot of time getting the height right on both sides. Last thing I wanted was to get to this point and then have a noticeable slant to the thwarts!! The risers were then bent to fit, clamped to the sides, and marked of for nails. I applied the nails off the model. Much easier than it would be after installing the risers.  Then they were glued up, with a clothespin "clamp" on each frame.  Next up was gluing the 2 layers of each thwart together, then fitting them into the slots. The first thwart at the bow was the trickiest. Again, a cardstock thwart was made and cut too fit before trimming the real thwart.. I still managed to mess up the "real" thwart. Luckily there's plenty room around the edges of the laser sheets to cut a replacement thwart! 

 

So here it is as of today. I think I'll add a coat of wipe on poly to the floor and platforms before proceeding the the cockpit bench.  

 

 

 

           

 

[Chuck]

Really nice work😀

[Richvee]

Thanks Chuck. And thanks for the likes.

Got a few coats of wipe on poly on the floors and platforms, and added the cockpit benches, filled the gaps and sanded smooth.  a few coats of paint on the seats will be next up. 

 

[Richvee]

The interior is coming along. A lot of new techniques for me..

Carving the windlass.. I wish I could have gotten some sharper, more pronounced angles. 

Blackening and working with brass. Used the Jax Pewter black. No major issues. Just make sure the brass is super clean, and brush it on. 

Turning belaying pins in a Dremel. This went a lot better than I thought it would. I was happy with the appearance of the pins.

 

Just a few more things to add...Block and roller at the stern, rudder, thole pins, grapnel and oars. 

 

Wile I do plan on rigging this, I think that's going to wait while I get back to the Kate Cory. I've been itching to get back to that. 

[Chuck]

Really nice Rich. Its coming along. 

[Richvee]

The rudder is done, the thole pins are installed. For now, t's done. I'll come back and rig it at a later date. Right now it's time to get back to the Kate Cory and finish the whaleboats and her rigging. I'm itching to get back to her and complete it. This has been a great kit and a great learning experience. Many techniques I've learned and tried for the first time, and they'll be more when the rigging begins. Thanks for a great kit, Chuck!

 

[Nunnehi (Don)]

Beautiful work, Rich, it looks great!

 

Don

[Richvee]

Thanks Don. Appreciate it. 

[BobG]

She looks beautiful, Rich! I'm just now working on the rudder and have made the mast, boom, bowsprit and gaff. I'm clueless when it comes to the rigging so I'm going to start a build log.

 

Bob