MV Krait by Brianne163 - RESTORATION

[Brianne163]

At our Historical Village and Museum here in Hervey Bay, Queensland, Australia, we have been given a model of the "Krait", approx 4 foot long.

We intend to use this model in a display related to operation "Jaywick" as we are just across the water from Fraser Island where the Z Force trained.

This model lacks authenticity which I have been asked to provide and apply.

The last model I made was a balsa plane around 75 years ago but I am handy with wood, metal and rope, also woodturning.

The pics attached are of our model plus the one in the Australian War memorial.

I can't expect to achieve the AWM model standard as I only have 1 1/2 months to complete this.

The main areas are:

The rigging, including timber ratlines

Sail halyards, sheaves etc.

The cabin to be planked

The deck to be planked

Adding missing deck hatches

Adding screen at rear of canopy

Repainting in more authentic colours

I am sure more will come to mind as I progress.

Any and all help appreciated, especially regarding the planking and ratline attachment.

[Jim Lad]

Hello Brianne, and a warm welcome to the forum.  you're certainly on a very tight schedule there.

 

The planking of the wheelhouse might be very difficult given your time constraints, as you have no thickness to work with and to do that job properly you wound probably need to remove the entire deck structure from the model.  Do you think you could cut a straight edge to the correct length and simply scribe lines into the structure to represent planking, as it will be painted anyway? The wooden 'rat lines' would have been fixed to the shrouds with 'U' bolts around the shrouds and bolted through the wooden slats.  Simply gluing them in position might be the way to go as you have little time available.

 

Check out the many images on line of the 'Krait' as she is now restored at the ANMM in Sydney for your correct colours.

 

Best of luck with the restoration.

 

John

 

 

[Brianne163]

Progressing well so far. Have stripped it down somewhat and made new hatches. Did a dummy plank run with cardboard.

Edited March 18, 2022 by Brianne163

[ccoyle]

Hi, Brianne163.

 

Since you are showing us your progress on this model, it seemed appropriate to move it to the build logs portion of the forum.

 

Good luck with the work!

[Brianne163]

My first planking attempt. Went reasonable well

[Brianne163]

Wheelhouse almost completed.

BTW, why does Modellers Central Krait instructions show the gaff boom halyard next to mast while the model in the ANWM shows it at the end.

Which is correct?

 

[Brianne163]

Latest progress. Deck planking completed, boom and sail part installed. Waiting for some blocks, anchor and propeller.

[Brianne163]

Flagstaff

[Louie da fly]

Very nice work. I was lucky enough to see the Krait in Darling Harbour on a visit to Sydney pre-Covid. A real privilege.

 

You might be interested in this: https://www.sea.museum/2018/09/26/restoring-krait

 

Steven

[Jim Lad]

Been away for a few days.  A very nice job, Brianne.

 

John

[Brianne163]

Now completed. Before and after.

[GrandpaPhil]

Congratulations!  Well done!