21' Fisherman's Launch by Vaddoc - Scale 1:10 - Plans from Howard Chapelle's "Boatbuilding"

[vaddoc]

Thank you John and Nils

@Mark Pearse Mark, the wood is already sealed inside and out! It has reduced the movement but not completely. Maple that I ve used in the past, does not move at all. Isn't boat building fun!

 

Vaddoc

[vaddoc]

Dear all

 

A bit of progress but a also a bit of a milestone: The deck is done! Still needs lots of work, treenails, sanding, caulking etc but the arrangement seems ok - I hope in the end it will look more tidy. The wood is maple but has a different color than the maple used for the inner planking. One of the planks aft stands out as, not sure where I cut it from but it needs to be replaced.

Take care all

Vaddoc

[vaddoc]

Dear all

 

Paint has been splashed onto wood, so time for another update.

Also, as this boat is approaching completion (in my time, this means less than a year), I ve been thinking about the next one. I have some thoughts involving multiple masts, we ll see...

 

In any case, I decided to do some caulking on the deck. I do not think it needs it and almost certainly it is historically inaccurate but this boat from the beginning was about having fun and cutting (some) corners for speed. I ll use Osmo filler mixed with black acrylic paint. This needs Tung oil to shine black but maple does not take well to Tung oil, needs to be sealed first or will come out very blotchy.

 

So floors came out again and were sealed with my favorite Americana Decoart water based sealer (I dislike Shellac)

Of course the hull needed some more attention again.

The floors were covered with masking tape.

Then put back in place, all screws replaced with wood nails, sanded smooth

Then the mixture was slapped on!

Wait until dry

Then sanded off

Tape off, Tung oil on - done! 

It is not perfect by any stretch but it is done! 

And now it is time to paint the hull! Lots of masking done (which immediately failed)

 

Then I sprayed some Humbrol grey primer. The photo really did not get the color well!

Then the waterline was marked and the hull masked further

I used grey primer because I intended to use Humbrol enamels. At the last moment I decided to use acrylics, completely different colors. This is why enamels are dead.

 

So first coat of Valejo Ivory is brushed on. It looks dreadful:

And yes as expected, the hull is moving again! 

And after 5 more coats, still looks terrible!

It will get better. Maybe I should have used enamels!

 

I am almost certain the waterline will mess up the whole paint job. I will try and tuck the masking tape down well but I am sure the red paint will find a way underneath. We ll see

 

Till next time, take care all

 

Vaddoc

[wefalck]

In my experience, acrylics are better applied by airbrush. Somehow, the self-levelling is not as good as for organic solvent-based paints. They also dry too fast to be able to equalise them well. Or may be, I am not that good a painter ...

[vaddoc]

7 hours ago, wefalck said:

In my experience, acrylics are better applied by airbrush. Somehow, the self-levelling is not as good as for organic solvent-based paints. They also dry too fast to be able to equalise them well. Or may be, I am not that good a painter ...

You are very right Wefalck, enamels have a much better self leveling potential as they take a long time to dry. But this is counterbalanced by the hair and dust particles they attract. Still, modern acrylics with a bit of retarder can have fantastic self leveling when applied by brush but they need speed, extra care and the margin for error is small. Their coverage is appalling - I am already at coat number 9 and still needs more.

 

Because of the above, I was determined to use enamels on this boat. I rushed to buy some of the Humbrol enamels before they are pulled out of the market - apparently one of the ingredients is now banned in Europe. I decided on the colors. And then I used acrylics! 

 

I must admit I am not giving this boat my full attention due to work and life commitments so I expect a bit sloppier results - We ll see how it turns out!

[Mark Pearse]

Hi Vaddoc

 

Perhaps matt finish below the waterline? Antifoul paint is usually matt, & if the hull is still moving it shows inconsistencies less. I used a matt acrylic below the waterline (one model only) & the results were good.

[64Pacific]

On 11/26/2023 at 2:28 PM, vaddoc said:

...

 

We rarely know what our future holds but mine certainly has a lot of sanding.

