Friendship Sloop by gsdpic - BlueJacket Shipcrafters - 1:12

[gsdpic]

Thanks to those who have taken a look and to those who've hit the like button.

 

I've taken a bit of a detour.  As above, I was working on bending the strips for the rail around the edge of the deck.  But before installing that rail, I decided that it might be best to install the sheer trim strip on the upper side of the hull first.  It is likely that my only way to "clamp" that piece is with some tape and I'd prefer to do that before putting the rail on.  But, before putting on the sheer trim strip I wanted to put on the trail boards because I envision the sheer trim butting against the aft end of the trail board.  

 

The kit indicates using some of the 1/16th basswood sheet to make the trail boards.  I was hoping to carve some design into them and basswood is not the best for that.  I had some other thicker sheet that I believe is Castello Boxwood and thought that might be a good alternative.  But so far in working with it I am not sure.  It seems very hard and difficult to carve, though I have not yet tried soaking it in water, which I have found to be helpful carving other hard woods.   

 

Anyway, the pictures below show my patterns and the original pieces I cut out  (Though I made the rookie mistake of not considering orientation of the grain when laying out the pieces.  Not sure if that will be a factor).  The second picture shows the pieces with some initial sanding and marking for port/starboard.  The third picture shows the port side pieces with additional fitting and shaping, but no carving yet, temporarily fitted using a bit of double sided tape.  I'll probably continue a bit down this path though no guarantees I won't turn around.

 

[gsdpic]

I've continued to work on the trailboards.  I think I pretty much have them done now, perhaps save for a bit more paint touch up.  I am in that cycle where I touch up with one color, causing the need for a touch up with color 2, causing the need for touch up with color 3, causing the need for touch up of color 1, and so on.  Anyway, the pictures below show the overall model and a close up of the starboard side trailboard.  Now I should be able to do that sheer trim, followed by the rail.  Then just a few more bits on the hull before it is ready for masts, rigging, and sails.

 

Oh, for the paint I used a mixture of Tamiya XF-9 Hull Red and XF-7 red, as well as X-12 Gold Leaf.  Every time I use hull red I am disappointed how it just looks like brown to me and feel compelled to add some more red to it.

 

Thanks for taking a look.

Edited September 13 by gsdpic
fix typo

[robert952]

Great progress on this build. I probably speak for others by thanking you for the detailed photos on the project. 

[gsdpic]

2 hours ago, robert952 said:

Great progress on this build. I probably speak for others by thanking you for the detailed photos on the project. 

Thanks, appreciate it.  If I was better at this hobby I might include photos that have even more details

 

As noted at the beginning of the build log, there are several other logs for this kit but they all seem to have been abandoned some time during or shortly after completing the planking.  I am determined to log mine to the end.

 

[gsdpic]

Just another quick update....I have completed the sheer trim all around the boat.   Below is one picture showing how I taped the trim on while the glue dried and then a few pictures of the finished trim.  I started off using the tamiya masking tape to hold it and decided that was a bit of a waste so switched to the cheapo blue painter's tape.  Next up is to put the rails on around the perimeter of the deck.

 

 

Edited September 15 by gsdpic

[Glen McGuire]

Looking very sharp, Gary!  Particularly the sheer trim on the bow with the elegant scroll.  Nicely done!

[gsdpic]

Thanks for the likes, and thanks Glen for the comment.  Both are much appreciated.  Getting close to completing the hull.  

 

This first two pictures show the rail being glued on, and the next two show closer views of the rails without the tape "clamps".  I still need to add the rail on the stern.  The gap between the rail and the bowsprit will be filled with a chock on each side.  The rail consists of a basswood strip on edge capped by a mahogany strip.  

I also put on the tiller after bending it.  The tiller was laser cut basswood but for some reason it seemed to really absorb the stain more than most of the basswood, so it is a bit darker.

And finally I also did the bowsprit and the bitt.  Unlike the mast and spars, the plans did not have a separate drawing of the bowsprit off of the boat so it was a little tough to tell how it should be shaped.  It appeared to me to be octagonal all the way to the end but I rounded mine off a bit. 

 

[gsdpic]

As always, thanks for the likes.

 

I've now completed the hull and just have the mast, spars, sails, and rigging left to do.  Since last time, I added the two chocks on either side of the bowsprit, finished the rail on the stern, added the two travelers, put some wipe-on-poly on the unpainted wood bits, and maybe a few other minor tweaks.  But in looking at the plans, I also realized that I failed to put any sort of mast step on the keel.....it is shown on the plans but I don't think it was mentioned in the instructions....and now that area is inaccessible.  I am hoping that I'll be able to adequately secure the mast anyway.  

 

I am not certain, but I was also thinking that when I got to this point, I'd take a break from this build and go off to work on another project or two for a bit.  So, there's a chance it will be a while before my next update.

 

[JacquesCousteau]

Beautiful work! The hull looks really sharp.

 

On the mast step, I wonder if you could notch the bottom of the mast to fit around the keel? Depending on how wide those parts are, of course. It would at least secure the mast from side-to-side movement.