Sloop Speedwell 1752 by Chuck - Ketch Rigged Sloop - POF - prototype build

[stevenmh]

I've been anxious to see this project ever since you mentioned you were going to do it at the last Northeast Ship Model Conf.  Very glad to see it in the chocks.

If you are looking for a relative newbie still looking for his planking "ah-ha moment" to beta-test your work, I humbly volunteer!

[Chuck]

Several people have stepped up to beta test...we shall see how far I can get before I start spreading parts around.

 

I added the keel bolts.   These were 30 pound black fishing line.  I drilled with a 71 drill bit and inserted the line.  Then I cut it flush with a sharp razor blade.

 

Bolts were added in the same way at the boxing joint.

 

I also finally got around to making the buildboard.

 

I bought a 48 x 12 flat bard that didnt have any cupping or warps.  I picked the flattest board available.  At 48" it was a bit to long so I cut to 42" long.

 

I cut the plan sheet which had lines for the frames and build board.  I used spray mount to glue it on top of the board.  I centered it and kept it straight.  No wrinkles.

 

I realize that a lot of folks screw their keel into the build board.  I dont like to do that at all.   I prefer to make a jig on top of the build board that holds everything straight and vertical.  Its a nice snug fit.  There are two assemblies that need to be built.  On on each end.  There are registration lines on the plan thats glued on the board for these.

 

Here is a close up of the stern...

 

And a close up of the bow jig that holds the keel assembly very snug.  Yet there is enough flexibility to slide the keel fore and aft so you can line up the notches on the keel with the template on the build board.

 

The important thing it to line up the center three frames on the template with those that correspond to the actual keel.  Its nice and tight.  I used some painters tape on the inside and top of these jig pieces to make it a perfect fit.  The slot is initially laser cut wider than needed.  The tape not only protects the wood of the keel but it creates a nice snug fit.   The same thing was done with the two forks that engage the stern post and stem.

 

I also prefer a lower profile to these forks that hold the stem and stern post vertical.  Otherwise it keeps getting in my way.  But you guys can easily create your own if you prefer to go the "screwed in keel" route. Same is true if you rather prefer taller forked pieces for the stem and stern post.

 

Time to start making frames.

 

[Chuck]

There will be for lack of better terminology, two styles of frames.   There will be "TALL", full height frames,  and "Short" frames.  The taller frames extend up to the sheer line and beyond, terminating at the top with the cross jig piece.  The cross jig piece is crucial to the entire build concept.  It assures the frame is the correct width and shape when you build it.  There is no need to build these on top of a plan of the frame.  They will all come out the same size when finished, if you don't over sand any scarf joints.   The joints between the frame sections are precision laser cut.  BUT I left them slightly longer.  Most of the frames we will be building are of the tall variety and all need to made first and placed onto the keel.  They need to be on the keel so the "short" frames can be added in the remaining open spots for them.   More on those later.

 

But lets build our first TALL full length square frame.  We will be building them in groups.  The first group of square frames will contain about 12 or 14 frames.   

 

Here is a look at the first full length frame unbuilt.

 

I highly recommend that you remove the laser char from the outside edges and inside edges before assembling each frame.  In this case it is frame "Ba".  But dont tough or remove the chare from any of the scarf joints that connect each section.  They are precision cut and wont be the correct shape if you monkey around with the char on those.   The will almost glue up perfectly as is.   But I show circled in red the two sides on each scarf joint you will need to sand.   These were intentionally left a bit longer.   You need to test fit each segment together first and then sand a bit from one end of the scarf joint.  Test it again.  If needed tweak the circled ends only to close up the scarf joint so it fits tightly.

 

A few NOTES...

 

The floors and futtocks are different thicknesses.  See the books for details.  This creates a stepped edge on the frames.   MAKE SURE...you check the framing plan to see which side of the frame should have that stepped edge.  It could be on the fore or on the aft side.   In some cases where you have three thicknesses you might actually have to steps.  Each frame is different and some frames could even show this stepped joint on both sides of the frames.   So carefully examine the framing plan.

