Lowell Grand Banks Dory by LoydB - Model Shipways - 1:24 - First Build

[LoydB]

Lifelong modeler and woodworker, about to retire maybe. One of the things on my modeling bucket list is building a serious gunship wooden model. I'm also cognizant of the fact that, if I tried to do one of those as my first project would almost guarantee a rage quit. Instead, I'm going to work through several smaller kits first, beginning with Model Shipways Grand Banks dory. 

 

If you are a degenerate football (American) fan as I am, there are going to be many hours watching NFL and NCAA games. I find it very conducive to modelling, as you only have to look up for 6-8 seconds, then do some building between plays and during commercial breaks. I've cleared all the tools that are Gundam/plastic model specific and am ready to get started.

 

[robert952]

This seems to be a great model to start on for a first build. Don't be afraid to ask questions.  Ships are a bit different that Gundam. 😁

 

Good Luck.

[LoydB]

And so it begins.  

[LoydB]

Not sure if I should post questions here, or do a thread, but I’ll start with here. The frame sections are not tight in the slots on the building board, and I’m not sure how to fix that so they are at 90 degrees without gluing them in. Tape? Putty?  Suggestions appreciated. 
 

 

Edited September 28 by LoydB
Clarification

[JacquesCousteau]

If I remember correctly, I added some scrap wood to the edges to keep the frame sections lined up and tightly held in position.

[Kenchington]

Mark a centreline on the building board, then on each of the frame units. Line those up, add Lego blocks and masking tape to keep all square (sanding the slots in the building board if necessary). Then check, check and check again! Small errors in the initial set-up will only get worse as your build moves ahead -- and none of us want that.

 

Trevor

[palmerit]

Lego blocks work great - they can be clamped or rubber banded down, or even glued. 
 

You can put a few dabs of glue - more and it’ll be a pain to free the build frames from the build board. Look ahead in the instructions to see how you free in later - it’s good in general to look ahead in the instructions. 
 

And definitely start by posting questions to your own build log. 

[palmerit]

Our house is awash with Legos. We added shelves in my younger son's room to showcase his large models. But I actually ended up buying a cheap set of faux lego blocks that are all the same size (these are classic 2x4 bricks, but there are other sizes):

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BM4SM9T8?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_5&th=1

 

[LoydB]

@JacquesCousteau @palmerit I've got some knockoff Legos arriving tomorrow, thanks for the suggestion.

 

@Kenchington The centerline is fine - I just need to make sure the frames are perpendicular to the build board and the boat bottom.

[LoydB]

After a lovely four-day family vacation at the coast, I unpacked the knock-off Legos and worked on the build board.

 

 

[LoydB]

Not pictured, but I used the one-piece bottom, so I scribed between the planks to give it some definition. Sanded the frames, and then glued up!

 

 

[LoydB]

Last night I did the bevels on the frames. I've got one frame that's not perfectly centered, but I think it will work out ok after dry fitting the garboard planks. 

 

Looking at how thin the planking sheet is, getting the bevels on them right is going to be exciting...

 

 

[JacquesCousteau]

Nice work!

 

If a frame's out of alignment, it would be much easier to correct it now before it throws off the run of the planking. If you've been using pva glue, you can loosen it with rubbing alcohol. It's hard to tell from the photo how misaligned it is, though.