HM Cutter Cheerful 1806 by oldmate - 1:48 scale - first scratch build

[oldmate]

I have never attempted a build log, but I think I will attempt one for Chuck’s Cheerful project. After partially completing 7 kits none of which are finished I found this opportunity to get away from the constraints of the kit building process. I also can avoid the rigging process that I must eventually tackle … but that for another day. The kit builds that are on hold are Kate Cory whaling brig, New Bedford whale boat, Bounty, Cutty Sark, Bounty Launch, Glad Tidings Pinky schooner, and Niagara Brig, Some are to the point of my dreaded rigging process. I am certain I’ll finish them if I live that long (72 years now). 

I recently received Chuck’s Keel and Bulkhead kit. Incredible quality! Five sheets of 1/4 inch plywood perfectly flat and skillfully cut. I could not be more pleased. I also received the plans 

 

Choosing to attempt scratch building the Cheerful Cutter I can work in a larger scale and attempt a simpler rigging. So on to the Cheerful build……

[Chuck]

Enjoy the project!!!  Dont hesitate to ask me any questions.    The rigging isnt that bad on this one.  

[oldmate]

I have been working on this build for a couple of weeks now and I will post some pictures of my progress. I purchased the wood package that Chuck offers and Wow! I bought the Alaska Yellow Cedar wood and what a wonderful wood it is. Working with this wood I have to say is a great pleasure. The quality is tremendous a credit to Chucks skill a pride in the items he offers for sale. If you never worked with this yellow cedar you should try it. A great aroma as well.

 

Her are some picture of my progress so far...




 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 8, 2019 by oldmate
delete 2 pictures

[RickyGene]

Howdy Oldmate, just wanted to know if you have made any progress and any tips on your frame build.

Rick

[oldmate]

Hi Rick

Yes I have made some progress and I will post a couple of pictures a bit later. 

Early on in the build, I missed the step to glue a 1/16" strip before gluing the keel assembly that creates the rabbit. I spoke to Chuck about cutting the rabbit by hand instead. He gave me the advice to take it apart and redo it and to slow down my eagerness and enjoy the build. This ship though not difficult does have some very precise steps. For instance the stern section and the gun ports are all areas to be precise. The plans tell it all. I sometimes forget to use the plans as I am dedicated to Chuck's chapter instructions.

Next I am building the wales. When ready to plank the hull, check out chuck's video on spieling the planks. Very helpful

 

Are you building the Cheerful?

 

Ric

[RickyGene]

On 7/18/2019 at 11:13 AM, oldmate said:

Hi Rick

Yes I have made some progress and I will post a couple of pictures a bit later. 

Early on in the build, I missed the step to glue a 1/16" strip before gluing the keel assembly that creates the rabbit. I spoke to Chuck about cutting the rabbit by hand instead. He gave me the advice to take it apart and redo it and to slow down my eagerness and enjoy the build. This ship though not difficult does have some very precise steps. For instance the stern section and the gun ports are all areas to be precise. The plans tell it all. I sometimes forget to use the plans as I am dedicated to Chuck's chapter instructions.

Next I am building the wales. When ready to plank the hull, check out chuck's video on spieling the planks. Very helpful

 

Are you building the Cheerful?

 

Ric

I have the parts of the FK marked, ready to glue up and then add rabbet strip.  I am retired and have no problem taking my sweet time during each step.  I have spent hours studying the plans.  I will place a order for the lumber w/in the next week.  I have not ordered the lumber pkg, I am playing w/using pear and ebony to plank the hull.  Of course, the ebony is for the black painted areas of the build.  Just kicking around using colors of wood to replicate the colors as given.  I have checked out the video and every build thread f/Cheerful.

Rick

[calt4]

Sir

 

can you tell me the web sit to chuck project

[oldmate]

On 7/19/2019 at 8:22 PM, calt4 said:

Sir

 

can you tell me the web sit to chuck project

Yes it is syrenmodelshipcompany.com 

[oldmate]

It has been a couple of weeks since I have updated this build. My kids and grandkids were here visiting from up north and that left not much time for building. I have however made some progress

 

 

After planking the whales an up to the molding strip I realized that I should have divided the uppermost 2 planks more evenly and was left with a plank that was too narrow at both the stem and stern. I decided to accept the result knowing it could be better, sad to say

After this I am acutely aware of this and it won't happen again. I do however continue planking to the sheer. This was as difficult a process as I have ever done. Being precise on the measurements was very time consuming but well worth it. The following is the result of that patience.

