Fifie by Ras Ambrioso - FINISHED - Amati - 1/32 scale

[Ras Ambrioso]

I have been researching this build for some time while working on other projects and I have been checking on this forum to obtain valuable information. I just finished my Emma C Berry and have started the Fifie. I have opened the box, check the materials, and studied the plans and instruction so I will not bother with pictures of these items. My first task was to mark the MDF forms with their respective numbers before I removed them. This is done. Then I assembled and cold fitted the cradle to hold the model after which, I glued it, primed and painted a dark brown. These will be my first pictures

[Ras Ambrioso]

This build began by building the ship's cradle .

 

 

 I figured I would need it while doing the planking. I also plan to build a base in which to keep the keel vertical while installing the frames. Something similar to what I used to build the Emma C. Berry. For the time being I am using a straight plank to assemble the keel. The plank was covered with wax paper but I found this keel to be a little less simple that what it appeared. The reinforcing pieces are fastened to both sides using dowels and this made necessary to provide filler at the ends to to keep the keel lever. I used a lot of clamps to secure the keel in order to keep it straight.

 

 

However, when I removed the clamps I have noticed a slight bowing of the keel. I hope this will straighten out unce I set the frames. 

 

 

[Ras Ambrioso]

The keel is complete and I started beveling the frames prior to installation.

 

 

As I go through the construction of this Fifie I have been doing a lot of research on details typical to Scottish fishing. I have learned, or at least thing I know, about the nets an its handling while searching for herring.  And i want to convey some of the ion my model. To that effect I figured I will provide a crew possibly retrieving the nets. To tis effect I have been exploring the net for sailor figures. To date most of the figures, and there are thousands of them, are from the l military or for the civilian life. I understand that, if you have the talent, these figures could be sculpted to represent fishermen. Well, I am not very good at carving so, again, I searched the net. I found two suppliers and ordered the figures. One is from China the other from France. I am still expecting the delivery from China but today I got the french. And they are beautiful. The scale of these figures is actually 1/30 which translates to about a 6'1" man which is not bad for a tough Scotttish fisherman.

 

Here is the way they look on my recently completed Emma C. Berry. Notice that guy is holding a fish. How is that for reality?

 

Interestedly enough the other crew from China is going to be more of a cartoon. I'll show it here when I get it.

 

I don't know if it is Ok to identify the vendors in this forum but I would be happy to name them and give their address.

[BobG]

Those figures look great! It's perfectly fine to post vendors names and links to their websites as long as they are not on the MSW list of banned kit manufacturers who pirate kits from the original manufacturers. 

 

 

[BobG]

You might want to read through BE's fantastic build of his Zulu model which is very similar to your Fifie. He made some wonderful accessories such as nets and floats etc which really added a lot of realism to his model.

 

 

[Ras Ambrioso]

Thanks for your reply. I will look closely at the Zulu. Also Please forget some misspelling in my previous post. I was trying to do it fast and the computer played its game. Sorry.

[egkb]

Looking forward to following this build along .. Great to see a working boat being built!

 

All The Best

 

Eamonn

[yvesvidal]

Excellent choice, that seems very popular nowadays. Plus it is the perfect sequel to the Emma C. Berry and allows you to remain within fishing vessels at the same scale. I have myself considered building that same kit, but for the moment have way too many projects going on.

 

Yves

[Ras Ambrioso]

Continued the build by assembling the frames. Dry fitted the frames and used the decks and side pieces to verify. Then I glued the frames and replaced, without glue, the deck and sides to help keep everything in place. I was really amazed as to how accurate the laser cut parts are. Only had a little difficulty with frame #11 aft where I had to sand the slot a little bit. Also faired the pieces fwd and aft pieces that will establish the bearding line (?)

 

 

[Ras Ambrioso]

Since my last post I have assembled the false deck. I dry fitted it first and then glued it.  I found it difficult to keep the deck down meeting the frames using clamps since some frames did not have enough reach and others weren't accessible. I tried the nails but they were too short and I couldn't get enough grip with them. Then I remembered that I had some screw clamps from Micromark and that I had used on for planking my Emma C Berry.  They did a great job of pushing the deck against the frames. But, there is always a but, I only had 10 of them and I was using all of them in just a quarter of the deck. Therefore, it took me another three days to finish the four quarters. I then tried to buy more of these wonderful clamps but Micromark does not carry them any more, even though they show in their latest catalog. I am inquiring with them as we speak. But, again, since I am retired, I am in no hurry to complete this project, I am enjoying the build and everyday I find a new question to be researched. 

Today I finishing gluing the last quarter of the deck and officially started planking. I set the top plant on the bulwarks gluing only the ends with CA waiting for the my 10 screw clamps to continue planking.

This is the first attempt with nails

 

These are my screw clamps

 

This is my first plank after fairing the frames. I really love the shape of the shear in this boat.

 

 

An observation. As the deck was set, I noticed how short the bulwarks are and started to worry about having made a mistake. I took one of my new crew members and set it on the plans. As you see below the top of the railing is just below the guys knees. 