 

On all the square frames the floors and floor chocks are always 5/16" thick.   The square frames will always alternate with one solid floor that spans across the keel in one piece, followed by the next frame which will have the 5/16" thick floor built up with a "floor chock" in the center.   You will see this detail in the Seawatch books clearly and this proper framing structure is followed for the kit.

 

The futtocks and top timbers are 1/4" thick in most cases.   But in order to simplify the building process it was sometimes necessary to use a third thickness for the top timbers that fall next to a gun port or sweep port.   In some cases these were made using 3/16" and 5/32" thick Cedar.   Whenever this happens I have made note of it on the framing plan so you can better find those parts on the appropriate laser cut sheet.

 

Remember that no drawings of each frame are provided as built or as individual parts because we must do our very best to prevent unscrupulous Chinese manufacturers among others from copying the kit illegally.  So check the framing plan for the number of parts for each frame and their thicknesses.  

 

You should only work on one frame at a time and only remove those parts from the sheets for that frame to avoid mixing them up.  They are all labelled.  

 

So working one frame at a time, first check the plans for the number of parts in that frame.   Then look for them on the laser cut sheets.

 

Finished frame assembled...

 

Note the top cross piece which acts as a jig.   Each frame added to the keel extends the jig and keeps the whole hull its proper shape and perfectly aligned.

 

Make sure you have the cross piece facing the correct direction.  There is a laser etched arrow down the center of the cross piece which always points forward.   Double and triple check that your frame and cross piece are facing the right way before you glue this cross piece in position.  The cross piece should always be the very last segment you glue in position.  Dont sand any char from this cross piece at all.  Measurements are precise and very important.   None of it will show anyway and these jig tops will be cut free once we plank the hull.  They are basically going to end up in the trash. so no need to clean up the cross pieces.

 

When sanding the char off the other frame pieces inboard and out you will notice that I left the char above the tiny notches on each frame.  Those notches indicate the sheer of the hull.  Any surface above the notches and sheer line do not have to have any char removed at all.

 

More finished tall frames with the cross jig piece.

 

The Frame Chocks...

 

These are just simulated.  We dont have to mess around with actual tiny chocks.   The joints between frame segments are actually simple scarf joints.  There is a laser etched line to help simulate the full chock on one side of the frame.  You can if you like,  scribe the same on the other side or even just use a pencil.  But truthfully these frames are so close together you wont actually see the lines anyway.  I am not going to simulate the chock lines on the unetched side.

 

BUT...you will notice after you glue up your frame that the chocks look off....

 

The step in the frame should actually be straight across the center of the chock.  I have strategically made the chock full thickness.   This needs to be addressed on all frames.

 

It will initially look like this.  It has a full thickness chock and half of it needs to be thinned down to complete the step.

 Use a sharp #11 blade to place a stop cut down the center of the chock as if it extends across the entire frame.  Then slowly and carefully shave that thicker half of the chock down flush with the next segment (the futtock) of the frame.   See below.

 

Until it looks like this....nice and cleaned up.

 

Then the char can be removed from the inside and outside edges of the frame.  Or better yet clean those before you even glue up all the frame segments.

 

This needs to be done to every joint and really does look like it should with proper chocks.  Nobody will ever know.

 

You might have also noticed that each joint is treenailed at the chocks.  This is optional.  You can follow the framing plan for the placement of those.   This is finicky to say the least.  If they arent all uniform in distance within a group from frame to frame it wont look good at all.  I have seen wooden treenails used here.  I decided to show them but I am not using wooden treenails. If not done properly and all of the same size, again they would look really bad.   Better to leave these off the model than risk that.  So I am just using more black fishing line.  They are always the same size.  I am using 25 pound line for these.   Wooden treenails turn black anyway because of the end grain.  We shall see later after the hull is all framed up if this was a mistake.  You will have to make a decision about this for your model.

 

 

Tomorrow I start gluing frames onto the keel....

 

 

 

[AnobiumPunctatum]

It looks excellent. You make it really hard for me to stay true to my resolutions.

