Speedwell 1752 by Seventynet (Ian) - Syren Ship Model Company - 1:32 Scale - POF Sloop

[Seventynet]

Hi all,

 

Here is my slightly modified version of Chuck’s Speedwell based on Greg and David’s plan. Over a year ago I had planned on upscaling David’s drawings to the same scale as Chuck’s and proceeded to build the keel assembly. After I made some headway I got wrapped up building a CNC mill and learning how to program it. A year flew by as I watched Chuck’s genius in putting together his kit. I could not resist the temptation and decided that I would go the kit way instead, except for using the boxwood (Castello) keel I had already gotten a good start on. Although Chuck’s version of David’s drawings (scaled up) are very similar, they are not identical. However, the keel assembly is close enough (I hope 🫣). I used a router to make the rabbet. The false keel is ebony. I have used a Mylar copy glued onto my building board. 

Cheers,

Ian

[Freebird]

Very nice Ian! I was wondering about the wood, now I know. It’ll look nice on the model.

 

Best Regards …. Rick

[Seventynet]

Greetings,

 

Let the real work begin! I am ready to start the frames.

 

I realized that the keel I had made a year ago is slightly thicker than Chuck’s but I think I can get away with a little tapering at the stern when the time comes. The rest of the fittings were straightforward although I had my fair share of screwups. I decided to employ a higher build board jig so that the stern and stem posts were clasped at their tops - though I know that these extensions will get in my way later. I will interchange the lower jigs when the time comes. 

 

Cheers,

Ian

[Seventynet]

Greetings,

Could someone confirm whether the 2 top timbers for Ha are in the template shown below? I have no idea where they have disappeared but if someone could confirm that they are in fact what I have shown I can simply trace and cut new ones. It shouldn’t be too hard to interpolate the notches. You can see that I cut the top timbers out of card and they seem to fit but it is hard to know for sure. If these are not Ha top timbers can you show where they are?

Thanks in advance, 

Ian

 

[Chuck]

Sheet "D" with the keel parts.  They are 5/32" thick.

[Tossedman]

Looks great Ian! Off to a great start. Nice to see that you're putting that CNC mill to use.

 

Cheers,

 

Todd

[Chuck]

Wrong sheet you have there…thats chapter two.  Those parts are all for the cant frames.   They shouldnt even be out of the sheet yet.  I fear you have mixed up all of your parts.

 

literally that part 8 is on the sheet with the keel parts from chapter one.  The long keel sections for beneath the keelson.  Again 5/32” thick.  If you built your keel then you have those parts.

 

A little tip….dont even touch the parts bag for chapter two until you are done with chapter one.  That is a recipe for disaster.
 

 

[Seventynet]

Thanks Chuck. Sorry to waste your time. I’ve located a bunch of parts that I cleverly squirled away in a place I’d never find. I think I’m good on the organization of parts.

Ian

Edited July 8 by Seventynet

[MikkiC]

Looking forward to this Ian. I haven't attempted a PoF yet. I've seen a few very impressive ones on MSW. 

[Seventynet]

Hello and thanks for all the comments and likes. I have almost gotten to the end of Chapter two. I have the stern framing left not to mention a final fairing on the outside. I didn’t do any of the interior so that will be a hunk of work when I get around to it.

 

Everything fit together beautifully and when there were problems it was always my fault. Most of my errors were corrected but not all but I think/hope I’ll be okay down the road. Following shows where I am right now with pictures of my most used tools. 

 

Cheers,

Ian 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 21 by Seventynet

[Chuck]

That looks so good.  I hope you had fun with it.  Chapter three is just around the corner.  
 

chuck

[JeffT]

Well that was fast. Looks very good.

[Seventynet]

Thanks very much Chuck, I am indeed enjoying this build. It goes together like a dream with all your precision cuts and jigs. Just perfect.  

 

Ian

[Seventynet]

Thanks a lot Jeff. I have the benefit of being retired so I can spend as much time as I want in the Shipyard.  Even so there’s no way I’ve been motoring on this. It’s really just the ease with how everything goes together. 

 

Ian

[Tossedman]

Looks fantastic Ian! Well done!  Nicely equipped shop as well. Both the ship and shipyard are something to aspire to.

 

Cheers,

 

Todd

[Seventynet]

Thank you so much Todd!

Ian

[MikkiC]

Agree with Todd...mighty nice shipyard you have there. I've yet to use powertools on any build....yet.

 

Build looks fantastic. Your work is impressive.

[Seventynet]

Thank you kindly, Mikki. I greatly admire anyone that builds without power tools. So good for you. And thanks for your praise, I really appreciate it. Keep up the good work on your San Martin, it’s looking beautiful.
 

Ian

[Freebird]

Ian, wonderful effort and an excellent example of craftsmanship! But I do have a question, what happened to the top of the stem? there appears to be a segment missing?

 

Best Regards ... Rick

[Seventynet]

Thanks Rick, you must be referring to the standard (at least that’s what I think it’s called). After breaking it off for the 3rd time I decided to wait until much further into the build when I don’t need to turn it over anymore. I kind of knew that I would break it and made a few extra standards. I look forward to your next instalment Rick.

 

Cheers,

Ian

[Freebird]

I can see that it would be very easy to break that part off. If/when I break mine, it’ll stay off until needed. I’m a few weeks away from getting started again. 
 

BTW - my daughter and her family live in Spruce Groove. Love it out there!

 

Best Regards …. Rick

[Seventynet]

Hey Rick, good luck with the knee surgery. Today has been a bad modeling day. Nothing seemed to go right so I’ve thrown up my hands and moved on to something mindless and less stressful.😩 

 

Ian

[Seventynet]

Hi all, thank you for the comments and likes, I really appreciate it. I just wanted to post a quick update. There’s not a lot to tell to this point. My approach to the sweep ports was to mill a sort of plug to position the port with the idea that I could snug the planks right up to them. It wasn’t a perfect approach and in many cases I removed the port after tracing the outline and cut the planks against the pencil outline. However, it is very fiddly work and far from perfect. I built a little jig to outline the gun ports as shown. 
 

I have decided that I am going to plank the starboard side with Holly whilst I wait for chapter 3. I will install the second layer of wales before I start the hull because it will be easier to place the lower wale that way. I also plan to treenail both above and below the wales but am in the waiting mode for the fishing line and necessary bits.

 

 

 

Edited October 4 by Seventynet

[Freebird]

Quote

Hey Rick, good luck with the knee surgery. Today has been a bad modeling day. Nothing seemed to go right so I’ve thrown up my hands and moved on to something mindless and less stressful.😩 

 

Ian

Ian,

 

I couldn't understand your jig and plug thoughts, and before I looked at your pictures the light bulb went on! Very clever idea for making the planking easier to make it even. I'm going to file that idea for future reference. Speedwell is looking awesome!

 

Best Regards .... Rick

[Seventynet]

Thanks very much Rick and thanks to everyone for the likes! I forgot to mention that I’m not going to tackle the inner hull fairing until I’ve planked the hull because then I have a nice flat surface onto which I can rest the topside. 

[MikkiC]

Bravo! This is an enjoyable build log. I'm jealous of your shop.