Norwegian Sailing Pram by Dan Poirier - Model Shipways - 1:12

[Dan Poirier]

I recently completed my first ship model, the Model Shipways' Lowell Grand Banks Dory. Yesterday I started my second, the Model Shipways' Norwegian Sailing Pram.

 

 

I thought the boat diagram on page 3 of the instructions was awfully small for my old eyes, so I made an enlarged copy. (I might need to blow it up even more. We'll see.)

 

 

I started by cutting out the transom knees and sanding off the char, trying to keep the edges square.

 

 

 

 

I cut out the bow transom and carefully drew center lines on it.

 

 

Then I looked closer at the instructions, and realized I was supposed to draw the lines on the other side. Oops!

 

 

 

Next, I cut out the lower stern transom. Given my previous error, I followed the instructions scrupulously for sanding a bevel on the upper edge, "Turn the transom so that the bevel marks are facing away from you." So I sanded the bevel with the marks away from the bevel guide.  (I took the following picture looking at the side that was away from me when I was sanding, for a better view.)

 

 

 

Now, looking closer at the pictures in the instructions, and reading some other build logs of this model, I believe the bevel was supposed to be sanded in the opposite orientation than I did. Oh well. I'll figure out a way to transfer the markings to the other side, and carry on as if they were there all the time.

 

Next to do: some gluing. The instructions recommended white glue, not yellow wood glue, so I've got some Elmer's Glue-all on order.
 

[Jim Lad]

A good start, Dan.

 

John

[robert952]

Hopping on board this log.  

Following logs on this one as it is in my stash.

[Dan Poirier]

Yesterday, I continued working on the transoms, and began on the planking.

 

I'm using smaller photos in this post because I thought the extreme closeups of my fingernails in the previous post were probably not needed 🙂

 

On the bow transom, I glued on the knee, sanded the transom's bottom edge parallel to the knee, and drilled a tiny hole.

 

    

 

Since I sanded the lower stern transom bevel the wrong way, I had to copy the markings to its other side. I did that by sketching the original lines, measuring everything with calipers and adding the dimensions to my sketch, then using caliper and straight-edge to draw lines on the back side.

 

  

 

I then glued the stern transom knee to the lower stern transom, and glued the upper and lower stern transoms together.

 

 

 

Now it was time to put together the building board and put the transoms into it. The bow transom wouldn't stay put until I added a paper wedge.

 

   

 

Time to start planking! I cut out the keel plank and two bottom planks, sanded off the char, and bent them using a travel clothing steamer. Finally, I glued the bottom planks to the bow transom. 

 

   

 

Next: finish gluing the bottom planks to the stern transom, and install the keel plank down the middle on top of the bottom planks.

[Jim Lad]

Always good to get those first planks on!

 

John

[SiriusVoyager]

Nice job making the transom work backwards.  It looks like your pram is on its way to turning out quite nicely.

[druxey]

Good save on the transom!