HMS Victory by Rob S - Mamoli - 1/90th scale - first build

[Rob S]

First two planks of both starboard and port wales installed. I was able to sand the edges on these two planks before installing them which provides more of a marked separation between the two boards.  

 

I’ve been using the small Mamoli provided nails for holding planks in place while drying and after having knicked up my fingers attempting to temporarily press them into place while I put the hammer to good use - finally came up with a way to hold them in place with pliers, tapping them down to hold them in the plank before actually getting the plank in place. Then, I could easily tap the nail in.  Saving a bit of bother.  I know, I know... yes, the Victory shouldn’t be your first kit!  

 

Should be able to finish the wales up tomorrow and then continuing the planking exercise.... 

[Emmet]

Good information about how you kept the planks in place. Details matter. First or last, it is the struggle that counts. Good work.

[Rob S]

Thought I had completed the port side second set of wales only to find out the most forward portion of the plank had slipped out from the clamp while drying, resulting in the condition below.

 

Any suggestions on how to fix this?

Plan ‘A’ is to sand away any excess glue residue and gently scrape away the glue connecting to the lower wale to provide some flexibility. Then, to see if some steam may enable me to bend the end into position.

 

Plan ‘B’ would be to cut the end off, reattach to the hull and sand/fill the seam.

 

Other suggestions welcome! 

[SweepHall]

Stick some glue behind it, put a pin through it (may need a little hole first to stop it splitting) and put a clamp on the bit sticking out (pale wood - no idea what it's actually called) to wedge against the wale. 

 

That's my newbie suggestion anyway.

[Rob S]

5 hours ago, SweepHall said:

Stick some glue behind it, put a pin through it (may need a little hole first to stop it splitting) and put a clamp on the bit sticking out (pale wood - no idea what it's actually called) to wedge against the wale. 

 

That's my newbie suggestion anyway.

Thank you for the suggestion. The wale plank is 3mm x 2mm and I believe it will break if forced. Are you saying the glue will soften the wood enough for me to put it back in place? I’ve since freed it up a bit and it is giving some, but not much.

[SweepHall]

5 hours ago, Rob S said:

Thank you for the suggestion. The wale plank is 3mm x 2mm and I believe it will break if forced. Are you saying the glue will soften the wood enough for me to put it back in place? I’ve since freed it up a bit and it is giving some, but not much.

Just looking at the picture now, it looks like it could break if it's forced.  Are you able to steam it back into place?  Put some glue behind it, put an iron on it and hold it for a bit.

[Rob S]

Thanks all for help with my wayward wales plank! After scraping off the surrounding glue I was able to press it back in place without steaming. Here it is now.

[Rob S]

Continuing now with planking north of the second wales. The planking is a bit high towards the bow.  I’ll show/discuss my plan for addressing it once we are ready for the next set of wales.  I also sanded the top of the forward bulkheads to align with the quarter deck.

[Rob S]

Preparing to install the third set of wales. I’ve included a picture showing approximately where the lower plank of three wii reside. The plans call for the 3mm wide planks below The wales to continue around the bow. However, I’ll be tapering them up front to fit within the top and middle wales.
 

Lesson learned is I should have limited how much the planks curl upwards near the bow Starting with the main wales - in other words, flatten them around the bow. This would have provided additional space for those planks near the top.
 

Once these wales are on, I plan to finish off the deck flashing, some paint on the hull and get the upper deck forward and aft guns installed before finishing up the planking. 
 

That’s the plan for today! Of course as Sun Tzu said, ‘No plan survives first contact with the enemy’.  

[Rob S]

Here is my not so elegant solution to the above issue.  I’ll be able to include an additional wales plank above this one. The third plank will end well before the bow. 

[Rob S]

I’ve decided to prepare and insert the upper deck gun carriages sans the cannons to enable me to complete the planking. They will go in the hard to install locations at the stern and bow. The cannons will be inserted later. 

[Rob S]

Phase 1 of carriage install complete. There are 18 carriages to install on the upper deck to enable me to finish the initial planking. I’ve got 3 installed on the starboard bow and the planking in place. Sanding/filing next. Then over to the port bow to repeat. The 12 carriages in the back will be more of a challenge to install. I have to maneuver the carriages back there and avoid getting glue all over.  Then finish the initial planking before continuing with the walnut planks.

 

Just like Henrik, I’ve put a splash of color on her!