 

So, I went back to my research photos and, lo and behold, there are the real guys barely clearing the rails. It must have been hell to go to the North sea during a storm without railings. Any way, my hat goes to those fishermen

 

 

 

[Ras Ambrioso]

Being busy these last few days. The false deck was completed and the planking started. While I was was waiting for the glue to dry, I decided in taking a shot at building the "cran" baskets used to measure the fish during the unloading. I have seen what Big Dan had done and I liked it. There is a lot of information in the net about these baskets being used to measure the fish volume. The following pictures tell the story better that I can

 

and Here is one of the crans

 

 

 I started by drilling hole in a dowel of the proper scale and then cut it in disks. Which BTW came out too thick.

 

 

Then I used copper wire and fabricated the cages as you see in the pictures

 

And this is final final product after weaving the basket

 

 

Several mistakes were made: I wove it too tight, the basket has to be a little more conical, the base is too thick and I used to thick a rope. But it looks cute and the others will be an improved version.

I resumed fabrication and completed the first two planks port and starboard

 

 

But the I realized that if I was was going to detail the hold following PJG's build, I better do it before I complete the planking and find myself trying to work through the small hatch opening. Following are the results of my concept and appreciate the input by PJG

 

 

Then I completed the false deck. And I think I will fishing the deck planking before getting back to the hull planking.

 

 

Thanks for watching. I am enjoying this build very much. Y'all are an inspiration

[BobG]

Quick progress and nicely done, Ras.

[Ras Ambrioso]

Have a question for the moderators. Can I start a gallery for each of my previous steam boats: The African Queen (Billings)and The Patricia (Krick).

[Ras Ambrioso]

Continued working on the deck and placed the timberheads in the bulwark. BUT, as Bob Garcia says: "Measure once, cuss twice", I had installed more than 40 of the timberheads until I realized something was wrong.  I had picked the wood as 4mmX2mm rather than the one called from plans: 4mmX4mm. I had to carefully remove the thin stanchions and replace it with the proper size. Need to remember that the devil is in the details.

I am also going to be out of town next week but I'll keep following y'alls progress.

 

The following picture was taken by my wife just this morning. Shows a very happy fellow 

[BobG]

Wow...I didn't realized just how big that model is! You should be able to add an impressive amount of details to her.

[Ras Ambrioso]

I am back from a family reunion in Texas. Lots of BBQ brisket and , of course, Lone Star beer.  Back to work.

Today I completed the boring subject of gluing 96 stanchions to the bulwark. As a relief, I went back to the detailing of the pilot's helm. In a previous post, PJG had agreed that the steering mechanism should have some sort of cover that will allow the addition of controls for the engine plus the the navigation binnacle. He detailed his idea in his post #128. I picked up the idea and started the fabrication of my own binnacle. The following photos show my results for today.

The first photo shows the basis for the compass. Of all things an old inhaler.Next, I drilled a slanted hole

 

Using brass portholes I created the bezel for the compass

 

A saw cut and finally a washer and a print of the compass rose.

 

I need to complete the painting in a brassy color. The compass will be located on to of the wood steering cabinet and will be provided with the calibration steel balls in red and green.  Thanks a lot  PJG for the inspiration.

[PJG]

The build is looking good Ras...very clever solution on the binnacle. I'm still not happy with mine after three attempts so back to the drawing board!

[Ras Ambrioso]

My ideas for the pilot house have been based on the fact that to navigate any seas you are going to need not only a compass but charts, charts, clocks, barometer and, for a diesel engine you will need instruments to give you the fuel capacity, engine rpm, engine temperature and cooling water temperature and the corresponding switches and levers for lighting, throttle and gear change. That is assuming that these boats were converted to diesel or steam power early in the 20th century and owned by poor fishermen that may have not been able to fill up their boat with many extras.

 

In my internet research I came over a forum of the Model Boat magazine in the UK. In this forum "Banjoman" has built a large scale model of a Clyde Puffer named the "Eilean Mor". His attention to detail is in your same category: superb. Following is a link and look for the latest posts where he detailed the pilot house. you will be surprised how much detail this guy have thrown into this model. By the way the Eilean Mor is sold by Mountfleet Models as the "Highlander" kit. And it is an expensive kit.

 

https://www.modelboats.co.uk/forums/postings.asp?th=101076&p=1

 

For our Fifie my thoughts were that the steering mechanism was too complicated to be left uncovered and that a box type could include some of the items I mentioned above. The pilot house offered by Amati is too bare and plain. Considering the the picture I uploaded here is for a model vessel it may give a better feel for what we need in the Fifie. I really liked what you did for the throttle, I looks really vintage.

 

[Ras Ambrioso]

I continue with my madness of building the cran baskets but I have to admit that I actually flunked weaving in Kindergarten. Following are my recent failures

 

But, if at first (or second or third) you don't succeed, try again.

 

 

So I went back to the tedious deck planking. I followed one of you guy's advise and instead of planking to bulwarkI filled the space between stantions (timberheads). This made the planking of the deck easier. Today I completed half of the aft deck.

 

 

[Ras Ambrioso]

Well, deck planking successfully completed. Do not mind a couple of booboos but I am still learning the tricks of the POF building. Still need to add the framework for the fish scuttles. Enjoy

 

 

 

Next chapter is the first hull planking and, in between, I will try to make a cran basket.

