Fisher 34 motorsailer by Geam

[Geam]

I've been 'stealing' space on other threads a bit too often lately so it's time offer up info on my scratch build project. I used to own a full size Fisher 34 motorsailer  1986 model  and decided last year that it was time to make a 1/12th size copy. I thought it would take about 6 months to build!  I bought the plywood for the keel and frames  in September last year. The new launch date is  about April 2021. I have come to accept that this build is a sort of 'labour of love'.   I have built a  many different model aircraft and sailplanes through the years but only one or two motorboats in my early teens (55 years ago!)  The build of the Fisher was going a bit slow in the winter/spring so to have a yacht for the summer I built a Krick Comtesse  (mostly ABS plastic !) in the spring and launched that in July.

It would take some time to post a build-blog backdated to sept 2019 and not many will be interested in such a long-winded process so to begin with I will only post a few early photos and a few later photos of the build.  I live in Norway so there's a bit of time difference to many of the other members on this site. 

Regards, George

[Matrim]

Hull looks lovely.

[Geam]

I see that there are two different places where I have written info about  my 'activity'. Did not realise this until this morning! The build of the Fisher  is coming along slowly. A lot more detailwork than I first envisaged -which is usually the case! Posting a few more photos here just to prove that I have not given up. Present phase of construction is preparing and painting the wheelhouse front windows, removeable wheelhouse roof and cabin top sections. This process will take until the end of the year I expect.  

[KeithAug]

Looking really good.

[Geam]

Roof-top sections have now been shaped to the cabin sides and have received curved beams below to form the slight convex shape required. Masts are keel-stepped and have been loose-fitted as a test and to help locate roof tops.  Some detail features still need to be added to the roof-tops...dorade vents, support posts for the teak handrails etc. All 3 prepared 'tops' will soon receive sanding sealer, undercoat and gloss. The method of holding the removeable cabin-tops in place will probably be small hatch-latches and/or strategically placed deck fittings.

Wish all a Merry -and safe- Christmas,

George

[Wintergreen]

Looks like a seaworthy boat George.

When I'm to old for sailing I might buy a motorboat with such lines 😉

Keep it up!

[vaddoc]

Fantastic model George! At a proper scale too. Very nice hull and great paint job. Is it enamel paint?

I like the colour of the rubrail, is the wood stained?

 

Vaddoc

[Jim Lad]

Just found your log, George.  She really looks first class.

 

John

[Geam]

Happy New Year to all, many thanks for kind comments. I see that I have are two threads here on my Fisher project. Haven't quite worked out how that happened but definately my fault! I have also posted info and photos on the Model Boats mag. forum -which is where I started in late 2019.

The Fisher is not 'super' true scale but reasonably close. There are a few places of 'artistic diversion'. 

To answer vaddoc's question ; the paint was a long chapter in itself!  The hull has different layers of paint due to not being pleased with the first painting attempts. What is now visible on the hull -above the waterline- is sprayed-on white acrylic with sprayed-on clear acrylic gloss topcoat. Below the waterline is dark blue cheap-ish yacht paint. It did not self-level well and produced a slightly hammer finnish which I accepted as looking like real anti-fouling ie not perfectly smooth.

Painting of the coach roof sections has been going on for several weeks now. After much trail and error, I have found a top coat gloss which will resemble a gel-coat finnish. This is a Norwegian made enamel paint called Bengalack. It's BRUSHED on,  selv-levels very well and gives a good hard gloss finish. I have known about this paint for years but not thought about using  it until I saw a mention in this forum by 'Carsten' in 'Andreas Sundt's' Colin Archer model build. Pitty it took me so long to find the 'right' paint. It would have saved a lot of  time and money if I have used Bengalack -or a similar good quality enamel from the start. The last gloss coat went on last night 04.01.2021. !

The rubbing strake and the bulwark sideplanking is mahogany strip which has been oiled/saturated a few times with 'Owatrol D1' then varninshed a few times with 'Owatrol D2'. "Owatrol" is Norwegian but the equivalent 'oil-and-varnish' treatment is certainly available in  other marine-wood treatments.

The bulwark capping rail is light ply, stained teak then oiled/varnished as above.  Grab rails on the coach roof sections is obeche strip given the same treatment.  It all takes ages to do😬 

 

Hope this reply wasn't too long-winded,

George

 

[Joules]

Hi George, 

I have just come across your posts and the video on Youtube.

This has to be the best model yacht I have ever seen.......I have always liked Fishers as my father had a Moody when we were kids and used to see Fishers all the time on the South coast of England.

I wish there were some plans as would love to build this but I am not skilled enough to do from scratch.

Again all credit to you, and what detail, even in the wheelhouse.

I can only dream of being such a competent modeller.

 

Regards

 

Joules