New Bedford Whaleboat by Cap'n Rat Fink - FINISHED - 1/16th scale - by Mario

Cap'n Rat Fink · April 11, 2020

Hello all,

I gave my whaleboat kit to a friend of mine to try and giver it a go. Once done he gave me what he had left and I decided to scratch build one out of basswood and other woods. I started the build a long while ago. But really got busy in life, and with this virus thing going on and being told to stay home else face getting pulled over and fined up to 1000.00 dollars. So having sometime with the models again.

Jeezz! The building jig is a practicum in itself...

Cap'n Rat Fink · April 11, 2020

Cap'n Rat Fink · April 11, 2020

FINAL STEPS TO THE BUILD BOARD!

Cap'n Rat Fink · April 11, 2020

Cap'n Rat Fink · April 11, 2020

So now after contemplating what wood. I decided to build two boats. I have so much basswood probably make one from that. Then go with Intarsia for the other. The book says if your using planks 3/64's thick or 1/32. Does not explain wht two different thicknesses.
I have milled that thin with basswood. But not with the hardwoods. Plus using a slitting blade for me anyway is a big pain in the butt. but I'll see how it goes.

Cap'n Rat Fink · April 11, 2020

Well its been a little will. just have been very busy with other things lately. Finding spare time has been a challenge. So what i"m going to show is parts of the plans and book. Because I thought it would be easier to understand what I am trying to accomplish here. This model ain't for the young. Practicums are practicums, I'm saying this because I treat them like the Pirates Code, they are more like guide lines to me. If it works well for the writer of the practicum then all is well, but if something works better for me I will go that route.
It's gets a little complicated here so if I do not explain it right please ask or tell me and maybe I can clarify a little better.

So the plans and book pics first...

Now the pic above shows how the stem n stern post will come together with the keel. But also shows how i mush creat the bevels for the garboard strake.

Cap'n Rat Fink · April 11, 2020

NOW THE PROGRESS

Cap'n Rat Fink · April 11, 2020

HI EVERYBODY,
RIGHT NOW I AM IN THE MIDDLE OF INSTALLING THE FRAMES TO THE MODEL. BUT WHERE I HAD LEFT OFF WAS PLANKING THE HULL. I USED BASS WOOD BECAUSE I DO PLAN ON PAINTING THE MODEL. NOW FOR THE INTERIOR I AM CONTEMPLATING NOT PAINTING.
THE PLANKING WAS ACTUALLY VERY EASY TO DO EVEN WHEN YOU HAD TO PLACE THE SEAM BATTENS FIRST AND THEN THE PLANK. PLUS I MADE SURE I SANDED THE BEVELS NEEDED ON EACH PLANK TO SIT PROPERLY. WHICH IS OUTLINED IN THE BOOK. I TRACED THE PATTERNS FROM THE PLANS, MADE MY PLANK AND CONTINUED ON FROM THERE. I WOULD PLACE TWO PLANKS ON ONE SIDE THEN I WOULD SWITCH TO THE OTHER SIDE. THIS KEPT ME AWARE THAT I WAS INSTALLING THE PLANKING EVENLY ON THE PORT N STARBOARD SIDES CORRECTLY.
ONCE DONE I SANDED WHAT I COULD WHILE ON THE JIG, INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR AREAS. ONCE I INSTALL SOME OF THE FRAMES I WILL REMOVE THE REST OF THE BUILD JIG TO SAND AND CLEAN UP AS BEST AS POSSIBLE. MAINLY TO REMOVE BITS OF GLUE.
SO HERE IS A FEW PICTURES FOR TO SEE WHAT HAS BEEN DONE. APOLOGIES FOR TAKING SO LONG TO POST PICS.
OOOOPS JUST NOTICE I HAD "CAPS LOCKED"! OH WELL.

Jim Lad · April 11, 2020

Two builds at once! You must be in Covid-19 lockdown, Mario.

John

Cap'n Rat Fink · June 3, 2020

I HAVE BEEN APPROACHED ABOUT UPPER CASE. YES I DO KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TYPING ALL IN UPPER CASE. I MEAN NOTHING BY IT BECAUSE I HAVE NEVER LEARNED TO TYPE. SO IF IT BOTHERS PEOPLE I WILL CEASE N DESIST. JUST A FRIENDLY FYI. THE PEOPLE THAT KNOW ME HERE. KNOW HOW I AM. BUT JUST LET ME KNOW. THIS WHY I AM CONSIDERING MAKING THESE MY LAST BUILD LOGS AND MAYBE CREATING MY OWN SITE/BLOG.

