HM BOMB VESSEL GRANADO by DaveB - CALDERCRAFT - SCALE 1:64

[DaveB]

This is my first build log, and only my second build. The first being the Mare Nostrum some 3 years ago. Any advice would be much appreciated.

 

First a few photograph's of my hobby room at the back of the garage.

 

 

 

[DaveB]

28/11/13

 

Keel, Stem, and False Keel all fitted and glued. Bulkheads cut out and placed in position. Not glued.

 

 

 

 

 

[DaveB]

29/10/13

 

 

First 5 bulkheads glued in position. First mistake.......Bulkhead 7 glued into the incorrect position.

 

 

 

 

[DaveB]

01/11/13

 

Bulkhead 7 knifed backed out, and re-positioned. Only took 2 hours. :-(

 

[DaveB]

06/11/13

 

All bulkheads are now glued into position. I have also fitted the Stern Extensions.The Gunport Pattern Formers are assembled, and the Gunport Patterns are shaped. One has been shaped and clamped to the Bulkheads to help keep its shape, whilst the other has been left overnight on the Former.

 

Next is to bevel off the Bulkheads to suit and fit the Gunport Patterns.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ZyXuz]

Dave,

Very cool hobby room you have there!

nice progress so far, keep up the good work

[Ken Bartley]

Can I ask what is you building board is made of. A very nice kit. It was my last build. Took 4 years. Youl will have fun building it.

[DaveB]

Hi Ken,

 

The board is manufactured from Polyethylene. The same material as chopping boards are made from. I have my own company and we manufacture most of our parts out of this material. I have a 1.6 Mtr x 0.9 Mtr CNC vacuum bed router. I drew up the parts on the CAD system and programmed them for manufacture on that machine.

[Ken Bartley]

Used the same material when building submarines years ago . Its very dense , used instead of lead for radio active shielding! Might have want to think about producing the build board for the model boat market.

[DaveB]

Port side Gunport Pattern now fitted. Not sure that I will get chance to do anything this weekend. Hospital with the wife on Saturday, followed by watching the rugby and Soccer Saturday. Out for lunch on Sunday. So dependant on the wine intake it may be wise to wait until Monday. 

 

 

 

[jim_smits]

Looks like a good start to the build. I was considering the Grenado as a second build myself, so I keep an interested eye on your build.

 

Anymore of your build bases going? It looks fantastic and I'm sure I echo a few people who would be very interested in purchasing one from you.

[jthemanjack]

 Looking good Dave........looks like you may have drummed  up a little business on the side.

 

 

 Cheers 

   Jack

[Ken Bartley]

I don't think anybody here wants to distract from your excellent build, but your base board seems to be generating alot of intereset. I always give a lot of thought to the building board. A sloted fixure to hold the stem at 90 degrees and also triangular fillets to hold everthing nice and square all these fixtures could be adjustable and removeable with your system of slots and bolts. Back to your build I now its a little bit early in to the build, any ideas how your going to finish the castings(carvings) Most builders me included painted these. But it might make your build a bit different and proable more historical correct if your tried to paint them in a natural wood finsh.

[DaveB]

I haven't really though as far ahead as that.

 

The build board would require a slight modification to the design if I built another one. It is difficult to slide the clamping strip tightly up to the keel in the middle of the length. The width of the bulkheads hinders. Not a problem before the bulkheads are in position, but a bit of a pain if you want to take it in and out after they are fitted.

 

Mark 2 is being designed in my head right now. I'm thinking of maybe some jacking studs through 6 mm tapped aluminium plates attached to the edge. 4 plates along the edge should suffice. Slacken off the countersunk screws, jack against the keel with the studs, and then lock up the countersinks. Might be something I do next week. If so I will post an updated photograph.

 

Actually I have just realised that once planked I can't get to the screws anyway. Jacking studs with the screws slightly loose looks they way to go.

Edited November 8, 2013 by DaveB

[Ken Bartley]

Are you surprised in the interest about the base? I normally use MDF and constantly make changes thoughout the build. Can the material be tapped for bolts?

[DaveB]

Very surprised....The material can be tapped, but if we ever want a thread in it we fit metal threaded inserts. If you tap straight into it the thread tends to strip.

[DaveB]

Sorted. Base board will be remade with the slots further away from the keel. Sliding clamp bar remade wider with screws now being away from the keel. Cleats against the side with the studs. These cleats and studs can be removed when all nipped up.

[Ken Bartley]

Getting back to your build two things. Have you decided how you are going to display your build. No poblem if you use a cradle stand but if you are going to use brass pedastals you will need to consider drilling into the keel for threaded studing etc. Also you might want to paint or staint the frames in way of the rear gun ports under the stern deck. Nothing looks worse that seeing white frames through gun ports. I know this from past experence. Hope this helps.

[Timmo]

Nice start there Dave. I'm 18months into a Granado build and I'll echo the comments about the build board and to think drilling the keel soon if you want to mount it on pedestals.

[DaveB]

Ken,

Basically paint all the inside black to be on the safe side then!

Edited November 11, 2013 by DaveB

[DaveB]

The black paint is ordered from Cornwall Model Boats, and I will be drilling for a stand. Does anybody have a photograph of the type of Brass Pedestal stand you are talking about?

[DaveB]

Mark 2 build board now in manufacture.

[jim_smits]

http://www.cornwallmodelboats.co.uk/cgi-bin/sh000001.pl?REFPAGE=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2ecornwallmodelboats%2eco%2euk%2facatalog%2fmantua_fittings%2ehtml&WD=mounting&PN=amati_display_bases%2ehtml%23aA5685_2f04#aA5685_2f04

 

Here is a selection of items available at CMB.

[Ken Bartley]

I used the turned brass pederstals.

[DaveB]

So you drill the middle of the groove in the pedestal to accept a brass rod coming down from the keel?

[Ken Bartley]

The pedestals are pre drilled. Ill check later i think its 5 or 6 mm. I normally drill a hole up through the the keel to accept threaded studding say about 4mm . I trap a nut half way up the keel in to which the thread screws. Another hole is drilled into the base and a second nut (counter bored) locks everything in place. Hope this makes sence!

[DaveB]

Build Board MK II. Front sliding clamp bar is wider with the screws away from the hull. I have also added a removable aluminium front bar. This has 3 bolts in it to jack the strip onto the keel to get a firm hold. The front strip is then clamped down, and the aluminium bar removed to give working access.

 

Last night I fitted the second gunport pattern. Hopefully I'll be starting the first planking tonight.

 

 

 

 

Edited November 12, 2013 by DaveB

[Craigie65]

You could do a roaring trade with the base board. The gun port pattern seem to have aligned well - did you have any trouble with them? Looking forward to following your build log.

[DaveB]

Both sides went really well actually. Although I couldn't get them to sit flush with the tops of all the bulkhead extensions. I don't think that this should be an issue though, as they are removed down to deck level anyway.

 

I didn't manage to get any more done last night, and I am busy tonight and tomorrow night. The England game is on Friday. So it's looking like it could be the weekend before I get a chance to start the first planking. I also need to drill the holes for the mounting pedestals.

[Anja]

Hello Dave,

 

Happy birthday. I hope you have wonderful day.

 

Regards,

Anja