Prince de Neufchatel by Coyote_6 – Constructo – 1/58 scale - American privateer

[Coyote_6]

Thanks Adam.  I think the run on the second bulkhead is very small and want to avoid a bunch of very thin uniform planks at the bow.

 

I wonder if this is my solution (from the NRG half hull project - not my image)?

 

 

It looks hard to do though!

Edited May 24, 2023 by Coyote_6

[Coyote_6]

@Pirate adam  I will take your advice and measure the remaining planking run for each bulkhead and do some math !   Then I can look at some options as well.

 

Til now I have been able to keep my plank runs pretty perpendicular to the horizon.  The stern is rising but I thought it would get better after the deadwood.   But measurements would make that much clearer!

[Gregory]

If I may.

My understanding is that you will want to avoid a plank end taper  that is less than 1/2 the width of a full width plank.

You can do this with drop planks, and the illustration you show is one method.  

Your illustration shows reducing 3 planks  to 2.  You can also reduce  2 planks to 1.

Here is an example from Chuck's Winchelsea.  You can view his method here:

 

( Click on the arrow in the upper right corner of the content above)

 

 

Here is another image I used to illustrate turning 8 planks into 7.

It's really not that hard to do, but the main obstacle is that it takes some wider stock, twice as wide, than what is provided in the kit.  

This is a common problem with kit supplied material. If you can source some veneer that matches your stock, you may be

able to use this method.

If not, you should be able to overcome your problem with simple tapering and not breaking, or just fudging a little on the 1/2 rule.

Looking at your image from the previous page,  you have to take the number of planks at a midship bulkhead ( A ), then divide the space at B by the number of planks and this would give you the width that

the planks must taper too.  Whether or not you can do this without some of the planks coming to a point, remains to be seen. 

You  can turn the space covered by 20 planks at midship into 1/2 or less at the stem.

If you are limited to the material provided in the kit, this may be your only option..  

We have seen a lot of kits that have produced very nice models without following " The Rules "..  

The important thing is to sharpen your skills and don't give up..  A lot of kits are abandoned   because the builder gets discouraged about not getting it perfect.

Don't let ' perfect ' be your goal.

 

I hope this helps.

Gregory

[Coyote_6]

Thank you @Gregory.  I will probably be unable to get wider material as I have only been able to find some from Europe.  Limited to current width, I may be able to do the two into three.  But the graphics are very helpful.  But I guess first I better get some measurements.  

 

I really appreciate your advice "don't let 'perfect' be your goal".  It allows one to accept some compromise where necessary.  We'll see what we can do here.  Thanks again!

Edited May 24, 2023 by Coyote_6

[Coyote_6]

Is this type of sharp point not recommended because it is not traditionally found in 1:1 ships? 

 

 

I have seen it in several internet examples and it seems a simple solution and difficult to detect unless you are looking for it.  Maybe they are generally used on first planking for expediency?

 

[Gregory]

The points are not a problem visually on the first planking. Small gaps are not a problem either.

 

Not having them on the 2nd planking is a worthwhile goal, but with kit provided material it may be hard to avoid.

Pointed planks can be blended in to the overall look to provide  a nice look on the finished model.

 

You may see a kit build that looks like this in the rough, and it will be pretty much what the instructions call for.

A finished model that looks pretty good, points notwithstanding.

 

Just do the best you can with what you have in the kit.

 

[Coyote_6]

Planking continues slowly but surely.

 

Taking the advice given, I measured the remaining planking runs on the bulkheads in millimeters and obtained the following:

 

The following conclusions:

1.  Obviously planks will have to be thinned over the first three bulkheads.

 

2.  The remaining bulkheads vary at this point by the width of only one plank, but will require 14-15 planks to close the hull. (Very minor material removal on each plank on "shorter" bulkheads.) 

 

3.  In retrospect, the two dark planks under the gunports would have been a good place to have corrected any planking issues, as they are ultimately covered by the ships bumpers.  Unfortunately, I believe strongly in glue and I don't think they are coming off any time soon, at least not in one piece.

 

So planking continues, and just today I had the revelation that I could work on other aspects while the planking glue dries! 

 

 

Creative Clamping 101...

 

Thanks for all the advice to date.

 

Edited July 19, 2023 by Coyote_6
Spelling

[Gregory]

Great re-start!

[Coyote_6]

The Journey continues with minor progress:

 

June 2, 2023:

 

 

July 20, 2023:

 

 

My first attempt at a stealer (The kit's sapely wood is awfully rough and fuzzy!):

 

 

 

And more adventures in creative clamping:

 

 

 

Edited July 20, 2023 by Coyote_6
Add white space between images.

[Azzoun]

I'm excited to see your progress on this,  the PDN has been a shelf queen of mine that I plan to return to soon!  

 

 

Edited July 20, 2023 by Azzoun

[Coyote_6]

Azzoun - I checked out your log to date and it is very inspirational work.   I hope you can get back at it and enjoy it as much as I do.  

 

She takes a month to do in wood what one could do in plastic in an hour, but I suppose if it was easy it wouldn't be as rewarding.

 

I will follow your PdN build as well and look forward to your progress!!

