Lancia Armata 1803by mikeaidanh - FINISHED - Panart - Scale 1:16 - Small - Armed Pinnace

[mikeaidanh]

I am about to start this build in an attempt to de emphasise the amount of work, and in particular repetitive  work, that lies ahead for me in building my HMS Surprise.

 

In the very early stages I am told to apply candle wax to former edges to prevent adhesion whilst laying the planking. This is necessary as the formers must be removed and modified afterwards and the new sections replaced and glued in. Two questions: Is candle wax the best medium for this work and do i need to edge glue the planks? The model is triple planked in, firstly, 1mm x 7mm Walnut then 1mm x 6mm Lime wood and, lastly, 1mm x 6mm Walnut. 

 

Once I have some work to show off I will post photographs and comments.

 

If anyone has a build log for this model I would love to see it.

 

In advance....my thanks for any comments or suggestions.

 

Mike.

[mikeaidanh]

Thanks donfarr,

I will try that.

Mike.

[mathewp]

I've used masking tape with good results, but the beeswax idea sounds best.Have fun with your build

[mikeaidanh]

Thanks for that mathewp,

 

Masking tape sounds good as it removes the need to de-wax the "frames" when re-inserting them.

 

I was so confused about this whole issue that I started a new topic in Building, Framing and Planking!

 

Mike. 

 

[mikeaidanh]

At last I have made some progress on this model. As I said earlier my intention was to use this build as a break from my HMS Surprise build and to try my hand at a larger scale model. What has in fact happened is the realisation that I do not have enough time to devote to one model let alone two! Never the less progress has been made on both models.

 

The following is a simple photo diary of 1803 Armed Pinnace to date.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is as far as I have gone and the model is back on the shelf as I return to my HMS Surprise (see).

 

 

 

 

Edited April 4, 2014 by mikeaidanh

[Q A's Revenge]

Looking good so far Mike. I've long admired this model so nice to see a build log of one. Out of interest, do you know why they chose to make the model triple planked?

[mikeaidanh]

Hello QA,

 

Thanks for that.

 

I have no idea why triple planking was used. It is a bit of a pain to do but now that I have the end result is a very sturdy hull. Ah, so that is why it is trippled! There are no frames or bulkheads so the strength and rigidity must be within the hull itself.  Until you asked the question I had not considered the obvious! Thank you for opening my eyes.

 

The upside of this build is working in 1:16 scale. It is a delight. I shall post some updates to the build log in the near future.

 

Mike. 

[mikeaidanh]

Progress report.

 

 

First planking completed - pretty rough but I have two more layers to go to improve my technique.

 

 

Second planking complete. A little better but still full of errors some of which have been sanded out. Thank goodness for sanding products!

 

 

The hull structure is now strong enough to let me remove the 2/3 of some of the bulkheads which are no longer needed. I am pleased to get shot of them as this allows me to do some remedial work on the visible interior planking.

 

 

 

 

 

Third and final planking. Fitting a drop plank to put right one of my technical errors.

 

 

Third planking complete and in the sanding phase.Overall I am reasonably happy with this my second attempt to plank a model

ship but, one of these days, I must learn to do it properly. I would love to watch a "master" at work.....are there any videos ?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mikeaidanh]

Further progress.

 

 

Starting on the internal decking.Bending frames for the edges of this section. I am using the deck itself as the former for the frame bending.

 

 

 

The larger of the two internal decks framed up and ready for planking and some gratings.

 

 

Detour. Planked the stern but not to the top as some shaping needs to be applied to this later on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mikeaidanh]

......And more progress.

 

 

Both internal decks framed and shown in situ for a trial fit.

 

 

Partly planked deck void. Slapped some yellow ochre on before applying a decent top coat.

 

 

Bought myself a cheap and simple air brush. How quickly the paint goes on! This sounds like I do not have a painters patience. Correct!

 

 

 

 

[Q A's Revenge]

You're making good progress Mike!

[mikeaidanh]

Getting on with the internal decks.

 

 

 

 

This is enjoyable work. Filling the floor voids with planking and the gratings. I found cutting and fitting the gratings to be tricky.

 

 

Using useful sizes of the kit supplied timber to jig up the fitting of the foot treads.

 

 

 

The internal decks finished and lightly oiled with Danish.