 

 

Now on to the starboard side

 

Ric

[oldmate]

On 8/6/2019 at 4:29 PM, oldmate said:

It has been a couple of weeks since I have updated this build. My kids and grandkids were here visiting from up north and that left not much time for building. I have however made some progress

 

 

After planking the whales an up to the molding strip I realized that I should have divided the uppermost 2 planks more evenly and was left with a plank that was too narrow at both the stem and stern. I decided to accept the result knowing it could be better, sad to say

After this I am acutely aware of this and it won't happen again. I do however continue planking to the sheer. This was as difficult a process as I have ever done. Being precise on the measurements was very time consuming but well worth it. The following is the result of that patience.

 

 

Now on to the starboard side

 

Ric

 

[oldmate]

So it has been quite sometime since I posted any progress on this build. That doesn't mean that I have not been working on the build. I guess I would rather put the time into building the Cheerful. 

I just wish I had paid a bit more attention to the plans when I measure the length of the planks. as a result I have way to many joints out of place and they wonder too much. There was also some areas that were just not right so... I proceeded to remove some sections. Not easy to do! The more I removed the worse it got

 

Heres what I started with....

Heres how bad it got...

And more...

But it got much better

[oldmate]

So on I went. Time for the false deck

Then paint time for paint on the inner bulkheads. 

A shot of the waterways in place

 And a final shot of the touched up and partially completed Cheerful. I am far from done but on I go. There is hardly a day goes buy that I done work on this ship. Time to order some stuff from Chuck.

[svein erik]

nicly dunn, you are on your way..

am still at planking the first belt  !

 

svein erik

[oldmate]

So here I am AGAIN with a severe error.  My cap rail at the stern will not match up with the transom top rail. I am 3/8 of an inch off. I sen chuck an email for help and as always he got back to me nearly immediately suggesting I look closely at the plans for the transom.  I think I see the problem.... I hope. It is gonna involve more tear out and rebuild the transom. 

 

[mtaylor]

Not going to like that post but it's good that you had another set of eyes on it and sorted out the problem.

[bruce d]

13 hours ago, oldmate said:

... here I am AGAIN with a severe error.

You get my respect for the way you grit your teeth and do it again. Hope I have the intestinal fortitude (aka - guts) to do the same when needed. 

[Chuck]

This is where the planking went astray....

 

You can see where you made the plank come to a point back there instead of following the run of the wales. If you dont want to tear it all out I suggest you just add another strake to bring it in line with the transom and use a copy of the plan to establish the correct sheer line. Also the rabbet around each port should have been so much smaller which would of enabled you to raise that strake just a tiny bit more.

[oldmate]

Thank You all for the kind words. 

Thanks Chuck I can see that now and I appreciate your support. I think I will opt for the additional strake. Already working them.  You a always there for many.

[Chuck]

Anytime....keep going!!!  Its going to look great. 

[Blue Pilot]

What a great job of pushing forward!  Chucks right in the end it will look great.

[oldmate]

Thanks again for the kind words, Here some shots of my modified solution to add a strake. I think it will do. I know that I must work more closely with the plans and it is amazing that a small mistake earlier in the construction will cause such an error

 

Thanks to all

 

Ric

 

[Chuck]

We have all been there.  I might also suggest painting outboard above the top molding.  Perhaps a muted blue like the model in the rogers collection. Nobody would ever see your mistake that way.

 

[oldmate]

Chuck you are one clever guy

[oldmate]

I did not realize that it has been so long since I posted on this build. I have been steadily working on the ship but due to some health issues I have not accomplished as much as I would like to. I will post some pictures as soon as the battery in my camera charges. 

 

Ric

[oldmate]

So I have worked on the deck furniture especially the windlass. (that was fun!) and they are dry fitted here. As you can see I have the deck boards completed as well. 

 

 

I' happy with that so far.

 

 

After some touch up and refinement It'll do.

 

I also have the bow sprit on it's way as are most of the cannon carriages

 

 

Additionally I have completed some of the fittings as well. I will try to be more timely with my posts. On to more building

 

Ric

[oldmate]

I have not posted for awhile but I have been working on my Cheerful. I have been ill again as iI have been diagnosed with prostate cancer and the treatments have been …. well i should say , not great. But when i have better days I continue to work on the ship. Rather than take the time to post I have decided to just build. I will try to post my progress thus far.

 

You know, now that I approach the small parts I realize how stressful it becomes to build them properly spending hours to assemble the deck furniture, cannon parts, mast, bow sprit and all the associated parts and pieces. Difficult but not impossible. It just takes time. here are some pictures of what I have been working on.