Saucy Jack by James H - FINISHED - Vanguard Models - 1:64 - A Barking Well Smack

[James H]

My workbench has been in some flux for a little while.

 

While I've not been entirely unproductive, I had to wait for one of my completed builds to find its way to its new home before I could really work on anything. My man cave is a very small box room in a very small house, and the colder/wetter months stopped me spraying and sanding outside as an alternative. This delayed the release of the last two fishers as a result. I have been working on a couple of little boats for he VM range, and also Chuck's 1:48 Winchelsea capstan, which I'll return to over the next weeks. Indefatigable hasn't begun yet as I need to concentrate my efforts into this boat, plus the two ship's boats I'm working on. Indy work (guns) will resume fairly soon. Ok, excuses over.

 

Saucy Jack:

A well smack was a type of traditional fishing boat in use between the late 18th century and around 1920. It had a well amidships. The well was filled with circulated external water, which kept fish alive until delivered to land and sold. It was a modified form of a fishing smack. Between roughly 1775 and 1875, "well smack" referred to a 50-foot gaff cutter used in long-lining for cod, ling, turbot, and other bottom-living sea fish. These vessels were also known as cod boats. From roughly 1875 to 1920, they were extended to make 80-foot gaff ketches, sometimes by the cut-and-shut procedure. Some were built as new 80-foot welled smacks; some were turned into dry ships for use with ice. (taken from wiki)

 

At the moment, all I can claim to have done is my initial dry fit of the hull frames, proving how things fit together. I've built so many of these fishers now that I can do this without referring to anything 😆. Here you see the skeleton, but with the little boat sat on it. This will be supplied with the kit, and this one has been assembled and painted by a friend of mine who hasn't dabbled in wooden/resin ships before. The interior is done with oil paints, but we'll look at this later in the build. Tonight I expect to start the proper photos for the hull instructions. 

 

[AJohnson]

Hi James,

 

Looking forward to seeing this one develop, enjoying building the "Nisha" at the moment so will be intrigued to see this one, as I have defacto approval from the Admiral to do a pair of trawlers! 😁

Also good to see little boats provided, I got an old CC resin one for the Nisha, but it doesn't look a patch on that one.

[James H]

2 minutes ago, AJohnson said:

Hi James,

 

Looking forward to seeing this one develop, enjoying building the "Nisha" at the moment so will be intrigued to see this one, as I have defacto approval from the Admiral to do a pair of trawlers! 😁

Also good to see little boats provided, I got an old CC resin one for the Nisha, but it doesn't look a patch on that one.

 

This one is a 3D-printed hull and has some pear parts too. Only thing my friend added was some rudder hinges, though it's possible some cartridge paper will be included for making those.

[Blue Ensign]

You're getting quite a fleet of these attractive little Fishing boats Jim, every house should have one.(or two, or three.)

I got immense pleasure from building Fifie and Zulu, but now I'm holding out for the ultimate, which I'm keeping fingers crossed will come down the line at some point.

 

B.E.

[James H]

1 hour ago, Blue Ensign said:

...but now I'm holding out for the ultimate, which I'm keeping fingers crossed will come down the line at some point.

 

A fisher? Go one, please share  

[Blue Ensign]

Chris knows what's in my heart, I live in hope.

I'm sure he will tell you.😀

 

B.E.

 

 

[James H]

Ok, time for an update.

 

I'm sure by now you'll know my format and that these photos will be a part of the instruction manual...starting with the best way to remove parts from the sheets.

 

 

There's only five bulkheads on this model which need bevelling, and I always opt to use a Dremel as tackling those inside curves is a doddle. Bevelling lines are engraved on this kit, and of course, these are only a starting point as more will be removed during fairing.

 

 

As is convention with my VM builds, most initial building is done 'dry' and glue applied later. This is simply to do with making sure we have a completely aligned set of frames before any glue sees the model. Anything mis-set early on could impact the build later.

 

 

Parts are now slid into position at bow and stern, providing a base for the ends of the planks to fit against. All parts fit like a glove. These are also pinned into place using pegs which ensure alignment.

 

 

The lower deck is now fitted. This provides a nice solid platform which creates some rigidity in the assembly. A centre section is now glued into position which provides mid-deck support for the main deck, and coincides with the fish hatches and water well in what will be a fat-bellied little boat.

 

 

A familiar assembly feature in a lot of VM kits is the construction of the stern area using the shaped set of 'timbers' which are then slotted across the rearmost bulkheads. 

 

 

Another VM feature are the longitudinal deck beams which conform to the sheer of the deck and 'lock' all the bulkheads into position.....not that they need any real locking as they all fit perfectly with little to no play in them. 

 

 

With everything in place and happy that all construction is correct, slightly dilute Titebond is now brushed into the various joints and left to dry.

 

 

I know some must be apprehensive of bending the sub deck so it locks into position across the hull, but it really is just fine, and the deck sits 100% on all the bulkheads with no pinning needed whatsoever.

 

 

Lastly, the lower stern shaping blocks and fillers are added.

 

Next job is fairing, bulwarks and planking. Laterz!

