Echo by alangr4 - cross-section - in memory of Eli (31.1.14-3.2.14)

[alangr4]

 

This build was supposed to happen with my grand-son on my knee but alas it is not to be. Eight weeks early, he was with us for just a moment. So this is for him.

 

For those in Australia who are looking for a good wood supplier you need go no further than Hobby Mill in the US. The quality of the wood is fantastic and as you can see from the pic it arrives well sign posted and packaged. A testament to Jeff and Greg. Importantly the wood sailed through Australian quarantine requirements. Never an easy exercise!

 

 

The build started somewhat inauspiciously with yours truly having a couple of attempts at the keel before getting it right. Fortunately Jeff and Greg foresaw the problems that one from down under might have and included plenty of spare timber for just such an eventuality. I must say though, I was cutting it a bit fine! Not sure I could have squeezed another keel attempt from the remaining stock!

 

Lesson 1: If one gets updates and revised PDFs it is worth opening them up and reading them closely.

 

For those who are interested, the keel is 14 inches x 12 inches.

 

The pics below show the initial work performed.

 

 

Next stage the making and fixing of the keel bolts and cutting the rabbet.

 

Alan G

[dvm27]

Welcome aboard Alan. First off, I'm so sorry for your loss.My own grand-twins survived as 25 week preemies but it was touch and go for weeks. I count my blessings every day.

 

We're pleased you are happy with your Echo cross-section. You're making a terrific start. It's important to get the keel just right so we give you lots of extra material. When making frames, remember to leave just a bit of wood outside the line as fairing will get her where she needs to be. Over-fairing before installing a frame will throw the whole hull out of fair.

 

When she's been fully framed please check the updates on our website to fully fit her out. I believe there's five at present.

[alangr4]

 

Many thanks Greg for the tip on the dangers of fairing early.

 

Your pic of what the finished job will look like is a nice incentive.

 

Alan

[druxey]

I am so sorry to hear of your, and your family's, tragic loss, Alan. May building this model be a healing process for you and a good memorial.

Edited February 23, 2014 by druxey

[Jay 1]

My heartfelt condolences to you and your family, Alan. This build will be so beautiful: At its heart is such profound and tender love.

 

Jay

[alangr4]

 

Thanks Druxey for your kind thoughts. The model will indeed be a nice memory of little Eli.

 

Very much looking forward to the guidance and experience that you and Greg and the other participants in the Echo Cross Section community bring to this build. I've learnt a lot from following the various threads.

 

The MSW community might be interested in the attached pic of a cross section we came across last year at the Transport Museum in Lucerne. It is part of Phillippe Keller's collection. Keller was an avid collector and owned some stunning pieces.

 

 

Thanks Jay also for your kind words. One does put a lot of one's life into these builds.

 

Currently doing a few dry runs on constructing the rabbet.

 

Regards

 

 

Alan

[42rocker]

Thoughts and Prayers to you and yours. My wife and I are looking forward to our first Grandchild sometime in August this year so I understand a little, very little. But as said Thoughts and Prayers.

A great idea for the build and may you enjoy the build also.

 

Later Tim

[alangr4]

 

Many thanks Tim. August will indeed be a special time for you and your family.

 

Regards

 

 

Alan

[jml1083]

Alan,

 

You have my condolences on the loss of Eli. This will be a wonderful tribute to him.

 

One of these days I have to get back to my Echo. Like many others on this forum a little thing called "work" keeps me out of the shop more than I would like.

 

Good luck with your build, I'll be watching and learning.

[Maury S]

Alan, Condolences from us over here.  I'm pleased to see you continuing on the build.  Lots to learn as we move along.

Maury

[mtaylor]

I'm sorry to hear about Eli.  Hopefully by doing this build in his honor you'll get some measure of healing. 

[AnobiumPunctatum]

Alan, my condolences for your loss.

 

It's a nice idea to build the model in memory for him.

[Trussben]

Would like to share my condolences as well.

The echo cross section is a great way in my opinion to get your feet wet in scratch building, I used it as a proof of concept to start my Pegasus and the plans, material from Jeff and of course help from Greg/David are invaluable.

I wish you clear weather and good sailing and I will be watching with interest.

 

Ben

[alangr4]

Thank you Ben, Christian, Mark, Maury, Jim L, Tim C, Wacko Wolf and Ryland Craze for your kind messages of support. They are very much appreciated. 

 

Jim: I'm not sure you are going to learn much from my thread other than what not to do but I have certainly appreciated your build as well as Ben and Maury's. I have learnt a lot from you all.

 

I particularly liked your use of an architects ruler to show your measurements. Unfortunately Australia went metric some time ago (although in my life time) and I had to hunt for quite a while to find an appropriate imperial measure architect's ruler.

 

Set out below is my latest update on the build and a couple of pics. One question which may be answered somewhere else on the site is what is the recommended lens for taking pics of the builds? The pics that Greg took as part of the instructions are terrific and help enormously 

 

Anyhow for the moment. The keel has been glued up and rested for a couple of days to ensure it was fully bonded.

 

 

This morning after a few practice runs the rabbet was cut in. I cleaned up the rabbet manually with a v gouge.

 

 

The most significant lesson for me from this part of the build was making sure the Sherline was absolutely squarely aligned for cutting the rabbet. Fortunately the practice runs highlighted the potential this had for ruining one's day.

 

Next stage is installing the bolts.

