Le Chebec by Yvesvidal - CAF Model - 1/48

[bdgiantman2]

What is the size of these frames?  I know they are all laser-etched in the wood by CAF but can't tell dimensions. I'm guessing that each of these frames are 1/8" thick? And looks like 3/16" wide?

[yvesvidal]

Frames are 3 mm thick and from 5 to 6 mm wide, depending of their positions in the hull. CAF is a Chinese company and as such uses the metric system.

 

Yves

[Landlubber Mike]

Looks like a great kit Yves.  That berthing box is such a great idea!  Looking forward to following along!

[aliluke]

Wow. I'd never really thought about CAF until I saw this. It looks like an incredible kit. Will be following!

[Trussben]

Did you do any fairing to that frame yet?
 

That frame may need pre-fairing on the outer sides so as to fit in the jig correctly, especially true around the far extremes fore and aft.

[yvesvidal]

17 hours ago, Trussben said:

Did you do any fairing to that frame yet?
 

That frame may need pre-fairing on the outer sides so as to fit in the jig correctly, especially true around the far extremes fore and aft.

Very true. I have not done any "detailed" fairing yet. Yes, there will be a lot of sanding required on that kit. If you do not like sanding and adjusting, then this is not a kit for you 🙂

 

Yves

[yvesvidal]

This past weekend I worked on the bow and got very confused at the beginning. The instructions are showing this:

 

 

I tried the assembly C1-C5 in all directions but it would not fit in the cradle or on the keel. Then I started looking into the Monograph and CAF plans:

 

 

 

And it made much more sense. C1-C5 is just a jig and is not part of the ship. As a matter of fact, that jig is useless and if you glue carefully Frames A to H and 01, on top of each other, following carefully the laser marks, you end up with a very good result:

 

 

 

Below, you can see the assembly with the jig inserted underneath:

 

 

A lot (and I say a LOT) of sanding is required to come up with a decent shape that fits tightly in the keel and slide into the cradle accordingly.

 

 

I like the slight separation of the frames, as it brings more depth and realism to the model. Most bows I have seen on the Internet look like a big block of wood perfectly shaped, which would not have been like the real ship.

 

 

 

Inside fairing was also done to a certain extent:

 

 

Yves

Edited November 18 by yvesvidal

[yvesvidal]

Major point of no-return.... The bow assembly has been glued to the keel:

 

 

 

 

When reaching that stage, the only thing left is to place the keel/bow assembly in the cradle and start assembling the numerous frames:

 

 

 

 

 

 

At this stage, pulling out the keel is still very easy. Once the frames are installed and glued to the keel, it will be another story....

 

Yves

[yvesvidal]

The tedious and repetitive assembly of the frames has started. I have decided to populate first, the "easy" frames located in the middle of the hull. These do not require any fairing, for the most part and are composed of only three parts. Bow and stern will be kept for the end as they are significantly more advanced and delicate.

 

Frames #30 to #40 are now completed and ....glued to the keel:

 

 

 

 

 

The next series will be #41 to #50. I have started using a DREMEL equipped with a round abrasive head, after loosing a good chunk of skin on my fingers....due to sand paper abrasion. It really helps.

 

Yves

 

Edited November 21 by yvesvidal

[bdgiantman2]

I don't know if this would help, but 've been hearing on sites like this of people using foam blocks and even pool noodles as sanding blocks to assist as well as relieve hands. Keep up this beautiful model.

 

Brian D

[yvesvidal]

I just completed frames #50 to #41. The ship is now equipped with all the "easy" frames.

 

 

My faithful and precious Dremel: priceless to remove all the charring on the parts:

 

 

#30 to #50 completed and glued in place, against the inner keel:

 

 

 

 

The center of the ship:

 

 

 

No more than 66 frames to go....

 

Yves

Edited November 25 by yvesvidal

[yvesvidal]

I am now working on Frames #20 to #29. Most frames are made of 5 parts and the instructions below, explain what has to take place:

 

 

When building the frames, one has to always keep in mind which way they are fitting on the keel, before fairing them. Easier said than done.

