AndyG Posted February 23, 2019 #1 Posted February 23, 2019 I've tried building boats in the house, but I don't have the room, and the models (and I) just get in the way. So, late last summer, I turned this fairly fresh patch of concrete: Into this: ...which is becoming an absolute joy. A bit narrow (5') but long enough (14') for anything. LED lighting, tonnes of sockets, a radio: I'm good to go! And, with a love of the works of Arthur Ransome, and a commission for a dinghy, I started using my workshop just before Christmas: This is the start of a one-eighth scale lugsail dinghy, clinker built, sitting on its molds. Pine and lime wood throughout. Lands cut on the planks using the specialist tools (!), and geralding commences... I am in clamp heaven! One-eighth scale is a great size. RW techniques (well, were it a modern epoxy-glued dinghy!) in miniature. Storming along, now Winter's almost over and I have double-digit Celsius again! Lots of work to do, internally - and breaking work on the hull (glue-drying time) to complete some of the other bits and bobs. Rudder... ... yard, boom and mast ... ...More to come! Colin B, G.L., Tigersteve and 15 others 18 Quote Swallow
druxey Posted February 23, 2019 #2 Posted February 23, 2019 Nice workshop, delightful subject! michael mott, thibaultron and John Allen 3 Quote Be sure to sign up for an epic Nelson/Trafalgar project if you would like to see it made into a TV series http://trafalgar.tv
Omega1234 Posted February 23, 2019 #3 Posted February 23, 2019 Dang! What a beautiful model!!!! Talk about great workmanship. Cheers Patrick John Allen, michael mott and thibaultron 3 Quote MY SCRATCH BUILT MODELS ARE: Splendid Mega Yacht https://modelshipworld.com/topic/28576-splendid-by-omega1234-scale-1500-mega-yacht/ Majestic Mega Yacht https://modelshipworld.com/topic/28483-mega-yacht-majestic-by-omega1234-miniature/ Sapphire Mega yacht https://modelshipworld.com/topic/21088-sapphire-by-omega1234-1388-scale-mega-yacht-66m-8-inch-hull-length/?tab=comments#comment-639898 Genesis - Supersports Mega Yacht https://modelshipworld.com/topic/18168-genesis-by-omega1234-1300-49m-mega-yacht-8-inches-long-finished/?tab=comments#comment-559026http://modelshipworld.com/index.php/topic/14141-shadow-by-omega1234-scale-1300-luxury-60m-mega-yacht-8-inches-long/ SHADOW Luxury Motor Yacht http://modelshipworld.com/index.php/topic/11384-majellan-by-omega1234-luxury-37-metre-motor-yacht-miniature-7-inches-approx/ Majellan Luxury Motor Yacht http://modelshipworld.com/index.php/topic/9261Rainbow-j-class-racing-yacht/?p=273543 Rainbow J Class Racing Yacht Mystic Classic Motor Cruiser Symphony Ingomar Schooner: Scratch build Dorade Schooner: <p> Lennox Restoration Warship http://modelshipworld.com/index.php/topic/9577-pandora-cutaway-dockyard-style-miniature/?hl=pandora
michael mott Posted February 23, 2019 #4 Posted February 23, 2019 Andy wonderful! just the right scale to I might add. can you give a picture or shot of the drawing of the dingy that you used. You mentioned pine and limewood (linden) the ribs look like ply I did not know that you could get pine plywood that thin or did you laminate it yourself from veneers?. Lovely workplace too. Michael mtaylor and thibaultron 2 Quote Current builds Bristol Pilot Cutter 1:8; Skipjack 19 foot Launch 1:8; Herreshoff Buzzards Bay 14 1:8 Other projects Pilot Cutter 1:500 ; Maria, 1:2 Now just a memory Future model Gill Smith Catboat Pauline 1:8 Finished projects A Bassett Lowke steamship Albertic 1:100 Anything you can imagine is possible, when you put your mind to it.
