Fischerboat No.2 by TheDuckDetective - Dioramaworld - 1:35

[TheDuckDetective]

Geetings everyone, I am a new to this forum, Dutch modeler.
Today I will be posting the first build log of the build that will be about me dipping my toes into wooden boat building. I have build and painted several plastic models, resin figures and metal soldiers during my adult modelling career. I've always looked in awe at the wooden ship models of those beautiful tall ships and thought of it as something that was a step too far for me and my patience. However I recently saw a youtube video about a "small" fishing vessel that looked like it would be very doable and would allow me to venture into the wooden model world to see if it was something I could enjoy.

So long story short. I order the Fischerboat No.2 from Dioramaworld and while I wait for it to be sent to me, I do my research. It took quite a while to arrive because the kit is made to order. When it arrives I check the contents and everything seems to be in order.

The quality seems to be really good and the instructions, which altough relatively barebones compared to most plastic model kits, are clear and I start by assembling the bulkheads and false keel. The deck goes on afterwards, everything gets clamped down and glued with CA glue.

 

Next up is the planking of the deck, the planks have been precut and need some encouragement to fit between the stanchions(Bulkheads?). Maybe I shouldn't have glued the bulkheads to the false keel yet. Alas, Luckily nothing major gets damaged. Planking goes fast and every plank gets secured in place with CA glue. 

 

Next up is fairing the bulkheads, which was a bit tougher than I had thought. I though my rigid sanding sponge would be sufficient but it turned out to be too small and at the same time, too big at some spots. So I will be getting a sanding block and better metal files for the next build. 

 

For those who are interested. The blue box seen in the above picture is my home grown dust-extractor, based around 2 server cooling fans that filter the air through fine dust-rate vacuum cleaner bags.

After I'm done fairing. It's time to start the planking. This is where I run into two problems. The first one is my glue, which is a "slow" thick CA glue. Keyword here being "slow". Which was advantageous on my other model, but is a royal pain in the rear during planking because it takes a dab of glue 7 minutes round to bond a plank to a single bulkhead. This combined with the second problem of me not having enough clamps creates a planking rate of around 2 planks, every one and a half hour.

 

 

This glue obviously won't do. So I'm leaning towards buying a faster setting CA glue. But I've also seen people recommending better clamping methods paired with wood glue. or even using nails instead of clamps. I'm still on the fence about it.

 

 

I'm pretty satisfied with the result so far. Even though I couldn't get the plank to bend up, towards the bow. I will be able to fix this in a later stage of the build with a steeler plank. 

That is as far as I have gotten this weekend. Life has restarted this monday and planking will have to continue at a later date. An order of clamps will be coming in this week so at least I will be better prepared. I'm open to idea's about how I can upgrade my planking technique.

I had good fun with these first steps and I can't wait to continue.

 

As a side note, I'm planning to rework some of the cabin. In particular the roof and on board systems. I'm also planning on replacing the mast with fishing equipment to make it look like one of the fishing boats that are moored in my local harbour. I'll be drawing the parts in CAD and printing them with a Resin 3D printer.

Thats all so far.

-Duck

 

 

Edited February 6, 2023 by TheDuckDetective
Spelling and fomatting

[TheDuckDetective]

Allright, exams are over and even though I'm still in the midst of graduating I've made some time to continue the build. 

 

For the planking technique I have chosen to go with the method suggested by the Kit instructions. From the sheer strake down there'll be 8 planks total. After which a plank will be put roughly in the middle of the remaining unplanked area, this plank will run straight but touch the ends of the allready laid planks. 

I'm not sure what this method is called but I've seen others doing it this way too.

More planks are added parallel next to the newly laid plank until there is no space for unmodified planks anymore.

 

 

Now came the part which I was dreading a bit. I had to taper the planks to fit into the remaining gaps. However, after the first two planks I found a way that worked for me. Which was to put the plank up to the point of the tapered space and mark on the plank where the full width plank will fit again. Then I cut the taper into the plank by clamping it and a ruler to secure them during cutting. 

 

 

This worked really well. I quite like the planking proces, I find it to be meditative.

 

 

 

Sanding planks to be true to the transom. If you take a look at the last plank next to the deadwood, you can see where I lost my patience a little bit. Not to worry, I might be able to clean that up with a bit of sanding.

 

Over all very happy with the result of the planking.

 

 

Put in some planks to raise the bow and gunwale. After fair those down to match the lines of the ship. I put on the gunwale. 

Now it's time to start working on the wheelhouse.

The base is lasercut MDF and it will be covered in the balsa strips. This is where I first stray from the instructions because I wanted to put my own spin on the design of the wheelhouse.

 

Base mdf

 

 

Base layer of planking. The windows will be filed into existence.

 

 

The doorway gets a frame and the lines underneath the windows and baseboard add detail to the structure. 

 

 

The lines run along the entirety of the wheelhouse to unify the design.

 

 

The Keel also gets an extension which runs up to where the rudder post will be.

 

Since last time I've switched to fast working CA glue which has made a world of difference and I will defenitly continue using it. 

Next up is up detailing the wheelhouse. Design and make the roof. start work on the deck furniture and deciding on the equipment.

 

Thats all for now.