 

[BenD]

Cranking out another Vanguard masterpiece!  

[James H]

Time for an update. 

 

Fairing Saucy Jack is a breeze and seemed to take me less time that Fifie, Eyrcina, Nisha and Zulu. Dead simple. Just use something similar to a sanding stick and allow the material to curve over the bulkheads as you sand. Check a plank at intervals, to make sure you have maximum surface contact area to the bulkheads.

A few of close-ups of the faired hull.

 

The lower, inner counter on this fisher, is cut from a thin, maple veneer. This allows it to band around the curves very easily. This was now glued and taped/clamped while it set.

 

 

The keel is a 3-part construction, with the prow and lower keel being fitted first. The rudder post will be left until after planking, so the tail end of the planks can be properly shaped to the MDF end.

 

 

The sides of the maple counter are now sanded flush with the hull sides so there are no protrusions.

 

 

Jack's bulwarks are single-piece items, with the lower engraved line being the one you need to align with the top of the ply deck. Get that right, and you'll have no problems here. Each bulwark was glued and pinned into place until dry. No glue was used above the deck though, as those MDF ears will eventually be removed.

 

[James H]

For the first planking, you could, if you wish, split the planks into halves to make it easier. You'll also need to start tapering very early on in this process.

 

 

 

As is now the norm, the keels are faced with pear, creating a rebate into which the second layer planks will sit. This demarcation takes a lot of guesswork out of this process. Second layer planking is also in pear.

 

 

Before planking, the outer, lower counter is added. This is first soaked and allowed to dry while clamped/taped to the hull. When thoroughly dry, it's then glued into place.

 

 

The stern board is now fitted. The 'windows' will be removed later in the build.

 

The outer planking starts with the addition of the upper bulwarks. These are glued and pinned into place. The position of the pins (shown), means the holes will eventually be covered by the wales. 

 

 

Second layer of planks now complete. These are added with CA gel and tapered/edge-bevelled so they fit as closely as possible to each other. I have added some as halves, but only in the lower area as this will be painted over.

 

 

Before sanding, the engraved portion of the bulwarks is masked off, protecting that detail.

 

She's most definitely looking the part now.

[James H]

With the null now planked, the MDF bulkhead ears can be removed. These are twisted and snapped off with pliers before any remnants are sanded flush with the deck.

 

 

I found the maple deck to fit perfectly with no adjustment needed. This is gently bend before being glued into place. LOTS (!!) of clamps were used to hold it down around the edges so nothing decided to lift while the glue set.

 

 

The inside waterway and timberhead parts were now added. The position for these two parts is engraved on the inner bulwark. There are no individual timberheads to bother you on this kit.

 

 

A sanding stick is now drawn over the bulwark top edges, levelling and evening the surfaces.

 

 

A waterline is now referenced from the drawings, and applied to the hull. Everything above this is now masked off and below, it's filled with dilute acrylic filler.

 

More soon!

 

[AJohnson]

Looking very good James as usual! 👏 How big is ‘Saucy Jack’ in comparison to ‘Nisha’, looks similar from the pictures, but maybe wider?  The ‘Admiral’ has given permission for me to build a pair of small fishing boats, also keen to see the ‘Ranger’ sometime later. 

[James H]

 

 

A quick update!

 

Work progressed on the lower hull. Sanding, filling, priming....repeat!

 

 

Once the hull was unmasked, it was masked again for the upper bulwarks. I used Tamiya Flat Green for this, applied with an airbrush. This stuff applies real nice and seems like the sort of shade that working boats would've used.

 

 

...then the engraved wales. The align with the lowest etched line on bulwark, and is designed to nicely had the transition from bulwark to planking (plus any resulting pin holes!)

 

 

...then the upper rails. Again these fit in the narrow band just under the painted bulwarks.

 

 

....then lastly the gunwales. These are applied and then the rear gunwale is fitted separately. 

 

Belaying racks are now fitted.

 

 

A small break from hull work now as the fish hatches and grating is assembled. 

Ok, more in a few days when hull will be fitted and totally complete. 

 

[chris watton]

On 3/8/2022 at 3:26 PM, AJohnson said:

Looking very good James as usual! 👏 How big is ‘Saucy Jack’ in comparison to ‘Nisha’, looks similar from the pictures, but maybe wider?  The ‘Admiral’ has given permission for me to build a pair of small fishing boats, also keen to see the ‘Ranger’ sometime later. 

Saucy Jack is virtually identical in hull length to Nisha, perhaps a tad wider, but not much in it. Fuller hull, though.

[James H]

Another update.. 

 

This time, it's finally fitting out the hull before masting. This is where things, for me at least, come together quickly as I've already made the deck fittings, during the early stages of this build. That's the sort of stuff I do between gluing frames and planks. Here you see the fishing hatches from the previous update, now fitted.

 

 

Then the belaying rack, mast base and eyelets in situ.

 

 

 

Then the forward hatch is built and fitted.

