Norwegian Sailing Pram by Scott Crouse - Model Shipways - 1/12

[Scott Crouse]

Yet another Pram build      My adventure into wood ship building continues.

 

After completing the Dory (sorry I did not find you all in time to make a build log);

 

It was time to start the Pram (this time I will do a log haha.    Early stages and just getting started.    I do stream on twitch when I build so if anyone cares to check it out, you can find me over at BartBandy - Twitch

 

[SiriusVoyager]

Very nice Dory!  Looking forward to watching the pram be built.

[Scott Crouse]

A bit of work this morning.   Have the garboards soaked and fitted, letting dry and will glue down later today.

[MBerg]

Jumping in on this log so I can see another person finish this build before I do . The dory looks great. I have a second one and may go back to make a diorama, where did you get the figure?

[Scott Crouse]

A few minutes in between all the sunshine to get some work done on the Pram.   Discovering I need to be a bit less religious about reading and following the instructions and instead use my own eyeballs to see where things are fitting and where they are not.   As you can see on the ends where the overlaying of the planks was not the greatest.  Lesson learned.   But having an excellent time and those who watch on stream, all plastic builders, are enjoying seeing work done with wood.   

 

 

[Scott Crouse]

Some more work this morning.   We are going to need more clamps!       My dagger board thingy was too small for the hole as well as others have been experiencing so had to fill it in a bit.

[Scott Crouse]

I big thank you to those who have build logs for the Pram, the instructions have definitely had me scratching my head a few times and several of the steps have no photos or any real explanation.   Probably not an issue for most people but for this noob, it has me scratching my head - lol.

 

Looking a bit rough but cleanup to come after the glue is all set.

 

 

[Scott Crouse]

Small update from yesterday,  trimmed the bow and stern, got the rowing thingies in place and the rub rail.   Seems I don't own a 3/8" file for the transom so will have to make a trip to the hardware store (twist my rubber arm).    I do stream while I am building and can be found over here as BartBandy

[Dan Poirier]

Double-check the 3/8" size, it seemed awfully big to me. I thought it might be a typo for 3/16".  (Ultimately, I just free-handed with a smaller file rather than buy a new one just for this.)

[Mike Collier]

Looking good! I did that model a couple of years ago.

[Scott Crouse]

1 minute ago, Dan Poirier said:

Double-check the 3/8" size, it seemed awfully big to me. I thought it might be a typo for 3/16".  (Ultimately, I just free-handed with a smaller file rather than buy a new one just for this.)

good point, will check that.   Thank you!

[druxey]

Actually, one has better control using a larger tool. You will file across the transom rather than along it. (For model work I usually use a ½" bevel edge chisel  - or larger - a lot of the time. One can judge angles more easily than with a narrow tool.)

[Scott Crouse]

A productive weekend, got the rub rails cleaned up, the rudder ready and shaped, dagger board built and hopefully thin enough that when the paint goes on it still fits  and the rear transom carved out.   Time to get to the store for some paint, getting close.

[EspenT]

A ship modeller on Twitch! Nice. I will try to catch you next time you go live. 
 

I am ordering the 3 starter kits from Model Expo. 

[MBerg]

On 10/26/2024 at 2:28 PM, druxey said:

Actually, one has better control using a larger tool. You will file across the transom rather than along it.

I think he's referring to the notch for the tiller. I found 3/8" to be massive also and thought they meant 3/16". The etch mark is closer to that size. I skipped that part until I assemble the tiller then I'll fit it and decide which way to proceed.

 

Looks like Scott used 3/8" above which doesn't look bad at all.

[Scott Crouse]

On 10/29/2024 at 2:42 PM, EspenT said:

A ship modeller on Twitch! Nice. I will try to catch you next time you go live. 
 

I am ordering the 3 starter kits from Model Expo. 

You are always welcome, just started streaming again after a bit of a break through the holidays.   On there as BartBandy, should be easy to find

[Scott Crouse]

It has been awhile since I updated or did much building.   My fall hiatus

 

Got all the parts painted up - not a fan of brush painting or the Model Expo paints, will be going back to using my airbrush and Tamiya paints and Vallejo when I need to hand brush.   Just find these paints so thick.   

and it was at this moment when I realized I had f@#$'d up.   I thought it was just a line that paint would go over, nope, time to sand it down again.

