Newsboy 1854 by Pete Jaquith - Model Shipways - Brigantine

[Pete Jaquith]

The brigantine Newsboy was designed by Dennison J. Lawlor of Chelsea, MA (designer of the very successful pilot schooners Dancing Feather, Hesper, and Phantom) for owners Dabney & Cunningham of Boston.  Newsboy was built at the Joshua C. Adams and Elisha Brown shipyard in Owl’s Head, ME where she was launched in June, 1854.  She had a length of 111 feet, beam of 27 feet, depth of 12 feet, and tonnage of 290 tons.  While described as a brigantine, the rig is more accurately described as a hermaphrodite brig because there were no square sails on the main mast.

 

The Newsboy was engaged in the triangular trade: carrying lumber and manufactured goods from New England to the Mediterranean; transporting wine, oil, and fruits to the West Indies; and returning to New England with rum, molasses, and sugar.  The Monthly Nautical Magazine said “having a reputation for speed, by wringing reluctant laurels from her competitors who have chanced to fall in company with her at sea….she does her designers no discredit…her log will speak for itself”.

 

The model is built to a scale of 3/16” to the foot (1:64) based on an old Model Shipways solid hull kit and plans by George F. Campbell.  The model is plank on solid construction, with built up bulwarks, planked decks and topsides, coppered bottom, and scratch built deck furniture/fittings.  Limited commercial fittings will be utilized where appropriate, and the rigging will be proportional linen line with Warner Woods’ blocks.  The Brigantine Newsboy is my 4^th wooden ship model and the 2^nd in my series of mid 1800’s American merchant sailing ship models.

 

As time permits, I will attempt to post the high points of my previous MSW Build Log.

 

Peter Jaquith

Shipbuilder

[Jim Lad]

It's great to see your 'Newsboy' back here, Peter.

 

John

[clipper]

Hi Peter, I am so very very glad to see this build log back up and running. For a while I thought we had lost your talent. Looking forward to future postings. I think you created another build log of the Eagle back on the old site, was it lost in the unfortunate crash? Good to see you back mate

Tony

[Captain Slog]

I remember this beautiful build from MSW 1.0,  good to see it back.

 

Cheers

Slog

[Pete Jaquith]

Thanks for your interest in "Newsboy".

 

The principal component used from the original kit was the carved hull.  After surveying, the hull was carved in the inverted position using a building board and art board templates.  The hull block was positioned with the waterline level, parallel to the building board, and with stations vertical.  Shaping was accomplished using sharp gouges, chissels, and firm sanding sticks for fairing.  As the hull will be overplanked, the hull was finished using 180 grit sandpaper.

 

After the hull was carved to the outer hull lines, the upper hull from 1/8" below the waterline to the cap rail was recessed 3/64" for hull and bulwark planking.  Following completion of hull shaping; the stem, keel, and stern post were fitted.  Additionally, the rudder was fitted (to be installed later) and the pedestal holes drilled at this time.

 

Pete Jaquith

Shipbuilder

[mtaylor]

It's great to see this one come back, Pete.  

[Pete Jaquith]

Next steps include laying out and fitting exterior hull planking.  Planking butts were laid in the normal pattern using the table illustrated below.  Due to their shape, the bulwark counter planks were templated with a sheet of clear mylar.  Planking material included: (a) 3/64" x 1/8" hull planking; ( 3/64 double bead plankshear; and, © 1/32" x 3/32" bulwark planking.  Planks tapered at the bow and stern, but with the exception of the counter plank shapes were not extreme.  The plankshear was fitted at this time but will be glued in place after painting in order to establish a clear color break.

 

As the hull will be coppered, hull planking started approximately 1/8" below the waterline.

 

Pete Jaquith

Shipbuilder

Edited April 18, 2014 by Pete Jaquith

[Elia]

Peter,

 

I too am very glad to see you back. I'll enjoy seeing your log rebuilt (and reference it many timed, as was done in the past), but really look forward to seeing further progress on this beautiful model.

 

Cheers,

 

Elia

[Sailor1234567890]

Very nice little craft. Any pics of what she'll look like completed?

[aliluke]

Great to see a re-build of this log Pete. I remember it from LSS days. Your precision and attention to detail is superb to see again. I seem to recall you had some family connection with this ship?

[Pete Jaquith]

Thanks for your interest in "Newsboy" 1854

 

I have attached a thumbnail of a print of Brigantine "Newsboy" 1854 by George F. Campbell. This is the picture illustrated on the cover of a "Ship Modeler's Jackstay" by George F. Cambell (good reference for your library available from Model Shipways).

 

While I have no family connection to "Newsboy", my fore farthers did sail on similar merchant craft in the mid 1800's. Other ship of this period which I have a connection is "Volante" 1853 by William H. Webb (also on my build list). I am a graduate of Webb Institute of Naval Architecture founded by the shipbuilder William H. Webb.