 

Moving on.

 

 

 

Planking in the bow and stern areas.

 

This is as far as I have come to date. The next tasks will be to finally fit the internal decks into the hull before starting on the ribs and stringers.

 

More anon.

 

Mike.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ronkh]

"This is enjoyable work."

 

It's also enjoyable for me Mick!

 

Thanks for showing and am looking forward to the rest.

 

Cheers,

 

Ron.

 

P.S. Have booked marked this.

Edited October 5, 2013 by ronkh

[mikeaidanh]

Thank you ronkh, I will post again soon.

 

Mike.

[mikeaidanh]

Further progress on the inner hull.The floors are now finally fixed in place and the ribs are being shaped.

Note the high tec plank bender; new employment for old curling tongs and a "clamp" made from parcel tape.

 

 

The ribs are pre painted before fitting.

 

 

 

Fixing the ribs to the hull. I used CA for this job as devising curved surface clamps to use with PVA seemed likely to cause headaches. Kiss principle.

 

 

The .7mm x 7mm dome head pins at each rib junction are purely decorative but they do enhance the look of the hull interior.

 

 

 

All in place. Just some cleaning up to do.

 

 

More anon.

 

Note. Other buiiders of this model will have noticed that I am not following Panart's colour scheme. More about this later on.

 

Mike.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[mikeaidanh]

Back again. After a longish break some further progress has been made. But first the colour scheme and roughing it up a bit!

 

It is my belief that these hard working boats would have been maintained in top working order but not as "tiddly" ( R.N term but probably universally understood. ) as the ships boats that ferried captains, admirals and other upper echelon types to and fro. To this end I have "dirtied" the interior of the model somewhat, excluded glossy finishes and adopted the muted ochres and black paints of the period. I do not intend to apply bright coloured hull highlights or stern embellishments. 

 

This image shows the boat interior after fitting all the ribs and stringers and the stern benches,

 

 

The mounts for the small cannon and other small additions.....

 

 

Next job was the gunnel capping. The instructions in the kit call for this to be applied in sections but I decided to trace of the actual shape from the model onto sheet timber. The outer curve was then cut on the band saw and the inner curve scribed from it before cutting and final sanding to shape on a belt sander. The two curved section, two quadrant sections and two straight sections were then glued to the hull.

 

 

 

 

 

The final piece of gunnel capping required a curve over a short length in 3.5mm timber. I snapped my first attempt so laminated three sections of 10mm x 1mm which worked well and when sanded and sealed will not be detectable under a coat or two of paint.

 

 

The next task was to build the framework that supports the main cannon and to fit this in place. Care must be taken here as this framework, thwart No.3 from the bows,and the mast step are all closely interdependent for position. The frame and the cannon itself are fun to put together.

 

 

 

 

 

Number three thwart and a section of mast are placed but not fixed.

 

 

Then the cannon framework is offered up, shaped where it meets the forward gunnel capping and then the No. three thwart can be adjusted in position.

 

 

Now the other thwarts can be cut and shaped and their positions established.

 

 

Central supports for the thwarts must be fitted before they can be secured and the mast step needs to be completed.

 

Thats it for now. More soon......I hope!

 

Mike.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 4, 2014 by mikeaidanh

[WackoWolf]

Very nice work. She is going to look Beautiful when finished. Keep the Pictures coming, your doing an excellent job.

[mikeaidanh]

Many thanks for the kind words Wacko.

 

Mike.

[ZyXuz]

nice and neat Mike  

I love everything inside the boat!

[mikeaidanh]

Back again after Christmas and other interventions ! Time to progress this build a little.

 

I left off before the holiday when starting to fit the thwarts so finishing that job comes first.

 

 

I then got sidetracked by the arrival of a Carrs kit so needed to try that out.

 

 

 

 

 

Back to the thwarts and fitting all into hull...

 

 

....including the mast support structures.

 

]

 

All done.

 

 

Having recently acquired a micro shaper the next task was to use it to produce knees, thole pin blocks and the two bow fairleads.

 

First the knees.

 

The shaped timber has been sliced into twenty four pieces and....

 

 

...they are glued together in pairs to a piece of dowel....

 

 

..and then glued to the thwarts as seen here.