[Chuck]

Good Morning folks...

 

I had previously made a bunch of frames as a test that can now be placed on the keel.  But before I do that, let me show you the plan for two "Tall" full height frames.  I just want to show you guys the differences you will encounter between some of these.  Primarily the fact that some of the frames will have a full floor section across the keel with futtocks on either side.  like the one below...

 

 

Others will will have a FLOOR Chock that sits on the keel with the futtocks following on either side up to the sheer.  This is typical so when you are searching for the parts on the frames you are building, beware of the two variations.   This type of square frame construction will alternate every other frame on the keel.

 

 

With this in mind, it is time to place the very first "TALL" frame on your model.  I strongly urge you to start with frame "Aa".  This frame is shown on the build board template so you will be able to ensure that it is centered and perfectly vertical.  This is so crucial.  This first frame you place on the keel is crucial that you glue it on perfect vertical and centered port and starboard.   The reason is that all subsequent frames will "Lock" into each other across the the jig cross bar.

 

Before you begin...Make sure the three center keel notches line up with those shown on the build board template.  Adjust your keel on the build board before gluing in the first frame.

 

So a few notes:   

 

You will absolutely need many good quality metal squares.  I have about 7 of these in various sizes.  They are heavy steel squares.

 

I used four of them to align this first frame "Aa" on the keel.  Remember to have it facing the right direction.  The arrow on the jig cross piece always faces forward.

 

In the photo above you can see a square placed against the outside of the frame on both sides.   It is basically at the frames widest part or maximum unfaired width.   This should line up with the outside hull line on the build board template.  This marks the Maximum breadth or width of the hull.   Now it may not fall exactly on the line because you havent faired the hull frames yet,  but it will be very close.   I left a lot of meat on those frames for fairing.  The important thing to remember is to make sure that it is equal distance from the "maximum breadth line".

 

In addition you can see one more square on each side of the frame.  These are used to ensure that the frame is perfectly vertical.  They sit against the fore side of the frame.  The metal squares are quite heavy with a flat block on the bottom.  So they stay where you place them.  I applied some yellow glue to the notch and seated it on the keel.  

 

Moving the heavy squares before the glue set,  the frame was adjusted so it was in the correct position.  I left the squares where they were until the glue fully dried.

 

From this point on you can start adding the remaining "Tall" full height frames next to it.  They should fit perfectly needing only minor adjustment as the cross bar jig on each frame act like puzzle pieces.   Concentrate on building and installing several tall full height frames first.  See below.  I have installed 5 of them.

 

They are glued directly to the keel...BUT,  I have yet to glue the cross jig bars together.  I am not really sure you need to do so.  I have simply used a length of tape to secure them to one another.   This will be advantageous when we cut them free after planking.  We will be able to remove one jig cross bar at a time rather than the whole top which would be more cumbersome to do. 

 

See the tops all fit together like a puzzle piece below.  The tape holds them tightly together and it is quite sturdy.   

 

ALSO...note the spaces left between these full height frames.   These spaces are for the "Short" frames I mentioned.  With the spaces fore them now defined, we can start adding those.   The "short" frames fall where there are gunports and sweep ports.  They have a port sill or sweep port designed into the tops of the frames.   We will cover there construction and mounting next.

 

 

Any questions...there is a lot to cover but since this will be a kit and possible group build I want to make sure my descriptions are thorough and understandable.

 

DRAT...notice that one frame where I forgot to sand the laser char from the inside edge....That will leave a dirty mess of dust when I fair the interior.  I will try and clean that up ahead of time.  Its important to try and get the majority of laser char off of the inside and outside edges before you make up each frame.  That dirt char dust will get everywhere and make your frames look dirty later when you fair the hull.

 

If you examine the framing plan you will notice that above the wales...the framing get interesting and unique.   Since this will be covered with planking it does NOT follow actual framing practices.  It was designed with ease of construction in mind.  Here is an early draft of the framing...showing the first few frames I have drafted and built in this post.   It will help put into perspective what I am describing.

