Nonsuch 30 by bobandlucy - FINISHED - Model Shipways - Scale 1:24

[bobandlucy]

When I saw this new model designed by David Antscherl, who also designed the Model Shipways Shipwrights series which I just completed- well, I had to have it, right?

 

It's a modern fiberglass boat (but built of wood, of course).

 

 

This kit is on pre-order, available at the end of this month. Can't wait to start!

Edited December 21, 2022 by bobandlucy

[GGibson]

This answers my question I just posted on your Harriet Lane build log! Ha!  I received the Model Shipways email notification about this pre-sale, as well, and am intrigued by the look of this boat.  But, with three ships already in the shipyard holding pattern, I probably need to pass.  As you begin working on it, though, you may still convince me!  Good vibes heading your way! 

[druxey]

Back already? Good stuff, Bob!

[Prowler901]

This looks interesting.  I really like the small day sailers.

 

Todd

[yvesvidal]

That should turn into a lovely daysailer. Looking forward to watching you build it.

 

Yves

[tlee01]

Got a seat and ready for the new log

[bobandlucy]

The kit arrived today!

 

When I placed the order, it was advertised as coming with free brushes and paint, for a limited time. Next day, that was changed to two offerings- one being the kit alone, at a lesser price, the other with paint and tools. I received the version with paint and tools. Although I had most of the tools already, you can't have too many, right? And I did not have paddle-end tweezers, seen below:

 

The kit was packed well, except for the two large plan sheets, which were crumpled more than I'd like.  Almost all of the wood is in laser-cut sheets.  A couple of the sheets have some marring, I'm assuming from milling the stock, but those seem to be with parts internal to the model, so not concerned. Many of the sheets are quite thick which at first was surprising, but this after all is a larger scale model of a small boat. When I saw the size of the metal blocks it started to make more sense to me.

 

There are no key plans for the laser-cut sheets, but an improved Parts List lists the parts that should be included on each sheet. Hopefully, that, along with the pictures in the instruction manual, will be enough to figure out what each is. Some, but not all of the sheets are engraved with the part names.

 

I did an inventory of parts against the parts list; both of the metal block sizes were short in quantity- I will place a request for those. Otherwise, all seems to check out.

 

The manual indicates that this model is part of the progressive learning series, as did the Harriet Lane, but does not indicate its place in the lineup. I assume it's the fifth. Harriet Lane has not been added to the "Shipwrights Series," the website does not mention the series- it is only the manual that indicates that it is part of a series. HL was quite a challenge. At first glance the Nonsuch looks much simpler, but I expect some surprises. Certainly, shaping the curved mast and wishbone boom are bound to be tricky.

 

So far, ME has not posted a downloadable PDF of the manual. I hope they do- being able to zoom in on details is very helpful for my old, overtaxed eyes.

 

 

 

Started removing char from the main structural pieces, reading the manual, and watching videos of these boats in action.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 8, 2022 by bobandlucy

[bobandlucy]

Bulkheads and inner transom assembled and ready for fairing:

 

 

 

[Cathead]

Cool project!

[bobandlucy]

Finished (?) the fairing and am adding the deck halves. Looks good to me so far. I'm becoming better at looking ahead and making needed adjustments.

 

Getting close to starting planking.

 

 

 

Edited September 12, 2022 by bobandlucy

[Mike Collier]

Looks pretty good so far. I’ll be waiting for more .

[thibaultron]

I would suggest adding some wood blocks at the bow.

[GGibson]

Looks good so far, Bob!  Meant to ask this on your earlier post... are those bulkheads thicker than "normal"?  How were they for your fairing?  Think they will be better to do the planking with?

Edited September 13, 2022 by GGibson

[bobandlucy]

Thanks, Gregg. Yes, the bulkheads are thicker. I'm not sure why. Fairing operation was similar to what I've done in the past. Certainly, having more surface area for gluing is a plus.

 

@thibaultron, thanks for the suggestion. The instructions are not calling for additional blocks, and I'm not sure they will be necessary. I'll see how the first planks lay. . .

 

bob

[bobandlucy]

Installed the toe rails. . .

 

 

 

Trying to fit the garboard plank. Something is seriously wrong. . . photo shows how the plank wants to lay. Similar for plank # 2. I'm kind of at a loss as to what to do. I had begun by gluing to the center three bulkheads, then had to unglue, as the plank seriously overhung the spine at both ends. Planks is too wide to attempt edge-bending (?). I'll put this aside for a bit and consider what might be done.

 

 

 

 

 

[Cathead]

Having not built this, I can't quite envision the geometry here. Would it help to post photos from a couple different angles?

