Le Coureur 1776 by captain_hook - CAF - Scale 1:48

[captain_hook]

Thank you for the nice comments. 
@yvesvidal Hm, don‘t know why the extensions are that long. Maybe for better handling while gluing the counter timbers together. They are supposed to be trimmed later.

@Ron Burns There is a lot of post-processing needed - even for the CNC-milled parts. And you have to care a lot about not sanding too much substance off when getting rid of the laser char. But until now the overall part-fit is very good.

Edited December 23, 2020 by captain_hook

[PoulD]

It looks very clean and nice.  I cannot see this clearly from your pics but did you notice on the drawings that the deck  transom above the windows should be tilted forward compared to the 2 others below the windows:

Edited December 22, 2020 by PoulD

[captain_hook]

@PoulD: Thank you for pointing on that. Yes, the transom runs with an angle, I’m glad I noticed that during the construction. But it is very difficult to catch with my camera. Here are my best shots.

Edited December 23, 2020 by captain_hook

[captain_hook]

So this is what I have done so far. I don‘t know if the cant frames are to add at this point or later but as there are Position markings inside the jig I assume they have to be added later during the build to the correct positions. So I will set up the jig during the next days after Christmas and start building the frames. Or just relax for some days...

 

 

 

I wish everyone on MSW a merry Christmas and a hopefully better 2021!!

 

Best regards,

Andreas

[captain_hook]

Fortunately setting up the jig was easier than expected. I removed all laser char from the side panels (A1 - A7) so the frames won‘t sit in too tight. Then assembled the jig without glue using some wood screws and scrap wood to hold the parts in place. So I am able to remove the jig if that becomes necessary. Now the keel and stern structure is pretty much locked up.

 

 

 

 

 

Will start with the first frames next. Stay tuned .. and save.

[captain_hook]

I have done the first three frames today. For an easy start I choosed some of the center frames that don’t need any bevelling (16-21). Sanded the heads of all parts with my disc sander first and then glued all parts together using some pins to fix them. 
 

 

Then I used a needle file and some sanding sticks to get rid of the laser char. Again this took most of the time.

 

 

Wanted to do six frames but only finished three then I lost my motivation because - boy, this is time consuming and very monotone stuff. Will finish some more tomorrow .. stay tuned.

 

 

[James H]

That looks so exacting. Loving the photos too. Very clear to follow.

[captain_hook]

Thank you for the nice words and the likes. Another two frames done. This building step may take some time and I fear I won‘t have anything new to show except frames within the next weeks. As a few  frame parts have very ugly defects (black spots) I am going to scratch-build replacement parts as needed but this will also slow-down the progress. The next frames (12 - 15) will have some slight bevelling that has to be done. Stay tuned .. and save.

 

 

[yvesvidal]

Your work at removing the laser char is amazing. The wood looks so perfect and so clean.

 

Yves

[captain_hook]

Thank you Yves. Construction of the frames continues. The frames at stern and stem require a lot of bevelling. I might show my way to build these. First I release all required parts of a single frame out of the sheet using my bandsaw to carefully cut the holding bridges. 
 

 

 

 

To avoid mixing the parts I use a little box to keep all frame parts together. 
 

 

Then I sand the heads of the parts prior to gluing them together because these areas are difficult to reach and sand later.

 

The frame is then glued together (frame 32 shown). I use a cork sheet and pins to secure the parts in place. 
 

[captain_hook]

After the glu has cured I use 120 grit sandpaper wrapped around a round wood to sand and taper the inner side first. Using power tools (i.e. a dremel) might take off to much wood because the cherry wood is rather soft. So I can keep a better control doing this by hand.

 

I start with an rather wide angle to remove the laser char close to the tapering line.

 

 

Then the angle is adjusted to cover the whole surface. The tapering lines are already marked by laser. Half way done..
 

.. and the other side as well.

 

 

The last step is to remove the laser char from the steps that will later hold the planking. The steps have to be tapered too but all tapering lines are engraved by laser. I use different needle files, diamond-plated first for the burned surface and steel ones for finish. The finished frame will look like this. Another sanding can be done with 320 grit sandpaper to remove all remaining laser marks and char on the surface. The final adjustment for the steps will be done when all frames are permanently installed to the keel.
 

 

Meanwhile I have done 9 frames - about a quarter of all frames to be done. 
 

 

 

Edited January 3, 2021 by captain_hook

[captain_hook]

Unfortunately I ran into my first construction problem. I started to build some stern frames which require a lot of tapering. Building instructions of all frames are rare but all parts have tapering lines already engraved - which means you have to rely on the the correct positions of these. There is a tapering line at the bottom of the rear side of the upper futtocks and I read this that the lower head has to be tapered straight from the opposite edge to this line.
 

But tapering will reduce the width of the part at the lower edge, means the inner edge run from inside to outside. Compared to the plan (side view) after tapering the run of the lower side edge of the futtocks (installed on the frame) matches the plan (although there is a little perspective error). If there was no tapering then the upper futtock edge run would rather look like stairs.

 

But the topside view of the frames 31 - 34 doesn‘t match the plan. Here are the topside plan and a picture of the prototype:

 

 

And here is a picture of my assembled frames 31 -34. Note the run of the lower inner edge of the upper futtocks - they run quite into the opposite direction and I don‘t get the reason why. 
 

 

So at the moment there are only two possibilities for this that come into my mind. First the tapering angle is incorrect so too much tapering has been made - means the tapering lines were misplaced. And the second is there is no tapering at all and the line has to be ignored. I have contacted Tom from CAF, he has gently replied very fast and showed me some perspective views - but these look like there is no or only some slight tapering at the lower edges of the upper futtocks. But no tapering would hardly match the side view of the plan. Any suggestion would be helpful. 
 

