Germania Nova 1911 by KeithAug - FINISHED - Scale 1:36 - replica of schooner Germania 1908

[Keith Black]

 Keith, the net turned out spiffy, best I've seen. Please tell your wife I think she did a marvelous job. 

[Retired guy]

Three cheers for the admiral, the net fits like a glove very well done to the both of you.

Regards

Richard

[FlyingFish]

Great Job Keith's Missus. I think she may have the basis for a lucrative business there! The rest of the boat ain't bad either! Very nice joint effort!

[TBlack]

It occurs to me that the fit of the netting is so perfect that a large part of the battle was to get the dimensions right in the first place. Damn you're good, Keith!

Tom

[KeithAug]

Thank you Druxey, Mark, Keith, Richard, Andy and Tom. Also thank you to all who have visited my build over the last 12 months. May I wish all of you a happy healthy and prosperous new year (even though for some of you it hasn’t happened yet).

[Keith Black]

Keith, a Happy New Year to you and yours. 

[mtaylor]

I wish the same to you, Keith.  

[FlyingFish]

What he said.🍾

[KeithAug]

Thank you for the new year messages.

 

Although I have a few boat bits to finish off I have decided to move on to the display cradle. The move of the boat into the family room prompted my wife to  critically comment on the building cradle so this was moved up the priority list.

 

I started by going back to the hull frame line drawings produced at the start of the build.

It took a bit of time sorting out the most appropriate frames position for the supports. I have an unreasonable aversion to drilling holes in the hull and for consistency I decided to reproduce the sort of cradle design I had used previously.

I had a significant challenge in that we already had a mahogany serving table on which the model was to be displayed. The height of the model plus the height of the table meant that the cradle height had to be constrained to avoid the need for raising the ceiling height.  I did suggest cutting an inch off the table legs but this didn't go down well with the authorities.

 

The dimensional constraints turned out to be so severe that the only way of making the cradle work was to include a recess for the keel. The next photo show the sketch designs for the base.

I am using a mahogany veneer on chipboard table for the base board. The table dates from the second year of my first marriage (I am now in the 47th year of my first marriage)😬.

 

It took a lot of scraping to get rid of 45 years of polish.

The base was somewhat too big for my mill but with a bit of ingenuity I managed to cut a slot for the keel insert.

Note the dodgy clamping arrangement. This necessary by the bed "T" slots being unavailable.

The plan was to insert a mahogany strip into the slot so this was cut and shaped to size.

This strip was then glued in position and then a further slot was milled to take the keel.

 

[Roger Pellett]

Did you discuss cutting a hole in the ceiling with the authorities?  😀

Roger

[KeithAug]

18 minutes ago, Roger Pellett said:

Did you discuss cutting a hole in the ceiling with the authorities?

Roger - The authorities were more in favour of cutting an inch off the mast.😱

[Keith Black]

13 minutes ago, KeithAug said:

Roger - The authorities were more in favour of cutting an inch off the mast.

I'm glad I wasn't sipping my coffee when I read this or else I would have had to clean my computer screen and keyboard. Too funny.  

[TBlack]

So, the final resting place is your family room? You need to have a lot of  "open houses" so a broader audience can appreciate your art/craftsmanship.

Tom

[FlyingFish]

Have you considered the compromise of lowering the floor? I recently agreed to this in order to get my renovation plan for the kithcen passed by the chair of the planning committee. Needs must, you know.

[mbp521]

3 hours ago, KeithAug said:

I have an unreasonable aversion to drilling holes in the hull

That would be an almost unimaginable sin to drill holes in such a fine hull.  Glad you took the alternate route and went with the cradle idea.

 

-Brian

[druxey]

Dodgy clamping set-up on the mill? That's quite out of character for you, Keith!

 

Instead of lowering floors, raising ceilings or cutting holes, why not mount the model heeled over a bit? Just sayin'.

[KeithAug]

10 hours ago, druxey said:

why not mount the model heeled over a bit?

My mental picture to explain why the sails are not full is as follows -

 

After a good days sailing the wind is failing.

The force 5 of the early afternoon has progressively moderated and has it has done so more and more canvas has been hoisted. The lengthening shadows and calming seas has encouraged a degree laxity and the crew broke out the gin a couple of hours ago. 
Germania is only a couple of miles from the anchorage and the Captain is reluctant to hoist the brass sail and so ruin a perfect days sailing.

