Hsae Posted January 7, 2023 Share #1 Posted January 7, 2023 I always wanted to build this boat. I bought the hard copy To Build a Whaleboat by Eric Ronnberg 20 years ago. I found the kit by accident on eBay for a reasonable price. Inspired by the already existing excellent blogs in this forum I will give it a try. The box I received didn’t look so good and I was afraid that the wood was wrapped already, but to my surprise it was still good (so far as I know). There is one thing I do not like from the beginning, the drawings are on both sides, obviously to save paper. That makes it kind of annoying to look for certain things. I believe the older kits had it on separate sheets, or the newer version? ccoyle, Prowler901 and BobG 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hsae Posted January 7, 2023 Author Share #2 Posted January 7, 2023 The first thing I noticed that the molds do not match the drawing. Believing that the drawings are accurate I have some work to do. BobG, Prowler901, Jorge Hedges and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcmdrvr Posted January 7, 2023 Share #3 Posted January 7, 2023 Looks like a great little build. Will follow your progress. ccoyle 1 Quote Completed Builds: USS Cairo by BlueJacket; Nave Egizia by Amati; Harriet Lane by Model Shipways Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hsae Posted January 8, 2023 Author Share #4 Posted January 8, 2023 I am surprised how bad the accuracy for the „laser cut“ pieces are. Oh well, live and learn. I did cut the molds according to the drawing, glued some strips on the molds where it was necessary. After that a lot of sanding. Prowler901 and BobG 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hsae Posted January 8, 2023 Author Share #5 Posted January 8, 2023 Next was getting the waterlines on the molds and reduce thickness on the bow & stern (WL 1-4) ccoyle, BobG, Prowler901 and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hsae Posted January 21, 2023 Author Share #6 Posted January 21, 2023 (edited) Thank you for the likes & comments That will be a long build, time wise, because I can only work on the model on weekends. Furthermore I had to build something for my cloth pin collection. I managed to get the hull molds and the horses done. I encountered more issues withe the “laser cut” parts than I had imagine. But nothing which couldn’t be fixed. It was just time consuming before you actually start building. Edited January 21, 2023 by Hsae Prowler901, ccoyle and BobG 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hsae Posted January 21, 2023 Author Share #7 Posted January 21, 2023 (edited) On a side note, the waviness of the plan was / is kind of annoying. you have to be very carefully if you measure something. BTW, I reinforced the molds. Edited January 21, 2023 by Hsae ccoyle 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hsae Posted January 21, 2023 Author Share #8 Posted January 21, 2023 (edited) Next was to bend and attach the cap strip. I used hot water to soak it and clamp it to the molds. Edited January 21, 2023 by Hsae BobG and ccoyle 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hsae Posted January 21, 2023 Author Share #9 Posted January 21, 2023 (edited) Of cause I forgot to notch mold #1 & #5. I noticed it after I had glued them together. In this case a mini Japanese saw is very helpful. The blades are ultra thin, only 0.1 mm or 0.00393701” ! One saw is for crosscut the other for rip cut. Edited January 21, 2023 by Hsae BobG 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hsae Posted January 21, 2023 Author Share #10 Posted January 21, 2023 Next was to bevel molds # 1, 2, 4 & 5 BobG 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hsae Posted January 21, 2023 Author Share #11 Posted January 21, 2023 The big moment where I finally start building a boat, to attach the molds to the horses. And an even bigger surprise, it didn’t fit. In my infinite wisdom I glued the center horse already in place. With the result you see in the pictures. Maybe next time I should dry fit everything first, before I glue it together. Oh well … After adding some strips under the stern & bow horse, I was able to level the mold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hsae Posted January 21, 2023 Author Share #12 Posted January 21, 2023 … laminating the steam & stern posts… BobG and Prowler901 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hsae Posted January 22, 2023 Author Share #13 Posted January 22, 2023 I have a question for you guys. How in the world can the two keel layer (1/16 + 3/64) match the six posts with 1/32 each? The difference is roughly 5/64”. I am struggling with the scarf joint. Or am I overthinking this? Just sand it down? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoff Matson Posted January 22, 2023 Share #14 Posted January 22, 2023 Hello, nice job so far. One thing I did with my plans was to just iron them with my wife's iron. Then I cut foam board to size and attach the plans with clips. You could also use just thick poster board. Just an idea. I look forward to you progress BobG 1 Quote Geoff NRG member #2666Current build : USS Constitution Finished builds: Armed Virginia Sloop (in gallery) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hsae Posted January 22, 2023 Author Share #15 Posted January 22, 2023 I was thinking that too. But I wasn’t sure if I don’t have the print reverse on the iron board. I’ll give it a try. Thats a good idea with the foam board. 👍 Thanks Geoff! Hermann Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hsae Posted January 22, 2023 Author Share #16 Posted January 22, 2023 Meanwhile I did my first oar. I made it out of 3/8” square basswood. Of cause the handle broke off. I will see if I can fix that, or if I have to cut into the oar a little bit further. BobG and Prowler901 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hsae Posted January 22, 2023 Author Share #17 Posted January 22, 2023 Oar production … BobG, westwood and Prowler901 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hsae Posted January 29, 2023 Author Share #18 Posted January 29, 2023 (edited) Thank you for the likes. Slow process. Continuing with the paddles & oars … Edited January 29, 2023 by Hsae BobG and Prowler901 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hsae Posted January 29, 2023 Author Share #19 Posted January 29, 2023 I was also trying the line tub, but I don’t know if I like it … Prowler901 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hsae Posted February 5, 2023 Author Share #20 Posted February 5, 2023 (edited) So, I am done with the oars & paddles, except painting and weathering. According to the book from Willtis D. Amsel Paddels were reinforced with 2 pins with the handle. I used 1 mm diameter plastic rods. Edited February 5, 2023 by Hsae Prowler901 and BobG 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hsae Posted February 5, 2023 Author Share #21 Posted February 5, 2023 Btw, I found some nice photos from a 28ft. Bettle Whaleboat. https://beetlecat.com/28-beetle-whaleboat/ Some impressions: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hsae Posted February 5, 2023 Author Share #22 Posted February 5, 2023 (edited) Back to the model. I did my first big mistake. I already noticed that the dimensions are kind off (post #13), but I didn’t double check because I read that you have to take the measurement from the planking. Stupid me! I made the lower keel too thin. 1/16” instead of 5/64” like stated in the parts list and elsewhere. So I have to redo the whole procedure. 😒 Well live and learn! Edited February 5, 2023 by Hsae Prowler901 and Edwardkenway 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edwardkenway Posted February 11, 2023 Share #23 Posted February 11, 2023 I like these whaleboats, looks like you've made a good start, despite having little problems to overcome! RE wavy plans: give them a once over with the Admirals iron, it works for me to flatten creases in folded plans/drawings. Jack12477 1 Quote Current builds; Henry Ramey Upcher 1:25 Providence whaleboat- 1:25 HMS Winchelsea 1764 1:48 Completed: HM Cutter Sherbourne- 1:64- finished Triton cross section scratch- 1:60 - finished Non ship: SBD-3 Dauntless 1:48 Hasegawa -FINISHED Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hsae Posted February 11, 2023 Author Share #24 Posted February 11, 2023 Thanks for the encouragement! BTW, I did iron the drawings. It got much better. Today I got something which was for a long time on my wishlist. A steam generator. So far I did wood bending with hot water or with an iron, now I am looking forward to seeing this in action. BobG and Edwardkenway 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.