 

 

WHAT A TREAT!!!  No big box of scaffolding all around your frames and hull so you cant see what you are building.  Its a very different concept than all of those POF kits folks are buying on EBAY and ALI EXPRESS.

 

 

[westwood]

Wow Chuck you're showing great engineering again.
My Winnie still has a long voyage ahead.
And I already know what I want to come next.

[dvm27]

I would have never thought one could design a foolproof method of plank on frame construction but you seem to be on track to accomplish this Chuck. Your framing plan also insures that the sweep and gun ports will be in perfect alignment, always a difficult task. And yes, it is a pleasure to build without elaborate upright building boards. You can actually appreciate the fine lines of the hull as they are formed.

[Trussben]

Looks great Chuck, makes sense to only use an as such simple scarph joint instead of full chocks for a much easier frame construction, will make the angled cant frames much easier as you won’t need angled chocks either.

 

 

[bdgiantman2]

Great looking first few ribs, Mr. Passaro, and thank you so much for the well explained instructions thus far. I am guessing that those grooves you have made in the taller ribs double up not only as the markers for the railings but also be the marker guides for the shorter ribs and using the same puzzle construction for them? I will look forward to much more on this project.

 

Brian D

[the learner]

Fantastic start on a new kit, POF from a master builder. I would like to put my name on the list for one when you start production! I promise not to tell my wife until it's on my bench. hehe....

 

[Jim Rogers]

I think this would be great for a Group Project with parts and monographs published like you did the Winnie.

[Pirate adam]

The frame alignment jig is genius and so simple (like so many genius things are).  Something similar could be easily adopted to any plank on frame build by carefully measuring room and space.  I am putting it in my mental notebook for my planned upcoming Swan build.

Adam

[Goodshipvenus]

Looks great. I would love to build a POF kit that is actually well designed and engineered, and that has instructions in clear, grammatical English. That’s why I like Chris Watton’s products.  If there’s a list to buy Speedwell when it’s ready please put me on it.

Edited November 30, 2022 by Goodshipvenus

[allanyed]

Bravo Chuck!!

 

Phil Rizzuto's catch phrase says it all.

 

Allan

 

[Chuck]

Thanks guys…not much progress on her lately because I got crushed with sales on Monday.  I will be making blocks and rope for the next two weeks at least.  Completely sold out of blocks…not one package remaining.  
 

I hope to at least get more drafting work done on the project in the evenings.

[James G]

Ah, the holiday rush is on!!!

[druxey]

a) You must have supplied several navies with blocks and line by now and b) you need to purchase Brunel's block-making machinery from Portsmouth.

[Chuck]

Your not kidding....So much rope...LOL.

 

But work continues on other aspects of the project.  None of these are finished yet.   Lots of work still to be done on them...

 

[Beef Wellington]

This looks fantastic Chuck, what is your trick for removing laser char so thoroughly?  Everything is so clean.

[Chuck]

13 minutes ago, Beef Wellington said:

This looks fantastic Chuck, what is your trick for removing laser char so thoroughly?  Everything is so clean.

Patience...but no seriously.   

 

If the wood is thick,  say 3/32"and above,   I scrape the char first with a straight razor.  Its quick and painless.   I dont remove it all by any means this way.  Then I switch to sandpaper.   But not just any sandpaper.  The grit is super important.   I mainly use 320 grit.   The motion or technique is important and I just cant describe it.  I may have to film it some day.  But at a minimum I probably use more sandpaper than most.  Yes sandpaper can be expensive.  But the real trick is switching to a clean piece often.  The moment you see the sandpaper get brown and compacted with char you need to switch.  Otherwise you are just rubbing dirty wood with dirty sandpaper and pushing the char into the grain.   Thats the issue with most people.  So after a few passes, I slap the sandpaper on the edge of the table to remove as much dirty char dust as possible.  The moment it stops becoming reasonably clean it gets tossed.

 

The edges clean up pretty quickly this way.  But sometimes with such large pieces like the keel and the frame components it will just take a lot of time no matter how you look at it.  