 

With respect to the Topsail Schooner "Eagle" 1848, I have posted pictures in MSW's Completed Scratch Build Gallery. I will consider posting a build log after we complete "Newsboy".

 

Pete Jaquith

Shipbuilder

Edited April 19, 2014 by Pete Jaquith

[historyguysteve]

Like some of the other shipmates who have posted, I'm thrilled to see this post emerge again. I saw this on the earlier site and was crushed when it dissapered. I'm genuinely inspired to see what a bit of craftsmanship and care can do for a solid hull ship kit. I must confess I have taken many of the tips you have demonstrated with this build an applied them to my own (very modest) skills.

  thanks again

  Steve

[Pete Jaquith]

With the exterior hull planking complete, the next challenge was carving the bulwark interior surfaces. Carving was done with sharp gouges, sanding sticks, and an electronic thickness guage.

 

Note that in installing the exterior counter planking, two coats of wood glue was used to ensure the glue had an opportunity to soak into the the end grain of the counter. This created a strong ply type structure that could withstand the strain of carving out the bulwarks' interior.

 

Pete Jaquith

Shipbuilder

Edited April 20, 2014 by Pete Jaquith

[Pete Jaquith]

In surveying the machine carved hull; I found that the deck surface was too low, lacked adequate camber, and lacked shear forward.

 

This problem was corrected by fitting a deck framing system constructed from bass strip wood. After completing/fairing the deck framing system, the location of major deck structures were laid out. The mast holes were drilled at this time with the aid of a pedistal drill press.

 

In preparation for deck planking the following were fabricated:

>>> Hatch/house coaming were fabricated with half lapped corners

>>> Bowsprit, jibboom, dolphin striker, and Samson post

>>> Anchor windlass (used portions of a Bluejacket windlass kit)

 

With the heavy construction complete, future construction will turn to the finer points of deck planking, deck furniture, etc.

 

Pete Jaquith

Shipbuilder

Edited April 20, 2014 by Pete Jaquith

[Pete Jaquith]

Thank you for your interest in "Newsboy"

 

With the deck framing complete, next steps include deck planking, waterways, covering boards, deck scuppers, hause & chain pipes. I enjoy this work as it requires some design work to optain the desired effect and with finishing it will start to give the model some color. Key points include:

 

>>> Deck planking fitted around hatch/house coamings, anchor windlass support planks, etc,

>>> Deck planking and margin planks fitted to waterway planks

>>> Deck planking nibbed into margin planks

>>> 1/16" x 3/32" deck planking

>>> Caucking simulated with black non-blead fabric markers (quick pass on one edge only)

>>> Waterways rise forward as covering board/plankshear have greater shear than deck planking

>>> Coamings, waterways, covering boards, and anchor windlass support planks left loose (final installation after painting and deck finishing)

 

It should be noted that this arrangement is typical of vessels build with machine cut planks. Prior to the advent of machine sawed planks, ~1800, deck planking often curved and was nibbed inboard into adjacent planks.

 

Pete Jaquith

Shipbuilder

[Pete Jaquith]

One more post to finish off the deck planking. Key Points include:

 

>>> Planking fitted from the centerline working outboard

>>> Margin planks and nibbing worked from both the bow and stern

>>> Care taken to maintain a symetrical nibbing pattern P/S (select even width planks)

>>> Deck scuppers (5/32" thin wall brass tubing) drilled prior to fitting outboard planking

>>> Following completion of all planking; coamings, waterways, covering boards, windlass support planks removed for painting

>>> Planking finished with several coats of Minwax "Ipswich Pine" oil stain followed by multiple coats of Bartley's "oil based wiping varnish" ribbed down with ultra fine steel wool

>>> After finishing/painting; coamings, waterways, covering boards, windlass support planks were reinstalled

>>> Deck scuppers were installed from the outside and sanded flush (outside surface)

 

This completes the deck planking. As time permits, we will continue with the interior bulwark framing and finally finish off the cap rails.

 

Pete Jaquith

Shipbuilder

Edited April 20, 2014 by Pete Jaquith

[Sailor1234567890]

Looking really sharp.

[Pete Jaquith]

Next up is the interior bulwark framing. Key construction points include:

 

>>> Timberheads were 3/32" x 3/32"

>>> Heavy framing forward where the stem rakes forward

>>> Catheads built in (2) pieces to follow paint line

>>> Framing for bulwark sheaves included

>>> Framing for mooring ports included

>>> Mooring ports fabricated from flattened brass tube with brass wire lips

>>> Hause pipes fabricated from brass tube with brass wire lips

>>> Chain pipes were fabricated from brass tube/sheet

>>> Wood/iron cleats included to suit rigging plan

>>> Construction/installition sequenced to suit paint boundries

 

Next steps include the pin rails, channels, cap rails, etc.

