Amanda F Lewis 1884 by SardonicMeow - Scale 1:48 - Chesapeake Bay pungy

[SardonicMeow]

Planking of the  hull continues.

In Fusion, I designed the stern piece.

It was not worth the trouble to go get it laser cut.  I just printed out the pattern and then cut it from 1/16" sheet.

The strake immediately below the "bends" was planked.  If you look back at my laser cut patterns, you'll see where the location of this was marked on the bulkheads.  Getting this strake in exactly the right position is important, so that the bends (which will be thicker) will run correctly.

Now I'm planking the remaining space to complete the lower hull.

I have family visiting this week, so work will be on hold for a little while.

 

[JacquesCousteau]

On 6/22/2025 at 10:20 AM, SardonicMeow said:

However, I did find that Lewis was arrested for the incident described below. (Washington Times, 19 January 1898).

Quite a bleak story! Who knows how many other cases were never brought to the authorities' attention. I wonder if the sailors ever tried to unionize? Although the seasonal nature of the work might have been a barrier.

 

Excellent progress on the build, too. The hull really looks great! Wonderful lines.

[Deltawaldo]

On 6/12/2025 at 3:48 PM, SardonicMeow said:

Hi, Deltawaldo.  Welcome to Model Ship World.

 

The hull shape I've been using for this project isn't an enclosed mesh, so it's not suitable for 3D printing.  I would have to start over with the goal of making a 3D printable object.  If you're truly interested, I can give it a go.

 

I'm very excited to hear that you're related to shipwright Joseph W. Brooks (1832 - 1915). Do you have any family history to share?

 

Pungies built by J. W. Brooks (presumed incomplete):

A. Weiskittle - 1882

Amanda F. Lewis - 1884

Angie McNamara - 1862

Christopher C. Fallin - 1869

Francis J. Ruth - 1871

G. A. Kirwan - 1882

Hattie and Francis - 1881

J. W. Brooks - 1868

Moore and Brady - 1880

Twilight - 1884

 

In a Baltimore Sun article from March 6th, 1938, author Eric Steinlein calls Twilight a sister ship of the Amanda F. Lewis.  Geoffrey Footner, in Tidewater Triumph, says that Brooks' last pungy was built in 1885, but does not name it.

Hey! Thanks and I am definitely tuned in on this! Also awesome to see a descendant of a former captain! The Amanda F Lewis has always peaked my interest due to the amount of archival work done on it! As far as I could tell from coast guard records she was converted to a diesel screw and is probably drift wood now on a beach in Haiti. The only ship I don't see in your list is the Mattie F. Dean which I think was scuttled in backwater creek near Annapolis! I have a laser cutter function on my end printer so honestly if you wouldn't mind sharing it would be an honor to follow along with my cousin who works at the maritime museum in St. Michaels. 

 

I grew up near Brooks point and am I think 4 generations removed from Joe Brooks. I am based on Baltimore now (black sheep of the family moving off the shore haha). Definitely amazing progress!

Edited June 28 by Deltawaldo

[SardonicMeow]

On 6/28/2025 at 10:20 AM, Deltawaldo said:

The only ship I don't see in your list is the Mattie F. Dean which I think was scuttled in backwater creek near Annapolis!

I listed pungies built by Joseph W Brooks, but he built other vessels too.  The schooner Mattie F. Dean was built by him, but wasn't a pungy.  There is a painting of the Mattie F. Dean on the Mariner's Museum website.  Can you see what non-pungy features it has?

 

On 6/28/2025 at 10:20 AM, Deltawaldo said:

I have a laser cutter function on my end printer so honestly if you wouldn't mind sharing it would be an honor to follow along with my cousin who works at the maritime museum in St. Michaels.

I'll have to think about this.  There are some flaws in my laser cut patterns that I've had to work around.  I'm a little hesitant to give them out.

[SardonicMeow]

Planking of the hull was finally completed.

The planking was quite clinkered in spots, especially here at the bow.

Fortunately, wood filler exists.  After a generous amount of wood filler and lots of sanding, the hull is pretty smooth.

The stern post was glued on and a few gaps were filled in.

 

[SardonicMeow]

I wanted to get the deck in place next, as the sides of the deck would add more surface area to attach the bends planks.

 

Rather than planking the deck, I chose to laser cut a scribed deck.  First I had to determine the pattern for the planks.  Looking through pictures of schooners of the same location and era, I found that straight planks were as likely as planks that follow the curvature of the bulwarks.  I did not find any examples of nibbing.  I decided to go with the simple option of straight planks.  The design was laid out in Fusion, including the waterways and cut outs for the various deck features.

And it was taken to the laser cutter.  (This was the second version.  I cut one originally then discovered a flaw in it later.)

The deck was aligned with the hull by inserting dowels into the mast holes.  Then rubber bands held the deck in place while the glue dried.

And the deck is in place.

I want the deck planks to have a weathered look.  I picked up two stains that looked likely to work.  The top is "weathered gray" and the bottom is "classic gray".  A solid coat is at left and at right was the result after wiping the stain immediately after application.  None of these is exactly what I'm going for, though the result at the bottom right is closest.