Emma C Berry by Kenneth Powell - Model Shipways - 1:32 - as a yacht

[Kenneth Powell]

I received this kit as a Christmas gift from my brother in 2007. That is not a typo; 2007. I wanted to finish the Rattlesnake, then I started my Coastal Pirate and all kinds of life stuff has gone by. I'm finally to the point where I'm comfortable doing this build. Thank goodness it's been patient. The instruction book mentions that a few years of her long life was spent as a yacht - that's what I'm going for. The fish well will be converted to cabin space for this build.

 

This is my first plank-on-frame model and I really like the building jig included in the kit. I built a local skiff years ago with no jig or anything and it's shaped something like a banana.

Basic start of the keel assembly:

The pencil marks will be erased/sanded.

The building jig:

As per the instructions, the frame locations were lifted from the plans and transferred through the keel to the jig and board. 

It took a little while to put everything together, but time well spent up front will result in a more precise build with fewer problems.

The board is a piece of straight, square, pre-primed and sealed 1 X 12. I drew the center line and marked the location for the keel support and each frame along the line. Before I glued the keel support, I used a T square and marked each frame. I built the frame clamp bar fixture and marked the lines for the strip runners on the board. I made sure it moved smoothly but stayed firm along the whole route, then nailed it down. All of this is outlined in the instruction manual - which has to be read and reread over and over. Now that everything is set in place, it all lines up just right; it's level, plumb and square.

Next, I will cut the bevels in the frames.

 

Comments Welcome, especially from other Berrys - Kenneth

[JacquesCousteau]

Looking forward to following along!

[yvesvidal]

Your conversion will be interesting to watch. I have built (partially...not done yet) that kit, and it is lovely.

Where did you find the information related to her conversion as a "yacht"? I am curious to see that.

 

Yves

Edited January 11 by yvesvidal

[Kenneth Powell]

Thanks everyone for the visits and likes.

Yves - I don't have any photos or plans. On page two of the instruction manual under history, it says that she was rescued by F. Slade Dale who purchased her for a yacht. Several, several wooden work boats have been built here in Biloxi with many of those have converted to pleasure craft and that's kind of the guide I'll use. I'll frame the new cabin one deck beam forward of the original cabin to the king plank and keep the width and height of the original. This will take the space of the fish well.

 

Comments welcome - Kenneth

[Kenneth Powell]

I faired and added the first frames. I'll go along and build, then add a few at a time.

Taking my time and checking things every which way I can. I'll check in as I go.

 

Comments welcome - Kenneth

[Adam C]

Really interested in your conversion. I’m loving this kit. It’s great to see everyone’s take on the interior. 

[Kenneth Powell]

Thanks, Adam and all the likes.

To add a few building comments: The instructions call to carve the bevels in the frames but I find that 80grit sandpaper with a good sanding block works better.

Also, I'm dry fitting the keelson as I go to make sure the frames are cut accurately and to help place them properly on the keel. Don't want any surprises later on.

 

Photos to follow - Kenneth

[Kenneth Powell]

I added frame # 13. Frome here to the end the bevels will be facing aft.

- Kenneth

[Kenneth Powell]

Update - I made it to frame 23

She looks a little snaggle toothed but the frames should pull in and level out with the clamps and battens.

The keel assembly is too tall for the last two frames, so I'll have to cut a notch in the building fixture for them.

It's important to check the height of each frame to keep the proper sheer. I've found that the height of each frame that sits on the keel is almost dead-on once it's made and glued.

This is a really good kit.

 

- Kenneth

[Kenneth Powell]

Hello, Everyone -

The frames with no floors have a very small surface area for glue, so I cut a small piece of 1/32 strip and glued it to the front and out of the way before lifting them from the plans. They did help hold things together.

I made my notch by cutting a piece from the laser cut sheet of the building fixture and gluing it on top. The thickness is the same and it's square. Then I carefully cut and removed the small section to allow the horn timber assembly to pass. There's no room for temporary strips on the last two frames, so I marked the height on the building fixture and clamped them in place.

The temporary batten did tighten things up.

She looks pretty fair and the clamps will finish holding things together. I will also dry fit the covering boards as I go to make sure things really fit accurately.

Next on the list is to install the keelson and transom.

 

Comments welcome - Kenneth

[Kenneth Powell]

Carving the transom was fun and a little relaxing. The small molding proved to be fragile and broke once. So, I decided to glue it to the transom and then sand it to half round once it dried.

Installed

Clamps are next - Kenneth

[Kenneth Powell]

I exchanged clothes pins for push pins on the batten to make room to clamp the clamps.

The clamp installed as per instructions with the bow sprit pawl just sitting there. 

Once the glue of the clamps dried, I went straight to installing the large deck clamps

It was hard to edge bend the wide clamps to make the sheer, so some of the large deck beams have shims to bring them to the proper height.

 

This is where I'm going off the grid. I'll frame the original cabin, then frame a larger cabin three beams forward of the original. The space can be seen in the above photos.

 

- Kenneth

[Kenneth Powell]

Thanks for the visits and the likes.

I've finished the deck framing.

I have a lot of sanding to do. I went across all the beams with a 1/16 inch thick piece of deck planking and checked all the beam heights and the sheer. They actually lined up pretty good. The strip at the transom seems a little off, bit it all lines up. It also seems solid and not too fragile.