AndyG Posted February 23, 2019 Author #5 Posted February 23, 2019 Thank you for the positive vibes! The pine comes from old bits of furniture, ripped and planed to the right dimensions. The limewood? An old Ikea venetian blind, part-destroyed by the kitten. "I'll have that!" The ribs are pine ply strips (well spotted!), from a sheet I bought. 1mm thick, I think - I'd have to measure it. More to follow! thibaultron and mtaylor 2 Quote Swallow
AndyG Posted February 23, 2019 Author #6 Posted February 23, 2019 The drawing is a scaled-up version of the Atkin clinker/lapstrake dinghy, modded by myself to resemble 'my best guess' of the literary original. There's a little evidence of Ransome's original Swallow online, which I've drawn from, too. mtaylor and thibaultron 2 Quote Swallow
druxey Posted February 23, 2019 #7 Posted February 23, 2019 I reread Arthur Ransome many times over when I was a child. It was a wonderful world to get lost in. "Swallows and Amazons forever!" mtaylor and thibaultron 2 Quote Be sure to sign up for an epic Nelson/Trafalgar project if you would like to see it made into a TV series http://trafalgar.tv
Jim Lad Posted February 23, 2019 #8 Posted February 23, 2019 A delightful project, Andy! John thibaultron and mtaylor 2 Quote
AndyG Posted February 23, 2019 Author #9 Posted February 23, 2019 Druxey, do, please, re-read 'em. They speak to adults: the Picts and the Martyrs is a spectacular romp. Onwards and insidewards, for me. The sail's lovely, too! More photos to follow. druxey, thibaultron, mtaylor and 1 other 4 Quote Swallow
AndyG Posted March 2, 2019 Author #10 Posted March 2, 2019 Rattlin' on ... Sails nearly done ... Just need reef points. Mast step. Last pile o' clamps on the starboard side. And... I'm getting there. End in sight. Thwarts, bilge boards, rowlocks, bit of metal and ropework. A tonne of varnishing. But I can see the end. KeithAug, thibaultron, mtaylor and 12 others 15 Quote Swallow
Jim Lad Posted March 2, 2019 #11 Posted March 2, 2019 She's really looking first class, Andy. John mtaylor and thibaultron 2 Quote
AndyG Posted March 2, 2019 Author #12 Posted March 2, 2019 Thanks Jim. What's really amazing me is: 1/ How wobbly/warpy she was when planked up. 2/ How much better she was framed up. 3/ How solid she is with gunwales on. 4/ Thwarts to go ... She won't move at all. russ, thibaultron, mtaylor and 2 others 5 Quote Swallow
thibaultron Posted March 2, 2019 #13 Posted March 2, 2019 Beautiful model! mtaylor 1 Quote Ron Thibault Shipjack Carrie Price from Pyro kit, with upgraded detailing and history. Going From A 2D Drawing To A 3D Printed Part Tutorial
AndyG Posted March 2, 2019 Author #14 Posted March 2, 2019 First stab at rigging, now the mainmast thwart's in. GrandpaPhil, mtaylor, Colin B and 6 others 9 Quote Swallow
Jim Lad Posted March 2, 2019 #15 Posted March 2, 2019 Looking good, mate! John mtaylor and thibaultron 2 Quote
michael mott Posted March 3, 2019 #16 Posted March 3, 2019 Wow, that came together like a rocket! very nice looking boat. Michael mtaylor and thibaultron 2 Quote Current builds Bristol Pilot Cutter 1:8; Skipjack 19 foot Launch 1:8; Herreshoff Buzzards Bay 14 1:8 Other projects Pilot Cutter 1:500 ; Maria, 1:2 Now just a memory Future model Gill Smith Catboat Pauline 1:8 Finished projects A Bassett Lowke steamship Albertic 1:100 Anything you can imagine is possible, when you put your mind to it.
