18th Century Longboat by Matt H - FINISHED - Model Shipways - Scale 1:48 - SMALL

[Matt H]

Technically this is my second build log, but it will be my first complete build. The first being the HMS Endeavour's Longboat by AL, however I never got very far with it before I switched to this one, then this sat on the shelf for almost 2 years and I have finally came back to it to finish it. I deleted the build log for the Endeavour's Longboat because there wasn't much there and I don't plan to go back to it for quite some time. My next build is to arrive Tuesday, the Model Shipways Syren US Brig, I'm excited to get started on something much bigger than this little guy, but this one has been fun. I have done a lot of plastic car and airplane models as a child, as an adult I have made some remote control rock crawlers, I also enjoy assembling and painting fantasy miniatures. I have never built a wooden model ship before, but it has always been something I have wanted to do. So here are some photos showing my progress along the way, I'll try to add some commentary as I go.

 

Unfortunately I didn't get a picture of opening the box and the contents, however I did the same with this kit as I did with my Endeavour shown below. I went through and took inventory of all the parts and put masking tape tags identifying what the various parts are.

 

Here is a workstation and tool storage I built. 

 

Next up is attaching the false keel, then adding the bulkheads. I did all this back in September 2017 when I purchased the kit.

 

Then for whatever reason, life I guess, I didn't come back to this until February 2018 when I started planking. I think maybe I was a bit scared of the planking, not wanting to mess it up. In the end I think it came out ok, especially after painting, but I have since done a lot of reading and now know what I could have done differently.

 

By the end of March 2018 I had completed the planking, sanding, and removing the insides of the bulkheads.

Then it stayed like above until the end of last month when I started working on it again. I am now nearly finished, I only have about 3 more things to tie on for the rigging and finish carving out the pedestals for it to sit on.

 

After starting up again, I sanded away all the laser marks from the inside of the bulkheads, added the cap rail, friezes, paint, and began working on the inside details.

 

I had attempted to make the cap rail out of a single solid piece of material, but it ended up splitting on me on the port side of the stem. I also broke the stem off at least twice during the whole build so far.

Here is the rudder and the mast attached. I still have to add the friezes to the rudder, it is removable not permanently attached. I have almost all the rigging done, I did not get photos of the bowsprit, boom, or gaff, but they are made and attached.

So there she is for now, that's all the photos I currently have. I will post more as I take them. I have to finish rigging the jib, attach the anchor, and paint the oars and I believe I'll be done. I certainly learned a lot from this kit, I have purchased the Granado by Caldercraft, but I wanted something with more instructions before I tackled that one, which is why I chose to purchase the Syren just last week. I'll begin it shortly, and look towards the Granado after I complete the Syren. 

 

There are certainly things I could have done better with this little boat, but as long as I realize that and learned from my mistakes, my next one will be that much better. 

Edited August 8, 2019 by mjh410
Grammar and spelling.

[Matt H]

Small update and a curiosity question. This is my first time working with a 3/32 block, and I have to make and attach a hook to it. I found the images on this site http://www.modelboatyard.com/stropping.html very helpful. My question is, is there an easier or faster way to do this? I know with time and practice I will get better but it takes me a few minutes to setup what you see in the images below, and that is just the setup, I still have to apply the whipping.

 

Here's the hook I made.

And here is my setup in my third and fourth hands to hold so I can tie the whipping. I applied a small dab of CA glue to the left end of the block to hold the thread. The tan line is to hold the hook taught while I apply the whipping between the hook and block.

 

Again I'm sure I'll get faster at this, but is this the only way to do it and keep it accurate? I have read that people simply use glue and overhand knots, and it is likely at the scale we work with that it may not be noticeable, however I would like to keep things accurate and true to form.

[Matt H]

My first attempt came unraveled, my second attempt started to come unraveled as well, but I managed to put some CA glue over the whipping and was able to salvage it without having to redo it. I think the gap between the hook and the block are too large, but I'll leave it as it is and practice on some slightly larger blocks to get better.

 

[Matt H]

Ok more photos, here she is fully rigged.

 

All that is left is to sand, shape, and paint the oars and blacken and attach the anchor. I just ordered some Novacan Black Patina so we'll see how that works for the blackening. It won't be here for a week or so, I'll update when I'm done with the oars.

[Matt H]

Just about done now, here I have my base I cut out of walnut and routed an edge to it. I also made two pedestals for the keel to sit in, also made out of walnut, and turned on my lathe. Both are coated in danish oil. I made the cut outs for the keel to sit in a little too big, so I placed double sided tape inside them to prevent it from leaning in the pedestals, and easy removal if I ever need it.

 

Here she sits in on the base, with the rudder installed finally.

 

Lastly here are the oars all painted up.

 

 

[Matt H]

I tried blackening the anchor with Novacan Black Patina, one of the two pieces blackened up really well, the other half not so much. Then when I wasn't able to attach them with CA, I could not get it to stick, maybe something to do with the blackening I don't know. So I ended up soldering them together, however the pieces are very small and fragile, and I ended up melting right through one of the prongs and it fell off. It certainly didn't take much heat or time for it to happen, so after some playing around with it I was finally able to get it reattached, but unfortunately, it ended up with a blob of solder at the joint and I wasn't able to get it off very well. I finally decided to leave it, painted it all up black since the blackening didn't take all the way, and then I tied it to forward split ring attached to the center floorboard. I hung the anchor over the side and let it rest on the base. I then added a rope coil.

 

After I tie the oars up in two bundles and place them in the boat, I will snap some photos of the anchor, and final finished product.

[Matt H]

All right here she is all finished up, oars placed, but not tied and the anchor attached.

 

This just wrapped up in perfect time, my Syren just arrived today. I'll be setting up it's build log later tonight with some unboxing, organizing, labeling, etc photos!

 

[Colby]

Beautiful work! I like the painting! Somehow I enjoy watching the very first pictures where only wood is visible, thanks for sharing your experience!

[Matt H]

2 hours ago, Colby said:

Beautiful work! I like the painting! Somehow I enjoy watching the very first pictures where only wood is visible, thanks for sharing your experience!

Thank you very much.