US Constellation 1798 by Jack12477 - Artesania Latina - 1:85

[Jack12477]

Well what I feared would happen, and what I have been trying hard to avoid, happened anyway. After successfully heat bending the starboard bulwark pieces (3) to fit, I started bending the port side pieces, except as I was bending the stern piece around the mold I had made the piece snapped about 2 inches from the end. Piece is laser cut from a 5/64 inch thick piece of 2 ply, maybe 3 ply, plywood. 

 

Spent the afternoon visiting 5 local stores trying to find a replacement with no luck. 😒 Of course!  There is a pandemic ! No one is restocking shelves ! 🙄.

 

So now it's road trip time to a neighboring city to see if I can find a brick and mortar hobby store that has some in stock before I resort to mail order which could take 6 months for the "Express Rider" to deliver it to me. 🤨 🙁☹

Edited January 26, 2021 by Jack12477

[marktiedens]

Try a Michaels craft store if there is one nearby - the one near me carries some thin sheets of plywood.  I got a 12x24 piece of 1/64 birch plywood there.  They had other sizes also.

 

 

Mark

[Jack12477]

7 hours ago, marktiedens said:

Try a Michaels craft store

That was the first store we went to.  Nothing !  Then Home Depot, Lowes, "Wally World", et al. 

[Canute]

Try some of the woodworker stores. We have a Woodcraft and a Klingspor shop near me. They may have 12" x 12" squares of the ply you're looking for.

[Snug Harbor Johnny]

'I see,' said the blind man.  Then he picked up his hammer and saw.  'Guess that research into whatever ship one is interested in is 'key' ... and there is so much that can be found on-line with patient gleaning (and a critical eye).  I've learned more about the Wasa and the Thermopylae in the past month than I knew from all my years before - and the expertise on this forum (and the build logs) are invaluable.

[Jack12477]

1 hour ago, Canute said:

We have a Woodcraft

Nearest one to me is Springfield Mass 2+ hour drive one way, Norwalk CT ( same travel time) or Wilmington DE about 4 hours drive.  Great stores but none close by, catalog is only option for them.

[lmagna]

Is there any chance you could just give up in the plywood bulwarks and scratch new ones using planks instead?

[Jack12477]

1 hour ago, lmagna said:

Is there any chance you could just give up in the plywood bulwarks and scratch new ones using planks instead?

I was thinking same thing. Except the hull planks are a bit thicker than the ply. And not sure if I will have enough extra to do it. Gotta think about it some more.  Once this snow storm blows past us  I will make a trip down river to only brick and mortar hobby shop in valley, if he doesn't have any ply in stock then Plan K may be a solution. (Pun intended 😉)

[CDW]

Jack

 

It just so happens I have a 12" x 48" piece of 1/8" lite ply. I can cut off a 12" piece of it and send it to you if that will help.

 

Craig

[Jack12477]

Thanks Craig. I will keep that in mind 

[CDW]

5/64 is an oddball. I have some 1/32 ply and 1/64 ply that I used for cowl skins on RC aircraft models I used to build, but I don't recall ever buying anything in 5/64 size. How much exactly do you need? 

[Jack12477]

The strip is about 2.5 in by 13 in.  The actual thickness is 1.75 mm or 9/128 inches. 5/64 is closest approximation.  Hold off on doing anything, I should be able to get to local hobby store in Poughkeepsie by end of week. I will get back to you on your offer.  Since this is a Spanish made kit everything is metric, fortunately my Venier caliper converts to either 

[CDW]

Just now, Jack12477 said:

The strip is about 2.5 in by 13 in.  The actual thickness is 1.75 mm or 9/128 inches. 5/64 is closest approximation.  Hold off on doing anything, I should be able to get to local hobby store in Poughkeepsie by end of week. I will get back to you on your offer.  Since this is a Spanish made kit everything is metric, fortunately my Venier caliper converts to either 

If you can't get anything, I'll send some over to you via priority mail. Won't take long at all. Post Office is just minutes from my house.

[Jack12477]

Ok, thanks! Will get back to you later. 

[mtaylor]

I hope you can get to a hobby shop.  I have some 3-ply "lite" that I picked up at the hobby shop and it's darn close to what you need so hopefully, you'll find some.  Pity that I'm so far away, but CDW might get it to you faster.

[Jack12477]

Thanks Mark !  

[cog]

Jack, a thickness difference of .05 mm won't be visible, so you have got some leeway in your choices, e.g. 0.30 or  0.25 mm is not distinguishable by eye. I would have offered a strip of ply I've got, but it will take ages to get to you by snailmail from Europe. The pandemic will be over by then

[Edwardkenway]

Have you thought about a bit of AYC from Chuck? I'm sure he's got some sheets of the right thickness or very close, and it does bend well.

