Gretel by Olli Sukunimisson - Mamoli - 1:54

[Olli Sukunimisson]

While my Duyfken is waiting for me to gather the mental strength to sew her sails and for FedEx to deliver the little ropes (God bless Canada!), I started building Gretel. I bought her because I was literally charmed by the strange lines of her hull. Back then I thought it would be a challenge and a useful exercise in planking. After all, planking is the most fun and thrilling part of the project and it always ends right at the beginning. And then, well, you have no choice but to finish the rest.

 

So, Gretel. Here’s her current state: the first layer of planks is almost finished. This time I decided to do everything like a real model builder — calculated, marked, and trimmed each plank. In previous attempts, I skipped this black magic, and my Duyfken and Lady Nelson were more the result of inspiration and happy coincidences than of careful calculation. This time it’s different. Well, I almost nailed it. No, even more than that! I know exactly where I went wrong. That’s important!

She’s a funny one, though. A little bit like a tiny flounder.

[Olli Sukunimisson]

Not ideal, but not the worst I’ve ever made. Acceptable. A bit of filler will be required. Pity that the guys provide only a minimum set of planks of each type. Not their fault—it’s totally enough to build, but it doesn’t leave much room for experiments.

P.S. She’s tiny

 

[Olli Sukunimisson]

Second layer in progress. Remembering the pain I had trying to glue the wales in the correct positions on the fully planked hull, I decided to install them in between the regular planks.
 

[Olli Sukunimisson]

Top belt with two wales—heh, the easiest part is done. Now the hack-and-slash part below the second wale begins.
 

[Bryan Woods]

Looking good:-) I’m on hold with the Gretel, until I get the inside of my wife’s garage finished.

[Olli Sukunimisson]

The walnut strips 4x0.5mm are monstrously brittle. I’ll try bending them with this advanced machine. 

[Baker]

3 hours ago, Olli Sukunimisson said:

advanced machine. 

High-tech equipment 😉.

 

[Olli Sukunimisson]

In progress. The last belt remains. Heh, the soldering iron'n'pipe definitely wins the Best Tool for Ship Modellingaward this year. How did I ever live without it?
And yes, I cheat: the 4x0.5 mm walnut strips supplied with the kit are extremely brittle — even when soaked, they just break at the slightest attempt to bend them in-plane. So I switched to 5x0.5 mm walnut strips from Massivholz. I’m not an expert in wood, but maybe there’s some ancient Germanic magic at play — because these strips bend without the slightest problem.

[Olli Sukunimisson]

The calculations were excellent and precise, but wrong. I ran out of German planks—literally just four short, two on each side. For now, I’m considering whether to order new ones or finish with the kit planks and paint the hull below the waterline. Still thinking

[Olli Sukunimisson]

When the Lord likes your hobby, He always gives you an extra plank.
I found one more German plank and finished the main planking

Conclusion.
Now I finally understand what those curves mean and why it makes sense to bend the planks in plane before putting them on the hull.
I’ve learned both the good and the bad sides of the soldering iron'n'pipe magic.
And I’m still terrible at shaping forms.

Task for next time: buy some balsa and fill at least two forward sections.

 

Edited Friday at 10:42 AM by Olli Sukunimisson

[Olli Sukunimisson]

keep it simple

[Bryan Woods]

Looks Great! Olli.

[Olli Sukunimisson]

Bryan Woods — thanks! Your log is a great guide for me. It’s much easier to follow your steps

Edited 16 hours ago by Olli Sukunimisson

[Nirvana]

Terve Olli, 

 

I have the same kit waiting to be built.
Yours looks amazing.

[Olli Sukunimisson]

Moikka Nirvana! Great choice! Such a nice tiny boat — like a little bird. Next to her, even my Duyfken looks like a whale! I won’t miss your blog — as far as I can see, no two Gretels are alike, so it’ll be interesting to see your approach to this cute bird

[Olli Sukunimisson]

I’m not planning to paint her heavily, but I’d like to add a few light accents.

 

I'm not sure this is the best method, but should work. 

[Olli Sukunimisson]

 windows will be like this

[Olli Sukunimisson]

I don’t think it’s really necessary to assemble that stuff from three strips, but I have to admit - it does work for me. 

Edited 9 minutes ago by Olli Sukunimisson