Steve Harvath Posted January 10, 2021 #1 Posted January 10, 2021 I decided to take a break from a big ship model building project and put together a small, utilitarian boat that would have been common in North American lakes and streams. I have detailed instructions for the building of a "bateau". It is from a book of instructions for how to become a fur trapper. It is called "Camp Life in the Woods" by W. Hamilton Gibson 1881. The author says "...a light, and serviceable bateau, which any boy with moderate ingenuity or skill , could easily construct...". I hope to live up to his expectations. Scale: 1:48 -- One inch to four feet. mtaylor and GrandpaPhil 2 Quote
Jaager Posted January 10, 2021 #2 Posted January 10, 2021 Sounds like a fun project. To repeat a current theme in parallel posts: your project will proceed more smoothly and with a more enjoyable feedback if you use a species of wood with characteristics that scale appropriately and is properly hard and crisp. Unfortunately, the Fates are conspiring against convenient acquisition of the proper species at an increasing rate. The mass market species are generally poor candidates. In North America, Wood Craft offers two or three veneers of species that would fill the need, but the range of thicknesses is limited. mtaylor 1 Quote NRG member 50 years Current: NMS HMS Ajax 1767 - 74-gun 3rd rate - 1:192 POF exploration - works but too intense -no margin for error HMS Centurion 1732 - 60-gun 4th rate - POF Navall Timber framing HMS Beagle 1831 refiit 10-gun brig with a small mizzen - POF Navall (ish) Timber framing The U.S. Ex. Ex. 1838-1842 Flying Fish 1838 pilot schooner - POF framed - ready for stern timbers Porpose II 1836 brigantine/brig - POF framed - ready for hawse and stern timbers Vincennes 1825 Sloop-of-War - POF timbers assembled, need shaping Peacock 1828 Sloop-of -War - POF timbers ready for assembly Sea Gull 1838 pilot schooner - POF timbers ready for assembly Relief 1835 packet hull USN ship - POF timbers ready for assembly Other Portsmouth 1843 Sloop-of-War - POF timbers ready for assembly Le Commerce de Marseilles 1788 118 cannons - POF framed La Renommee 1744 Frigate - POF framed - ready for hawse and stern timbers
Steve Harvath Posted January 11, 2021 Author #3 Posted January 11, 2021 I found a piece of bamboo vaneer in my scrap box. It was a 4 by 4 inch sample that I picked up at a trade show a long time ago. It is very flexible and thin and should work for the sides of the boat. bruce d and GrandpaPhil 2 Quote
Steve Harvath Posted January 15, 2021 Author #4 Posted January 15, 2021 Following the instructions I carved a stem out of basswood and notched it to receive the side planks. The instructions for the boat have the builder attach three foot wide temporary braces at the center of the sides. These will define the shape of the boat when the sides are bent in to the stem and stern. I clamped them in place temporarily while I attach the stem and stern pieces. mtaylor, bruce d and GrandpaPhil 3 Quote
Steve Harvath Posted January 18, 2021 Author #5 Posted January 18, 2021 I started gluing and clamping the planks to the stem and stern GrandpaPhil, mtaylor and bruce d 3 Quote
Steve Harvath Posted January 25, 2021 Author #6 Posted January 25, 2021 I glued the floor on. I added some pieces where the sides and bottom meet so the glue bond would be better. I have been able to thin these back a bit after the glued dried so they are less obvious. bruce d, GrandpaPhil, mtaylor and 1 other 4 Quote
Steve Harvath Posted January 29, 2021 Author #7 Posted January 29, 2021 The seats are in. They are made of 1/32 basswood. I made them longer than the width of the boat so that they would serve to spread out the sides in a graceful way. The bamboo sides bent quite easily. Now I need to add some small side boards for the oar locks and make some oars. GrandpaPhil, mtaylor and bruce d 3 Quote
Steve Harvath Posted February 2, 2021 Author #8 Posted February 2, 2021 The instructions say to paint it to the builder's fancy. So I painted it red. mtaylor, bruce d and GrandpaPhil 3 Quote
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