 

For thinner or more delicate pieces I will use 400 grit...no scraping.    It just all comes off for me.  I dont know why it is a problem for some.  I really do think its in the technique.  I sand with a light touch.  Not a lot of pressure as that just rubs/pushes the char and dirt into the wood.  

 

For small areas like corners a very sharp blade....I just slice it away in the corners.  Very thin almost tissue paper thin slices.

 

Thats pretty much it.   It does suck removing a lot of char from many pieces and it does take time.  But I do spend that amount of time on every piece.   If I dont want to take the time then its impossible to get it all off.  It wont get removed quickly but it will eventually get done.

 

I think the technique of a light touch and clean sandpaper is the trick.   On the end grain however I find it just easier to slice it off if its in an area that will be seen.  Usually after scraping if its a thick board.   Its too easy to push the char into the end grain when using sandpaper.  I am talking razor thin tissue paper thickness of a slice removed.  Once shaved then I just use some clean 320 grit to even it out.  Now I dont build other manufactures  kits any longer...but on all of my laser cut pieces there is enough meat on them so a micro layer of char can be removed or sliced away without causing the part to not fit anymore.  Sadly, other kit makers dont do this and if you actually removed the char from parts they end up too small.   That is a problem I dont know how to solve.   But on my kits its the opposite...you have an issue if you dont remove the char...The parts will be slightly oversized.   So in order for my kits to fit together as intended, people must remove it...no choice but to take the time to do it.

 

 

 

 

[kurtvd19]

I keep a rubber cleaning block meant to clean sanding discs and belts on my bench if using sandpaper on the char as Chuck describes.  The rubber when dragged across the sandpaper will remove the char from the sandpaper.  If you use a disc sander or a belt sander you probably have used one of these cleaning blocks.  Available at most stores selling sanding tool - even Micro-Mark has them.  This will prolong the usefulness of the sandpaper.

 

 

[mtaylor]

I'll have to try that, Kurt.  I've always just used a shop vac along with the "light touch" Chuck mentions.  

[Goodshipvenus]

I use sanding sticks of various widths and also use a shop-vac to clean them. Still, removing char is never fun. Woody Joe’s Japanese 17th century merchant ship was the only laser-cut model I ever built that had virtually no char. Don’t know how they did it.

[Chuck]

Getting closer on the transom...

 

[yvesvidal]

Chuck,

 

Will it be CNC carving or 3D printing? Or hand carving... 😁

 

Yves

Edited December 1, 2022 by yvesvidal

[Chuck]

3D printed probably but ultimately cast in tanish color resin like I did for the Winnie.   I am not sure these will be able to be carved on a CNC.   The details and the design has such small details even at 3/8" scale.  

 

Chuck

[Wintergreen]

Interesting thread this one. The two Speedwell volumes are patiently waiting in my library.

 

But regarding your renders of the carvings Chuck... I can't even begin to understand how you do it in the computer.

But then, I don't have to. I think I'll just pull up a chair in the back row and admire your work. 🙂 

 

Keep it up!

[Nirvana]

On 11/13/2022 at 1:45 PM, DBorgens said:

When I eventually finish Pegasus, I plan to build Speedwell. Your kit will be perfect as I don’t have the machine tools.

 

Dave B

I can see you building Speedwell. A suitable ship for you.

[Chuck]

The "SHORT SQUARE FRAMES".....

 

Basically these are built the same way as the taller square frames.   They just dont extend all the way to the "jig" top that helps position the tall frames.   These are the frames that fall where a gun port or sweep port are located.   The "short frame" 2a is shown below.   It does have a cross beam of sorts.  This is used to help stabilize it and give it the correct shape.   Notice how it is glued onto the bottom of little square protrusions on the inboard side of the frame.  All of the short frames will have this cross piece.  It will be removed after we plank the exterior of the hull much later in the project.  You can build these as shown just like the other frames.  Just make sure the stepped futtocks appear on the correct side of the frame when you glue them onto the keel. 

