HMS Victory by Matthew Kassebaum - Billing Boats - First ship build

[Matthew Kassebaum]

Even in the previous picture towards the bottom it looks as if they all overlap. You can clearly see the whales above that overlapping.

[clearway]

if you mean the run of the gunports then yes the ports are cut into the wales as the planking run does not follow same run as the decks- some people just using varnished wood as a finish replicate the yellow/ black pattern using wales- this is not prototypical just cosmetic. hope the below pic helps.

[Matthew Kassebaum]

Kind of. I get the wales and the ports. Im talking between the wales it appears each plank overlaps the bottem edge of the one above it. Especially just below the lower wale. It can be seen in this photo between the two lowest ports. At least for a few rows.

[mtaylor]

In actual practice, the thicker wales were made using thicker wood.  So the appearance of "overlapping" (like a on a lapstrake hull) is deceiving.   Here's photos from a frigate cross-section (Triton here on MSW) but you can see the way the wales (black) were on piece and thicker than the rest of the planking.

  

[clearway]

the planks are flush matthew- they are just warped a little cross wise and with the caulking gives the impression of a clinker style hull.

[Matthew Kassebaum]

Yes that all made sense and thank you for the input as it is always appreciated. I have made headway in this stormy sea. I am going to do a double plank. My first layer is on.....a little rough..but Im pleased for this being my first. My second layer is about half as thin....more like deck planks but twice as wide so about the same width as the hull planks provided by Billings so very workable. Ive discovered a love/ hate relationship with the old girl......learning as I go. I discovered mistakes as I went with the first planking..but its a strong base for the second layer. I do understand the advice of not making this a first build but I am patient and meticulous and trudging headlong into this stormy sea!!!🚣‍♂️

[WalrusGuy]

Just came across your build log. Will take a seat and watch the progress unfold. It's looking great so far!!

[Matthew Kassebaum]

Thanks for the watch! It will be rough go for a bit!😬

[Morgan]

Hi Mathew,

 

I’ll tag along with this build if you don’t mind.

 

Regarding the Wales the practice was to ‘run-out’ the thicker planking with a couple of planking strakes of increasingly diminishing thickness, this drawing is taken from Steel for a 74 gun ship and you can see how this works in actual practice.

 

But for the real Victory she is no longer single planked at the Wales, and in reality a lot of her planking is comprised of laminated material (due to cost and availability), but in this respect it is not unlike your double plank build. Arthur Bugler’s Midship sectional drawing captures the actual restoration planking practice where you can see the second layer of planking being used to simulate the Wales and their run-out.

 

I hope adds to what Mark and clearway have said.

 

Gary

 

[Kevin]

another Vic log, i will tag along for the ride, i recently completed the Caldercraft version, so good luck and there are plenty of people around to get advice from

[Matthew Kassebaum]

Yes Gary that does explain alot. I struggled with the planking as this is my first. Fitting sanding..etc. As I said there are mistakes but I knew starting that I wanted to double it and It has given me a good learning base and the second layer is quite thin. When finished you probably wont even notice that its double planked by looking at it but it allows me learning...and fixing. Thanks for the follow Kevin. As Ive mentioned before you hopped on board feel free to chime in! This is my first so all are welcome!

[Matthew Kassebaum]

Starting on the second layer of plank...😒..the row of pins along the side is how far down the second layer is now. This is a SERIOUS chore...but relaxing as well..IF you have the patience to do one plank..let it dry....and fit it. Anyone keeping track....this far....I have roughly just over 110 hours to this point. Slower than some..faster than others..but a Victory of this size...that is where I am.

[Matthew Kassebaum]

Just an update. Second layer of planking in and rough sanded....now detail work and more sanding and some trimming. When she rolled off the table it did shatter some planking that is actually covered by the copper. I filled in part but as I said it is covered by copper.

[Matthew Kassebaum]

Some of the damage caused. I do have the piece that broke. It is only the inner piece so a little work and it can be placed and coverd

[Matthew Kassebaum]

[WalrusGuy]

Those things happen to try and test us. Good thing most of it is intact!

 

 

[Matthew Kassebaum]

Yes they do!

[clearway]

ouchhhhh- save the top part as it forms part of the transom on the poop

 

Keith

[Matthew Kassebaum]

I have saved it. I have about 7 hours of sanding in today. I docked her for the day. Victory will test patience for sure!

[mtaylor]

I have found it strange that often ships think they are airplanes and try to fly.      You're doing well on this build.  

[Matthew Kassebaum]

mtaylor thank you for your kind words!

[Matthew Kassebaum]

Okay question to any and all. Sails. Can they be ordered? Made? I know I know....HUGE bite to chew...but I have been taking my time and as this is my FIRST ever build...I want to do it right...and complete. So....thoughts on sails.....anyone????

[mtaylor]

Ready made sails are usually way out of scale, Matthew.  Too thick, seams too large, etc.    What many do is use silkspan and make their own.  There's several discussions here:  https://modelshipworld.com/forum/16-masting-rigging-and-sails/    When you go to that subforum, use the search feature and limit to that sub forum. You'll find a lot of information.

[Matthew Kassebaum]

mtaylor thank you for that. Not sure if I'm willing to go that far with the sails. I'm interested in doing it. I've survived my first build so far but that is a huge undertaking with zero experience. But a thought as time goes.

[mtaylor]

No rush.  I don't do sails normally but I'm thinking about it on my current project.   I did find this pdf on doing furled sails.  Someone saved it from the dark ages of MSW.

 

FURLED SAILS.pdf

[Matthew Kassebaum]

mtaylor...I actualy really like that idea better! I think that would complete the ship and still show the beauty of the rigging!

[Matthew Kassebaum]

So as this is a learning process as well...in all my glory and pride of working soooooo hard on my planking....I forgot one....small...tiny....detail..............😤🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

So I have spent the last hour or two measuring..planning...drawing..and this is where I am. I did get this half lined up correctly which I am proud of considering. On to the front...and of course the other side. Then to clean up above the deck and make some sanding corrections and do some detail work with the wood file. Onward we go!

[clearway]

i marked them as i went 😇

[Matthew Kassebaum]

Hey....lol...mine were sanded off lol. I DID have them marked. I did find an effective tool though....almost the perfect size...with a little tapping from a small hammer.

[Matthew Kassebaum]

Update for all following. Began cutting gun ports. After getting tired of cutting I did start to frame some in and as I did actually double plank the whole ship and it only calls for one I am backfilling each port with balsa that will bring it back to 1 plank depth. I have not started cutting on the other side. Each port is framed and back filled and then sanded flush with the hull.