The forward cabin will be a little larger than the original cabin as seen in the photo.

After sanding and double-triple checking heights and fairness, I'll install the covering boards.

 

Comments welcome - Kenneth

[Kenneth Powell]

Hello everyone -

Planking has started. The Modelshipways method of planking in belts works pretty well. It gives an opportunity to pause and check the progress and the math works out if the plan is followed.

I followed it on my Rattlesnake and it worked well. I added belt C and sanded a little, then added a little putty in the seams. Once all the planking is complete, I'll sand and touch up everything. I won't use a lot of putty. The planks are visible on most wooden boats and I like the beauty marks.

This is my first shot at nibbing hull planking, so please be gentle.

Thanks - Kenneth

[Kenneth Powell]

Hello Everyone -

Checking in with some progress.

Spring has sprung here on the gulf coast.

So, I've been busy with yard work and honey does and stuff outside. Chores really take away time from hobbies.

Anyway, I've finished belt B and sanded a little with 80 grit. I also added a plank in belt A and the sheer plank.

The kit supplied planks are longer than the model, so I've mostly been able to cut one plank for the entire strake. Then I cut its duplicate for the other side - back and forth, back and forth.

I kept the cut-offs and in the spirit of conservation of wood I can use 3 of them to make planks for one strake.

I should be able to steal a few minutes here and there and set the rest of the planks. But I don't want to rush things either and get in a hurry. There has to be a balance.

Then it's the 80 grit treatment followed by 150 grit. Then a few open seams and such will be filled and sanded.

Comments welcome

 

Thanks for stopping in - Kenneth

 

[Kenneth Powell]

Hull planking is complete:

Man, do I have some sanding to do.

 

 - Kenneth

[thibaultron]

Who made this kit? I have the model Expo single mast version.

[ccoyle]

30 minutes ago, thibaultron said:

Who made this kit? I have the model Expo single mast version.

 

He's converting the MS kit to a schooner rig.

[Kenneth Powell]

This is the Model Shipways kit. I'm altering the deck layout and such to build it as a pleasure craft - a little kit bashing. Maury S is building the schooner rig on the scratch side of the site.

 

Thanks - Kenneth

 

[allanyed]

Just tuned in and I am very happy that I did.  Love that it is a POF build and your workmanship.

Allan

[Kenneth Powell]

Thanks, Allan and to all the likes and comments.

 

- Kenneth

[Kenneth Powell]

Hello Everyone,

I've sanded to my heart's - and forearm's - content.

80 grit, mostly with a sanding block and some the old-fashioned way with fingertips.

The instructions say to install the stern molding at the same time as the transom. I found it a little cumbersome to do the sanding with it in place and bumped it a few times. 

Future builders of this kit may consider waiting until after all the planks are sanded.

I'll hit it with 150 grit next to remove the fuzz and get it more smooth.

 

Thanks for looking in and May the fourth be with you - Kenneth

[Kenneth Powell]

Thanks everyone for looking in and the likes.

Went over everything with 150 grit. A little smoother and less fuzz.

 

I then used filler on the most obvious gaps.

I seems to be dry in just a couple of hours, but I'll wait a little longer and go over everything with 220 grit and see how it looks. I'm not looking for a glass finish, I like the look of planks on a wooden boat and I don't mind the beauty marks.

 

Comments welcome - Kenneth

[allanyed]

While the below probably will be of little to no help for building the model itself, you may find it interesting as a fan of ECB.

Allan

 https://mysticseaport.org/explore/vessels/emma-c-berry-noank-smack/

[Kenneth Powell]

Thank you, Allen -

I did find the site very interesting. It comes with a nice film too that stresses the importance of keeping our historical vessels restored and intact.

 

- Kenneth

[Kenneth Powell]

Hello -

I've gone back and forth between filler and sanding, and I think I've gotten it done.

 

 

I'm going to paint the outer hull next.

 

A question to ponder before I start work on the deck - Does a pleasure boat need a windlass? The kit has one and I'm leaning towards adding it to the model. It can be used for things like anchor and sail movement, just not the fish cargo. And I think it would look cool.

 

Comments welcome - Kenneth

[Kenneth Powell]

After 2 coats of Valspar ExpressCoat semi-gloss interior extra white 935350 and 3 coats of Crafters Edition 72006 Barn Red acrylic paint and back and forth many times with touch-ups, I think I have it.

More touch-ups may be made, keeping in mind that the more micro corrections are attempted, the more things may go wrong.

The planks are certainly visible, but it is a wooden boat. I really like the shape of this hull, and excellent sloop.

I choose white to keep along with the pleasure boat theme. The wooden boat show was held here in Biloxi and all the boats converted from work to pleasure were white.

May Mystic Seaport forgive me.

Now that all the upside-down work is done, I'm building a stand.

 

Comments welcome - Kenneth

[JacquesCousteau]

Looks great! Will you be leaving the deck partly unplanked to show into the details of the hull?

[Kenneth Powell]

Thanks, JacquesCousteau for the compliment and the question.

I plan to completely plank the deck. I didn't really consider leaving it open.

- Kenneth

[Kenneth Powell]

A long view photo that really shows the profile of the hull.

Thanks - Kenneth