[bobandlucy]

Here is a photo showing the problem I had (fore-end shown). When the garboard plank was placed as required, it overhung the half-spine fore and aft:

 

 

I finally decided, after consulting with someone I respect, to accept the natural lay of the plank, and add filler plank as required. After all, I am only trying to create a surface simulating a fiberglass hull.  When I added plank #2, I ended up with the gaps, fore and aft, that I was expecting. Photos shows the insert I made at the fore section, will repeat at the aft.

 

 

 

This resulted in a good profile when viewed from the end:

 

 

Good news is it looks like plank #3 will fit to #2 with only minimal gaps, hoping that this is true for the rest as well, and that I don't end up short at deck level.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Cathead]

That makes sense, like you said, it's simply a base layer for a final smooth hull.

[bobandlucy]

One half-hull planked, with gap-filling and initial sanding done. A couple more rounds of filling and sanding needed. Up to plank #3 on the other half.

 

Edited September 22, 2022 by bobandlucy

[druxey]

Looking good, so far, Bob. Planking worked out well.

[bobandlucy]

Both hull halves are planked now. Of course the second one is best. I brushed dilute glue into all the seams for rigidity. For larger gaps I glued very thin planking strips inside the hull to act as backing for filler. some areas had cupping at the seams between planks. I wet these areas, then placed strips from the kits planking carrier sheets over the offending seam, held down with elastic bands placed at the bulkheads. This generally produced a conforming seam, which I then brushed with dilute glue.

 

Then, on the first half-hull, three or four rounds of sanding and filling, followed with a coat of gray primer, followed by additional filling and sanding. I spent a significant amount of time on all this. Now on to the next half. Hopefully, the effort will result in a very smooth and fair hull as one would expect in a fiberglass yacht. 

 

Final priming waits until more topside structure/features are added.

 

BTW, that is not really a gap you see between the inner transom and the planks, it's just that the planks are a little shorter of the transom face in that area and some dried Titebond shows. This will be fixed when the outer tramsom is added.

 

[druxey]

Yes, this kind of hull needs a lot of 'prep' before painting. Coming along nicely.

[bobandlucy]

At last the hull halves are joined and gaps filled. The second of the halves is the best. I learned much about how to approach the sanding and filling process, and the second half is much more fair, while preserving more of the plank thickness. I was much more cautious in laying the planks, correcting defects at once, and relying less on the eye and more on "feel." You can see that one half is not worked as much- it is the better.

 

 

 

When I placed the outer transom, I found that the nice little "peak" at the center bottom did not match my more rounded hull. I added some filler to the hull and think it came out OK.

 

 

Seems a little milestone in the building, and look forward to getting back to building some new features!

 

 

 

[druxey]

You look like you done great job and have gone up the learning curve of planking a hull as well. The payoff will be when you paint her!

[SteveA]

I just ordered this kit from model shipways yesterday during a sale.  I built the 3 model shipwright kits by David Antsherl as my first builds and enjoyed the experience.  I love the looks of this boat and think it will make a great display or gift.  I’ll be following you in the build process so hopefully I can pick up some good tips along the way.

[bobandlucy]

10 hours ago, SteveA said:

I just ordered this kit from model shipways yesterday during a sale.  I built the 3 model shipwright kits by David Antsherl as my first builds and enjoyed the experience.  I love the looks of this boat and think it will make a great display or gift.  I’ll be following you in the build process so hopefully I can pick up some good tips along the way.

Steve, I'm going rather slow, so start a build log- when you pass me by, I'll pick up tips from you!

 

When you're done with Nonsuch, you may want to try the fourth in the learning series, the 1:96 Harriet Lane. I don't know why it's not being advertised as such, but the manual indicates that it is the fourth. All you have learned through building the first three comes together in the HL, and adds some more complex features. It's quite a challenge, and is the one of which I'm most proud.

 

Nonsuch is not as complex, but is an interesting subject as a modern personal yacht still in use today. If I were to take up sailing, it might be with a similar live-aboard boat. Fun to build.

 

b

[bobandlucy]

Fin, rudder and propeller drive housing shaped and installed. I do enjoy shaping wood, and am considering getting into carving. I'd like to do my own ornamentation and figureheads at some point.

 

Ready to re-prime the hull.

 

Edited October 18, 2022 by bobandlucy

[bobandlucy]

Did the second priming. As expected, one side is a lot better than the other. I'm trying to decide whether to attempt more filling/sanding. I don't mind expending the effort, but am unsure if I can make it any better. . .

 

 

 

[ccoyle]

Repeat until you are happy with it. If two coats makes you happy, then you're done! 🙂

[bobandlucy]

On 10/19/2022 at 5:57 PM, ccoyle said:

Repeat until you are happy with it. If two coats makes you happy, then you're done! 🙂

Of course you're right. My way is to torture myself over every little detail until I question my very reason for existence!

 

Not easy to change one's nature. I did end up happy with my last model. 

 

 

Edited October 23, 2022 by bobandlucy