 

NOTE the blocks for the sweep port labelled 2a.  These are made by gluing two laser cut layers together.  Glue them together so the etched reference letters face each other.  Dont glue these onto the frames yet.  Just keep them ready to go once you glue the short frame onto the keel first.

 

Dont forget to finalize the chocks by shaving off half of it....and when you glue them onto the keel make sure the "step" is facing the correct way....either fore or aft based on the plans.

 

If you recall,  we installed a bunch of the tall frames earlier.  This left a bunch of open spots where the shorter frames will be installed.

 

In this photo you can see a coupe of short frames I completed on the forward side so far.  One has a sweep port and another has the lower gun port sill.  There is another short frame which has been glued into position.  It is frame 2a shown earlier.   It was glued into the final spot I had ready for it between the two tall frames.  Sitting on the top of the model you can see the two sweep port pieces which I will add next.  I have already dry fit them in position.  I had to sand a little off both sides to make it fit really nice without spreading the two frames apart on either side of it.

 

You will notice some pencil lines that I drew on both sides of the sweep port blanks.   While they were being test fit,  I traced the shape of the frames on both sides of it so I have a reference. 

 

It makes sense to remove your test fitting of these and sand them close to those lines now before you glue them in position.  It will save a lot of sanding when it comes time to fair the hull later.   You dont have to get it perfect but try and chisel or sand these close to there finished shapes.  You can see my pre shaped sweep port block for the starboard side.

 

 

Once sanded...I glued them in position permanently.  Be careful to check your framing plan.  Make sure you have these oriented correctly and dont flip them.  You want your sweep ports in the correct position after all.  Use the provided templates to make sure all of the gun ports and sweep ports are in the correct position..at the correct height and spaced properly.

 

These templates will be provided on the plans.  This in combination with other means of measurement will really help ensure that your ports all end up where they are supposed to.   The top of the template aligns with the sheer.   The bottom of the template actually aligns with the top edge of the wales.  The heights are most important for the ports and dont go nuts if your openings are a 1/64" to the left or right.   It will all work out in the end.   You can always fix slight issues before you start planking if you have to do some shifting.  But I highly recommend that you use this template from the start of your framing to check the port positions as you progress.   If you do this before you glue the actual sweep port fillers into position permanently (and the gun port sills),  you can adjust them at that time to ensure the opening are in the correct spots.   Then after you get them to match the template, glue them in permanently.  Using the template is really the key to successfully and easily taking the guess-work out of positioning the ports.

 

NOTE: With any POF project there is a lot going on and a lot of parts.  It is inevitable that some frames may not end up where you want them exactly.   Thats OK and certainly it happened to me.  You may get a slight bend in your frame etc.   Your wood thickness might be a little over or under with your frames.   Maybe a frame isnt perfectly perpendicular to the keel after it settles once glued in.  Creep can be an issue after 20 frames etc.   But regardless of where you frames end up you can easily manipulate the sweep port fillers and sills using the templates to get them exactly where you want them.   As you can see the framing looks perfect to the naked eye but I can assure you they are not...the template is your salvation!!! The photo below shows all of the square frames complete with a template I used to ensure all of the ports are positioned correctly.

 

 

I did use my steel squares to line all of this stuff up as well.  I used the square as a height gauge to make sure the sweep port was the correct height off of the build board.   I have yet to do the port side and this will be done soon.  This is where the model stands at the moment.  Things will slow down now as I try and repeat this process until all of the square frames have been completed.  There are over 40 square frames. 

 

Resist the urge to incrementally fair the hull until you have quite  a few frames  glued into position.   In fact it is best to wait until they are all in position but I do realize it is hard to resist.  I have lightly sanded the exterior a bit but I am careful not to over do it.   I dont want to screw up the correct shape for the hull which is tough to see with only a few frames on the keel like this.

When there is a lower gun port sill instead of a sweep port block, they are handled in the exact same way.   They come in two layers as well....follow the same procedure.

 

 

[Oldsalt1950]

Not only is this a great build log for the Speedwell prototype, but a great primer for those of us contemplating building our first Plank on Frame kit. 

 

Jim