 

Edit (OK - I went to follow and I have already been following your build since February!  Lookin good! )

Edited July 20, 2023 by Coyote_6

[Azzoun]

Thanks!   The Mogami has been keeping me busy but I've been itching to get back into the wood.   I have all the deck furniture assembled and prepared, just need to apply to the model.   Did your kit come with those carronade sleds?   Mine came with brass guns that looked over scale to be placed on gun trucks.   I casted new gun in resin and scratch built some sleds out of wood.   I don't know.. talking about it makes me want to dig into this weekend! 

Joshua 

[Coyote_6]

Hey Joshua.  Yeah, they came with the kit and I plan to use the kit guns and mounts at this point.  They look nice to my eye and center in the gunports well.  Not sure how they scale (kit scale says 1:58).  The Constructo kit is stylized in many ways -  more wood art than scale accuracy.  (100+ foot long planks  would have been tough to find/use in the 1800's I am told 😜 - that said, the lines look very close to Chapelle's plans - so form is very good, building techniques stylized.)

 

I will probably try to blue the metal sleds, and if that doesn't take maybe just flat or semigloss black.

 

Toying with the idea of Colonial Green on the inner bulwarks.

 

 

Edited July 20, 2023 by Coyote_6

[Coyote_6]

And Joshua - you should post your cannon prototypes in your build log - they would be cool to see!!

[Coyote_6]

Who knew planking could take this long!?!  I am slow.  But progress none the less.

 

7/29/2023

 

(Using pushpins as the hull starts to close up.)

 

And messy "tailfeathers" to trim.  Hopefully we can do her stern justice.

 

When to do a wedge?  The wood will tell you...

 

(It just won't bend anymore! )

[Coyote_6]

From the bottom it looks like progress.

 

[Coyote_6]

8/10/2023 - So close!

 

 

Below is how I am doing the bulwarks to hull interface (will be just covered [1-2 mm] by the wales/rubbing strip).

 

 

Edited August 10, 2023 by Coyote_6
Tense.

[Coyote_6]

Big night tonight - after 21 years of owning this kit - the Whiskey Plank is in!!

 

Before installation:

 

After installation:

 

After reading about the old custom of celebrating the last plank with a drink of whiskey amongst the builders, I couldn't resist the tradition here.  So the last plank, or "Whiskey Plank" has been installed.

 

So the port profile:

 

and the starboard...

 

On to the stern.  (And we'll see how she fairs with filler and sanding.)

Edited August 20, 2023 by Coyote_6
Spelling.

[Gregory]

That looks really good!

The ship looks pretty good also..😁

[bobandlucy]

Aren't they all "whiskey planks"? Looks good!

[Coyote_6]

@bobandlucy Indeed!

[Coyote_6]

Sanding has commenced.  Any tips or tricks appreciated.

 

Before:

 

After:

 

 

I also made a little 2" material sample to check my finish ideas.

 

 

The first half inch is natural wood - then Watco Danish Oil in Natural.  The Elmer's Mahogany Wood Filler seems to darken with the oil, which is good.

 

Hoping to final finish with Watco wipe on poly (satin).

[Coyote_6]

Today is a milestone - the one year anniversary of the Prince's build log.

 

I am super pleased with her progress to date and super thankful for all the support over the last year, from both Model Ship World folks and my local club (San Diego Ship Modelers Guild).   Thanks all for your inputs and reactions.

 

Status today is the port side of the hull is fair, the starboard is still in work and the stern is being filled out/shaped and coming along nicely.

 

Photo of port stern filled in and shaped, starboard in work.

 

 

Also have made a decision on mounting - flat board with single wooden cradle at center - gold nautical fish pedestals fore and aft.

 

 

I've learned a lot in 12 months - progress continues...

Edited October 11, 2023 by Coyote_6

[Coyote_6]

Fairing the starboard side and...

 

Oooops!

 

The planking ran a little wide.  After cutting away everything less than about 1/2 thickness...

 

We'll have to figure something out to make her ship-shape. 

[Coyote_6]

Damage now stands at three plank widths.  Ugh.

 

[Azzoun]

Well,  were you planning on copper plating her?  that'd cover up any kind of rough patch work right smartly.    I'll be re-joining the PDN building event early 2024 as I wrap up the Mogami -  mine's been languishing on the shelf for 7 years!  We may be in tandem then!

 

 

Edited October 30, 2023 by Azzoun

[ccoyle]

17 hours ago, Coyote_6 said:

Damage now stands at three plank widths.  Ugh.

 

I'd suggest removing the wood between two bulkheads, then glue in a basswood plug to make a base for the replacement planks.

[Coyote_6]

36 minutes ago, Azzoun said:

Well,  were you planning on copper plating her?  that'd cover up any kind of rough patch work right smartly.    I'll be re-joining the PDN building event early 2024 as I wrap up the Mogami -  mine's been languishing on the shelf for 7 years!  We may be in tandem then!

 

 

@Azzoun That would be great Joshua!  It would be fun to have them both moving forward together.  I am hoping for no copper and a seamless repair, but we always have options, right.  I feel I can get her looking ok again.  That side can always face the wall, right? 

Edited October 30, 2023 by Coyote_6

[Coyote_6]

@ccoyle. Thanks for the tip!  I will assess my spare stock and see what I can get away with, but that forward bulkhead is only about a quarter inch farther, so that may work well!

[Javelin]

Great looking hull.

 

Sad to see that damage, but if you'd copper it, it'd be hidden after all. 

The colours of the wood are quite handsome, so she'd look good without the copper as well...