Best regards, 

Andreas 

 

P.S. Fortunately these are the only tapered frames I have made so far.

Edited January 4, 2021 by captain_hook

[Peta_V]

Hi Andreas,

 

couldn't it be that you swap sides? Right futtock on the left and left on the right? I think that could explain it? It is just idea.

I'm watching your build with great interest as I'm thinking about buying one as well. Great work.

 

PetaV

[captain_hook]

Thank you PetaV for your suggestion. That was my first idea, but the location of every part is determined by the engraved laser markings. For example the area where the middle futtock has to be glued to the top one (and vice versa) is marked by laser. 
 

 

So that part of the construction is idiot-proof (well unfortunately I have proved I‘m not). I rather believe, that the tapering marks do not correspond to the plan and therefore too much substance was sanded off. But I‘m not sure.

[PoulD]

I had the same talk with Tom and after I spend many hours studying the 3D drawings he sent I could finally see that the laser marking on the frame parts are correct. The 2D plans are kinda playing tricks with your eyes. Also have a look at the 3D PDF drawings Tom posted recently here as well. There you can view the frames from any angle and from inside and from outside. This may clear things up a little.
 

[captain_hook]

I wish I could say that - but they are not. Take a look at the photo I made from sheet no. 8:

 

 

Shown are the top futtocks of frame 35, 36 and 36. you can see the tapering lines for the lower heads. The marks on one side are too narrow while the counterparts have their marks too wide. The true line is among between both marks. I have checked the frames 31 - 34 and the tapering is off the plan. I may ask Tom for some replacement sheets and will keep that in mind next time.

[PoulD]

Yes, that sure doesn't look right. It is not only the heads but also the fairing lines seems to be different.
I'm pretty sure it was not like that on mine (only on frame 1 I noticed a misplacement of the lasermarking). I think maybe Tom have redesigned plate 8 because I do not have the 2 parts you have in the red sqare:

[Trussben]

Look at the frames from the side, OUTSIDE of the building jig through the windows, the tapering will then make sense.

The tapering of those pieces makes it flow correctly with the run of the planks.

Contemporary POF models when faired do look like this from the ones I’ve seen, I assume it didn’t matter on real ships as who would care.

Maybe one of the gurus will shed some light.

Edited January 4, 2021 by Trussben

[captain_hook]

Due to the pandemic the replacement parts took about 3 weeks to arrive here. But now I‘m ready to continue the build next weekend. Tom also has gently supplied a blank cherry sheet so I can make replacements myself if needed in the future.

[HardeeHarHar]

Pulling up a chair.  Fascinating model, beautiful craftsmanship, and amazing build log Captain H. 

I'm building the Granado (Caldercraft) now, but looking at Tom's Granado over my shoulder.....  Keep up the great work, I am eager to hear how this tapering issue resolves in the end.

Cheers,

Brian

[captain_hook]

Preparing more rips towards the stern. This time I won‘t taper the upper futtocks too much and double check the plan. If needed I will taper them later by hand after installation.

 

 

 

 

 

[JeffT]

Looking very nice

[captain_hook]

Thank you very much, Jeff. More frames have been prepared. As I make my way towards stern I finally found out what went wrong last time with the tapering. The rear markings for tapering on the upper futtocks are sometimes misplaced - means that you have to check the plan instead of the markings. I used my disc sander to carefully sand a little and compared the tapering with the plan until the correct angle was achieved. This has to be done with all upper futtocks as far as I can see ..

 

 

 

Continuing next weekend. Stay tuned and save.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 19, 2021 by captain_hook

[captain_hook]

Still assembling frames, lots of repetitive work. But I’m approaching the stern...

 

 

[James H]

Absolute kudos. That work is so very neat.

 

This is my benchmark for when I start this.

[BobG]

Fascinating build and great craftsmanship, Captain, so I'm coming along for the ride.

[captain_hook]

Thank you very much James and Bob, While processing I‘ve finally reached the stern. The last three full ribs needed a lot of tapering. I find it more easy to assemble the middle and upper segments first using the engraved guide lines. Then I fix the lower futtock on the plan with pins. The pre-assembled segments are then attached using the plan as reference. So you only have to deal with three instead of five segments. 
 

 

The last three frames 38 to 40 are just single segments (upper futtocks) and I will add them later in the build. I will continue with the ones at the bow next weekend. The jig has to be modified a little because some side parts interfere with the frames that are supposed to sit on top of them.That is why the corresponding frames on the pictures don‘t sit down as tight as the other ones. This time the upper futtock‘s lower edge form a closed curve as per plan.
 

 

 

 

Still a lot of work to do. Stay tuned and save..

 

Andreas

[yvesvidal]

So clean. Perfection.

 

Yves

[captain_hook]

Thank you very much, Yves. Thirteen is an unlucky number and indeed - frame no. 13 was kind of a mess. All parts have defects all over and a small edge broke off while releasing it from the sheet. After calming down I decided to replace all the parts. I scanned the plan, redraw all lines with Corel and printed the templates on adhesive paper. Cut all segments with templates on and used the existing parts for reference. Used the plan to complete the frame. 
 

 

Test-fit into the jig - passed. 
 

 

If I will do POF again, it definitely won‘t be a clinker-planked ship. 
 

Stay tuned and save.

 

Andreas

[bdgiantman2]

I have never seen a ship model kit like this one. Like the looks of your progress so far. Keep up the progress.

 

Brian