USS Constitution by Hipexec - FINISHED - Constructo - 1:82

[augie]

You might want to invest in a small, hand held pin vise to handle your bits from #60 down to #80. 

[HIPEXEC]

What do you know! I found a hidden compartment in the handle of my hand drill that contained another collet...this one for smaller bits like my 0.5mm one.

[Sjors]

Looks great Rich,

 

I like the idea to put pins into the rail......

Something for me to do when I reach that part.

So ,your tools are having secret compartments.......I have to take a look at my tools if they have also something like that!

 

[HIPEXEC]

Trim & support for the port toprail

[HIPEXEC]

Trim & toprail support starboard side

[HIPEXEC]

Stern trim & toprail support. Also, port side trim with no clamps. Next I'll tackle the inside trim and toprail supports.

[HIPEXEC]

Good old Constructo! If you look closely at this drawing, you will see Constructo tells me to glue two 2mm x 2mm pieces to the top of the toprail. There is no way I have the talent to try to glue two separate 2mm x 2mm strips with each only having a 1mm surface to grip to. I decided when I finish gluing on all the trim, I shall glue two 2mm x 2mm pieces together making on 2mm x 4mm plank which I will then glue & pin to finish the toprail. Do you all think that will work?

[patrickmil]

Rich, that sounds like a good plan. The work you've done on the rails so far looks outstanding.

[HIPEXEC]

While I'm trimming the aft toprails, I figured I'd stay ahead with the bow toprails. Wow! Trying to bend 2mm x 10mm Sapele that  is harder than bending steel. At least steel is bendable. I only have to put a slight curve on them, but they don't seem to budge. The rest of the toprail is 2mm x 5mm and bends easier (not easy) the the 10mm stuff.

 

The 5mm stuff is being bent on the jig I built for planking the hull. The 1mm stuff is being bent on the form that came with by heating iron.

 

We'll see?

Edited March 30, 2014 by Hipexec

[HIPEXEC]

I just glued the last of the toprail trim & support to the aft portion of the ship. Next will be the forward section if I can get that 2mm x 10mm stuff to curve.

Edited March 31, 2014 by Hipexec

[HIPEXEC]

Now I'm trying to get net shape curves for the bow top rails. My jig only got me almost there, so I'm trying something new. I am using the cutout from my false deck as a jig and clamping the 2mm x 5mm planks to it in the exact shape needed. I soaked everything for 30 minutes.

 

As far as the 2mm x 10mm bow pieces go...I'm trying an extreme bending method. I'm using my heating iron jig and some vice clamps. I'll either break them or curve them. Time will tell.

[src]

Wow, that's a tough bend. Do you have any wider planks you can use? Then you can cut out smaller sections and scarf joint them together. Looks good when it's finished also. I ended up doing that on my enterprise when constructo wanted me to make my cap rails out of 3 pieces of 2x2 mm mis matched parts. I had to order material from hobby mill to do it though.

 

The trim work looks good.

 

Sam

[HIPEXEC]

Sam,

Believe it or not...it looks like the 10mm stuff took the curve!

 

The 5mm planks took the curve perfectly so I pinned and glued them on. Next, I have to shape those 10mm planks then pin & glue them.

[augie]

That's the right stuff.  At times, brute force triumphs

[src]

That's the right stuff.  At times, brute force triumphs

a bigger hammer never hurts either. 

Looks good Rich.

Sam

[HIPEXEC]

I just finished shaping the fore pieces for the bow toprail. I had to double check the prints and instruction book to get a rough idea of the exact shape. I guess I'm close. I'll pin and glue them tonight. This stuff is tougher that steel.

Edited April 1, 2014 by Hipexec

[HIPEXEC]

Here's the fore pieces bow toprail pinned, then glued. Everything, of course, will be filled and sanded smooth when dry.  

[src]

Rich

The curve and fit looks good.

Those small pre shaped parts are tough to bend I have found. I had similar issues myself. For me, in the future I think it will be easier to buy lumber and bend out of a larger piece then shape.

[HIPEXEC]

Those parts were not pre-shaped! They were just ordinary 10mm planks. You're right, it would have been easier to get the bend with a longer piece. Live and learn.

[HIPEXEC]

Here I am making planks to trim the toprails. The Constructo plans call for me to magically balance two and in some places  three 2mm planks on the head of a pin (a 2mm plank). I don't know how to do that, so I pre-gluing them, then I will pin and glue them to the toprail.

[src]

Ahhh my mistake, they looked suspiciously like the parts from the enterprise, I assumed they used a similar approach by giving you precut parts that you then bend to shape.

 

Looks like you have a plan worked out for your balancing act.

Sam

[HIPEXEC]

While I'm waiting for my trim to dry, I mounted the bowsprit and keel skeg and keel trim. I had pre-fit all these parts months ago when I was planking the hull, so it was just a matter of pinning and gluing. Constucto wanted me to put a blond keel trim on, but I like the matching Sapele that goes with the planks. 

[Sjors]

I think that you are proud of your self Rich with what you are doing !

Looks magnificent !

 

[patrickmil]

Outstanding progress sir!

[augie]

Great choice on the matching false keel.

[okyay3557]

While I'm waiting for my trim to dry, I mounted the bowsprit and keel skeg and keel trim. I had pre-fit all these parts months ago when I was planking the hull, so it was just a matter of pinning and gluing. Constucto wanted me to put a blond keel trim on, but I like the matching Sapele that goes with the planks.

Hi! I mised instruction manual book .Do you know pdf formatted instruction file of this book?

Thanks

 

 

I got it...From procuder's sent them by e-mail     

I have pdf file.How can I send ?

Edited April 3, 2014 by okyay3557

[HIPEXEC]

Sorry, but no.

[HIPEXEC]

I'm slowly installing the rails & trim  (pinned & glued) to the aft half of the ship. Constructo's use of 2mm x 2mm pieces, two across and three across, makes for interesting rails. I'll have to fill them in before varnishing. I'll start on the bow section next, but with its severe curves, It will be harder to trim. The bow stem fits pretty good, but that's because I worked on it for days right after I planked the hull.  

[HIPEXEC]

Now that I've installed the keel skeg, the boat suddenly got "floppy" on my work bench. So, I created a stabilizer with some straight Teflon strips I had...and what do you know....no more boat "flopping!"

[HIPEXEC]

Problem. I soaked some of the blond trim to bend it...and it got stained dark. Probably from leftover Sapele "juice" in my soaking tube. I just bleached this bunch hoping to lighten it.