 

[TheDuckDetective]

Allright, still in the midst of finishing up my graduation papers. But i've found the best way to wind down after a long day of writing to be working with my hands. So it's time for the 3rd installment of Duck building a fishing boat.

Since the boat isn't based on a real example I've been taking inspiration from multiple vessels and taking the ideas that I think look good. I realise that the finished design might not work as a real working boat. But the project is allready running longer than I anticipated; which is probably something I should get used to.. Anyway... 

Todays post is about scratchbuilding.

 

I wanted to give the boat a railing that runs over the bullwarks at the front. My aim is to make the boat look more modern. I decided to use 2mm brass rod to bend into the proper shape. It doesnt show in the pictures. but this was everything BUT as easy as I imagined..

 

 

 I used white baking paper to trace the bow curve and used the tracings as a template. The horizontal lines are where the bends will be.

 

 

After a lot of shaping. The correct shape emerged.

 

 

This is me testing the height of the vertical stakes.

I'm mostly eyeballing what looks good.

Time for a bit of a sidetrack. I finished drawing some of the deck hardware and printed them for testfitting.

 

Mastfoot and hinge, details are not very visible. but bolts and fasteners have also been modelled. I have to say that I'm really impressed with the accuracy of a resinprinter. I'm used to the very visible printing layers on PLA printers but the layers are nearly invisibly small on the resinprinter parts.

The roof is quite a large print and thus printed with a PLA printer. Those layers will  be smoothed at an upcomming step.

 

 

Exhaust and roof. I smoothed the roof by covering it with modelling putty dissolved in modelling cement and sanding after drying.

 

 

 

Everything fitted and some vertical railing parts are in place. I'm using CA glue to hold the brass rail together, but this was a mistake. I should have soldered the connections because CA glue connections are too fragile. I've lost count of the amount of times I had to re-glue one of the buggers because I was slightly too careless while handling the railing. 

 

 

3D printed parts are primed and once again fitted. at this point I'm thinking about making the mast and crane larger. But I'll have to get new round stock. Hmm maybe.

Time to add the hatches. The instructions called for copper plate with a handle of folded wire. I decided to add hinges and a piece of wood to fasten them on to. 

 

Small

 

Putting scuppers in. It's finally beginning to look like a functioning vessel!

I'm also experimenting with a antenna and running lights mounting point.

 

 

Added a Jerrycan for added deck details. In the back of the picture the tires are visible that will be strung to the side of the boat.

I think the one pictured below is too high and maybe a little bit unrealistic. That one will probably change a lot before I'm happy with it. The mast is going to be higher and pulleys will be added to opperate the crane and lifting hardware. 

I'm slowly nearing the end of the building stage and I've started testing some paints and wood/fastening similuation techniques.

 

 

 

The scheme will probably look as follows:

Under waterline: Antifouling Red

Above waterline: Blue with white details

Bulwark rail: Dark redbrown woodstain

Deck: Unpainted wood

Bulwarks: White

Wheelhouse: White with dark wood stained details

 

Thats all I have time for right now. Thank you for the likes and taking the time to read this log!

Till next time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 12, 2023 by TheDuckDetective
Delete excess pictures v2

[Paul Le Wol]

Hi Duck, this is a fine looking build and build log. The additions and modifications to the kit are making a real difference!

[TheDuckDetective]

Thank you Paul! It's not a technically accurate build or anything but I'm sure it'll look nice in the living room.

 

Last post was in April.. Time really does fly by when you're not watching.

Work is still continuing on the boat though, albeit less fast. 

 

 

The antenna now doesn't have as steep of an angle, and I've made it some fastenings of copper plate. Although it might not be visible after painting.

I've discovered a local store that stocks deck furniture and other small bits and bops, where I bought a couple of accesoires for the boat. 

One of those is the little brass horn which I made a small mounting to sit at the front of the roof.

 

 

I've decided to make the mast longer and also slightly wider to give it more mass. Which I thought would look better. So I've reprinted the mastfoot and the swivel(which might be called a Tack, I'm not sure if thats for sails only).

The cleat was made from small diameter metal wire with copper folded over to form the part that connects to the mast.

The Pulley at the top of the mast is way out of scale but it was allready glued on before I really noticed. I'll keep it the way it is. Some copper plate wrapped arround the top of the mast for added detail. And I made the first eye on the boom.

 

"Something something.. Double edged sword.."

Even though it works, it might be time for a better saw.. 

I'm made a travel lock(not the correct term) to hold the boom. I might decide to not put it on the finished model since the rigging will hold it up.

 

 

Test fitting everything. 

And I found some model cleats which I think look good, so they'll be used on the sides of the boat.

 

Next up I made navigation light mountings from some stirrer sticks I found while raiding the kitchen.

 

 

The lights are also from my local hobby store.

 

 

Test fit with most of the smaller details. The small Chimney I made from some copper piping and 3d printed top connected with small metal wire. I didn't take any pictures during that fiddly process, but I am really happy with how it turned out.

The navigation lights are maybe also a bit large for the scale, but I'm fine with how it looks.

 

 

I've filed the kit window the fit the porthole I got which will add some extra detail to the door.

 

I like how the boat looks so far. There will be some more details added and then the painting will commence.

 

 

Also I feel like the boat is trying to tell me something here.. Maybe it's too humid the house.

 

Thank you for reading and untill next time.

 

- Duck