Benjamin W Latham by jwvolz - FINISHED - Model Shipways - 1:48

[jwvolz]

 

 

With summer at an end work has begun on the Benjamin W. Latham kit. 

 

 

With the large 1:48 scale I hope to add a nice bit of super-detailing, and I'm especially intrigued by the seine boat, a whole separate model unto self. Fittings are decent, though I may end up replacing some with scratch-built items. Plans are very nicely done other than the rigging sheet. 

 

I haven't done a ton of soldering on past kits, but that will certainly change on this build with all of the ironwork. 

 

The keel is a sandwich of two thicknesses of laser cut parts, and mine was just slightly warped. You can see below the eclectic collections of weights that happened to be nearby in my laundry room to help hold it down after wetting and clamping... It came out nice and straight. 

 

 

Rabbet was cut and reference lines were drawn on keel former and bulkhead as per the plans. First dry fitted and then subsequently glued in place. The bevels are on the plans and I did a large amount of pre-beveling with the Dremel and a sanding drum attachment before installation as the plywood bulkhead are very hard. Less prone to damage this way. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[jgodsey]

Great weights, but they have an inherent problem.  They tend to lose their weight over time.  Why is the rum always gone?

 

I'm looking forward to following your build.  I'll keep my weights close at hand as well.

 

Cheers,

Jim

[jwvolz]

Ha!

 

Thanks Jim, as well as the "likes"

[jwvolz]

With the deck planking being 1/16 x 1/16" strips there is a definite need for a sub-deck to avoid sagging between bulkheads. Balsa pieces were cut to fit between the bulkheads and this should give a much better base for the narrow strips. I have also decided to trim off the bulkhead extensions from the plywood bulkheads. They are very hard, yet crumble easily. I figured with them having to be shaped and beveled on both sides it will be easier to replace them after the planksheer is installed. This will also give me some wiggle room in placement of the planksheer. 

 

 

 

 

[jwvolz]

Planksheer and transom installed. I think my decision to remove the bulkhead extensions was a good one as it made getting the planksheer installed much easier. From the look of things a few of the extensions would have had to have been removed anyway to get it to fit. The transom is a tricky piece to get shaped correctly and installed at the proper angle. The plans are good though and it matches up well in that regard. 

[Retired guy]

Will join you on your  journey Joe love the shape of the schooners

 

Regards

Richard 

[jwvolz]

Thanks Richard (and the "likes").

 

They are beautiful vessels. Following along on your build as well.

[jwvolz]

Planksheer outer strip is installed and the bulkhead extensions that were previously removed have been replaced and shaped to follow the curve of the hull, both inboard and out. Next up will be fabricating the false frame extensions that go between the ones shown here. There are two between each bulkhead. 

[jwvolz]

Planking has begun. Nothing too exciting really. The schooner hull makes things easier here at the bow for sure,, and there are a good number of bulkheads. 

 

I'm not planning to be super anal about the planking, since the hull will be fully painted. 

[Matrim]

The sanding will clear out a lot of those level deficiencies, it looks like you have very few 'gaps' so that should turn out quite nicely.

[jwvolz]

Hull planking is complete to the level of the main deck. I did edge bend where necessary, and the basswood is quite compliant in that regard. 

 

 

[jwvolz]

The false stanchions are complete. They're a bit time consuming, as each has a different inboard and outboard shape to follow the curve of the hull. Next to plank up the remaining area of the hull tot the top of the extensions. 

[jgodsey]

Looks very good!

Jim

[Landlubber Mike]

Very nicely done Joe.  I had to do those on the Morgan, and they weren't as complicated as what you had to deal with but still took a lot of time.  Coming along really nicely!

[jwvolz]

Thanks guys. Building a fishing schooner is a nice change of pace from the warships. 

[jwvolz]

Not a big update, but bulwarks planked to the main rail. Now working on the deck. 

[Retired guy]

Missed a few updates lots of likes and the planking looks brilliant Joe well done 👍

 

Happy New Year to you

 

Regards

Richard

[BobG]

Beautiful boat. I love these schooners. You're on your way to a very nice build.

[jwvolz]

Thanks guys, much appreciated. 

[jwvolz]

Deck has been planked (including windlass pads and thick pads at the masts) and painted. I masked from templates I made copying the plans and airbrushed the white. The areas that I stained should be gray, based on the instructions, but I didn't like how much of the plank detail disappeared under the white paint, so I elected to just stain it a weathered color. 

[Retired guy]

That does look brilliant Joe 👍

Regards

Richard

[jwvolz]

Thanks Richard and the likes. 

[Timmo]

Delicate work there Joe. She’s looking very crisp.

[reilly]

Beautiful work from you Joe as usual. I've had this kit in the closet for some time now...I think you have inspired me to open the box and follow along with you. Always a pleasure and a learning experience to read your updates on the forum. Keep it going.

Bob

[jwvolz]

Thanks guys. I've made some further progress, just behind on my updates. 

[mugje]

Looks amazing! I like this ship a lot...maybe something for a future build,

[jwvolz]

Started to work on the seine boat. I suspect this thing might be a bit tricky especially based on some of the previous build logs, especially with extricating it from the former if assembled per the instructions. We shall see...

[Landlubber Mike]

Good luck with that - looks like a great start.

[NovaStorm]

Your doing a super job. I am also a schooner fan and will enjoy watching your`s take shape.

Regards ~

[mtdoramike]

The Ben Latham is one of my all time favorite kits from Model Shipways. I have always wanted to build this kit, but for some reason, I just never had the chance, I guess it maybe because I was never ask to build one.