The wind has now all but failed and progress towards port is pitifully slow. Cats paws of wind occasionally disturb the mirror like surface of the ocean and ghost Germania on the odd few yards at a time.

Part of the crew are are starting to agitate for a more rapid, engine assisted, transit to the delights of the local bars but the majority, in their gin induced stupor, are reluctant to expend the energy necessary to stow the sails. 
In this state of limbo the crew sit and watch the setting sun slowly sink into a golden sea only challenged by the piles of beer cans inhibiting their frequent transit to the heads.

 

In consequence all the sails are hoisted but flapping gently and the boat has no heel.

 

P.S. the scenario described isn’t entirely fictional. 

 

 

 

[Veszett Roka]

4 hours ago, KeithAug said:

After a good days sailing the wind is failing.

The force 5 of the early afternoon has progressively moderated and has it has done so more and more canvas has been hoisted. The lengthening shadows and calming seas has encouraged a degree laxity and the crew broke out the gin a couple of hours ago. 

 

Sometimes i have a feeling that we were sailing together in the past Except we had only 3 canvas, and one of them is the Spinnaker, the rest is so familiar.

 

[FlyingFish]

Should have hoisted the ginnaker. Hic.

[druxey]

I wasn't serious about heeling your model, Keith! Your description of an idyllic evening drifting in light airs is an almost transcendental one... but for the empty beer cans rolling in the scuppers.

[FriedClams]

Nice start on the cradle Keith.  I find, it’s always best to fall in line and keep the local authorities cheerful.

 

Gary

[KeithAug]

Roger, Tom, Andy, Keith, Brian, Druxey, Veszett and Gary thank you all for sticking with my lamentably slow progress. Also thanks to everyone else for their visits and likes. 

The workshop is rather cold at the moment as I am trying to do my bit for the energy crisis (as well as monetary prudence). The lack of heating is persuading me to sit in the lounge while drinking tea and researching my next build - quite pleasant but not conducive to completing Germania.

Anyway here is a bit more progress:-

Having glued the keel slot insert in place I moved on to covering the edges with mahogany strips circa 1/2" x 3/4" section.

For years I have been thinking that I need to buy some sash clamps - but I never do - so improvising with rubber bands is my default option.

The masking tape is to stop the PVA glue spreading on to the prepared board surface. With the edges attached four holes were drilled to take the pedestals of the cradle.

As with my previous builds the door handles from a previous household kitchen were pressed into service. I had just enough left for Germania so this is the last time that they will feature. The next model will need a different solution.

The bearing service for supporting the hull was made from nylon rod. This was machined to the correct cone angle to bear against the hull.

The support ends were drilled and tapped to take the base mounting bolts at the lower end and clamping cams at the upper end.

More next time - if the temperature improves.

 

[Wintergreen]

Kitchen supplies? Who could've thought! 😄 

Excellent though.

[FlyingFish]

3 hours ago, KeithAug said:

As with my previous builds the door handles from a previous household kitchen were pressed into service

Had to find 'Altair' to see what this was about... now I have another wonderful build log to read through. Tremendous.

[Keith Black]

 We all look forward to your updates Keith, the length of time between is immaterial.

[mtaylor]

What Keith B. said applies from me also.   So I don't think anyone will blame you or beat you up for sitting in a warm place with a cuppa' and researching your next project.

[mbp521]

I have a whole box of unused drawer pulls sitting in my barn collecting dust. Now I have a prospective use for them. What a unique idea Keith!

 

-Brian

[FriedClams]

 

On 1/14/2023 at 1:06 PM, KeithAug said:

For years I have been thinking that I need to buy some sash clamps - but I never do - so improvising with rubber bands is my default option

And it seems to work just fine Keith, very resourceful.

 

Throughout this log, one cannot help but notice the notebook with your hand written sketches and dimensional drawings.  I do hope that you intend to save and perhaps place it in some sort of labeled binding to go along with your wonderful model.  Future family will have not only the model, but your drawings, process and thoughts as you progressed.  Priceless heirloom.

 

Gary

 

 

[Roger Pellett]

Keith,

 

I second Gary’s notebook idea.  As the shipmodeling world continues to move towards 3-D modeling and computerized fabrication of parts, your building style will become a (sadly) lost art.

 

Roger

 

 

[KeithAug]

38 minutes ago, Roger Pellett said:

your building style will become a (sadly) lost art.

I think I will name it the "Dodo Style".

Edited January 16, 2023 by KeithAug