CUTTY SARK by Hostez - Sergal - 1:78

[Hostez]

Hi all,

After some time into the build i decided to create a build log of my progress on the sergal cutty sark 1:78.

This is the first wooden ship model i am building, so everything is new to me and this forum was and is a blessing

to me to learn all the tips and tricks of building ship models. The sergal kit comes with very little instructions, only

about 4 pages of text without pictures, and a lot of real size plans. Not ideal for a beginner like me so im getting the "know

how" else where. I also bought the Campbell drawings of the real ship, which help me to add detail.

I started this kit in 2015, but after planking one side of the ship it stayed untouched on my shelf for about 6 years.

Suddely i felt an urge to continue the build, and i did not stop since. Its going very slowly due to working a full time job. 

SO hope you enjoy this build log, and im looking forward learning from all of you fellow ship builders.

 

[Hostez]

Here are some pictures of the earlier stages of the build back in 2015.

 

 

Edited November 13, 2023 by Hostez

[Hostez]

Here i started the planking again after a long stop:

[Hostez]

I had to take some time to think about how i was going to plank the stern. The instructions say just to put vertical planks. But on the real ship to upper edge of the stern is straight up , the inclined planks only start below that upper edge. So i constructed 2 extra frames on which i could attach a bended plank from left to right.

I left it in water first, and dry fitted so it would take the correct curvature of the hull. Then glued it afterwards in place.

[Hostez]

Here im installing the upper plank, which is straight up due to the added 2 frames and not angled.

[Hostez]

And next i fitted vertical planks to fill the space. First layer of planking finally completed!

[Hostez]

Then i sanded the hull, and i marked the areas which required levelling with putty afterwards. So that the hull will be nice and smooth

[Hostez]

One problem came to the surface: back in 2015 when i planked the first half, at the stern and bow section i didnt cut deep enough into the keel so the planks would be flush with the keel.

I first sanded the planks down, but then they became too thin to provide a solid background for the second planking. SO i could only remove that section of planking, cut deeper into the keel and reapply new planking in those areas:

[Hostez]

After sanding  i applied the putty to some areas to create a nice formed hull shape.

[Hostez]

I had to redo this process several times, applying putty, drying, sanding, reapplying putty, drying sanding... untill i was happy with the results.

 

[Hostez]

SO! Now the ship is ready for the second planking:

[Snug Harbor Johnny]

  You've got something good going there.  The use of small wood blocks for clamping the second planking (with the wood clamps temporarily nailed into the 1st planking below) is novel ... I'll have to remember that in future.  Your re-do at the bow and stern of the 1st planking was well thought-out and resourceful.  No doubt you'll have a great model in the end, however long that might take. 

[ScottRC]

Very nice job with the planking.  

[Hostez]

Thank you Johnny and Scott for the encouraging comments.

 

Here's my progress with the second planking so far:

[Hostez]

[Hostez]

In the meantime, our son is born, im getting back at my cutty => LH side second planking completed, RH side only bottom half still to do

[Hostez]

And finally she is fully planked and sanded. Quite a milestone for me on this project. Next is removing the frame tops and drilling out the water drain doors.

Then i will paint the hull black and add the copper plates.

[schooner]

Looking very good!

[Hostez]

8 hours ago, schooner said:

Looking very good!

Thank you very much Tim.

[petervisser]

Hi Hostez,

Wow, such a beautifully planked hull. Seems a shame to hide it under paint and copper tiles. That said, a black and copper hull look fantastic! All the best going forward!

Peter

Edited June 2 by petervisser

[Kelp]

The planking looks great!  This will turn into a very nice model.  
 

Don

 

[Rick310]

Beautiful planking job!!

Rick

[Hostez]

On 6/1/2024 at 11:14 PM, petervisser said:

Hi Hostez,

Wow, such a beautifully planked hull. Seems a shame to hide it under paint and copper tiles. That said, a black and copper hull look fantastic! All the best going forward!

Peter

Thank you Peter

[Hostez]

On 6/2/2024 at 1:25 AM, Kelp said:

The planking looks great!  This will turn into a very nice model.  
 

Don

 

Thank you Don!

[Hostez]

On 6/2/2024 at 3:10 PM, Rick310 said:

Beautiful planking job!!

Rick

Thanks Rick!

[Hostez]

So! Time for another update. When i looked at old pictures of the real ship when she was still in service i saw that on the waterline and below it there were two strips guiding the copper plates. So i added those too after marking the waterline. These strips were cut from strips of deck planking and cut to shape. 

After having a final check on the hull i applied pitch black alcohol ink to paint the hull black instead of real paint. That way the wooden planking is still visible.

This i will protect with shellac later on. 

 

Nxt step is installing the copper plates. That will be a new adventure   Just doubting if i will weather the copper plates using burnishing fluid  or leave them fresh.

Edited July 22 by Hostez

[Snug Harbor Johnny]

  An interesting picture of the C.S. hull.  Even at this close distance, the metal plates appear to be 'wafer thin' compared to the hull size, and one can't really see any indications of nails holding the plates in place.  I suppose one could simply glue on paper 'plates' that overlap, then paint as desired. The Hulme model doesn't bother with nails.

[Hostez]

Hi Johnny, in this picture you see more in detail the copper plates after polishing where the nails are visible.  I got a full set of clinkered pre cut copper plates with my kit. They look realistic so im going to use those.

 

Edited July 22 by Hostez

[Hostez]

These are the copper plates im going to use, im going to test some tiles with burnishing fluid to see how it looks good with some weathering. How would you guys prefer it? Clean polished copper or weathered? 

[rwiederrich]

1 hour ago, Hostez said:

These are the copper plates im going to use, im going to test some tiles with burnishing fluid to see how it looks good with some weathering. How would you guys prefer it? Clean polished copper or weathered? 

Well you don't want the nails to protrude like rivet heads.  You're doing so well....don't make that mistake.

 

Rob