Just my two pennies worth 😉

[Jack12477]

5 hours ago, cog said:

Jack, a thickness difference of .05 mm won't be visible

 

True! And I can also sand down any difference in thickness where it  meets the planking

 

4 hours ago, Edwardkenway said:

Have you thought about a bit of AYC from Chuck?

Had not thought of his wood, since I don't do any scratch building, but that is an excellent alternative.  I usually replace all the kit supplied rope and blocks with his as his is far superior in looks and quality.  Thanks for reminding me. 

[Jack12477]

@CDW @mtaylor  Success!   I picked up some 2" and 3" wide x 24" long pieces of basswood that are close enough in thickness to work, and they can be planed or sanded to match the other pieces. Also picked some sheets of thin plywood.  Basswood is similar to Limewood so it should bend easily. It is also the same wood I use for woodcarving.

 

@Edwardkenway  I'm still thinking about getting some AYC from Chuck.  Just have to figure out what sizes to get.

 

Oh! BTW the snow storm was a disappointment,  less than 3 inches accumulation 🤨  

[CDW]

Great news Jack!

 

[mtaylor]

Excellent news on the wood(s), Jack.   

[Edwardkenway]

1 hour ago, Jack12477 said:

@CDW @mtaylor  Success!   I picked up some 2" and 3" wide x 24" long pieces of basswood that are close enough in thickness to work, and they can be planed or sanded to match the other pieces. Also picked some sheets of thin plywood.  Basswood is similar to Limewood so it should bend easily. It is also the same wood I use for woodcarving.

 

@Edwardkenway  I'm still thinking about getting some AYC from Chuck.  Just have to figure out what sizes to get.

 

Oh! BTW the snow storm was a disappointment,  less than 3 inches accumulation 🤨  

I'm glad you've got it sorted Jack, do get some Cedar from Chuck,  as it is lovely wood to work with  and was a reasonable price even adding delivery and VAT.

Of course it will be better value for you as you wont pay import taxes 😉

Seems like a rare thing happened as on Sunday  we got 5-7 inches of snow that almost lasted till Tuesday morning😂

[Jack12477]

41 minutes ago, Edwardkenway said:

Seems like a rare thing happened as on Sunday  we got 5-7 inches of snow that almost lasted till Tuesday morning😂

Growing up in the Lake Effect Snow region south of Lake Ontario  (actually due south 60 miles from Toronto, Canada aka Rochester NY) averaging 100 plus inches per year (record was 161.9  inches in 1959-1960, all time record was Buffalo at 199.4 inches in 1976 - 1977) I kind of miss the snow.  Even the western NY regions are experiencing a much reduced snowfall rate the past couple of decades.  In the 25+ years my daughter has lived in Buffalo, she has gotten two epic Lake Effect snow storms, the first occurred when our granddaughter was about 3, got 7 Feet, yes Feet, in 24 hours;  the 2nd occurred when our granddaughter was in her last year of High School, that dumped 8 feet over a 48 hour period and gave her the first and only snow day school closure over her 12 years in school.

 

re: AYC - yes I picked up a couple of 2" x 2" x 3" blocks from Chuck some years back at one of the Northeast Shipmodelers Conferences to try out for woodcarving. It is as good or better than the Wisconsin Basswood we normally use for carving.

Edited January 28, 2021 by Jack12477

[Jack12477]

Instead of snow we got frigid weather. At 0600 today temperature at my house was 10 F (-12 C)  with windchills ranging from -3 F to -26 F. Supposed to stay with us thru Sunday or Monday. 

[Jack12477]

Update : Late breaking News ! Reports are coming in of suitable ice forming on several of our local lakes. Some hard water sailing is definitely looking promising.  Some club members took their smaller Arrow class ice boats up to Saratoga Lake for some sailing (missed the memo on that one 😪) The river still has a lot of open water. 

 

In the meantime, the bending of the newly purchased basswood is proceeding well.  

 

Edited January 29, 2021 by Jack12477

[mtaylor]

Good news on all fronts, Jack.

[Edwardkenway]

Good news indeed, here's hoping you get some sailing in before spring!😉

[Jack12477]

We're in for several days of sub-zero or near zero Fahrenheit temperatures at night, saying we might reach a daytime temperature of 20 F on Monday.  So conditions are good for thickening any ice already on the lakes, river could take a little longer, but historically we've had good ice on river around Valentines Day (Feb 14th here) or 1st week in March. 🤞

[lmagna]

It makes me feel cold just reading this Jack. My blood stops flowing at 35 degrees,  and I melt at 80. We are supposed to be in the mid to upper 40s with rain for the weekend.