HDMS Elben 1831 by TJM - scale 1:64 - PoB - first scratch build

[TJM]

Log entry 6 - sanding, keel and start of second planking

 

Sanding the hull went quickly and there were no weird areas that needed filler, which I was happy about, especially as I designed the frames myself. 

 

There are a few hairline cracks between a few of the planks, but nothing that will be an issue when adding the second layer I deem.

 

Here is the state after sanding and gluing in the keel:

 

 

 

 

 

I went on and added the three first planks of the second layer and removed the upper parts of the bulkheads and the temporary braces.

 

I also tested the fit of the engraved deck, but as expected it needs a bit of tailoring both at the stern and the prow. I guess it was very optimistic to cut this to begin with with everything being modelled only in 2D CAD!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

However, these images still give a good impression of what it will look like when a slightly better fitting version is added (which won't be until the second planking is completed). 

 

I just need to redesign the deck - making the engraving fit will be a bit tedious, but a few hours should see it done and cut. I can do it while I re-print my canon in the correct size... 🤣.

 

The worst will be that I will need to re-design and re-cut the 2 mm pear edge and due to the shape it takes a whole 500x80 mm sheet so that was a bit of a waste. Anyways, that will teach me to be over confident and cut everything from the start just to have it all like a kit... 😅

 

On with the planking!

 

BR

TJM

 

[Dr PR]

I have had the same problem with some of my CAD designed parts when it came time to actually make them I'm afraid the computer design is more accurate than I am when I start cutting pieces. I always make parts a bit oversized. It is a lot easier to remove a bit than it is adding it back!

[TJM]

Log entry 7 - modified deck, re-printing cannon, fixing mistakes and inner bulwarks

 

This turned into a long post - quite a few things have happened in the past few days.

 

New engraved deck

As mentioned in the previous post, I needed a new deck with a better fit. I decided to keep the engraving and only change the outer shape to fit. This is because I actually drew the deck planking based on the original plans, so changing the engraving would be moving away from the historical sources. I took the advice I received a few posts back and made the nail engravings less deep - I like the new look. Here it is compared to the first version:

 

 

Cannon in the right size

I scaled down my 18 pdrs to 12 pdrs and re-printed them.

 

Here they are curing:

 

And here's a comparison to the 18 pdrs:

 

 

Even though they are only 13% smaller, they look significantly smaller side by side.

 

Problems...

This is where the trouble began. I naturally put the cannons on the deck and quickly realized I had an issue: the barrels were not at all in the middle of the gun ports.

 

 

I did a bunch of measurements on the model, on my CAD designs and on the original plans and I cane to the conclusion that two things had happened; I had used the wrong thickness of the two layer deck and therefore had the deck a bit too high, by about 0.8 mm and when applying the plywood bulwark patterns, the fit was good at the ends, but due to the curvature of the hull and less than perfect taper of the parts, they were sitting to low at the middle of the hull, by about 1.2-1.5 mm. A total of 2.0-2.2 mm.

 

A quick decision was made to build up the bulwarks to make up for the difference. This will only be adding the 0.8 mm that the deck sits too high at the middle, the rest is just compensating for the bad fit of the plywood bulwark.

 

 

It is not so pretty right now, but that fortunately does not matter, as the wales will entirely cover the repairs - it sits right under the gun ports. 

 

Inner bulwark patterns 

 

But as I now had the repair sitting on top of the bulwark, I decided to add the inner bulwarks to strengthen them, and therefore I needed to glue in the deck first!

 

I made a paper template on the model, scanned it (with a ruler...), drew it in CAD and laser cut it - it was quick work and only took around an hour total. 

 

 

I made it in two parts to not waste the 0.5 mm material.

Here the last part being glue in with almost enough clamps...

 

And this is now the state of things:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I like the small, fat cannons and the carriages with no visible wheels (they do have two small wheels on the inside at the front). 

 

Now, I can continue with the planking. I will protect the engraved deck with a cardboard cover while I work on the outside of the hull. 

