Norwegian Sailing Pram by WizardOfOs - FINISHED - Model Shipways - 1:12

[WizardOfOs]

I’m working on sails and confusing myself with knots. Progress first, then a question as to knot tying technique. 
 

I cut and glued the strips of cloth along the edges of the sail outline following instructions. Everything went smoothly and gave me a good result. 
 

 

I also added the wooden battens and the previously mentioned batten pockets as inspired by DanB’s log. They were easy enough to make.
 

For anyone interested they consist of the trimmings of the 3/8” strip. I put a bit of dilute glue on the sail, stuck the wooden batten to that, added a bit more dilute glue on top of the wood, stuck the “pocket” on top, and then thoroughly soaked the pocket with dilute glue until it smoothly formed around the batten. 
 

Next I flipped the sail over and added some off cuts to create the reinforcements in each of the four corners. 
 

 

The biggest lesson learned here is that it’s important to “repaint” the entire sail with dilute glue or else there will be some slight discoloration between the centre of the sail and edges. It’s barely noticeable, but I’ll know for next time. 
 

Then I cut the sail out with scissors and overlayed the schematic over it. That let me use a thumb tack to poke holes where they needed to be, which was a convenient way to register where to paint and drill. 
 

 

I opted to use gold paint to simulate brass grommets. 
 

So that’s where I am and now I need to tie knots. This is another area where I find myself out of my comfort area. 
 

I’m a bit confused as to how to lash the sail to the gaff at the two corners. I’ve drawn a diagram to try to help myself. 
 

 

In my diagram I have 5 steps (well, two versions of step 2 but I’ll get to that) which I think I need to follow. Could someone confirm if I’m on the right track or correct if needed? I appreciate it. 
 

1) pass one end through the sail and tie a knot from two half-hitches then pass the other end through the gaff from top to bottom 

 

2) continue the free end down from the gaff, back through the sail, back up through the top of the gaff. a) the line will pass on the “front” of the gaff both times, or b) the line will pass on the front of the gaff the first time and the back of the gaff the second. I think “a” is correct. 
 

3-4) we’re done with the hole in the gaff now. Loop back down through the sail and over the gaff twice. 
 

5) tie a knot (two half-hitches?) securing the free end to the gaff and cut the excess. Then mirror this process at the other corner. I guess more properly would be wait to tie this final knot on both ends at the same time so the sail can be made level to the gaff. 
 

Past that, I think I understand the lacing, haulyard, downhaul, tack, and clew as these seem straightforward. I’m sure it’s just a perspective problem I’m having with the gaff. 

[WizardOfOs]

I think I figured it out. Amazing what sleeping on a problem and then thinking about it while doing some repetitive work tasks on a Sunday can achieve. 
 

 

And some close ups of the two ends. 
 

 

In my diagram from the previous post, there is no step 5. Instead of looping back overtop the gaff at step 4, simply tie two half-hitches to create another anchor loop attaching the line to the sail. 
 

If it’s not perfect, it at least looks as exactly like the photograph in the manual as I am capable of. 

[Claire7]

Really appreciate your detailed notes as I’m going to build this boat next. It’s looking great!

[WizardOfOs]

I’ve been tying a whole lot of small knots. There’s not very much to say, it’s all gone smoothly and makes sense. 
 

First was lacing the gaff. 

 

Then came lashing to the boom. 

 

At the other end of the boom I think I made a slight error but it’s going to be very difficult to fix for limited benefit. I’ll consider it a lesson and move forward. 

 

The line should not have passed through the hole. 
 

Next I glued on the chaffing pad to the mast. 

 

I also tied up the fore stay. 

 

Which brings me to where things currently sit. Mast is raised and in approximately the final position, but not yet secured by the back stays. 
 

 

There is somewhat more of a backward sweep than I intended but the only way to fix that would be to entirely remake the fire stay line. Hopefully it’s not too comically exaggerated. 

 

Edited April 5, 2023 by WizardOfOs

[WizardOfOs]

I had thought it was time for final fitting, but then something happened. 
 

First up went the back stays. These went exactly according to plan. 

 

I also finished fastening the remaining lines were needed. 
 

The traveler, with the block attached. 

 

The halyard

 

The downhaul

 

And the main sheet 

 

So far, so good. then I had the hood sense to test fit the sail to the mast. 

 

Oops. Everything fit right and sat well adjusted except for one part, as you can see here. The Chaffing pad is too low. 
 

A little acetone helped remove the bulk of it. 

 

Then some sanding to get rid of most of what was left. 

 

Followed by another coat of paint. 

 

You can see my pencil mark indicating where the new pad needs to go. 
 

So now I’m just waiting for the paint to dry and will pick back up with installation of the new pad. 
 

A little setback, but it will make a big difference to me. 

[WizardOfOs]

Finishing touches have taken a little time to get to. I find I’m usually that way, slowing down a bit right at the end of a project. 
 

The new chaffing pad was added to the mast. 
 

 

I know it would have bothered me to leave it the way it was and can now be proud of the repair. If I didn’t tell you it had been fixed I don’t believe anyone would know. 
 

Then came the dressings. First a couple of rope coils. 

 

I can not begin to express how frustrating those were to create. I really like how they turned out but I’m going to need to find a better method for the future. All told, I enjoyed doing the (admittedly simple) rigging quite a lot. The coils were the only part to frustrate me. The entire experience with the sail has me excited to do the next one. 
 

 

As with the dory, I added a small name plate. Nothing fancy, and of course my chicken-scratch passing for lettering, but it’s important to label things. There is a much more comprehensive name/date/model name/manufacturer on the bottom of the base but I’ll refrain from showing that. 
 

For oars I decided to only include two of the four. Enough to get back to shore in an emergency but not so many as to clutter the boat. 
 

 

Of course there is a novel, sitting nearby and waiting to be read. 
 

 

And finally, a lunch packed away for later. 
 

 

My goal, both here and in the dory, is to try to tell a bit of a story along with the actual modeling of the boat. I’d like to keep that up throughout all my models moving forward. 
 

 

 

So that’s it. The Pram is finished and I’ll go edit the title of the thread as such. I plan to go find my camera in the next day or two and take a few higher quality pictures to make a gallery. I’ll come back here and add a link when that’s been done. 
 

I also sincerely want to thank all of you for following along and offering encouragement. I appreciate all the supporting posts and “likes.”

 

My next project will be the Muscongus Bay Lobster Smack, which is absolutely going to get a build log of its own. That will be forthcoming in a few weeks. 

 

[MajorChaos]

Outstanding boat! It looks fantastic. I like the living details. 

[druxey]

Great result, especially with the extras that you've made. Well done!

[Ryland Craze]

Beautiful model.  Congratulations!