[Ras Ambrioso]

Before I proceed with the hull planking there was one last thing to do to the deck. That is the midship slated part of the deck with the fish scuttles. I hesitated between PVA and CA to glue the slats. I finally decided on CA because my shaking old fingers were going to mess up the spacing of the slats. The result is the following photo. It didn't come out perfect but I am doing this for fun. Took me four hours to get those slats in a fairly even separation.

 

[Ras Ambrioso]

The deck is finished. On with the planking

 

 

[egkb]

Crackin' good job going on here and I know others have said so.. but.. Wow She's a Big'un !

 

Eamonn

[Ras Ambrioso]

Thanks for the compliment egkb. Yes she is big and we live in a small apartment in a senior facility. I do my building in the facilities workshop. Once I finish this model I will probably loan it to the building for display in the lobbies. My office looks like a museum and the rest of apartment can only handle three models and it is full. Before starting the models I thought of building model airplanes so that I could hang them from the ceiling. LOL.

 

By the way I started planking yesterday. Did 4 planks in 2 hours. Slow progress. 

[Ras Ambrioso]

As I continued the planking I felt it was going to be necessary to soak the planks for half an hour before doing the big bends. As I I told you on previous posts, I live in a community and our wood shop has no bathtubs. The planks for the fifie are 30" long so I devised the following "soaker". A long piece of 1-1/2" PVC pipe with the corresponding cap. I filled it with water, inserted the planks and, lo and behold, they popped out. Senior moment, of course. Then, as smart as I am, I took the paper cup you see in the bench behind the vise, and capped the top. Problem solved.

 

 

Now back to the serious business of planking. I have read time and time again about the need to fair the frames before planking. I though I've done it but found that, as the planking closed on the first bilge, I had to provide either fillers or sanding at the frames. I marked the location of the frames on the plank and pre started the mini nails. Then I laid the soaked plank on the frames and, in addition to the nails, used the magic clamps, shown below,  whose design I borrowed from one of you fellows in this forum. They worked like a charm.

 

 

Then, this is the result of my labor today. Looks ugly but sanding and filler will do the miracle

 

 

[egkb]

Hi Again Ras .. Great bit of planking !  I see what you did in the movie with the clips (it's only about 1 second long btw, is there a glitch I wonder?    ) ..

 

Eamonn

[Ras Ambrioso]

Eamonn...the clip shot was supposed to be a still photo . I take those pictures with my  phone and the darn thing is too sensitive to my blunt fingers. I wind up shooting a video instead of a photo. Anyway, the clips are great and easy to make. All you need is two office paper clips. You have to disassemble one to remove the levers and this will give you two separate levers. You may have to use a plier to open up the center of the clips body as shown with the arrow. Then you slip the single lever in the other whole clip. It will snap in place. I am writing this and trying to get picture to show you but I can only find large clips and their levers are shorter that the base of the clip. The ones I use in the shop were made with smaller size clips so, you will have to check. The photos here will show the larger clip disassembled. 

 

 

 

Did a little more planking today but my eagerness to start planking made me cut corners in the fairing of the frame and I have been having trouble getting the planks to settle in the proper place. Had to use fillers and cheaters all along. Today I completed the seven planks. This includes two planks on on each side of the garboard. I plan to continue planking from the end towards the center. Having fun, though. 

[Ras Ambrioso]

Today I finished the raw base planking for my Fifie. Nothing to be proud of since I used all the procedures available and wound up needing a lot of cheaters at the end. Now I got a lot of filling and sanding ahead. For those that are starting to build this model, I have a few pointers to pass on. The first one is of course read the instructions. I did, and I also read the experiences of some of our master builders in this forum. Second: is to note that the material furnished is shorter that the boat's hull length. Therefore it is necessary to splice the planks or do alternate joints. I started with the splicing but found more convenient to do butt joints. Also, this method, makes easier to bend the planks. Third: and most important, fair the frames and then mark the planking belts using battens. Fourth: use the spiling method to shape the planks. I didn't, and made a mess. My advise is to lay no more than four of the full width planks on each side alternating from the top down and from the bottom up. Then start shaping the planks. And the last one: feather the end of the planks at the bow and the stern.

This is the result of missing on some of the above points:

 

The bottom looks like the half of viking ship and the frames were not totally faired. But, I promise, I will do better on my next build. Now we start filling, shaping and sanding.

 

In between planks I kept trying to make scale herrings to go in the cran baskets. Tried several methods since I don't own a Cricut machine. While watching TV the other night I dug into the candy jar and pulled a few Hershey kisses. As I unwrapped I them I noticed the wrinkles in the aluminum paper wrapping. I rolled and flattened the aluminum into a tiny bar and I saw herrings. I cut a few and following is the results. 

I am going to give them black smears with a black marker to tone down the shininess.

What do you think?

[egkb]

Didn't they used to call them 'Silver Darlings' ... Looking forward to seeing them with the marker on.

 

Eamonn

[AON]

Ras

I love the bulldog clip planking clamp!

Alan