 

Till next time

Vaddoc

 

This made me chuckle, I am very glad that I am not the only one with a lot of sanding in my future. With my tug model and body work on an old logging truck I am certain that by mid year the sight of sandpaper will make me feel ill!  

 

Great work, another intriguing model build to follow!

Edited April 7 by 64Pacific

[KeithAug]

On 4/2/2024 at 4:10 PM, vaddoc said:

I rushed to buy some of the Humbrol enamels before they are pulled out of the market - apparently one of the ingredients is now banned in Europe.

Thank you for the tip. I'd better stock up before they ruin them. like Colron wood dye and Nitromors paint stripper.

[vaddoc]

Dear Friends

 

Another quick update to share some photos!

On 4/3/2024 at 11:32 AM, Mark Pearse said:

Perhaps matt finish below the waterline?

Mark, it is Valejo matt acrylic paint, it is just that the photo was taken immediately after the coat went on so still wet.

 

@64Pacific Thanks Scott, welcome!

 

@KeithAug Keith, I do not think Humbrol enamels will be arround for long so if you use enamels, stock up. I bought some of the enamel varnish.

 

So I carried on with painting. The white paint has exceptionally poor coverage. I must have put on 15 coats, not with the greatest of care I must admit. But it came out alright - modern paints are so forgiving. I am not sure what the shiny areas are but it does not matter, these should disappear after varnishing.

 

I then masked again and added the red waterline. The red color has much better coverage

I could have sanded the paint but I decided not to bother. Also, I should have first painted the red zone, mask and then paint over. I did not really pay much attention but in the end it came out fine, I just had to mask and remask again and again.

 

Then, I added the turquoise - very nice color, excellent coverage. I was more careful this time and came out much better.

 

There is a masking line that shows, I masked without thinking. I could have sanded it off but did not bother, it actually looks ok.

I will now give it a couple more days for the paint to cure and then I will protect the paint with enamel Humbrol varnish. I am dissapointed with the water based ones - Poor adhesion and not as hard.

 

So next I started work on the rudder. In the plans it is only 1.5 inch thick - that is 4 mm in the model. So I made a card template and cut three pieces to laminate

Waiting for epoxy to cure - then the rudder will be painted in same colors.

 

Take care all

Vaddoc

[vaddoc]

So the paint has settled further and it actually looks pretty good! Especially the red and Turquoise are really nice. Some photos bellow in natural light. The hull of course is rough despite so many cycles of filling and sanding. Never use Beech!

But look what the postman dropped, all the way from the colonies across the pond!

Till next time

Vaddoc

[wefalck]

I gather the postman was well-paid for this 🤑 ... shipping cost from everywhere have exploded - except the for the Chinese, who are state-subsidised.

Edited April 8 by wefalck

[vaddoc]

1 hour ago, wefalck said:

I gather the postman was well-paid for this 🤑 ... shipping cost from everywhere have exploded - except the for the Chinese, who are state-subsidised.

As long as it is under the Admiral's radar, it is ok. And as per you logo:

“Τα πάντα ρει, μηδέποτε κατά τ’αυτό μένειν“

Everything is in motion, alas also money.

[wefalck]

Ah someone, who also read Heraclitus ... for me almost all that is almost all I remember from my A-level in Ancient Greek nearly 50 years ago 🥴

[KeithAug]

Not withstanding your trials and tribulations the hull painting turned out remarkably well. The red waterline is particularly crisp.

[Mark Pearse]

On 4/9/2024 at 2:19 AM, vaddoc said:

Especially the red and Turquoise are really nice.

They certainly are. Looking excellent Vaddoc.

[FriedClams]

On 4/7/2024 at 6:08 PM, vaddoc said:

The white paint has exceptionally poor coverage. I must have put on 15 coats

 

Yes, what is it with white paint?  It's not just the light color and I've read it has something to do with the titanium dioxide.  Whatever it is, it's irritating.  But as Keith has correctly stated, in the end your hull painting has turned out very well.  Looking good Vaddoc!

 

Gary