Lady Eleanor by Etcher - Vanguard Models - 1:64 Scale - Sailing Fifie

[Etcher]

This isn’t the first build of this kit. Hope I can add something along the way!

 

As described in the instructions with the kit, fifies had almost upright stems and straight keel. This shape appealed to me so I chose this Vanguard Models kit over the others available. And I was advised that it was one of the best kits to learn planking on. I have planked a hull before but that was over 15 years ago!

 

 

It’s a really well presented kit and was packaged well. The instructions, which I’d perused online beforehand, are better than any I’ve come across in my limited experience of wooden boat building. The materials are obviously great quality too.

 

 

It comes with 9 plan sheets. Here are 8 of them (the other is of the sails and won’t be needed for a while and wouldn’t fit neatly on my wall 😂)

 

The 3mm MDF false keel and bulkhead pieces are of better quality than I’ve seen before, with numbers engraved on them and even lines to bevel to! The tabs that connect the pieces to the sheet are generally in places where they won’t need removing. 
 

So I started by removing the bulkhead pieces and bevelling the edges with my now-ancient dremel.

 

 

 

 

Next I placed all the bulkheads in position on the false keel and dry-fit the lower deck to hold them straight and glued the bulkheads in place. It is currently drying while I have a nice, cold Pale Ale!

 

[BobG]

This is a wonderful model, Darren. Good luck!

[AJohnson]

Hi Darren, nice to see another of Chris's little trawlers take shape. 👍

 

As Bob says good luck and enjoy, I will be following along. 🍿

[Etcher]

Thank you Bob and Andrew! It’s certainly looking like a great kit.

 

Next the dremel came out again and I bevelled the edges of the fillers that would go at either end of the ship between bulkheads.

 

 

After glueing those in place I glued the lower deck between the bulkheads and then created the rectangular space as shown.

 

 

Next the first deck piece is fitted in place. I recall in another build thread about this or another vanguard trawler kit that they had trouble fitting it between the bulkhead, worried it was going to break. It does buckle as you push it between the bulkheads but you have to be brave and exert a bit of pressure and it clicks into place. Very snug!

 

 

(I really need a new cutting mat 😂)

 

After applying glue to the deck/bulkhead joins I sanded the bulkheads to bevel them.

 

Next the bulwarks…

 

Edited January 27, 2022 by Etcher

[Etcher]

The instructions suggest soaking the bulwarks, which come in two halves on either side, and clamping them in place to dry so that they retain the correct curvature. This makes them easier to fix in place while the glue dries. So I did this.

 

 
 

Then I glued them in place. The only slight problem I had was to keep the lower line on the inner bulkhead level with the deck all the way along whilst keeping the join between the two halves tight. As you can probably see from the second photo below it tends to be slightly higher at either end. Hopefully not enough to matter.

 

 

 

And now it’s onto planking. The scary bit! First plank on and drying.

 

 

 

[AJohnson]

Excellent progress Darren, think you will be okay on the bulwarks, I couldn’t get them to line fully up on my ‘Nisha’ build either, a similar amount was visible at the bow as you have, but seem to have got away with it. 
 

Enjoy the planking, are you going to have a go at pre bending and shaping the planks as you go? (Look up Chuck’s planking technique using an iron and dampened planks) I had ago on my build and it helps. 

[Etcher]

Thanks Andrew. I did, in fact, buy a travel iron just last week for that purpose. So I will do some pre-bending. I did use it a bit when attaching bulwarks, applying heat while holding them against the bulkheads.

I’m not sure how I’m going to measure necessary tapering yet. Having tried laying a plank across the previous one and marking off where to cut I’m not confident I’m seeing where the taper should start. I know Chuck and other modellers mark off where the planks should go on the bulkheads. Maybe I should be more methodical and look at that. I’m naturally more inclined to wing it, which is probably a habit I should break to improve my modelling!

[AJohnson]

12 hours ago, Etcher said:

.’m naturally more inclined to wing it, which is probably a habit I should break to improve my modelling!

You and me both!  I get lost in doing the bit I’m on and keen to do the next bit, so yes going too fast is a hard habit to kick, I think a symptom of our 100mph lives, we trying to cram so much into our spare time!

Hopefully you have come across the “Modelling Techniques” resource at the top of MSW, which includes a “Planking” section, loads of good articles and downloads there. 👍

Edited January 28, 2022 by AJohnson

[Etcher]

I continued to plank both sides in the way described in the instructions, tapering from where the plank seems to want to cross the one above. I thinks it’s gone okay. I intend to use a more methodical approach for the second planking I think.

 

 

After laying down planks from the bulwarks downwards I have added the garboard plank. Now I’ll work upwards.

 

As you can see there’s a bit of stepping here and there. Hopefully sanding and a bit of filler will create a decent surface for the second planking.

[Etcher]

I have a problem! But first, I continued planking up towards the bulwarks until they met the ones coming down. Then I created stealers to fill the gaps created.

 

 

I used wood filler in any uneven areas and then sanded it down and added the prow and sternpost. It still needs a bit more sanding but I’m not overdoing it. I think it will be a decent surface for the second planking.

 

 

 

Now the problem. There is a gap where the bulwark should meet the sternpost. I’ll try to fill it with a spare piece of plywood I think? There is another piece to go on the sternpost that creates the rabbet that will reduce the gap slightly.

 

 

The other end is fine. Not sure how  I arsed it up!

 

[BobG]

I believe you will be painting the hull so a small piece of wood to fill the gap along with some filler should do the trick. Take you time filling and sanding, at least to 220 grit, until you have a nice, smooth surface following by a good primer before you paint and your hull will look splendid.

[Etcher]

I filled the gap between the bulwark and sternpost okay. It was straightforward. And I’ve also glued the front and back keel pieces in place.

 

 

 

Next I need to fix the rabbet in place for the keel, sternpost and prow. Here are the pieces cut from the 1mm pear sheet along with the alignment pins that secure them correctly.

 

Edited February 3, 2022 by Etcher

[AJohnson]

Good progress Darren, as Bob said, hopefully the gap you have had to fill will be covered by the outer planking and paint. 👍

[Etcher]

I started the second planking. I’m pre-bending with a £10 travel iron I bought recently, making the pack bender I also bought recently redundant! The iron is more useful I find.

 

 

I’m mainly using elastic bands to hold planks in place and glueing with PVA, with a dab on CA on the end of the planks for fixing against the prow and stern.
 

Now I’ve started to taper the planks as I progress down the hull, and I’ve fixed on the garboard plank. 

 

 

Edited February 7, 2022 by Etcher

[BobG]

Really nice work, Darren!

[AJohnson]

Good progress Darren, the second planking is looking very neat. 👍

[Etcher]

Okay I’ve nearly finished the second planking. No major problems, although not every plank fit neatly into either end. It’s difficult judging the correct length before fixing the plank in place I find. Easy to fill and it’s mainly in areas to be painted. See how it looks when sanded down.

 

 

 

 

oh and new cutting mat!

[Etcher]

I’ve completed the second planking and sanded it. I’ve yet to apply 240 fine grit and I think maybe it needs more sanding before that, but I’m not sure how to tell when to stop. Here it is. As you can see, where to planks meet the prow and stern could be neater.

 

 

 

 

I’ve also removed the top of the bulkheads from around the inside of the bulwarks above deck.

 

 

Once I think the sanding is sufficient the next job is to add the rubbing strakes and rudder. Then I need to think about the paint I’ll use for the red part of the hull. Oh and I need something to use to create the waterline.
 

 

Edited February 24, 2022 by Etcher

[BobG]

Looks good to me, Darren!