HM Cutter Mermaid 1817 by bundybear1981 - FINISHED - Modellers Shipyard - Scale 1:48

[bundybear1981]

Hey all.  After the untimely loss of all the data on this site I'm going back and re-doing my build log from the start.

This is my first model, the HM Cutter Mermaid 1817.  Its part of Modellers Shipyards' Australian Colonial Series of ships.

I'll try and remember all the little hiccups I encountered throughout the build as to help others who get this kit make it without the same issues I encountered.

 

I'll work on getting back to where I am on this build tonight on here (luckily I still have all the pictures on my computers)

 

Cheers all

Jason Tarr

 

[bundybear1981]

And back to the build log.  Each "Day" is broken in to the days I have spend building this model. Some times there are a many days between work days (letting glue works dry ect.) 

 

Day 1- I get home from work and find my lovely package waiting for me

 

The Contents of the box

 

The contents spread on the desk

 

The ship kit

 

All the contents of the kit spread on the desk

[Jim Lad]

G'day Jason, nice to see you back, mate!

 

John

[bundybear1981]

Day 2

Today I made a start on the Mermaid.  I've cut the bulkheads out of the laser cut ply and fitted them together.  Most required minimal faring to get a nice and true fit.

 

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Side on view

 

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Front View

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Angle View

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After leaving it to dry for the day I went back that evening and fitted the deck to her.

Now to leave it dry for the next couple of days.

 

 

 

[bundybear1981]

Day 3

Today I finished shaping the bulkhead ready for the first layer of planking.

 

Bulkhead Prepped and fared

 

First Plank in place

 

 

I found the dressmaker pins were a bit too big for the overall use so I ended up switching over to smaller map pins.  They tend to be single use (the heads fall off them) but they are pretty cheap so its not an issue.

[bundybear1981]

Day 4 - 6

 

Throughout the next few days I worked on doing the first layer of planking.  Some mistakes were made during this first layer but will be covered up come the 2nd planking layer.  I used medical vascular clamps to help with alignment of the earlier planks (this tip was shown on the instruction DvD that accompanied the Mermaid)

 

2nd Plank - Port Side

2nd Plank - Starboard Side

 

 

 

 

3rd Plank

 

 

 

Planking Complete - Side Shots

 

Planking Complete - Front Shot

 

Planking Complete - Rear Shot

 

[bundybear1981]

Day 7

Today I fitted the whale board and completed the deck planking.  The deck was a nice change of pace from the 1st layer of planking, much easier and faster.

 

Whale Board On

 

 

Deck Planking

[bundybear1981]

Day 8

Today I lined the inlay of the whales and installed the inlay timber on the whales.  A fiddly and time consuming days work, but quite easy overall.  I used some scrap to make the spacer jib to make it easier to ensure correct spacing.  The master cutter was a great tool for cutting the small inlays accurately.

 

 Timber Lining in the deck

 

 

Timber Inlays Installed  

 

[bundybear1981]

Day 9

Over the course of the last few days I've fitted the 2nd layer of planking.  Contact adhesive made easy work of fitting them on the first planking layer.  There was a slight issue where I didn't sand the whales back far enough and ended up with a bit of raise that made planking a bit more difficult but was able to work around this.  For any others building this model I'd say to make sure that its all smooth and flush along the sides.

 

 

2nd Planking Layer - Rear Shot

 

 

2nd Planking Layer - Side Shot

 

 

Had a slight issue with a hollow spot on the laser cut ply for a part of the rudder setup but was able to use some scrap to fill the hollow nicely.

 

[bundybear1981]

Day 10

She's starting to take shape now.  I've started to work on construction of the deck furnishings and the added the whales to the outside.

 

Whales Fitted

 

Gun Holes Fitted

 

 

Deck Furnishings Made

 

 

Dry Fit of the Deck Furnishings (to see how they will look)

 

 

 

 

[bundybear1981]

Day 11

Over the course of the last few nights I've constructed the bitt heads, cat heads and pin rails and fitted them to her.  The small triangle file was a great tool for carving the timber grooves, made it so easy.

