derik Posted February 20, 2013 Share #1 Posted February 20, 2013 (edited) My name is Derik and I live in Cape Town, South Africa. I fell in love with model ships when I first read Tintin and the Unicorn in primary school. I even visited the flea market in Brussels to look for the Unicorn. Unfortunately there was no fourth model for sale. I started the HMS Surprise in April 2012. Good progress was made until July. I will upload the typical start Picture as a test. If it works I will post more of the progress. Edited March 20, 2013 by Dan Vadas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derik Posted February 20, 2013 Author Share #2 Posted February 20, 2013 (edited) Uploading pictures seems to be working on my iMac at home. Edited February 20, 2013 by derik Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derik Posted February 20, 2013 Author Share #3 Posted February 20, 2013 (edited) I thought a lot about how to simulate the trenails on the deck. I wanted to obtain small round circles with a wooden interior, without having to drill holes nor insert wooden pegs. My solution was to use a 0.5 mm clutch type pencil with the lead removed. I sanded some ordinary HB pencil lead and then dipped the clutch pencil tip in the lead powder. This was then used to make two or three simulated "wooden nails" in the deck planking at a time. Turned out OK. Edited February 20, 2013 by derik Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derik Posted February 20, 2013 Author Share #4 Posted February 20, 2013 (edited) I worked until June 2012 to complete the upper hull planking, cutting the gunports and planking the inside of the bulwarks. Measuring the gun ports was tricky, small errors accumulate quickly. Then got busy on other things and the model took a break. The first plank was allowed to follow the natural shape of the hull. This resulted in a curve upwards towards the bow. As a result the last planks towards the top of the bow had to be tapered. Good practice for what is coming later with the lower hull. Edited February 20, 2013 by derik Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derik Posted February 20, 2013 Author Share #5 Posted February 20, 2013 (edited) In July 2012 I decided to do some out of sequence work on the stern castle, mainly for the aesthetic effect. The instructions were vague. I looked a lot at other builder's work - like Magpie. Edited February 20, 2013 by derik Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derik Posted February 20, 2013 Author Share #6 Posted February 20, 2013 (edited) After July 2012 I did not do any work until a few weeks ago, February 2013. After much debate I decided to taper the lower hull planking. I measured the length of each of the key bulkhead outer surfaces and marked the width of the planks on each. The objective of course is to end up with the same number of planks at the bow as in the middle. I am taking a more artistic approach by sanding each plank by hand using 80 grain sandpaper. Up to now I have done 5 shaped planks at the bow and stern with no significant clinker effect yet. Seems to be working so far. Edited February 20, 2013 by derik Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mayohoo Posted February 27, 2013 Share #7 Posted February 27, 2013 Hi Derik, Am also building the AL HMS Surprise. There is a really good primer on how to plank a hull here: http://modelshipworldforum.com/ship-model-framing-and-planking-articles.php by Dirk deBakker. I was able to get through it ok. It gets tricky at the bow and stern as the wood has to bend three ways and tends to break under too much stress. Single plank hull was probably a little complicated for my first model, but I managed with the help of the members here. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derik Posted March 4, 2013 Author Share #8 Posted March 4, 2013 Thank you for the link Mike. In the mean time I have made good progress with the lower hull planking. I will post some pictures later. Derik Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derik Posted March 24, 2013 Author Share #9 Posted March 24, 2013 (edited) Yesterday I reached a major milestone by completing the lower hull planking. I stuck to my plan of working from the top of the hull down to the keel. I read somewhere that a ship's hull must be viewed as a kind of barrel. It must have the same number of planks at bow and stern as in the middle. I took this as my objective for this project. By shaping each plank, down to half width at the bow and flared to maximum width at the stern, I ended up with the same number of planks at each end as in the middle. I did not use any drop or steeler planks. None of the planks were reduced to less than 50% width. I am reasonable satisfied with the result. Still need to do a lot of sanding. In the mean time I got banned from working on the kitchen counter. Derik Edited March 24, 2013 by derik Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derik Posted March 24, 2013 Author Share #10 Posted March 24, 2013 (edited) Further progress Edited March 24, 2013 by derik Brigg Fair and billocrates 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mayohoo Posted April 2, 2013 Share #11 Posted April 2, 2013 Well, if it is any consolation, I am banned from working on the bedroom rug... I may be the head, but the boss is the neck. Lots of progress Derik! