SaltyDog Posted December 23, 2025 #1 Posted December 23, 2025 (edited) My latest project is the French cutter Le CERF building the Dusek kit.The quality of the wood, veneers, drawings and instructions is excellent! So far I've assembled the keel and bulkheads, done some infill between bulkheads with balsa and started some of the planking in the area of the deck. The kit receives a complete layer of planks in the clinker fashion, a second layer of laser cut veneer carvel style planks will be added to the lower portion of the hull. Edited December 23, 2025 by SaltyDog corrected log title catopower and Ronald-V 2
ccoyle Posted December 23, 2025 #2 Posted December 23, 2025 @SaltyDog Your photos are not showing. You may need to convert them to a different file type, such as a .jpg. Most members will not bother clicking on links. catopower and vvvjames 2 Chris Coyle Greer, South Carolina When you have to shoot, shoot. Don't talk. - Tuco Current builds: Brigantine Phoenix, Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien
SaltyDog Posted December 23, 2025 Author #3 Posted December 23, 2025 vvvjames, ccoyle, catopower and 2 others 5
brunnels Posted December 23, 2025 #4 Posted December 23, 2025 I'll be following along, I got this kit in my stack to eventually build. I was surprised there weren't any build logs as it looks like a really nice kit and a beautiful cutter. vvvjames 1 Current Build Finished Builds: HMS Sphinx, Vanguard Models 1:64 Scale HMS Beagle HMS Speedy, Vanguard Models 1:64 Scale
SaltyDog Posted December 25, 2025 Author #5 Posted December 25, 2025 I have made additional progress on the planking. First layer of planning finished below the bulwarks. Now I have a whole lot of sanding to do! vvvjames, brunnels, catopower and 1 other 4
SaltyDog Posted January 1 Author #6 Posted January 1 Bulwarks and upper-planking in place. brunnels, catopower, Zvr and 1 other 4
SaltyDog Posted January 2 Author #7 Posted January 2 Removing the tops of the frames prior to installing the deck. Gaffrig, catopower and brunnels 3
SaltyDog Posted January 2 Author #8 Posted January 2 Dry fitting the wonderful laser etched veneer deck. brunnels, vvvjames and catopower 3
SaltyDog Posted January 4 Author #9 Posted January 4 I glued the deck down using Titebond Original (PVA wood glue) applied to the veneer and deck and then left to dry. Then the two were placed together and heat was applied. This method is described on various posts on this site as well as videos that describe applying wood veneer to substrates. My observations; the veneer curled width wise when drying producing some splits/separations (the veneer was quite thin), the width of the veneer increased because of the moisture in the glue, I trimmed it against the bulwarks with a scalpel. The edge of the veneer was mostly covered by the waterways. The other thing was that the clothes iron I had (the one the Admiral was willing to let me use) was too wide to iron the deck, so I used my plank bending iron. A miniature hobby iron would be an ideal future purchase. catopower, Ronald-V and brunnels 3
catopower Posted January 4 #10 Posted January 4 Looking good SaltyDog! I missed your build log until just now. How long is the hull? I have some projects in 1/72 scale. If I recall correctly, Le Cert was a pretty good sized cutter. Clare Hess He's a -> "HE" Current Builds: USS Bagley Kitamaebune - Japanese Edo Era Trader Atakebune - Japanese Sengoku Warship Recent Builds: V108 Yacht Mary 1660 HMS Wolf 1754
SaltyDog Posted January 4 Author #11 Posted January 4 Catopower Thanks! The hull is approximately 15” long and over 4” wide. I have attached a photo of the hull next to a 1/72 model of Le Coureur for comparisons sake. catopower and vvvjames 2
SaltyDog Posted 5 hours ago Author #12 Posted 5 hours ago The project moves apace. Ronald-V and vvvjames 2
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