 

 

Yves

[aliluke]

It really is such an extraordinary kit! I'm feeling very tempted to try but will finish what I have on the bench first.

[bdgiantman2]

I also am tempted about this kit, once I finish the Eagle which will be a long way out. Interesting that having you sand the ribs off the building jig when I would think the board would be more protecting.  Would definitely have to proceed cautiously sanding those frail ribs.

[yvesvidal]

11 hours ago, bdgiantman2 said:

I also am tempted about this kit, once I finish the Eagle which will be a long way out. Interesting that having you sand the ribs off the building jig when I would think the board would be more protecting.  Would definitely have to proceed cautiously sanding those frail ribs.

You really have to sand the ribs as much as possible, before inserting them in the building jig. Multiple reasons for that:

• Fairing internally and externally must be done ahead of time, because the internal planking will be glued when the hull is inside the jig.
• For the frames to be extracted from the jig, they must be slightly smaller/less thick and well polished/sanded so that they can slide out without breaking.

I noticed that oiling and waxing them before gluing them, helps tremendously. I still suspect that extracting the spine and frames from the jig is going to be nerve wracking. I think I will insert some kind of crowbar from below and push up the keel very gently. Right now, with about 30 frames in, it is still possible to move it a tad.

 

Finally, the hull is not planked on the outside, with the exception of a plank or two. The goal is to show the skeleton of the ship.

I need to check with Tom, when is the ideal and safest step to take the hull out of the jig. This is not clear in the instructions.

 

Yves

Edited November 26 by yvesvidal

[yvesvidal]

Frames #20 to #29 have been completed and glued to the keel:

 

 

 

 

 

It looks more and more like the skeleton of a large fish. Frames as depicted, have been oiled and waxed.

 

I have about done one third of all the frames. Next will be the #10 to #19 series....

 

Yves

[yvesvidal]

Since there were some interests and concerns about building the frames, here is the step by step approach I am taking.

Let's focus on Frame #15, which is one of the delicate and more complicated to build:

 

 

 

After removing the five pieces that make #15, the following central parts are glued:

 

 

The long ribs are then carefully sanded using a Dremel, a semi-round file and some sandpaper:

 

 

The center piece (there must be a technical term for that...) is not touched yet, besides sanding and opening the slot to make sure it fits on the keel, smoothly but tightly.

 

 

Fairing of the long ribs must be done on the external side and also on the internal side. Thinking and visualizing how the ribs will fit is paramount.

 

Then glue (Titebond will give you time to adjust the parts in situ) the two long ribs to the center piece and place it in the jig, on the keel:

 

 

 

You can see that the fairing done on the outside, allows the frame to fit perfectly in the jig. Small clamps are used to hold the parts during drying.

 

 

 

Lots of verification to make sure that everything fits nicely. When dry, remove the frame from the jig:

 

 

Now is the time to sand and polish the center part. When done, another verification in situ:

 

 

 

The frame can now be oiled and waxed, using my favorite Howard mixture:

 

 

Once all the lints has been removed and when the part is dry, it can be inserted back into the jig, before the final gluing to the keel:

 

 

 

 

 

Now, redo the same for Frame #14.

 

Yves

Edited November 27 by yvesvidal

[yvesvidal]

Frames #10 to #19 are now completed:

 

 

Dry-fitting first:

 

 

 

One frame is not exactly aligned with the rest.... #17. It will comply later on....

 

 

 

Finally, we pull the tube of glue (Titebond):

 

 

 

 

Next will be Frames #9 to #1.... The most difficult ones !!!

 

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

 

Yves

[yvesvidal]

Frames #2 to #9 have been built. They are by far, the most difficult and delicate to install. There is a lot of sanding that takes place to fair them externally and internally and the insertion on the keel requires a lot of delicate sanding and numerous attempts.