 

Pete Jaquith

Shipbuilder

Edited April 21, 2014 by Pete Jaquith

[Pete Jaquith]

This posting will cover the pin rails, channels, cap rails, and installing the plankshear. Key points include:

 

>>> Pin rails installed to suit rigging plans

>>> Channels installed to suit run of shrouds and backstays (runs simulated w dowels)

>>> Cap rails fabricated from 3/64" sheet stock w scarf joints

>>> Caprails trimmed with 3/64" double bead stock

>>> Padding for anchor stowages was installed

>>> Interior bulwarks painted before installing cap rails and upper catheads

>>> Exterior hull painted before installing cap rails, upper catheads, and plankshear

>>> Forward cap rail left loose to suit installation of bowsprit

 

Pete Jaquith

Shipbuilder

Edited April 21, 2014 by Pete Jaquith

[Pete Jaquith]

Next step was drafting/installing the ships name. Key points include:

 

>>> Stern name, hailing port, and bow name were developed using MS Word

>>> Stern name and hailind port were expanded (curved) to look properly when installed

>>> Bow names were raked to suit stem profile

>>> Bow names will be installed on spray rails (later in the construction sequence)

 

Pete Jaquith

Shipbuilder

Edited April 21, 2014 by Pete Jaquith

[rafine]

It's great to have you back Pete. This is a wonderful model. Are you finishing her and what has become of Fair American?

 

Bob

[Pete Jaquith]

Thanks for your interest in "Newsboy"

 

"Newsboy" 1854 and "Fair American" 1768 are currently in temporary storage as I work on a full scale shipbuilding project in North Vancouver, BC Canada. I have included pictures of the current status in my recent post "Return to MSW".

 

Due to your interest, I plan to repost the Brigantine "Newsboy" 1854 pictures 1st. As time permits, I may also post the Topsail Schooner "Eagle" 1847 and 14 Gun Brig "Fair American" 1768.

 

Pete Jaquith

Shipbuilder

Edited April 21, 2014 by Pete Jaquith

[justsayrow]

Pete, posting EAGLE & FAIR AMERICAN would be greatly appreciated!

Jerry White

[Sailor1234567890]

Full scale boatbuilding in Vancouver? What project? Or are you able to say? 

[Pete Jaquith]

Shipmodelers,

 

As some may be aware, I am currently working at Vancouver Shipbuilding, North Vancouver, BC Canada.  The shipbuilding program is Canada's National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy non-combat vessels.  Currently assigned ships include: (3) OFSV (fishery research vessels), (1) OOSV (oceangraphic research vessel), (2) JSS (underway replenishment ships), (1) Polar Icebreaker (large polar class 2 icebreaker), (5) MEMTV (mid-shore bouy tenders), and (5) Patrol (mid-shore patrol vessels).

 

My current position is Mgr. Production Engineering with responsibility for shipbuilding strategy, program build strategy, facility layout and tooling, design rules, design standards, and application of lean design and design for production.  As the shipyard has committed to implement world class design and construction processes, there is ample challenge here.  The ships will be built in large 200-300 ton modules (called hull blocks) and integrated machinery modules with construction is based on manufacturing principals.

 

Where possible, I try to apply similar principals in planning my ship model builds.

 

Pete Jaquith

Shipbuilder

[Pete Jaquith]

With the cap rails in place, the model can now be worked in the inverted position.  This provides easy access for painting and installing the "Newsboy" figurehead:

 

>>> Figurehead was a casting from the original kit

>>> Painting was with Floquil lacquor and fine artest brushers

>>> Figurehead was securred with a fine pin and epoxy glue

 

My next postings will cover the design and installation of copper sheathing.

 

Pete Jaquith

Shipbuilder

[Sailor1234567890]

OOOH, I'm a Naval officer in the Canadian Navy and this procurement is VERY interesting to me. Good luck with it all. And keep up the Newsboy log, she's a great little craft.

[clipper]

Hi Peter, I may have mentioned this on your log on MSW 1 but you have an incredible skill in scaling down each individual part and making it clean and crisp in its construction. The ship really does look like a shrunken version of the real thing to my eye. How do you do it?

Tony

[Vivian Galad]

Great job on Newsboy. Neat work!

[justsayrow]

Hi Peter, I may have mentioned this on your log on MSW 1 but you have an incredible skill in scaling down each individual part and making it clean and crisp in its construction. The ship really does look like a shrunken version of the real thing to my eye. How do you do it?

Tony

Pete and I were at the same shipyard in San Diego (he recruited at my college and then also interviewed me at the yard) - he's a smart guy so I won't surprised me when admits to building full scale then hitting it with the Shrink-Ray he invented.