Lowell Grand Banks Dory by Nautikale - FINISHED - Model Shipways - 1:24

[Nautikale]

Day 1

 

Hello everyone! I purchased the Shipwright Series after reading about how it makes a good starting kit for someone who has zero modeling experience. I already started with the dory a couple days ago and forgot to create a log, so I’ll summarize what I’d done in those days right now. 
 

The first step was to put together the bottom and cleats. I decided to use the laser cut one piece they had already provided for a faster process and to make sure my patience doesn’t fade since I’m only starting. After cutting out the piece, I began working on the bottom cleats. Unaware, I had already messed up. I was confused at the wood strip measurements, and used the 1/16 x 1/16 strip instead of the 3/64 x 1/8 strip. Oops. Lesson learned. I cut up the correct strip, requested the strips I needed from the Model Expo website, and continued on to glue the stem and transom pieces. 

Next step was shaping the rocker. I grabbed the correct size of scrapwood, and wet the bottom as the instructions said. I left them to dry for three hours as I went out to do some activities. 

 

I returned with the sight of a book originally on top of the cube, now knocked over causing the stem to snap. As I was doing this in my family’s dining table, I should have been more cautious about leaving it there. I fixed the stem with some glue and finger pressure and continued on with making the frames. 

Day 2

 

Since the printed outlines of the frames weren’t exactly the measurements of the actual frames, I had to do a little improvising. Lining up one side first, I glued the pieces together. After that, I lined up the other side, ignoring the first side. I’m not sure if I explained that well. 
 

The next thing I did was fit the frames into the building board, then sanded, three at a time like what the instructions said. After that I fitted the bottom of the boat over the frames and glued it on. 

Next step was the garboard application, but not before I sanded and beveled the sides of the frames and the bottom of the boat, as well as the stem and transom. Again, three at a time like before. 
 

I beveled and test fit the garboards, then began the bending process once satisfied. 

 

[druxey]

The learning curve is well under way!

[Nautikale]

Day 3

 

While waiting for the planks to dry, I worked on more oars. 

After that, I glued the garboard planks! I had to remove and reglue them a little to get it aligned like I wanted to. After letting it dry, I began the sanding process, prepared the broad plank, and glued them on.

 

 

[carlo_l]

It seems a nice kit for learning the basics 😃 Looking forward for new updates 😃 

[Nautikale]

Part 4

 

I finished up the planking, and realized the sheer plank was quite concaved at the bow from the shaping process. I need to figure out a new way to clamp the ends while letting the planks dry. The bow also looks quite ugly, but fortunately the false stem will hide that. 

On the topic of false stem, I can’t seem to figure out where it is, or what part I need to use. To those who’ve made this kit: what do I use for the false stem?

 

[wool132]

I referred to my annotated copy of the build instructions and found "What do I use?".

 

Humph.

 

I built this model twice. I just measured the stem on the first one and it's a length of 3/64" x 1/8" basswood strip. For the second go-around I was able to use 1/16" square basswood.

 

Jonathan

 

[Nautikale]

On 8/5/2022 at 8:02 PM, wool132 said:

I referred to my annotated copy of the build instructions and found "What do I use?".

 

Humph.

 

I built this model twice. I just measured the stem on the first one and it's a length of 3/64" x 1/8" basswood strip. For the second go-around I was able to use 1/16" square basswood.

 

Jonathan

 

Thank you! I’ll see which one I can use.

[Nautikale]

Part 5

 

The seat risers were a bit of a struggle. Whatever marks were provided on the frames were sanded away in the process, if there were. I popped off the thwarts and put them in to see where I’d be gluing the risers, which seemed to work well. The starboard thwart is shaped a little weirdly, might fix that soon. 
 

Next was to stick on the bands. I may have messed up on the bow, since I sanded it to smoothly transition into the false stem, but we’ll see how it looks once I add the cap rail…

 

To patch up some gaps within the planks, (they were heavily bothering me) I took some glue and mixed it with wood dust to try and simulate caulking. Worked well! 

[Cathead]

Nice job so far, and great work learning from mistakes and keeping a good attitude toward it all!

[Nautikale]

Apologies for not updating, i am currently busy with schoolwork. Rest assured, I’ll provide more updates once I have the time.

[Nautikale]

Hi everyone! 
 

I finally got the opportunity to finish the model. Used gray primer to seal the wood, and coated it with 2-3 layers of paint. I didn’t have any automotive filler for the bow, so I cut up the extra length of the cap rail and made it fit between the gap nicely. Quite happy with this for my first model, except for how high the transom is—I only noticed now. Must’ve been during the planking process early on. I didn’t also expect the wood to look so rough even after priming it, and I considered sanding it down before painting, but didn’t have any finer sandpaper available. 
Thank you for following my first build  I plan on doing the Norwegian pram next!! 

[Nautikale]

Ah, one more thing. It seems that the breast hook I was provided was too small compared to the breast hook in the pictures provided in the manual. It confused me, to say the least. But I’ll just have to live with it. 

[Ryland Craze]

Congratulations on finishing your Dory.  You did a great job on building this kit.  I look forward to following your Pram build.

[Cathead]

Very nice!