HELLO,
I DECIDED TO PAINT THE BOAT. THE INBOARD WOULD BE YELLOW AND THE HULL GREEN. THE FRAMES WERE DONE IN SWISS PEAR. I PAINTED IN HIGH GLOSS BECAUSE THE SHINE HELP BRING OUT ANY PERFECTIONS TO DEAL WITH AND CLEAR UP. AFTER THAT I WILL BE ADDING A DULL CLEAR COAT SO IT WILL LOOK A LOT BETTER.

Cap'n Rat Fink · June 3, 2020

AS FOR THE COOPERAGE I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE HOW I WAS GOING TO HANDLE BUILDING ALL THESE BITS. SINCE MY BUDDY HAD BUILT THE KIT.
AS IT TURNED OUT ANOTHER FRIEND HAS A SON YOU WAS ENJOYING AND GETTING TO KNOW HIS NEW TOY. A LASER PRINTER/CUTTER WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT. HE SAID HIS SON WAS NEEDING A PROJECT OR TWO TO HELP LEARN HIS NEW TOY. SO I GAVE HIM ONE. THE KID WAS GRATEFUL AND AS YOU CAN SEE SO WAS I.

Cap'n Rat Fink · June 3, 2020

I DECIDED TO START MAKING THE BITS HERE AND THERE THRU OUT THE BUILD SINCE THERE WAS SO MUCH TO DO. THOUGHT IT WOULD BREAK UP AND GIVE A BREAK FROM BUILDING THE BOAT.
I MARKED THE LOCATIONS OF THE STAVE LINES FROM THE PLANS AND USE MY TINY FILE TO SCRIBE THEM ON THE BASSWOOD BLANK. I DIPPED MY FINGER TIP INTO SOME WATER AND WET THE BACKSIDE. LET IT SOAK FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES AND THE BLANK BENT VERY EASY FOR THE FORM. I ALSO DECIDED JUST VARNISHING THE STERN TUB AND THE REST OF THE BUCKETS AND SUCH. IT JUST LOOKED NICER TO ME.

cheers Mario.......

Cap'n Rat Fink · June 3, 2020

I WENT BACK TO THE HULL AND STARTED WORK ON THE CHEEK PIECES LOCATED AT THE BOW. THESE WILL HOLD THE BOW ROLLER IN PLACE. PLUS THE FORWARD ENDS OF THE INWALES AND GUNWALES WILL BE SECURED TO THE CHEEKS.
I WANTED THIS MADE FROM BOXWOOD, BUT I DIDN'T HAVE THE CORRECT SIZE ON HAND. SO I WOULD HAVE TO MILL MORE STOCK. TOO MUCH WORK FOR 2 SMALL PIECES. I ENDED UP AGAIN USING BASSWOOD FOR THESE PIECES. I HATE MILLING WOOD WAS THE OTHER REASON.

Cap'n Rat Fink · June 3, 2020

ONCE DONE I GLUED IN TO PLACE TO THE WALES AND THE STEM POST. I TRIM DOWN THE POST LEVEL AND PER INSTRUCTION FILE THE STEM TO FIT THE BOW ROLLER. NEVER HAVE TURNED METAL BEFORE SO THIS WAS GOING TO BE NEW AND A VERY SMALL PIECE TOO.

THAT'S IT FOR RIGHT NOW. JUST HAVING A HARD TIME MODELING THESE DAYS BECAUSE OF THE VIRUS SITUATION AND NOW ALL THIS DAMN CIVIL UNREST GOING ON IN MY COUNTRY AND STATE. I FELL ASHAMED AND SAD ABOUT THE SITUATION AND BEING VERY CONCERNED OF PROTECTING MY FAMILY.

SO ALL YOU IN MY COUNTRY PLEASE BE SAFE AND HAVE HOPE AND PRAY THAT THINGS WILL END SOON AND WE WILL BE BETTER OFF FROM ALL OF THIS SOON! GOD BLESS!!!

Jim Lad · June 3, 2020

That's one whale boat that will stand out in a crowd, Mario! The internal colour would certainly make it easier to see at sea.

John

Cap'n Rat Fink · June 5, 2020

THANKS JOHN!!! I HOPE YOUR SAFE FROM ALL THIS VIRUS.

HI EVERYONE,
TO BREAK UP THE BUILD A LITTLE I WORKING ON THE HULL AND ALL THE BITS THAT GO WITH THE BOAT. THESE BOATS WERE PAINTED IN DIVERSE COLORS. SOME DISPLAYING FOUR/FIVE DIFFERENT COLORS JUST ON ONE BOAT. SO AT THIS POINT IN TIME I WENT WITH GREEN AND YELLOW SO FAR. RONNBERG STATES THAT GREEN AND YELLOW WAS A NICE COMBO FOR THESE BOATS. IT WOULD MAKE IT POP!!! SURE DOES BUT I AM ALSO FROM SOUTHERN CALIF. THE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD FOR THE AVOCADO. SO WHEN I'M DONE I WILL BLESS HER THE USS AVOCADO!!!