[Rob S]

Forward port carriages in with associated  planking nearly complete. I need to shape the forward planks to align with the most forward bulkhead. 

[Rob S]

Finishing up the aft/stern starboard planking with carriages installed. I noted I could insert the carriages sans wheels through the aft two ports as these will be too hard to maneuver/install with the wheels on and glue applied. Could get messy and with a poor bond, if any.

 

I plan to glue them into place without the wheels. I am painting them and will install those next before heading over to the port side.

[Emmet]

You will always figure a way to do something Rob. It’s coming along quite well. Where did you get those two clamps? Do they have a name?

[Rob S]

2 hours ago, Emmet said:

You will always figure a way to do something Rob. It’s coming along quite well. Where did you get those two clamps? Do they have a name?

Thanks Emmet!  I purchased those two clamps many years ago I forgot from where.  They are simple plastic clamps one end of which slides. They grip pretty well.  I'll see if I can figure out where they came from and let you know.  

[VTHokiEE]

I think they are simply plastic clamps here are two examples:

 

https://www.micromark.com/CLAMP-SET-PLASTIC-4
 

https://modelexpo-online.com/LARGE-PLASTIC-CLAMPS_p_606.html
 

 

[Emmet]

Thanks. Knowing the name of the product makes a difference. In general searches for clamps I never saw these.

[bruce d]

They are invaluable. Also, they are cheap:

 

https://www.proopsbrothers.com/modellers-hobby--craft-kit-plastic-parallel-slide-clamp-130mm-x-50mm-large-3092-p.asp

 

... and available in smaller sizes...

 

https://www.proopsbrothers.com/modellers-hobby--craft-kit-plastic-parallel-slide-clamp-75mm-x-40mm-small-3095-p.asp

 

Their ebay store has multi-packs of 5 and 10 at discounted prices.

I have no connection with Proops other than being a long term satisfied customer.

HTH

Bruce

[Rob S]

All first planking now on and resuming the second set of planking. Third set of wales nearly on.

[Rob S]

Continuing with the second planking.  I have the second ‘minor’ wales installed.  Reflecting back on the second planking process  a bit.

 

The Mamoli instructions provide a very nice graphic of the second planking exercise (e.g., Main wales, minor wales) building up from the waterline up to the very top of the hull. It specifies the exact number and type of planks required from keel to the top.  However, when starting the main wales, I let the bow section ride up a little.  That resulted in a small error that ‘snowballed’ a bit to where we are now with the second minor wales.  This is similar to the planking approach with the garboard plank.  The bow portion must be horizontal and not ride up.  If so, it drives the entire planking off.

 

Consequently I’ve now reset by marking and starting to install the first of two decorative (see yellow strips) planks per the Mamoli ship drawing. This is in contrast to where the Mamoli instructions call for 3 x 3mm x 1mm walnut planks between the top of the second minor wales and this decorative strip.  However, because of where my planks currently reside, their will only be 1 plank near the stern, nearly 3 planks mid-ships and 1.5-2 planks near the bow.   See the picture.  The result is this decorative strip is correctly placed. 

 

I’m now thinking the paint job will help cover the difference between the specified and installed planks.  

[Emmet]

Living with mistakes and planking seems to be part of building ships. I bet the real thing wasn’t much different. And yes paint will solve a lot of problems. Once again the beauty of wood is being able to make up for mistakes. I am out of action, being a lumberjack these days, but I enjoy 

your work.

[Rob S]

Continuing upward and onward!

[Rob S]

Continuing working, alternating sides.

[Rob S]

Nearing the top. Will be introducing some additional decorative pieces, some metal, shortly.

[Christopher Smith]

Well impressed I'm a novice cant match that.

Diawn

[Christopher Smith]

Should have read

Da iawn

Spell check not very good at Welsh.

 

[Rob S]

As I’ve been moving along, I noticed I did not initially plank the forecastle sides high enough. I even sanded down the small bulkhead tops that protruded above the deck, although they were not high enough for the 10mm sides needed to house the planks. I’ve since added the support ‘structures’ you see below and will be adding 2x5mm walnut planks to port and starboard sides. Then filling/sanding and finishing the second planking.  

[Rob S]

6 hours ago, Christopher Smith said:

Well impressed I'm a novice cant match that.

Diawn

Sure you can Christopher, don’t sell yourself short!

[Rob S]

Forecastle siding now in place.