BELEM by TannumIan - Artesania Latina - 1:75

[TannumIan]

 

 

The AL Belem was chosen to gain knowledge and experience building model ships in particular the rigging.

 

This is my first build so please excuse any wonky terminology.

 

First I have to become familiar with the forum and creating/formatting posts.  The next few posts will be an experiment with the existing photos I have.

 

The next step is to clean up the parts and do a dry assembly of the model to understand the sequence of assembly before using any glue.

 

 

 

 

Edited 9 hours ago by TannumIan
Testing

[TannumIan]

 

All the parts were sanded to remove the burnt edges before assembling the frames..

 

The keel is not straight so I will brace it for assembly using a length of aluminum angle.

 

Edited 8 hours ago by TannumIan

[TannumIan]

Extra plywood bracing was added to the cabin sides to maintain the deck curvature when the roof was fitted.

 

 

All parts were assembled without glue.  When all components were true and aligned the frames were spot glued with CA.  This created a rigid frame that was fully glued with CA.

Edited 6 hours ago by TannumIan

[TannumIan]

The filler blocks are hard balsa that I had laying about.  Frames that supported plank joins had 6mm fillers added to both sides of the frame.

 

 

 

 

The model is now ready for planking.

 

Edited 5 hours ago by TannumIan

[TannumIan]

 

To steam a plank for bending the plank is wrapped in a wet cloth and heated for about 30 seconds using a domestic iron on the highest heat setting.  This is fairly severe compared other methods but the plank has little spring back after being bent and clamped in desired position.  

The domestic iron also heats up quickly.

  

 

 

 

 

These planks were edge set prior to fitting to the bow.

 

 

These are the stern planks holding their shape after removing from the frame after cooling.

Edited 5 hours ago by TannumIan

[TannumIan]

The first bow planks are steamed and fitted to the frame.  I use #19 rubber bands help hold the planks in position and to apply force where clamps cannot be used like the stem below.

 

 

 

Some bow planks are glued using white PVA glue.

 

 

Same for the stern.

[TannumIan]

The garboard plank caused me grief as I could not see how to make it.  The forums seem indicate that this is a common concern.

 

I eventually made a cardboard template and then set about replacing the carboard with planking.  The bow section was two planks glued together and cut to shape with the bandsaw. 

 

The garboard was kept away from the vertical section of the stem and low on the deadwood.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[TannumIan]

The deadwood edges were thinned to under 1mm in order that the planks are below the 3mm keel and rudder.  The 2mm planks will be sanded to about 1mm on the edges.

 

[TannumIan]

An invaluable tool.

 

This old low angle plane was sharpened to 2000 grit using a Veritas sharpening jig.  The plane was also flattened on a sheet of glass and many sheets of 400-800 sandpaper.

 

Notice the fine shavings from the planks that were trimmed.  The plane will be used to tapper the planks as the finish if far better than a knife or sandpaper.

 

 

 

Ready for lining out and planking.