 

 

The windlass on Jack is supplied as a 3D printed part and looks very nice. The windlass side posts are designed to trap the 3D part, allowing a little freedom for things to move so you can properly and evenly mount the assembly to the deck. The drum would've been wood, so this was painted with Tamiya Desert Yellow, then oil paint dragged with Raw Umber and Raw Sienna, creating a grain effect.

 

 

With the windlass mounted, the bowsprit post knee and base are added. The windlass pawl is also fitted to the bowsprit post, made from PE.

 

 

The capstan on Jack is quite small compared with the other fishers. Please ignore the last picture where it's popped apart slightly at the top.

 

 

 

[James H]

And onto today's second part of my update. I do it this way now so there aren't 30 - 40 pics in one post.

 

The companionway is a nice, simple assembly. Nothing difficult to fathom here.

 

 

 

The rudder can now be permanently fitted, and the tiller shaped and glued into place.

 

 

PE rudder hinge straps are now painted and glued into place with CA gel.

 

 

The channels on Jack are very narrow, and engraved lines on them indicate where you need to drill through and insert shortened brass pins for some extra strength. I also deepen the engraved holes on the upper rails, going into the bulwarks about a millimetre or so. The channels are then glued into place. Notice the area on rail left unpainted, where the engraved position was given. That was masked while painting the rails, so there's a good, clean gluing connection.

 

 

Jack's stern frieze is now painted white and glued into the green panel.

 

 

Jack's bowsprit is roughly parallel to the bottom of the keel/waterline. As the bowsprit is from 4mm dowel, I used a 3mm piece, wrapped in some sandpaper, and used the bowsprit post as a guide for sanding down the gunwale and bulwark to accommodate it. A simple task that took no more than a couple of minutes.

 

 

Other ironwork is now fitted, such as the bulwark cleats, eyelets and belaying pins. 

 

3mm deadeyes are now fitted to the chainplates and secured to hull. The brass pins will then be painted over (not shown on these pics).

 

Saucy Jack's completed hull!

 

Next up will be masting and rigging. 

 

 

 

[Blue Ensign]

A sweet build James, very nicely done, love the finish you've achieved on the Windlass.

 

B.E.

[James H]

7 minutes ago, Blue Ensign said:

A sweet build James, very nicely done, love the finish you've achieved on the Windlass.

 

B.E.

Cheers. It's been a lovely build too.

 

I think I added another update just after that, while you were posting. Hull final pic shown.

 

Here's the wood grain technique from the instructions I did for the VM ship's boats.

 

[Malcolm Greig]

What a good looking boat, very nicely built and looks like another VM winner. Very attractive and interesting model. 

 

regards

 

Malcolm

[AJohnson]

Lovely looking model, quiet an impressive Trawler fleet VM building. 👍

[James H]

Just a quick, interim update before completion in the next days. 

 

Saucy Jack is probably one of the easiest boats to rig, even with the shrouds and rats. Very little timber work on mast/spars too. Here are a couple of the parts I made for this, ready for rigging blocks.

 

 

 

The bowsprit is now added.

 

 

The sails are first dyed in liquid RIT dye (Tan) and left in for a little longer than normal. I wanted these fairly light to suit the white hull underside and pear wood colours. Too much contrast would've hurt my eyes.

 

 

Jack is finally masted and her full size is now clear. Yes, she's quite dinky! 

 

 

Proper rigging starts with the shroud lines wrapped around the masthead. 

 

 

And then tied off via 3mm deadeyes.

 

 

I told you it was only a small update! 

 

More very soon when she's fully complete. 

[James H]

Saucy Jack is now complete, and it's a short break from the cave before I head back in to work on Ranger.

 

Here are the finals. Hope you like them.

 

Chris is now compiling the manual and box art, so it won't be too long now before this will be on sale. 

 

 

[druxey]

A very nice model indeed. Maybe Chris would like  to tackle a Thames barge sometime.

[chris watton]

1 minute ago, druxey said:

A very nice model indeed. Maybe Chris would like  to tackle a Thames barge sometime.

Maybe one day. If I do, there is one with the words, 'While I live, I crow' engraved on her stern, and the name being Cock o' the Walk!

 

But, after Ranger,  a South Eastern fish carrier (UK), that will be the last in this line up for a good while, I think I have done enough for now...

[ccoyle]

6 hours ago, chris watton said:

I think I have done enough for now...

 

Ya know, we have some interesting indigenous types on this side of the pond . . . 😉

[James H]

Here's some box art for you.

 

[GrandpaPhil]

Very nice!

[0gri]

Hello James,could you tell me if the sails you used were the set included with the kit or the deluxe pre sewn kit offered as an extra?thanks in advance,regards mark

[chris watton]

1 hour ago, 0gri said:

Hello James,could you tell me if the sails you used were the set included with the kit or the deluxe pre sewn kit offered as an extra?thanks in advance,regards mark

The sail set Jim used is the premium version. I should have my delivery of these sets within the next two weeks. 

[DB789]

James,

Your build log and instructions have been invaluable building the Saucy Jack. Thank you. 
I really like the colour of your sails, please could I ask what your concentration of RIT tan due to water was and roughly how long you left them in to soak for? 
Many thanks

Dan