Swift 1805 by Pastor Wes - Artesania Latina - 1/85 - pilot boat - first build

[Pastor Wes]

It is an understatement to say that I have never done this before. I found the model at a flea market for $20.  
it sat in my basement workshop for 6 months before I even opened the box.

Having never worked on a wooden model, I’m sure I’ve made every mistake possible.  It wasn’t until I hit my first snag that I started looking online for help. I still think the instructions were written for a master builder.  Too many important facts left out.  I didn’t know to bevel the hull planks, so I improvised with Gorilla wood filler.  

[Pastor Wes]

This micro miter box was a life saver. It cut my time by at least a day.  I discovered something while planking. Sharpies are great, but either they need to dry for a good while OR wood glue dissolves the ink.  When I started laying the planking, I made an inky mess.  I tried to sand it off and you can see the results.  I kind of like it though. It looks weathered. 

[ccoyle]

2 hours ago, Pastor Wes said:

It is an understatement to say that I have never done this before.

 

Don't fret too much about it. Kit design was pretty archaic back in 1982. You got the first planking done, and that's the biggest challenge for most beginners.

[JacquesCousteau]

Nice work, looks like you're off to an excellent start! The weathered deck looks good.

 

One word of advice for future builds: planking one side at a time can sometimes cause the hull to twist, so it's generally advised to plank both sides simultaneously.

[Pastor Wes]

I said I had no idea what I was doing.   I soaked the bulwarks, wrapped them around a tuna can and when I started the glue up, the plywood delaminated.  I’m torn between cutting it all off and leaving it and covering it as best I can.  It is my first model and a learning experience. The port side I would live with, starboard warped in a weird bulge. 

[Pastor Wes]

I tried regluing the laminate.  It only got worse.  

[Pastor Wes]

I couldn't stand looking at it.  Cut it off and waiting on some walnut veneer. 

 

[JacquesCousteau]

That's unfortunate. Plywood does have a tendency to delaminate when soaked. If you can trace the shape of the bulwarks onto thin wood, like basswood (walnut might work too, if you already ordered it, but it will be harder to bend), you might be able to redo the bulwarks. You also might want to look at build logs for kits from Vanguard Models, I believe that company uses plywood for the bulwarks too.

[TannumIan]

An option is to make new parts out of laminated 0.5mm (0.020") birch plywood.  Only glue together once the laminated parts are bent in position or close to it.

 

Here is my replacement plywood of some pin rails that broke.

 

 

Ian

[Coyote_6]

On 6/29/2025 at 4:03 PM, Pastor Wes said:

The port side I would live with, starboard warped in a weird bulge. 

 

I am probably too late to the party, but if the bulkheads are planked inboard and outboard you can compensate somewhat for the deformed plywood with the planking.  My experience is that the planks can be sanded down to smooth the bulge.  (Especially true in the bow where you can use longer planks over the plywood.)  The plywood can also be thinned (or even partially removed where it sticks out a bit much.

 

That said, she's looking good.  The first one is always a challenge.  Keep up the great work.

 

Examples:

 

Rough structure issues with my plywood bulkhead core starboard side.

 

Missing gunport "frames" in the plywood form, port side.

[Pastor Wes]

I said I had no idea what I was doing.  
I was at the home supply store that rhymes with Goes. 
I found a piece of 1/2” birch plywood that was delaminating. 
The store practically gave me the piece.

I brought it home and cut two bulwark pieces. 
It’s not finished, but it looks doable. 

[Coyote_6]

13 hours ago, Pastor Wes said:

I brought it home and cut two bulwark pieces. 
It’s not finished, but it looks doable. 

Very nice!

[ccoyle]

13 hours ago, Pastor Wes said:

I was at the home supply store that rhymes with Goes. 
I found a piece of 1/2” birch plywood that was delaminating. 
The store practically gave me the piece.

I brought it home and cut two bulwark pieces. 

 

Determination and ingenuity are a modeler's best friends!

[Pastor Wes]

The bulwarks glued up well. I discovered after the glue up that my cleanup of the previous mess was a little uneven.  Sanding evened most of that out.  I was left with a small gap right at the deck level, but I hope I can correct that in planking.

[JacquesCousteau]

Nice repair work!

[Pastor Wes]

I’m moving on to the deck  stringers and bulwark stanchions. I don’t have the tools to make a fancy

bending frame, so I used square push pins