Sao Miguel by kscadman - Mamoli - 1:54 scale

[kscadman]

I received this kit as a present from my son. Currently I'm working on my US Syren, but work is slow due to the fact that I've developed a cataract and trying to see the blocks for rigging is virtually impossible. So I've decided to work on something bigger until I get my eye fixed.

 

Looking thru the kit and the instructions I've found the quality of the kit to be very good, the bulkheads, keel (bulkhead former) is of good strong plywood and the laser cutting didn't leave a slight angle as I've experienced with my Syren.

 

The only problem I ran into was with the stern piece (17) which unexplainably had a warp in it. I tried different techniques to straighten it but it wouldn't. So I made a new stern piece which turned out quite well. 

 

This kit is going to test all I've learned working on my Syren. The instructions are "matter of fact" and "assumes" that the builder knows what he or she is doing. (Which I'm really not sure I do know) So any help from others who have built Mamoli kits would be so much appreciated.

 

Attached are some initial photos of the kit. 

 

So let the adventure begin...…...

 

[Kevin]

its a seams strange scale size,@1/54, I wish you luck in the build and hope you get your eyes sorted soon

Edited June 1, 2019 by Kevin

[kscadman]

Thank you Kevin, and yes I agree, 1:54 is very unusual. I'm not sure how or why they came up with it.

 

I made some progress today, I was able to get the bulkheads and false deck shimmed, trimmed and dry fitted. My worry at the moment is with the drawings, specifically the parts sheet. I'm not sure if its for reference only or if the bulkheads should fit in the lines. If they are to fit in the lines then I'm in for a lot of reworking. I aligned all the bulkheads using the center groove. I've tried to show the discrepancy's in some photos. 

 

Sorry about the camera work, I think my autofocus is going bad.

Edited June 2, 2019 by kscadman

[kscadman]

I have found that the bulkhead plan drawings are for reference only. I used the center of the top of the slot in each bulkhead as a centerpoint. from there I made perpendicular lines to set my base. Then I took measurements at all major points on each bulkhead and found that all my bulkheads are even and symmetrical. 

Now I feel comfortable enough to start gluing the bulkheads.

[kscadman]

I've glued the bulkheads and false deck to the keel after some sanding to fare up the small bits and remove the charring. Also I noticed that some of the keel was interfering with the hole for the mast so I trimmed the slots on the false deck so it cleared the keel and aligned it with bulkhead 11 toward the stern.

I used the "lego" method to square the bulkheads and it worked very well. I would recommend it to anyone. But I did use my square to double check and found it to be correct. Wow, all that money I spent on my son is coming back to reward me.

I've test fitted the fill pieces and was surprised how well they fit. Hardly any sanding was needed.

Just for comparison I put my Syren next to it and realized just ho large this ship will be.

 

Richard

Edited June 7, 2019 by kscadman

[kscadman]

I've finished gluing all the bulkheads and filler pieces in place. So far the build has been enjoyable. I'm really liking this kit.

Edited June 14, 2019 by kscadman

[S.Coleman]

Good to see another mamoli build. These are good builds.

[kscadman]

Thanks Scott, it's my first Mamoli kit.

I have a question for you if you don't mind me asking. I noticed that there is no mention of cutting a rabbit or creating bearding at the stern. Is it needed for a double planked hull?

 

Thanks, Richard 

Edited June 14, 2019 by kscadman

[kscadman]

Some work has been accomplished today. I fitted and glued the fore deck and bulkhead and cut and fitted the 6 beams for the other decks. Now I just need to put the camber into them and glue them in place.

Currently I'm trying to identify the woods I have in the kit. I've found the color chart on the inside of the box top and also the initials in the instructions calling out the different types. But as I look at the wood it looks like I'm missing the type called out for the deck planking. As I look at the photo on the box, it doesn't seem like the same. My lack of identifying wood types is making it difficult. I've attached pictures of the woods that are .5mm x 5mm. 

 

Thanks, Richard

Edited June 17, 2019 by kscadman

[J11]

Coming along nicely KScadman. Your rib frame work is nice and straight.

[kscadman]

I've started planking the main deck and cambering the beams for the upper decks. I went with a three plank shift. I wasn't quite sure what the correct way of doing it was, so I settled on the 3 plank. I looked at the drawings and there was no organized shift, it seemed random.

Now the question..... do I treenail the exposed sections of the deck??

 

Richard