Skipjack by michael mott - 1/8th scale - SMALL - 19 foot open launch

[Omega1234]

Hi Mike. Seeing that last photo nof the real boat's bow, really gives an indication of just how delicious your boat is going to look!

 

It's going to be great following your build log.

 

 

All the best!

[michael mott]

Steve, Omega, thanks for your great comments here is a link to an overall shot at the Port Carling boat show where I first saw a picture of Skipjack.

The Port Carling boat site includes a lot of pictures of the classic wooden boats, Skipjack is near the bottom half of the pictures and this Gem near the bottom of the page.

 

It would be fun to visit the show and see some of these boats in person, but i am lucky enough that Roger is being very helpful in sending me pictures and taking measurements of various details for me.

 

This is Skipjack's engine that I also propose to make.

 

 

And an overall of Skipjack in her boatshed.

 

 

Michael

[captainbob]

I know you're a master machinist and builder but at 1:8 sale getting a motor like that running is going to be tricky.      

 

Bob

[michael mott]

 

but at 1:8 sale getting a motor like that running is going to be tricky.

I agree Bob, that is why I cut my teeth on projects like this and this

 

I am up for the challenge I figure it will be about as tricky as building this was.

 

 

When I was 17 I built a working overhead valve internal combustion engine model using off the shelf bits and pieces. it was crude but it ran. I have learned a few things since then though so it should be fun, I am glad that I did not choose one of those large runabout racers with the big engines though, Like the one in the Gar runabout I posted on the other thread.

 

today I finished the molds and mounted them

 

 

 

Two of the cross beams were not exactly extruded square so I had to add some .008 shims to counteract for it, to get the mold to be square with the base.

 

 

Also cut a wider piece of the Castello for the keel, since it is only 17.3 feet long I wanted to make it out of a single timber.

 

Thank you to all who "liked" the last entry.

 

Michael 

Edited October 19, 2014 by michael mott

[Omega1234]

Hi Mike. Did I read it right...are you actually going to build a running/working engine as well? Amazing.

 

Challenges like that are so far out of my skill level, not to mention comfort zone, that I can't even begin to comprehend the complexities involved in getting the motor to work.

 

Thanks also for the photos of the actual Skipjack. I can see why you chose her as your subject to build.

 

All the best!

Edited October 15, 2014 by Omega1234

[michael mott]

Hi Omega yes you read that right I will make an operational petrol engine for Skipjack.

 

Michael

[Jack12477]

Mike

 

When we opened the restored 1869 Saugerties Lighthouse back in 1990 we had, on loan from the Elco Electric Launch Co, an Elco electric launch very similar to the one in your photos above that ferried visitors to and from our Lighthouse during that summer/fall season.  Elco as you will recall is the company that built the WWII PT boats, amongst other Yachts. The company is still in existence about 25-30 miles north of me in Athens NY. The photo below is one of their electric launches, similar to the one they loaned us.

 

Looking forward to seeing your completed model.

 

Edited October 15, 2014 by Jack12477

[michael mott]

Jack , thanks for the picture of the Elco launch these early launches were just so elegant, I can see why so many are preserved and cherished.

 

Thanks again to all who posted likes.

 

Michael

[Bedford]

Well for some reason I am apparently in a country that is FORBIDDEN from seeing the Port Carling sites ?

That is the message I get.

 

The launch is absolutely beautiful and I know you will do it justice, I am blown away by the fact that you intend to make a working model engine for it too.

 

I am glued to the chair for this one.

 

Steve

[michael mott]

Thanks for all the likes.

Steve Thanks for the kind words, the proof will be in the pudding.

 

I began cutting the keel and stem today

I did not have any paste to glue the paper to the Castello so I did a test with the speedsew and it worked and the stuff works like rubber cement, and rubbed off the wood leaving no residue.

 

 

used the bandsaw to rough cut the keel

 

 

and the jewelers saw to cut the stem

 

 

then used a 3/4 inch paring chisel to rough down the stem before gluing it to the keel for final shaping.

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is still some final paring to do between station 1 and 5 but it is shaping up well. I can see why now the preponderance of Castello used in model boats, this is the first time I have used it and I'm lovin' it, what a joy to carve.

 

 

 

I will leave the stem for now and get the stern fitted, after that I will add the keel plate then shape them together for the garboard, once that is done I will be able to attach the assembly to the station bulkheads on the frame, then the ribbands for the ribs.

 

Michael   

Edited October 19, 2014 by michael mott

[captainbob]

The keel is laid and looking good.  Good start.

 

Bob

[michael mott]

Thanks Bob, I roughed out the stern today and glued it to the keel.

 

first pic show the patterns on a piece of 1/2 inch thick Castello. The stem was curved enough that I thought it best to scarph a couple of pieces rather than cut it out of one piece.

 

 

Glued to the keel

 

 

 

 

 

Before I finalize the carving of the sternpost I will add the keel plate.

 

Michael

Edited October 19, 2014 by michael mott

[hexnut]

I love the little Buffalo in the 1:1.  Will you be trying for a close replica or lean toward function? (make and break vs. jump spark or glow plug, for example...)

[michael mott]

Hi Bob the plan is to go for the make and break. I have watched a few Video's on the web of some of these old marine engines and they are really neat to hear in operation.

 

Thank you all for the likes.

 

Michael

[Mark Pearse]

HI Michael,

 

That's exquisite timber; is that glue oozing out cross-linked PVA?

 

I had a nice putt-putt & the flywheel weight was obviously important to it's smooth & slow running. But isn't the weight of yours going to be proportionately quite tiny in scale? This will present a challenge. If the scale is 1:8, the weight will, I think, be 1:8 cubed or about 1:500 … ? 