Moab · June 5, 2020

Mario; looks excellent! Thank you for the photos and descriptions...Moab

mtaylor · June 6, 2020

Wonderful work, Mario. You passed the entry test. Welcome to the Dark Side (scratch).

Cap'n Rat Fink · June 7, 2020

THANKS MOAB AND MARK.

MARK I LIKE SCRATCH, KIT BASHING, AND RE-BUILDING MODELS. THE ONE THING I HATE IS MILLING WOOD. THAT REALLY SUCKS. BUT OH WELL.

HI EVERYONE.
WORKING ON THE BITS, TWARTS, AND PAINTING THE HULL A LITTLE MORE.

Jim Lad · June 7, 2020

Very nice, Mario!

John

Cap'n Rat Fink · June 9, 2020

THANK YOU JOHN. HOWS THE LAND DOWN UNDER THESE DAYS?

AT THIS TIME I AM WORKING ON THE CUDDY AT THE STERN AND NEXT THE THIGH BOARD AT THE BOW. RONNBERG INSTRUCTED TO ADD THE PANELS A PIECE AT A TIME. I DECIDED TO INSTALL IT AS A COMPLETE PANEL. IT JUST SEEMED EASIER FOR ME.
BEFORE I WENT INTO DOING THE CUDDY, HE ALSO INSTRUCTED TO GLUE IN PLACE THE TWARTS. I DECIDED TO LEAVE UNGLUED AND GLUE THEM IN PLACE WHEN I WAS DONE IN THE AREA THEY WERE GOING TO BE PLACED. IT JUST LEFT ME MORE ROOM TO GET MY FINGERS IN AND OUT OF THERE.

Jim Lad · June 9, 2020

Lovely work, Mario! All going well on this side of the Pacific at the moment - Covid almost gone (we hope), but it will be interesting to see what happens in a couple of weeks following all the mass demonstrations last Saturday!!

John

mtaylor · June 10, 2020

Turning quite beautifully, Mario.

Cap'n Rat Fink · August 12, 2020

Hey Thanks John N Mark and for all the likes too! i have been making head way on both model. But summer has gotten so busy as of late,I have not been able to post pics. Plus our single parent daughter has to work and we are dealing with stay at home schooled grandkids. It is what it is. Will get back here asap. But I still find time to do modeling.

Jim Lad · August 13, 2020

Have fun with the home schooling, Mario! :blink:

John

mtaylor · August 13, 2020

No worries, Mario. This is hobby... I think it still is anyway. Family first.

Cap'n Rat Fink · August 26, 2020

Hi Guys,

Thank you. Well we put to rest my brothers wife a couple of days ago. So going to visit with him for the rest of the week before he head back to Northern California. I also have my rigging are setup and then i will be getting back to my whaleboat. I am reading thru your build log mark trying to catch up, since i was away for a few years haha! Hey John you have a build going on? I hope you do.

Jim Lad · August 27, 2020

Sorry to hear about your sister-in-law, Mario. Yes, I have a build in progress, but it's at the museum and I haven't been allowed back in there since March! Soon I hope.

I hope you and your family are out of the line of fire of these Californian wildfires that have been making the news over here.

John

mtaylor · August 27, 2020

We'll see you when we see you, Mario. Family first is the rule. And if it isn't, it darn well should be.

Cap'n Rat Fink · September 13, 2020

HI EVERYONE,
I HAVE FINALLY GOT TO MY LITTLE BOAT HERE. WELL AT 1/16 SCALE SHE IS KINDA BIG FOR A LITTLE BOAT.

I started with the center board trunk cap. I made the lifting strap from brass which I'll show later because I forgot. What I did was indent the centerboard top edge then all i have to do is push the board up, a dab of glue to an eye bolt place on center board, let dry and it's done. Of course i will have the strap already fastened to the eye bolt when I do this. I also decided to glue the twart's as I went along. The instructions wanted the twarts glued in ahead of this step, but it made it easier to get my hands in there to do little stuff. So the 2 middle twarts had to be glued in place to the centerboard trunk as should in the instructions, not just to the port and starboard sides of the boat.
The Peak Cleats looked to be a challenge. With different bevels in all directions. I first drew the lines for location of the bevels. The size of the cleats are 1"x1/4"x1/8". I worked on the side bevels first. Using my little hand plane to start the bevel. i could only do so much. Then i used the plane to do the face of the cleat. I only took enough off to get close to the bevel I wanted. The rest of the way was using the sanding stick to get the shape. Actually it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. There was a total of 4 to do. Three went glued in place on the starboard side. One went to the port. What I am liking a lot about my boat is I made sure the floor board and little gaps. Not a clean fit, because reading about these boats they were made fast and not show room quality. I plan on displaying the boat with most of the gear out of the boat.