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rebekb Posted April 2, 2013 Share #12 Posted April 2, 2013 She is a beauty Derik! Quote * * * * * * * * First-time builder Current build: Mini-Mamoli Mississippi Sternwheeler On the shelf: MM: Charles Morgan, La Goleta MW: Ches. Flattie, Crabbing Skiff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derik Posted April 6, 2013 Author Share #13 Posted April 6, 2013 Thank you to rebekb and Mayohoo for the encouragement. Need a new milestone to target. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john46 Posted April 6, 2013 Share #14 Posted April 6, 2013 (edited) Very nice planking Derek, well done. Will follow your built with great interest. Regards, John Edited April 6, 2013 by john46 Quote <span style='font-family: courier new'>In progress: <a class='bbc_url' href='http://modelshipworld.com/index.php?/topic/177-king-of-the-mississippi-artesania-latina-scale-180/'>King of the Mississippi</a></span><br /> <br /> <span style='font-family: courier new'>Completed : <a class='bbc_url' href='http://modelshipworld.com/index.php?/topic/176-mare-nostrum-4331-artesania-latina-scale-135/'>Mare Nostrum 4331</a></span><br /> <span style='font-family: courier new'><a class='bbc_url' href='http://modelshipworld.com/index.php?/gallery/album/51-16th-century-galeass-imai-scale-1160/'>16th century Galeass</a></span><br /> <span style='font-family: courier new'><a class='bbc_url' href='http://members.upc.nl/carla.en.john/Modelbouw/Rocket.htm'>George Stephenson Rocket Locomotive</a></span><br /> <br /> <span style='font-family: courier new'>Next build : sl Louise</span> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marktime Posted April 6, 2013 Share #15 Posted April 6, 2013 "Surprise" will be my next major build so I'm following your log with interest. I really like that planking scheme and if you bring that level of detail to the rest of your build you will end up with a superb model. Regards from an exsaffer. Quote Al "San Fransisco I ", Bashed Al "Santa Maria", Scratch-built Chinese Trading Junk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tophog Posted April 6, 2013 Share #16 Posted April 6, 2013 Very nice build. kevin d 1 Quote Geoffrey Watson (aka Pigdaddy) Current Build - Viking Ship: http://modelshipworld.com/index.php/topic/14393-viking-ship-by-geoffrey-watson-hobby-line-scale-140-second-wooden-ship-build/#entry446396 Past Builds - The Nina by (Mini) Mamoli: http://modelshipworld.com/index.php/gallery/album/295-nina-by-tophog-mini-mamoli/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtaylor Posted April 7, 2013 Share #17 Posted April 7, 2013 Nice work on the planking. Being bounced from the kitchen isn't a bad thing. I've been tossed from the bed, the bedroom, the kitchen, the dining room. I now have a dedicated workshop which wouldn't have happened if the Admiral hadn't tossed my building from the other rooms. :) Quote Mark "The shipwright is slow, but the wood is patient." - me Current Build: Past Builds: La Belle Poule 1765 - French Frigate from ANCRE plans - ON HOLD Triton Cross-Section NRG Hallf Hull Planking Kit HMS Sphinx 1775 - Vanguard Models - 1:64 Non-Ship Model: On hold, maybe forever: CH-53 Sikorsky - 1:48 - Revell - Completed Licorne - 1755 from Hahn Plans (Scratch) Version 2.0 (Abandoned) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
themadchemist Posted April 7, 2013 Share #18 Posted April 7, 2013 Hello Derik Very nice planking job, and I love your decking. I haven't checked out any Surprise logs yet and have been working my way through differing logs as I have time and tonight it was yours. It is so easy to get bogged down (this is good) and spend hours looking at build logs, at least for me. I like your concept of planking without losing any planks, I too chose to attempt the same on my Swift and was pleased with the results on the first planking. I was also surprised (PUN) that the surprise is a single plank kit. Is AL going to single planking on many of their kits? I see the San Francisco is also been changed. I really like the effect of the 0.5mm mechanical pencil for embossing trenails. If you dont mind my asking. I had considered this but worry about the grapite smearing. did you seal the markings with anything to pevent this or have smearing problems. Thanks for the work of putting this one up. Looking forward to seeing your next step BTW, did you use any heat in bending your planking? or just water bending? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PopJack Posted April 12, 2013 Share #19 Posted April 12, 2013 Beautiful. I really like the .5mm pencil idea, it turned out great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mobbsie Posted April 13, 2013 Share #20 Posted April 13, 2013 Just found you Derik, great planking. I'm waiting for Caldercraft's Surprise to come out, shant hold my breath so I'm gonna follow your build. Keep up your good work. mobbsie Quote mobbsie All mistakes are deliberate ( me ) Current Build:- HMS Schooner Pickle Completed Builds :- Panart 1/16 Armed Launch / Pinnace ( Completed ), Granado Cross Section 1/48 Harwich Bawley, Restoration, Thames Barge Edme, Repair / Restoration, Will Everard 1/67 Billings HMS Agamemnon 1781 - 1/64 Caldercraft Kit, HM Brig Badger, HM Bomb Vessel Granado, Thames Steam Launch Louise, Thames Barge Edme, Viking Dragon Boat Next Build :- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petervisser Posted April 13, 2013 Share #21 Posted April 13, 2013 Great work Derik! Really enjoyed your log so far and am looking forward to following along. Cheers, Peter Quote Build Log: Billing - Cutty Sark In The Gallery: HMS Unicorn, HMAV Bounty, L'Etoile, Marie Jeanne, Lilla Dan, Zeeschouw "Irene" A Toast: To a wind that blows, A ship that goes, And the lass that loved a sailor! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derik Posted June 26, 2013 Author Share #22 Posted June 26, 2013 Thank you Peter, Mobbsie, Popjack, themadchemist, Mark and Tophog for your encouraging comments. I am now ready to start modeling again. To answer themadchemist, with a little bit of pressure, I used the clutch pencil to cut a a tiny circular groove to create the core of each simulated trenail. Before each cut I dipped the tip in the graphite powder. In this way the graphite gets crushed into the cut. So there is no smearing. One can even sand it with fine sandpaper afterwards and just blow the dust off. The little circle stays. I tried many different kinds of ink, but the ink always "bled" into the surrounding wood. I finally found that the sanded graphite powder works. Once sealed with a layer of varnish it will stay. I did not use any heat to bend the planking - just dipped the planks in a tall glass of water and then used I plank bender to bend the planks. Shaping each plank was done by hand. I first marked the planks on every second or third bulkhead. I figured out how wide the plank should be at each of these locations. I used some medium sandpaper and a "caliper" to shape each plank by hand. I measured each at about three bulkheads and made sure not to go below 2.5 mm at the tips. This went fairly quickly. Popjack, I notice you are from Oak Ridge. I studied at UT Knoxville for 6 years in the early eighties. GO VOLS. Mobbsie, before buying the surprise, I phoned caldercraft, but they could give no hint of when their Surprise would be launched. I also loved the dimensions of the Artisania Surprise - nice and big. Mark, we have now changed the kids playroom in a kind of studio - it delayed my modelling, but at least I now have a proper work area. Derik Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
riverboat Posted June 28, 2013 Share #23 Posted June 28, 2013 Hi Derek...... excellent job on the planking.... glad to hear you've got your proper work area, you're going to need it with this build !! Frank Quote completed build: Delta River Co. Riverboat HMAT SUPPLY USRC "ALERT" in progress: Red Dragon (Chinese junk) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZyXuz Posted June 28, 2013 Share #24 Posted June 28, 2013 hi Derek, the planking work is awesome! hope to see more pic from u! Quote Visit My Blog! http://malaysiamodelship.blogspot.com/ Previous Build: HMS Race Horse (Sergal) Current Build: HMS Unicorn (Corel) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PopJack Posted July 1, 2013 Share #25 Posted July 1, 2013 Yep- Oak Ridge. The only town in Tennessee where you don't need to use headlights at night (it glows in the dark- ha ha). We moved here from West Texas years ago. I'm almost used to the trees, but not quite yet. This is definately Tennessee Football Country. Rule #1: Never comment on ANYTHING that is painted Orange! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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