 

My wife threw out the other day some bamboo skewers that would have been ideal for making the bolts - so on to plan B.

 

I'll let you know what plan B is once I have figured it out.

 

Until the next update, thank you again for your kind messages and I hope this is of interest.

 

Regards

 

 

Alan

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 19, 2014 by alangr4

[Trussben]

For the bolts i used 0.5mm brass rivets that I ordered from scale hardware.com

 

ben

[TomShipModel]

Hi Alan, My condolences on your loss.  My Grandson is only 2 and a half but he is the light of my life.  I haven't started my cross section as of yet but, I will at some point.  Please keep going with this.

 

Tom

[alangr4]

 

Thanks Tom for your kind thoughts. Your post is quite timely as I have just returned to Canberra from an extended period of shore leave in Melbourne. 

 

It was a much longer period than expected but I was pleased to get back into the workshop today and start reflecting on Ben and Tim's suggestions on the bolts for the keel. Ben's suggestion of 0.5mm brass rivets is quite elegant but I have found some brass rod (0.45mm) which suitably blackened to simulate caulking should suffice for this exercise. 

 

As I get back into the swing of things I'll post a couple of pics on the result.

 

Found this pic of a refurbishment of HMS Victory which gives a little insight into keel fasteners. In this instance the structural plate at the stem of Victory. This pic seems to bear up Ben's thinking on the use of rivets.

 

cheers

 

 

Alan

[alangr4]

 

Sorry for the lengthy break in transmission and importantly progress. 

 

The workshop is back open after a fashion.

 

The bolt holes in the keel have been drilled with a hand vise using a .5m drill bit after a bit of experimentation with other sizes

 

Thought about using the mill, but on this occasion felt I had more control using a hand vise.

 

The false keel has also been shaped and caulked and will be attached to the keel tomorrow.

 

One question: In volume 1 of David Antscherl's HMN Swan Class Sloops, David notes that the false keel was fixed by short copper alloy and by copper staples. Very much like a modern day staple .... driven flush into the sides of the keel and false keel. The staples had a flat cross section 1/1/2" wide and 8" long.

 

Among builders of the cross section who have gone before me, has anybody taken a crack at this?

 

I can't say that I have seen an example of this in models that I have come across.

 

Anyhow tomorrow keel and false keel join up and on to the construction of the rising wood.

 

cheers

 

 

Alan

[gjdale]

Nice to see the workshop back open Alan.

[alangr4]

 

Thanks Grant.

 

It is good to be back.

 

Got carried away tonight and decided to do the glue up.

 

I think it has turned out okay but the acid test will be when the clamps are removed tomorrow. 

 

 

 

Cheers

 

Alan

 

[alangr4]

 

The keel and false keel came out of the clamps this morning and has held up well. A bit of sanding still to occur to clean it up. 

 

Just completed cutting out and trimming the masks for the rising wood and will take a run at cutting and shaping tomorrow.

 

 

In two minds whether to use the Byrne's saw and chisel for this or do it manually the ol' fashioned way. Seen a mix of approaches used in other logs. 

 

Jeff at Hobbymill has kindly provided plenty of spare timber for this part of the build. I suspect I will need every millimetre.

 

Cheers

 

 

Alan

 

[alangr4]

 

Well the rising wood took a bit longer than planned but I think has come out okay. I decided not to use the Byrne's Mill for this> Timidity got the better of me. Instead, I used a small Tamiya saw and a 3mm Japanese chisel and just took my time.

 

This was not something to rush.

 

A v light sand to tidy up and remove the template.

 

 

Looking to glue up tomorrow.

 

Cheers for now.

 

Alan

[Trussben]

Looks good Alan, I made the rising wood both by hand like you and I made one on my Byrnes saw, I didnt really see much difference in the quality but it was a hell of a lot faster using the Byrnes.

 

ben

[druxey]

That rising wood looks very nicely done, Alan. Just make sure you glue it to the keel the right way around!

[alangr4]

Thanks Ben . I had the same thought sleeping on it overnight. It would be good practice especially as Druxey has thrown one of his famous curved balls across the Pacific noting there is a right way around and a wrong way around.

 

Many thanks Druxey. I'll go back and study the plans again. I thought I had the positioning about right in a dry fit last night but it would be good to see if I can get closer with a Byrne's edition.

 

I have found the 3" scale on the plan a really helpful reference point especially when one is running the plans off the printer.

 

Regards

 

Alan

[dvm27]

Looking good, Alan. Try one with the Byrnes saw, as we provide extra material. Use the fence to make the near cut on three sides. Then adjust the fence to do the far cut on all sides. After that, nibble out the remaining portion. It's fast and virtually foolproof

[alangr4]

 

Many thanks for the advice Greg. Have applied the templates and will take a run at it tomorrow.

 

Am I "nibbling" with the Byrnes?

 

Regards

 

Alan

[druxey]

N.B. Greg writes "...virtually foolproof." (my italics). Hmmm....

[alangr4]

Well that was fun! 

 

Thanks Ben, Druxey and Greg for encouraging me to take that little detour.

 

I agree that the Byrnes gives you much more control (with a bit more practice) to get a better handle and control on the depth of the cuts. a couple of pics of the result and a comparison with the bespoke.

 

 

Will return to do a glue up of the rising wood to the keel shortly.

 

Cheers

 

 

Alan

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 19, 2014 by alangr4

[druxey]

Nice table design! Glad the power version of the rising wood worked out for you.