 

 

The CAF Model kit is very close to the Monograph and did not take the short cuts seen on the ZHL kits, which simply place each frame in a slot. The picture below shows what I mean:

 

 

The frames are ready to install. Because of the severely restricted space, you need to build one frame at a time and make sure it fits perfectly. No gluing must take place at this stage.

 

 

Then, when all frames are ready, I find it easier to glue #2 first and go to #9, one at a time.

 

 

 

Above, Frames #2 and #3 have been glued. I use CA glue, since it is not practical to use Titebond at this location.

 

 

Above, three more frames to go..... And it is over for the front:

 

 

 

At this stage, a good half of the frames have been installed (#1 to #50). We will encounter some difficult frames again, when moving to the stern.

 

 

Yves

 

[Trussben]

Moving right along there Yves!

[hamilton]

A very cool looking model! And nice work, Yves!

hamilton

[yvesvidal]

A little update, still working on the frames. It seems endless....

 

Frames #51 to #60 have been built. These frames are still part of what can be considered "easy frames" as they do not require very much of a fairing (inside and outside) and are composed of only three parts.

 

 

At this point, Frames #1 to #60 have been installed and glued on the keel:

 

 

 

 

I also dry-fitted the keelson.

 

Yves

[Kevin]

wow, sorry i missed the start of your build, will be following, and asking silly questions, - good luck

[yvesvidal]

Kevin,

 

There are no silly questions. Thank you for following up this log.

 

Yves

[yvesvidal]

Frames #61 to #70 have been completed. These are a lot more difficult and do require to be taken as a little project, one at a time. Consulting the plan and the Monograph helps tremendously, as well as creating a routine and sticking to it. All frames are made of cherry wood and finely sanded, oiled and waxed.

 

 

The most delicate was #66, composed of 5 parts and rather difficult to fit it into the cradle:

 

 

All the new frames are being dry fitted. No glue yet.

 

 

Just 18 more to go.....

 

 

 

 

 

Last segment of the keelson is not glued yet.

 

Yves

 

 

[hamilton]

You work with incredible speed, Yves! She's coming along nicely!

hamilton

[yvesvidal]

After studying the instructions (there are none) and the plans mainly, I decided to steer my attention to the stern. Instead of building Frames #71 to #80, I concentrated on the very last frames indicated by the plan and the Monograph. The reason is the lack of space, if you decide to glue the frames located before #80. The reasoning and the same approach were also used for the bow.

 

There is a rather complex assembly taking place between Frame #84 and Frame #M. The three frames must be part of the same set and must fit perfectly on the stern keel.

 

 

As usual, the first step is to fit the frame footing on the keel, after using my Dremel to start fairing the frame.

 

 

Verification that it fits well on the keel. Then the sides are glued in position, in the cradle. The same is done for the following Frame "J".

Finally, the intermediate parts are glued (after some fairing) and the two frames are positioned and glued together:

 

 

It is all extremely delicate and I am not even sure this assembly will look okay with the rest of the hull and frames.

 

The third frames "M" is glued as well without forgetting the intermediate parts and set in position as described above. We end up with something that looks like the picture below:

 

 

It is all extremely delicate and the two openings for the guns must be carefully carved on each side.

 

 

 

 

 

The part is now finished and I will post more pictures soon.

 

Yves

 

 

 

[yvesvidal]

Here is the finished part:

 

 

 

 

It looks like the skull of a Longhorn....

 

 

 

 

Once the oil and wax is absorbed by the wood, I will come back with fine sand paper and polish it in a smoother way. The pictures are very revealing even though the parts look good with the eyes.

 

Yves

[yvesvidal]

I finalized Frames #71, 72 and 73. These have been glued and a segment of keelson installed to keep everything in place:

 

 

 

And the usual perspective pictures:

 

 

 

I am working on the #80's frames which are really delicate and require a ton of adjustment to fit correctly. By far, the most difficult part of the hull.

 

Yves

[Trussben]

Looking real good there Yves, delicate framing for sure.