 

 

 

 Deck Furnishings

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pin Rails Placed

 

 

 

[rdsaplala]

Hello Jason,

 

Just catching up with your Mermaid Cutter log, she's coming along very nicely, excellent planking and detail-work 

[bundybear1981]

Day 12

Slowly doing all the fiddly bits and fitting the cleats, bitt heads and starting to fit the brass eyes, blocks and the likes. I've got the anchors fitted as well.  Its all been going quite smoothly at this stage and haven't had too many issues.

 

 

[bundybear1981]

Day 13

Well I've caught the build log back up to where I am up to.  If I think of anything I have missed I'll add them in as I go

 

But back to what I'm up to.  Today I fitted the mast and bow stem.  Next will be starting to do all the rigging work.  The Mermaid is starting to look like a ship now!

 

[BANYAN]

Great to see you repost all of the log Jason, she's coming along nicely.  You'll be onto yopr next build before you know it

 

cheers

 

Pat

[Guest midnight]

Glad to see you re-posting your log Jason . I like watching how some else goes about building the same model i have done . Keep up the good work . My only suggestion, and this might just be the camera angle , but a matt varnish might be the way to go next time .

 

 

Cheers Dave

[bundybear1981]

Sorry for delays in updates here, had my laptop die. Just got my replacement one today.  Fortunately I had the data backed up elsewhere so losses were minimal. 

 

Back to the subject at hand, over the past few weeks I've completed the rigging process for the Mermaid.  Overall I was quite happy with how she came out and learnt a lot on the way.  I found the rigging to be quite enjoyable overall with only a few little frustrations.

 

First Rigging Works

 

Some more works on the rigging

 

Rigging Completed

 

In summary, I found this to be a nice kit although I did run short on a few bits (quite likely due to my error or not reading instructions clearly enough)

It was a fairly easy build (they rated it at a Skill Level 2, with 6 being the hardest) and the instructional DvD was a great help during the process.  I greatly built up my tool collection during the build too.

 

Now off to build my next model, the Colonial Schooner Port Jackson.

[BANYAN]

Very nice build Jason, looks great.  Now a man who enjoys rigging, that's a rarity    I hope you had a bundy t celebrate her launching?

 

cheers

 

Pat

[Jim Lad]

That's come out very well, mate!  Good on yer!

 

Your schooner will be the 'Mercury'.  The original plans in Greenwich are labelled, "A Schooner for Port Jackson" and were sent out in 1803 on the "Calcutta", but by the time they got here the Government had already aquired some small ships and didn't need the schooner.  As far as is currently known, Mary Reiby's "Mercury" was the only ship ever built to these plans (it's the ship on our $20 note).

 

John

[bundybear1981]

Thanks for the history lesson Jim   Its always nice to learn more about these things and our own history.  When shes finished I'll have to include a $20 note in her display case.

[Rusty]

Jason,

 

You certainly did a great job, did you have much problems with the rigging? have to get back on to mine, I've only started the 2nd planks

 

Regards

Russell

[bundybear1981]

Hi Russell,

I had a pretty good run with the rigging.  Had some tweezers for getting in the fiddly bits and I used a dab of superglue on the end of the rigging lines to ease getting them through the blocks and I retouched the holes with a small drill to make sure they were clean.

[phiSuter]

Hi Bundy, I'm a new member and I've just joined NRG and still coming to grips with how to navigate their site and what the terminoligy is. I've inherited the Pt Jackson Schooner from an older friend who has lost interest.

He has left me with some very good beginners tools also.

I have no illusions that this will not be a 'walk in the park' build. However I have the patience to follow through with care. So far I've glued all the ribs and the basic deck in place. Is it best to start the hull planking first or the deck planking. It looks like it would be easier to do the deck planking first because it would be easier to cut the overlaping planks to the shape of the schooner. But I look forward to your advice. From what I see of your build, you look like a professional. Your ship looks awesome. Regards Phil Suter, Elwood Victoria Australia.

[bundybear1981]

Hi phiSuter

Sorry, I have been away from the forum for a period (and changed emails, hence didnt get any notifications)

How are you going with your build? If you have and questions please send a message and I'll help where I can!

Cheers

Jason

[bigcreekdad]

Very nice job!!

 

[peterbrowne]

Very nice build and log Jason.  You have enough calipers there to do a lung transplant...🙂