Polotsk by nehemiah - Master Korabel - 1:72 - Russian schooner

[nehemiah]

Hi everyone,

 

I'm a newbie builder who just started this addictive activity of model building during the pandemic. I've built the model shipways dory and longboat. I'm about to finish the Vanguard Fifie. I wanted to build something with more challenging rigging and I love the look of a schooner. So here I go....

[nehemiah]

Soaked and clamped the bulwarks. Was a bit touch-and-go for a while b/c I wasn't sure how long to soak and tried to clamp too early. It's amazing how wood can go from "bending" to "breaking" so quickly! I think I might have to try using steam the next time. Thankfully nothing broke too badly.... just a few fibers.

[Wahka_est]

MK have super quality and its fast to build-good choice. 
I usually put parts in water boiler and then switch it on and leave it there for 15-30 min....wife hasnt said anything yet

 

Keep up nice work.

[ccoyle]

Great choice! I built their cannon yawl kit and loved the way the kit went together just right.

[DPK]

Careful! Do not boil the plywood too much - it can split by the inner layer. It is better to soak it in warm water. Anyway, you have the plate remains to test it yourself.

[nehemiah]

For those builders who use the pin pusher thing instead of a hammer - the nails provided with the kit have a huge head and don't fit the pusher. I might have to order some pins with smaller head b/c I love that pin pusher. Although it looks like I could get away with just using stretchy clamps for the planking.

[nehemiah]

Moving along.... first time using power drill on a model kit. Did not go great (to say the least). I am going to build up around it. Got another veneer to put over it so hopefully will be fine. Note to self -- drill smaller holes first before going to 6mm.

[ccoyle]

The great thing about wood is that you can nearly always fix boo-boos like that one.

[Wahka_est]

On 5/23/2021 at 7:27 PM, nehemiah said:

For those builders who use the pin pusher thing instead of a hammer - the nails provided with the kit have a huge head and don't fit the pusher. I might have to order some pins with smaller head b/c I love that pin pusher. Although it looks like I could get away with just using stretchy clamps for the planking.

For planking you may try Titebond quick and thick. Its dries real quick and initial tack is good also. I sort of addicted to it now.

[nehemiah]

Put first two planks on. These bend much easier than the bulwark.

 

Thanks for the rec, Wahka_est! I'll check it out for the second plank. I used Aleene's turbo tacky glue for my last build and it worked ok but I'm a big fan of titebond.

[nehemiah]

On 5/22/2021 at 3:51 PM, DPK said:

Careful! Do not boil the plywood too much - it can split by the inner layer. It is better to soak it in warm water. Anyway, you have the plate remains to test it yourself.

Thank you for pointing this out. I've soaked some planks using cold water for too long (the 6th and 7th according to instructions) that have split by inner layer. Just glued and clamped them back together so no real issue so far but....

 

I have to be careful to try to bend without water b/c the shaped planks fit closely to each other. The shaped planks on this build are really useful.

[nehemiah]

First plank glued up.

[nehemiah]

Looking back, I would have lightly sanded every plank before gluing them. The last plank needed quite a bit of sanding to fit in there.

[DPK]

Pay attention to the upper (bulwark) wide planks in the bow section. Especially in their meeting location. Looks like they need a little more bending.

[nehemiah]

These veneers are getting the best of me. I messed up the tafferel so bad I had to paint over it to hide some of it. Broke a piece off the rough inner planking from being too pushy and not patient.

 

Always a learning process. Just fun to work at it too!

[nehemiah]

Finished second planking. Sanded it down a bit. Planning on using the weathering stuff on the ship below the rail and most of the fiddly bits. Third photo is testing out the weathering stuff. Left is one type of wood filler and glue below that, middle is other wood filler and glue below, and on the right is just wood. I'm feeling okay about how it soaks into both the fillers but not certain about it. Not sure if I should just weather as is... or fill is the small gaps and then weather.

[nehemiah]

Current state. Definitely not perfect but I feel like I'm learning quite a bit about patience.

 

I am a bit stuck though. How do I go about permanently attaching the shroud plates? It says to nail them but I'm not certain how to go about doing that.

 

I'll search the site today but if anyone knows a build log or a video that shows a beginner how to do that, I would greatly appreciate being pointed to it. Thanks.

 

Edited September 11, 2021 by nehemiah

[Tim Curtis]

Looking really good Nehemiah. 

[Gregory]

On 9/11/2021 at 9:39 AM, nehemiah said:

I am a bit stuck though. How do I go about permanently attaching the shroud plates? It says to nail them but I'm not certain how to go about doing that.

If someone doesn't beat me to it. I will offer a suggestion soon.

 

Your build looks great so far..

[nehemiah]

On 9/12/2021 at 8:53 PM, Gregory said:

If someone doesn't beat me to it. I will offer a suggestion soon.

 

Your build looks great so far..

Thanks for the response. I think I just overthought my question. I just glued them on there and they are very stable so far. Wood glue is a magical thing.

[nehemiah]

most recent photo. took me weeks to decide how to start rigging. decided to try to get the fore and aft stays done first. then worry about the shrouds.

 

i use a needle threader but the largest thread in the kit would not fit so i had to use a thinner thread. not sure how to get thread through without the needle threader. maybe use a needle to push it through?

[Wahka_est]

Polotsk is a awesome kit, sad that its quite small. I have it also on self waiting for perfect time.

 

Good job so far, looks nice.

 

Vahur

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