 

BR

TJM

 

[wefalck]

One detail puzzles me a bit, that the timbers that carry the transom are sitting on the deck. That seems to be a somewhat unusual arrangement. Normally, deck planking goes around any structural parts.

[TJM]

8 hours ago, wefalck said:

One detail puzzles me a bit, that the timbers that carry the transom are sitting on the deck. That seems to be a somewhat unusual arrangement. Normally, deck planking goes around any structural parts.

Ah, those will be covered by a raised deck right in front of the wheel. It will hide the rudder cables etc.

 

You can see the construction on these plans:

 

 

 

I just haven't gotten around to making that part yet 😁.

 

So those exposed mdf pieces are there for a structural purpose on my build and does not reflect how the original would have been made!

Edited April 7 by TJM

[Beckmann]

Really nice design! Well done. You should offer this as a kit, once the prototype is finished.

Matthias

[TJM]

On 4/7/2025 at 9:41 PM, Beckmann said:

Really nice design! Well done. You should offer this as a kit, once the prototype is finished.

Matthias

Thank you Matthias, that is very kind of you indeed! 

 

However, I am not sure this would meet a proper 'kit standard', and quite a few tweaks would be needed - besides I don't really have any ambitions in that direction (and my skills are not good enough in my own opinion!).

 

But I do really enjoy the design process and will be doing more of that! 

 

And when this model at some point gets finished (it is still early days on this build!), if anyone is interested in the plans you can reach out and I will be happy to share. But let's see how it goes first 😉.

 

 

 

[Mirabell61]

nicejob, well done...

 

Nils

[TJM]

Log entry 8 - second planking completed!

 

It has been a while, but I finally have some solid progress to show.

 

I have completed the second planking, and it has turned out fine, in my opinion. Not at all perfect, but good enough.

 

Here are some images before the very last planks were added:

 

 

 

And here it is completed, but before sanding:

 

 

 

 

 

And then after initial sanding:

 

 

 

 

 

I am happy with the hull shape, but I need a bit of filler at the stern. 

 

The hull is nice and smooth, but as mentioned, it is not visually perfect - that is ok, as it will be entirely covered by paint and copper plates.

 

The next step is to add a molding that sits just below the gun port lower edges and the whale in connection to that. In total, it will be 11 mm wide, including the molding. 

 

More to come soon, I hope!

 

BR

TJM

 

 

[TJM]

Log entry 9 - whales

 

I have now installed the molding and the wales: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The molding is from Amati and in walnut, hence the different colour of the wood compared to the pear planking. The moulding is a tad oversized compared to the drawing, but I still think it is preferable to a simple thinner strip.

 

Everything will soon be painted: white for inner bulwarks and outer bulwarks above the whales, black below. The molding itself will be red, as will the inside of the gunport lids.

 

This painting will happen after I add vertical strips on the inner bulwarks as per the drawings:

 

BR

TJM

 

 

[Beckmann]

That looks really good! Well done

Matthias 

[Beckmann]

By the way, do you know this painting of Lüder Arenholt? Elben is the Schoner on the left side.

This picture from Wikipedia you might know as well:

and there must be this model somewhere in Denmark.

These pictures by Julius Prömmel are interesting as well.

Elben in the center of the painting.

Matthias

Edited Saturday at 03:17 PM by Beckmann

[TJM]

Thank you Matthias, I had not seen any of these before! Great for reference! Much appreciated 😃

[wefalck]

Keep in mind that they have been painted decades later …

[Beckmann]

Yes of course. The Wikipedia picture is propably the most authentic. It is said to be contemporary.

[TJM]

Hi wefalck,

 

Thanks for the comment - yes, I am very mindful of that.

 

Elben was made at around the time where they moved away from black/red/yellow trim and moved to black/white/olivegreen trim. How it was originally is anyone's guess, but the great model builder Peter Maack chose the former colour scheme for Delphinen, Elbens little sister:

 

 

 

 

 

This is the colour scheme I am going for.

 

I am sure it was re-painted later, likely when it was still in Danish service, before 1864, and I imagine it would have been painted like the Corvette Najaden, as captured by Eckersberg in this painting from the 1830/40's

 

BR

TJM