That's better, although I am not a fan of how this paint goes down.  But to be fair, a real boat would have tons of thick paint.

hmmm, might dull this white down a bit.   Hind sight being 20/20, I would lighten the red and blue up but will see how it looks in the end.

Have decided to try the square version of the mast first - if I don't succeed I will use the dowl.   It seems the kit is short one of the V's for the jig... shrug.

Ok, I know others have pointed this out, but what is up with the provided nails that are too damn big for anything?  I can order up smaller ones from 3rd party sites, but the shipping costs more than the nails.   Gonna try and cut the tops off and see how it looks, but if crappy, will have to wait for my next run to the hobby store.  

Got the rudder put together but I did not bend PE around the tube.  I put the tube on the outside.  I am still pretty limited in my tools for this kind of work so had to cut with the Dremel so the edges are rough.  I put the tubes on the outside (have seen it done both ways and I kinda like this way).    Still some cleanup to do on the brass pieces and figure out the bolt heads 

Overall learning lots from this kit, mistakes are there but having fun and can see my skills improving.  What a difference from plastic boat building.   My biggest complaint at this point is the instructions with this kit.   I never thought I would say that something is to verbose but damn... these things are wordy and assume you know every term for every part on a ship.   Finding I am having to break down each sentence one by one.   Or just flat out ignore it and follow videos on youtube.   

 

Hope everyone had a great New Year and have wonderful builds in 2025!   

 

https://www.twitch.tv/bartbandy

 

[Dan Poirier]

Model-Expo can send you the right size nails if you contact them about the kit having the wrong size. No charge when I did it.

[SiriusVoyager]

Very nice job so far.  I think the paint job looks pretty good.  The white is a bit white, but it is a new boat!  I think the simplest solution for the nails is to get some brass sewing pins.  You can get more than you may ever use for a couple of bucks.

[Scott Crouse]

Three hours of sanding and got the mast, boom and 2 oars done.   Broke the gaff (should have heeded the warning of others....) but have it repaired.   2 more oars to go.  Did sandpaper companies invent this hobby to keep themselves in business?   Curious minds want to know 🤣

[Scott Crouse]

and a coat of varnish for everyone!

 

[palmerit]

I had the same confusion over the round file. I bought a 3/8" one on Amazon and after starting filing realized it was way too big. It was probably supposed to be 3/16".

 

I don't know why Model Shipways doesn't issue a ver 2.0 of their Shipwright Series. I wonder how many builders don't find a web site like this for answers, get hopelessly confused over the instructions, incomplete parts, and the wrong parts, and just give up. You'd think they'd see the benefit of doing a review and update of their entry-level kits and make sure the instructions are clear (and correct) and the parts are the right ones. Model ships are already challenging. They shouldn't make it avoidably harder, especially for their kits that are supposed to be a beginner series. I can't imagine having been able to complete these without reviewing other build logs.

 

I ended up using some thinned wood filler on the transom to fill in those lines (which I also didn't sand/file down to), sanding them down, and painted. 

Edited Saturday at 07:11 PM by palmerit

[Scott Crouse]

I completely agree palmerit.   I am surprised that they have not made the little tweaks to get this back into the beginner category, unless they like the confusion cause part of learning is how to figure it out on your own?  haha.    I have new nails coming - I had to order something from somewhere else who had the right size so spent a few bucks instead of going through the complaint process, I missed that the mast diagrams where out by about 3% so I ended up removing about a quarter of an inch from the mast when I shouldn't have, so I hope that does not bite me in the backside.   Now I am trying to decypher the instructions on how the hardware goes on the mast, that will be todays challenged  adventure. .   Despite my grumblings and pointing out the obvious, still loving it!  

[Scott Crouse]

Productive Sunday!

 

Finished the oars, mast, gaff and boom.

 

Laid out the sail and treated it with a PVA/water wash.

 

and stepped the mast!

 

She is coming along.   Expect to receive my new nails later this week and will see if we can get most of this finished up next weekend.

 

 

Edited 17 hours ago by Scott Crouse

[JacquesCousteau]

It's coming along very nicely!