USS Constitution by Der Alte Rentner - Model Shipways - 1/76

[mtbediz]

You're making pretty steady progress Peter. I don't know if you're going to glue the gratings in place, but I assume you've planned out how to make the gammoning as well.

[Unegawahya]

I’m happy to be able to help! She’s looking great!

[Der Alte Rentner]

Well, well, well.. another deficit in the Hunt practicum. There's absolutely no mention of gammoning that I can find anywhere through chapter 12. Now, maybe when I get back to my desktop I can search for the term "gammoning" and see if it pops up somewhere. But frankly, I hadn't even thought about it until you asked.

 

The grates are already glued in. Now that I've seen the gammoning on the plans, it's possible I might still be able to get them in, at some point. If not, I'm going to take a low-tech approach and cheat - perhaps just paint them on the bowsprit, or simply omit them. (For what it's worth, the Constructo kit plans don't even include them.)

 

If I don't cheat, maneuvering the chain is going to be really tricky.

 

Two steps forward, one step back.

 

Along those lines, I am finding it very difficult to glue the plank stiffeners in place. Neither tite-bond nor CA glue is sticking well to the lower head rail.  I'm hoping that the planks themselves will afford enough points of adhesion, that the whole structure will stay in place. Make that two steps forward, three steps back?

 

Thank you for bringing this to my attention, Mustafa.

Edited 6 hours ago by Der Alte Rentner
Typos

[mtbediz]

Yes, there had to be enough space between the bowsprit and the grates for the chains to pass through. But there's nothing to do now. If I were you, at this stage, I would make the gammon out of rope instead of chain, this solution might be easier and wouldn't be wrong. I read somewhere that gammon were made out of rope before the chain.

Edited Monday at 04:24 PM by mtbediz

[Der Alte Rentner]

58 minutes ago, mtbediz said:

there's nothing to do now. If I were you, at this stage, I would make the gammon out of rope instead of chain, this solution might be easier and wouldn't be wrong. I read somewhere that gammon were made out of rope before the chain.

 

Hey, that's a great idea!  If I get that far..   

 

Today was very frustrating.  While gluing in the first plank, those "plank stiffeners" came loose at several points along the lower head rail.  I pieced things back together as best I could and hope that subsequent planks serve to reinforce the structure.  My choice to stain these parts is coming back to vex me yet again.  It's oil based and covered with clear matte poly, but given the small surface areas at the mating points, the joints are extremely fragile.  If things go south, the gammons will be the least of my worries..

 

Thanks again!

[Unegawahya]

9 hours ago, Der Alte Rentner said:

 

Hey, that's a great idea!  If I get that far..   

 

Today was very frustrating.  While gluing in the first plank, those "plank stiffeners" came loose at several points along the lower head rail.  I pieced things back together as best I could and hope that subsequent planks serve to reinforce the structure.  My choice to stain these parts is coming back to vex me yet again.  It's oil based and covered with clear matte poly, but given the small surface areas at the mating points, the joints are extremely fragile.  If things go south, the gammons will be the least of my worries..

 

Thanks again!

That is really unfortunate! Is there a way you could remove just enough of the mating surface to give your glue a good fighting chance?

[Der Alte Rentner]

Exactly what I did, Thomas.

 

In the end, the planking strengthened the entire structure.  All's well that ends well. Starboard side done.  

 

 

Now I get to relive the entire adventure on the port side. Oh joy! 😁

 

P.S. Once again, a photo shows me something I didn't see with my naked eyes. I have to redrill the Gammon holes, preferably before I plank the port side. And yes, Mustafa, rope gammoning is correct. I've seen several references to it online and at this website.

 

Finally, before anyone asks, I have no idea why I put dowels in those holes in the stem..

Edited 6 hours ago by Der Alte Rentner
Added comments

[mtbediz]

Peter, I'm glad things are going well for you. By the way, I'll also make the gammon out of rope. Rope is more pleasing to my eye.