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

[michael mott]

1 hour ago, druxey said:

Visualize the rabbet as the outside shape of the boat, but less the planking.

Initially I thought I was on this track, I think  that I made the whole keel too small on the vertical size, also I drew the keel as a rectangular section. I am thinking that this was an error. The keel is basically rectangular but not the whole keel the forward portion is most likely shaped to conform to the lines of the hull to create a smooth transition from the Stem to the keel for at least a few stations and gradually transitioning to the more rectangular section.

 

I have redrawn station 2 to correspond to this notion.

 

And in this close up of the keel area the right side of the drawing shows the rectangular keel as made in red with the newer profile mirrored on the right. I am guessing that the planking was thinned down to around 1/2 inch as it meets the stem at the keel. It would look quite chunky if it remained 3/4 which is what the thickness of the yellow Cedar is. The magenta line shows the taller keel section with a height of 4 3/4 by max width of 1 3/4.

 

 

Why am I getting this feeling that I need to start over,,,,,,,sigh!

 

Michael

Edited June 6, 2021 by michael mott
add photo

[Mark Pearse]

Hi Michael

 

I'm not sure about butting in, but hopefully this is helpful, & apologies if it isn't.

 

The bow is certainly very fine. Personally I doubt the builders would have thinned the planks at the bow, I reckon they would just use a wider stem timber & placed the rabbet line to suit. I reckon the steps are: they decided a minimum remaining timber thickness after the rabbets were cut into the stem timber; if the two plank thicknesses plus this minimum thickness totals 2.5", then the rabbet line at the bow  will follow the 2.5" hull thickness line, like a contour on a survey plan. So the fine lines don't need to be made more chunky, but it would mean a wide outer stem to achieve the fine bow - but it would be strong & the width of the outer stem would look elegant & emphasise the fine lines.

Edited June 6, 2021 by Mark Pearse

[michael mott]

Hi Mark I think I understand what you are saying here is a different picture and the information that Roger gave me way back in the year 2014

 

 

a - 3 3/8

b - 3 inches deep x2 1/8th at the bow 2 inches x 1 3/8 at the stern 

c- 31 inches at the bow

  - 38 inches at center

  - 15 inches at stern

d- 3 inches at bow

  - 5 1/4 at midship

`

There are ten planks

 

All the other dimensions that I have are taken from inside the cockpit ie length of open cockpit width of cockpit height of coaming ,seats etc

 

regards Michael

[michael mott]

Here is another picture of the bow from inside the boathouse.

 

I think that one of my problems has been with the placement of station lines and the conjectured placement of the frames at the bow. and thinking that these are one and the same.

 

 

I have been trying to reconcile a frame at position 1 and am beginning to think that I have this all wrong it makes more sense that the first frame would be at the place I have marked as 2 in this plan view

 

 

Michael.

 

 

[dr_huckin_john]

Micheal, wondering what software you are using to do your design on?

[michael mott]

1 hour ago, dr_huckin_john said:

Micheal, wondering what software you are using to do your design on?

Hello John, I am using Corel draw X7 because it is easier to generate curves than mu old Autocad 2000lt.

 

Michael

[druxey]

I'd ditch Frame 1, I think. It would be almost an upright plank!

[michael mott]

Hi Druxey, Thanks, I have come to basically the same conclusion. I am also guessing that this boat was built over forms with stringers then frames bent to the stingers and then planks to the frames and the stringers removed as the planking proceeded. funnily enough that was my first planned way to build this model.

 

Michael

[michael mott]

So the keel gods spoke to me in a dream (that's my story an' I'm sticking to it) Turns out that they were not happy about using the foreign exotic wood called Castello.... I know it is a beautiful wood to use and work with. However they suggested I use some of the Maple that I cut from the 24 inch log way back in 1976 and that has been thoroughly air dried for the stem and stern

and the nice piece of rock maple that was in the storage for the long part. So I agreed

 

 

Michael

 

 

[TBlack]

1 hour ago, michael mott said:

So the keel gods spoke to me in a dream

 

Always a good idea to listen to the gods. The alternative is called tragedy. Besides, the results look very promising!

TB

[michael mott]

I began the slow work of carefully carving in the rabbet A big thank you to Druxey for comment about the rabbet following the line of the hull less the planking, and to Mark Pearce for the comment about the thickness of the wood at the stem. Obvious to many of you who have built several or more models of boats and ships, but was not to me.

This time I have left the bow at the full dimension of the mid-ship as 3 inches and am working the taper down to the  given by Roger as 2 3/8 inches just aft of the bow proper to allow for the clamping while carving.

 

 

 

 

I am following the templates for each station point along the new keel, and checking it with a small piece of 3/4 inch plank to ensure that the plank fits properly at each station. I am confident that this time I will achieve the results I am looking for.

 

 

Once I have the rabbet cut the whole length on both sides I will finish shaping the bow and stern posts.

