New BlueJacket Shipcrafters kit in development: West Coast lumber schooner

[alross2]

This is an experiment.  I'm developing a new kit that has exposed timberheads and am experimenting with laser-cut timberheads.  In theory, the bulwarks and waterways will already be in place.  The timberhead strips will be soaked for pliability forward and glued down to the bulwarks and waterways.  I can see some potential issues but will find out once I get the bulwarks on the hull.

[alross2]

Looks like the lasered timberheads will work.  In practice, the bulwarks will be built first.  The timberhead strip will be soaked and clamped to the inside of the bulwark to preform.  Once it's formed and dry, the modeler will have to CAREFULLY sand the bottom of the timberheads with a sanding block to form a slight angle along the section of the bulwark that flares a bit outboard.  This photo was of the initial fitting and the timberhead bottoms were not sanded.  I was primarily seeing if the strip would survive the bending and gluing.  I had to make some height adjustments to the strip and am currently soaking one to fit to another test hull.  Yuh, I go through a lot of laser...😱

[ccoyle]

That is a lot of exposed timberheads! Have you hinted anywhere previously as to the identity of this new project?

[alross2]

Well, for now we'll just describe it as a "West Coast lumber schooner"...😎

[ccoyle]

Oh, please please please say CA Thayer!!

[alross2]

15 hours ago, ccoyle said:

Oh, please please please say CA Thayer!!

Chris, a skilled modeler such as yourself will be able to replicate the THAYER from this kit...😎  These are the revised timberheads on a new hull.  They are clamped and drying out after soaking.  I revised the planking sequence so that the top plank of the bulwarks is just a bit above the timberheads.  The top plank will then be trimmed to the top of the timberheads establishing the correct sheer.

[ccoyle]

4 minutes ago, alross2 said:

Chris, a skilled modeler such as yourself will be able to replicate the THAYER from this kit...😎

 

Any West Coast lumber schooner would be cool -- especially if it came from the Bendixsen yard.

[alross2]

The kit will include a jig to support the bulwarks while they are being built.  The three holes in the jig match the spacing of the mast holes in the deck and the jig is held in place with 1/4" dowels, making removal easy when bulwark construction is completed

[chris watton]

I like pre cut timberheads for kits - the alternative is a very tedious job for the kit purchaser....

[ccoyle]

3 hours ago, alross2 said:

The kit will include a jig to support the bulwarks while they are being built.

 

Al, would you mind if I re-titled this topic to make it more apparent that it's a kit development thread?

[alross2]

Whatever you consider appropriate.  

Edited June 5 by alross2
Initially not well worded.

[catopower]

Hi Al, I like the bulwarks planking jig. I've done something similar myself.

 

On the timber head strips, are they plywood? I can imagine myself breaking off timber heads, trying to sand the bottom edge if they're not.

 

 

[alross2]

3 minutes ago, catopower said:

Hi Al, I like the bulwarks planking jig. I've done something similar myself.

 

On the timber head strips, are they plywood? I can imagine myself breaking off timber heads, trying to sand the bottom edge if they're not.

 

 

Right now, they are 1/8" basswood.  I've installed both sides now and haven't experienced any splitting while sanding the bottoms of the timberheads.

[ccoyle]

1 hour ago, alross2 said:

Whatever you consider appropriate.  

 

Done! I'd like to see this thread gain some traction.

[alross2]

Timberheads are now installed on both sides and the bulwarks trimmed down to their tops.  Worked out fine, no breakage when sanding the bottom of the timberheads prior to installation.

[ccoyle]

We can see now that this will be a POB design.

[alross2]

Since Chris wanted to expand the scope of this thread, here's some basic info.  Scale is 1/96, construction is plank on bulkhead.  Construction is essentially the same as ALABAMA, KEARSARGE, NOTMAN, and WYOMING - poplar ply bulkheads on a central profile although this time the bulkheads are one-piece.

[alross2]

I'm getting too soft in my old age...  These are the chock rails and cap rails for the aft section.  There are about 24 cast stanchions, each of which has a pin on both ends.  Rather than make the modeler measure and drill the holes for the stanchions, I've laser cut them in.  The chock rail is 1/8" bass while the cap rail is .035" laserboard, the latter being far more robust than the original 1/32" basswood ones.

[alross2]

Hull is now in primer so I can see all the "goobers" and take care of them.  At the moment, I'm fitting out the main deck level of the forecastle as I won't be able to access that area once the raised forecastle deck is fitted.  

[alross2]

Here are the two ladders to the quarterdeck.  The rails are .035" and the treads are .015" laserboard.  The first tread is a bugger to install, the other three not so much.😎

[alross2]

Cap rails, chock rails, buffalo rails, windlass, and anchor chain installed yesterday.

Edited Wednesday at 11:58 AM by alross2

[Wawona59]

 

On 6/5/2025 at 5:45 AM, ccoyle said:

 

Any West Coast lumber schooner would be cool -- especially if it came from the Bendixsen yard.

Al, it looks like you've created a following; at least 2 MSW modelers for sure.  Chris Coyle is hoping for the C.A. Thayer and John Newcome is hoping for the Wawona.  Both of these vessels are basically the same ship.  Bluejacket could develop a kit offering the builder options to build either ship from a single kit.  That kit could also give the modeler the option to build their ship as a west coast lumber schooner or an Alaskan fishing vessel.

 

Attached is a photo of a West Coast Lumber Schooner (Wawona) for the modeler who doesn't want to build all of the deck details. 

 

What kind of bribery would be involved for Bluejacket to produce the C.A. Thayer / Wawona double kit? LOL

 

 

Edited Wednesday at 07:30 PM by Wawona59
fix typos

[ccoyle]

1 hour ago, Wawona59 said:

Chris Coyle is hoping for the C.A. Thayer and John Newcome is hoping for the Wawona.

 

I've long been interested in the West Coast timbering trade, ever since I used to do field work in the redwood and Douglas fir forests of Humboldt and Mendocino Counties. Roads in that area remained primitive until well into the 20th century, as you probably know, so much of the timber produced in the region went by ship (milled lumber on the outward-bound voyage and general cargo on the return trip). I even did some work on lands once owned by Carson and Dolbeer -- that'd be the Dolbeer who invented the steam donkey, which I hope we will see an example of on Al's prototype. West Coast merchant sail was an extremely hazardous line of work, so this new kit should be a fine tribute to the men (and the occasional woman) who worked these vessels.

[Wawona59]

If this kit is what I think it is or hope/wish it is, it looks like some of my unbuilt wooden kits (mostly Model Shipways, Airways and Trailways) will be going on the chopping block to make room for this one.  That should make the Admiral happy until she realizes there is another ship coming into port. LOL