 

Is this one 2 stroke? 

[Bedford]

HI Michael,

 

That's exquisite timber; is that glue oozing out cross-linked PVA?

 

I had a nice putt-putt & the flywheel weight was obviously important to it's smooth & slow running. But isn't the weight of yours going to be proportionately quite tiny in scale? This will present a challenge. If the scale is 1:8, the weight will, I think, be 1:8 cubed or about 1:500 … ? 

 

Is this one 2 stroke? 

Good question as weight is not scaled like length, as you say it is much less than 1/8

For anyone who doesn't understand consider a cube which contains 8 litres of water, to make it 1/8th scale you don't just remove 7 litres because this will only make it 1/8th in depth. You also need to remove width and length until they are 1/8th of the original measurement. so 8 litres of water weighs 8kg but at 1/8th scale it would weigh 0.0156kg. Hence my 1/8th scale rc Land Rover which weighs 3.5kg is about correct to scale even though the original weighs 1800kg not 28kg.

 

The really tricky question is will the required weight of the flywheel scale down proportionally to the work it has to do?

 

Or should I just sit back and enjoy what is sure to be a stunning build?

[michael mott]

Mark and Steve, folk have been building model internal combustion engines for years this page illustrates just a few

 

and here is a water-cooled one

 

I don't think I will have any trouble getting it to work. Mine will look a lot prettier than this one though. I am presently researching the Buffalo 3HP motor.

there is a lot of very interesting information in this book

 

Mark the glue is LePages Carpenters glue.

 

Thank you all who took the time to read the last entry and for posting the like.

 

Michael

 

 

 

 

[michael mott]

Mark sorry I did not answer your question about the glue, it is LePages Carpenters glue. thanks to all who posted likes .

 

today I joined the keel plate to the keel with some 3 inch screws, first I marked the station positions on the plate and the keel, I don't want to glue them together just yet. I am going to do the rough shaping of the plate and the stern post first.

 

 

 

 

 

The stern post is a little more complex than the stem so I am proceeding very cautiously.

 

 

 

I noticed that whole assembly has straightened out a small amount, about 1/32 or a 1/4 inch scale size. I shall have to make sure when I do the final gluing that the curve is maintained.

 

Michael

 

 

 

 

[cog]

Michael,

 

Some very fine work as usual. Looking forward how she will develop further, and further.

 

Building at this large scale is like drawing large: Errors or mistakes are shown more easily. You really set yourself a task!

[popeye the sailor]

I had no idea you were still working on the beauty     had no idea why I haven't seen any updates,  until I realized it wasn't in my watch list.

      you in there now...........by golly!     very nice work in laying the keel so far,  and I'll be very interested on how you build the engine. 

 

have you given thought as to how you will do the fuel / spark deliveries?   too bad a lawn mower engine is too large a scale.....you could scoff the magneto and carburation systems,  and make life easier

[michael mott]

Carl, thanks yes, the issues of errors are very clear, the differences are similar to those that I would encounter when making models commercially, errors were something that would cause problems further into the work and so were to be minimized as much as possible. When working freelance errors are less problematic because compensations are built into the design process sort of more like working on a painting that evolves as one makes brush strokes, and sees an opportunity to be explored further.

 

Denis, thank you for coming aboard so to speak, yes this is my foray into building a model of an existing boat, as best I can given the circumstances of it being half way across the country, which on the face of it is easier than one that only exists as a historic document and even at that one that cannot be verified in reality by a visual inspection of a boat or ship that might have existed in the past. I am fortunate in that I can communicate with the owner of this fine launch to verify details.

 

My intention is to make the engine function in the same manner as the make and brake engines of the time, which will no doubt be challenging as has already been alluded to by Bob.  This was brought home to me loud and clear yesterday while getting my Husquevana chainsaw running smoothly to cut some wood for the fireplace.

 

Michael

[kees de mol]

In post 79 I see some nice clamps (dont know how to call them) Do you know the name of them?

 

Regards, Kees

[michael mott]

Hi Kees the clamp are these

 

 

They are from Lee Valley the wooden ones I made.

 

Michael

[michael mott]

Just a little more progress carving the sternpost on the port side, I am taking this very slowly.

 

 

This feels like a tricky detail but to all you full keel three mast shipbuilders it probably looks like child's play. this is much more difficult than the keel on the pilot cutter.

 

 

 

Here is a drawing showing the keel at each of the building stations

 

 

A sincere thank you to all who have pushed the like button, I really appreciate it.

 

Michael

[mtaylor]

Nice work, Michael.  That carving (a rabbet?) certainly looks tricky to me.

[shipmodel]

Michael - 

 

Just catching up on my reading after the NRG conference.  Nice progress while I was away and very nice work.  The transition from the inside rabbet of the stern to the outside rabbet of the keel is not child's play by any measure, and you are making it look easy.

 

Looking forward to seeing the engine come together.

 

Dan

[SJSoane]

 

Michael,

 

I somehow missed that you were back working on this again, and you continue to astound. I love the framing jig, the plan to build a working engine... amazing. I need to pay closer attention!

 

Mark

[michael mott]

Mark Taylor, Dan, Mark, thanks for your kind remarks, and to all who are following along with likes.

 

Today I learned a little bit more about the engine, and will be getting more pictures and measurements in November from Roger.

 

The Engine is a 4 cycle with Buzz coil ignition just like the old Model "T" This will make the build easier because I will be able to use simple fuel and not fuel with oil added as in a 2 cycle.

 

Michael

[michael mott]

A small update

The concept drawing of the size of the engine and location.

 

 

Michael

[cog]

Michael,

 

Impressive as ever ... can't wait to so the result!