AndyG Posted March 3, 2019 Author #17 Posted March 3, 2019 (edited) Calculating the floors' angles from scrap cardboard and superglue. ...and fitting the bottom boards. Edited March 3, 2019 by AndyG thibaultron, yvesvidal, Tigersteve and 9 others 12 Quote Swallow
druxey Posted March 3, 2019 #18 Posted March 3, 2019 Coming along nicely there! thibaultron and mtaylor 2 Quote Be sure to sign up for an epic Nelson/Trafalgar project if you would like to see it made into a TV series http://trafalgar.tv
Griphos Posted March 4, 2019 #19 Posted March 4, 2019 (edited) Now that's a very clever technique! This sure is a lovely little dinghy. You've got me wanting to make one. Edited March 4, 2019 by Griphos michael mott, mtaylor and thibaultron 3 Quote
AndyG Posted March 13, 2019 Author #20 Posted March 13, 2019 Pigs! Cast in lead, today. Internal varnishing done. And keel/stem built up. Nearly there! michael mott, thibaultron, Landlubber Mike and 11 others 14 Quote Swallow
AndyG Posted April 29, 2019 Author #21 Posted April 29, 2019 Nearly there. Got a decal to add and some final ropework before she's complete! G.L., vossiewulf, druxey and 8 others 11 Quote Swallow
AndyG Posted April 29, 2019 Author #22 Posted April 29, 2019 Next up? Nancy Blackett/Goblin to the same scale - radio, 15kg. Oh yeah! thibaultron, druxey and mtaylor 3 Quote Swallow
mtaylor Posted April 30, 2019 #23 Posted April 30, 2019 Beautiful work on the Swallow, Andy. thibaultron, AndyG and druxey 3 Quote Mark "The shipwright is slow, but the wood is patient." - me Current Build: Past Builds: La Belle Poule 1765 - French Frigate from ANCRE plans - ON HOLD Triton Cross-Section NRG Hallf Hull Planking Kit HMS Sphinx 1775 - Vanguard Models - 1:64 Non-Ship Model: On hold, maybe forever: CH-53 Sikorsky - 1:48 - Revell - Completed Licorne - 1755 from Hahn Plans (Scratch) Version 2.0 (Abandoned)
Jim Lad Posted April 30, 2019 #24 Posted April 30, 2019 A really delightful little model, Andy! John thibaultron and mtaylor 2 Quote
G.L. Posted April 30, 2019 #25 Posted April 30, 2019 Congratulations, a beautiful model! thibaultron and mtaylor 2 Quote G.L. Current projects: Oostends schipje (Ostend shrimper) - scale 1:20 Clipper d'Argenteuil - POF - scale 1/15 - SMALL Completed projects: Norwegian Whale Boat - POF - scale 1/10 - SMALL Anatomy of a boat by G.L. - scale 1/10 - POF - SMALL Day gaff sailing boat with center board - FINISHED - SMALL - scale 1/10 Cross section fishing smack - FINISHED -scale 1:20HMS Triton cross section - FINISHED - Scale 1:24
AndyG Posted May 13, 2019 Author #26 Posted May 13, 2019 And now the sad news! After blocks and ropework were added, I boxed up Swallow (with a mountain of bubblewrap) and posted her to her new owner this morning. According to the tracking app, she's currently halfway to her new home in Suffolk. I have to say I'm surprised how much I miss her! ...I may have to make one for myself in the future, if only to fill the dinghy-shaped hole in my shed. I'll fish for a final photo once she arrives and is assembled. But before another dinghy ... a bigger boat. Andy druxey, mtaylor, thibaultron and 1 other 4 Quote Swallow
AndyG Posted May 19, 2019 Author #27 Posted May 19, 2019 (edited) And ... She made it ok! The new owner is a gentleman in his 90s, who 'always wanted' a model of Swallow having read the books pretty much when they first came out. He loves it: I'm so pleased! Edited May 19, 2019 by AndyG yvesvidal, michael mott, G.L. and 9 others 12 Quote Swallow
druxey Posted May 20, 2019 #28 Posted May 20, 2019 Great model to recall great stories with! Thanks for sharing this adventure with us, Andy. Swallows and Amazons for ever! mtaylor, Mirabell61 and thibaultron 3 Quote Be sure to sign up for an epic Nelson/Trafalgar project if you would like to see it made into a TV series http://trafalgar.tv
pippyd Posted January 17, 2020 #29 Posted January 17, 2020 Hi AndyG Would you be willing to either sell plans for Swallow or build another for me. I first read S&A when I was 11 I'm 66 now so not as old as your previous commission for Swallow but I still read those 12 books even now. I am also a member of the Arthur Ransome Society. I really hope you can help Phil thibaultron, michael mott and mtaylor 3 Quote
AndyG Posted January 19, 2020 Author #30 Posted January 19, 2020 Hi Phil! You have a private message! Andy thibaultron 1 Quote Swallow
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