 

 

This image also shows my ongoing attempt to "age" this build a little as I want it to represent a working boat rather than a pristine model. I am using water colour crayons and spit at present but fully expect to add other techniques as time goes on. In passing, if any reader has experience of "ageing" a model I would love to have your comments.

 

Next the thole pin blocks. The piece of timber on the right was machined to profile then sliced into twelve pieces and finally drilled for the pins.

 

 

 

 

And finally the two fairleads. The piece of machined timber on the left in the image above was sliced into two pieces, drilled, slotted and cut to shape.

 

 

 

 

Various other small parts have been made and fitted…….

 

 

 

....and the large gun and it's carriage is almost complete. 

 

 

 

 

The big gun will not be finally fitted until later in the build. The next task is to complete the outer hull fittings and then start on the paint job. Once that is complete then the fun of rigging and fitting out can begin.

 

More anon.

 

Mike.

 

Edited April 4, 2014 by mikeaidanh

[jthemanjack]

Looking great Mike..... she was my favourite and most enjoyable build ,after i finish my current build i am going to revisit the build and fit the bowsprit and jib ,i am also going to colour the sails red ,i hope you don't mind me posting an image in your log but something like this ! (if you do mind simply send me a pm and i will remove it)

 

 

  Cheers 

        Jack

[mikeaidanh]

Jack,

 

I am delighted to see your version of the armed pinnace and I do not mind you posting it at all.

 

Your set sail looks better to me than the furled version and it will look even better with it's jib flying.

 

Thank you for your input.

 

Mike

[egkb]

Have just discovered this little gem of a build ! I love these smaller boat types (though at 1:16 the model itself ain't what we'd call small ! )

 

Nice work Mike.

 

Eamonn

It'll be a pleasure to follow this along.

[mikeaidanh]

Thank you Eamonn,

 

As I am fast approaching the painting of the external hull there may be a short pause before my next post but post i will as soon as I can.

 

Mike.

[Bugra]

Wow, she looks beautiful Mike. 

Bugra.

[mikeaidanh]

Back to the build log.

 

The skids are fitted to the lower hull and, somewhere out of site, the wales a some trim strips are being painted.

 

 

 

It is now time to paint the outer hull. Firstly masking off......

 

 

.......in preparation to using this.

 

 

Various stages of painting.......

 

 

...first the primer then the top coats.

 

 

 

 

Initial hull paint job completed.

 

 

 

 

The figure in the last image is a bit tall for the period at c6ft 4ins but he is useful for assessing the position of items that would have been handled by the crew.

 

After spray painting I found the finish to be too even and smooth so a further coat was applied all over by brush. The hull will be further "weathered" later on.

 

The next round of jobs should see all the remaining exterior hull fittings in place before hanging the rudder and moving on to masting and internal rigging.

 

More anon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[egkb]

Wow that's cracking good stuff Mike!  Have only just spotted this model being built in Keith Juliers book The Period Ship Handbook 2 ! (the book only came a few days ago or I'd have said sooner  )

 

Keep up the marvellous work.

 

 

Eamonn

[Torchy]

Hi Mike

Lovely build mate,mines stalled at the moment as I lost all my build log on MSW1

Where in MK are you ? I'm on Walnut tree,we could meet up for a beer and compare notes! and builds

Regards

Andy

[mikeaidanh]

Torchy,

Thanks for that. I have sent you a PM.

Mike.

[mikeaidanh]

Back again at last but with a good deal of progress to log.

 

I have just finished repairing this build log and my HMS Surprise log and I would like it known that i would prefer not to have to do that again! A complete pain in the fundament!

 

The following images will illustrate progress on general hull fittings, mounting the large cannon in it's final position, hanging the rudder and  making the tiller and rigging it.

 

Hull fittings…..

 

 

 

 

 

Tiller….

 

 

 

 

 

 

Big cannon…….

 

 

 

Rudder and tiller…..

 

 

 

 

 

Mast is tapered and top rigging sheaves fitted…...

 

 

 

Rigging the cannon…..

 

 

 

Fitting the mast….

 

 

 

 

 

 

Making the lateen yard…….

 

 

Temporary fitting of yard…..

 

 

 

 

That is all for now. The next task is to make the sail and then finally rig the yard.

 

After that things will be on hold for a while as I am having knee replacement surgery on April 15th.

 

See you next month!

 

Mike.