 

 

Michael

[BANYAN]

Very neat work on those rabbets Michael, very crisp and clean.

 

cheers

 

Pat

[druxey]

That looks about what I'd expect to see, Michael. Good job! The rabbet can be very wide up to the bearding line in vessels with fine entries.

[michael mott]

Continued work on the rabbets.

 

 

 

I am going to make a couple of clamps to hold the keel in position while the frames are shaped and fitted there are 15 frames in all so when it comes to adding the floors I will need to cut the slots in the base form. Nothing will get glued until the frames and floors are sorted. The Maple is a little more difficult to work than the Castello, but I am pleased with the results so far.

 

Michael

 

Michael

 

 

[michael mott]

Had a chance in between a few other commitments to get the new clamps made and mounted, I also remade the location strip in order to align the clamps, and so did up a new print while I was at it.

 

 

 

 

Now I can finish the rabbet and get on with the frames and floors.

 

Michael

[michael mott]

Thanks for support and comments.

 

I did some tests today for the ribs (frames). When we lived at the lake we cut some and purchased some Birch firewood A couple of the larger split logs were really clean and straight grained so I split them up a little more and prepared some 1/4 cut billets that were approx 1 inch x 2 inch  x 12 inches long They have been drying for about 5 years now so today I cut one up into 1 1/2" x 1/2" scale ribs (3/16 x 1/16 actual)

 

 

 

 

I had done some bending tests with other woods as well, left to right Birch, Yellow  Cedar, Castello, Maple, and Beech. The air dried Birch bent the best.

So a couple of test bends on the form to see how they are overnight. I wrapped the frame in a wet paper towel and popped it into the microwave for 1 minute then used the hot air soldering station to add a little more heat as I bent the frame in the bending jig before pinning it to the form.

 

 

 

These are just some preliminary tests.

 

Michael

 

[druxey]

Looks very promising, Michael.

[BANYAN]

Good use of your local products Michael; wish I had access to wood as easily as that.  The frames look like they curve and conform to the plug quite well.

 

cheers

 

Pat

[michael mott]

Yesterday and today I notched the area for frames 14, 15 and 16 Then set up the frames to dry overnight.

I decided not to show close ups of the mortises as they were a bit rough to the naked eye so I can imagine how they would look through the camera..... Brutal comes to mind. 

 

 

I am having to take it slowly because I am having serious numbness issues with my right hand and the nephropathy tests today confirmed that I need to have the Carpel tunnel revisited, so an appointment with the surgeon is in my not too distant future.

Picked up a splint for night time today.

 

I am happy with the way things are looking with the frames, I laid a plank on the frames to get a sense of what is to come at the stern and I think it is going to work out fine.

 

Michael

 

[Keith Black]

Michael, you know you're probably not doing yourself any favors continuing to model with your CTS. Have you considered taking some time off till you have a chance to visit with the doctor? I love seeing your work but..........

[rlb]

Michael, I'm sorry to hear about your CTS issues.  Take care and I hope for the best.  I never tire of seeing your work.

Ron 

[TBlack]

Michael,

I'll add my sympathy for your dealing with CTS, but I have confidence that you will prevail! I'm also interested in the plank bending technique. Wet towel; microwave for 1 minute; ready to serve. Those frames are 1/16" thick?

Tom

[mtaylor]

Beautiful work, Michael, but I'm with Keith.  Maybe taking a break would be good.

[Roger Pellett]

Michael,

 

Medical conditions are not to be taken lightly and I hope that your CTS is resolved and that you can get back to doing the things that you enjoy.  Visits to the neurologist are no fun; needles, wires, electric shocks, etc.

Get we.ll soon.

 

Roger

[Ryland Craze]

Michael, Your work is outstanding.  Please take care of yourself.

[druxey]

I echo everyone else's concern and remarks, Michael.

[Jim Lad]

Just catching up with your beautiful build, Michael.  Make sure you take good care of yourself.

 

John

[michael mott]

Thanks for all the concern and nice comments about the work. I took the day off today and worked on a jigsaw puzzle of some fruit in a still life.

just a small one but challenging all the same.

 

 

and sat in the garden enjoying the flowers. The wrist splint helped with the sleep.

 

Michael

 

 

[TBlack]

We're with you, dear pal. Actually, that does look like a challenging puzzle, but that you can do it in an afternoon means your mind is working just fine!

Tom

[michael mott]

I was only going out to the workshop to do a bit of tidying up but honest! but got a little sidetracked I only worked for a hour and half.

 

The forward three ribs were a breeze. When I lifted the keel off the form I left the three aft ribs pinned to the form at the bottom.

 

 

when I replaced it they slotted right back in.

 

 

 

 

 

Then a wet and wrap in a wet paper towel and again on minute each in the microwave.

 

Now to relax for the rest of the evening.

 

Michael