Mayflower by SawdustDave - Finished

[SawdustDave]

Whilst we're in this sharing mode, here's a little collage of the tool caddies I use to keep from going nuts reaching for the right tweezers, snips, file, knife, pliers, hole drill, saw, or whatever else we tend to accumulate over the years.

[pete48]

Nice set up Dave

 

Best Regards,

Pete

[russ]

Dave:

I would not tamper with any of the planking. Different shades in this kind of ship are a good thing. I any event, it is not uncommon to have a plank or two of a different shade. Leave it alone.

 

Russ

[SawdustDave]

Sure do like what I'm hearing from friends....because ya know darned well, I hate the thought of ripping out that plank and trying to somehow replacing it cleanly.

Edited July 4, 2014 by SawdustDave

[pete48]

Hi Dave Been there done that , Best of luck with your decision ( I have had it go both ways )

 

Best Regards,

Pete

[SawdustDave]

Update....Mayflower #2

Watching this guy pressure washing my neighbor's house, using bleach....gave me an idea.  That dark plank that I was so put out with - could it be bleached to a lighter shade?

 

The photo on the far left shows how dark that plank was....

Photo's center and right.....After sanding, painting with bleach, and placing it in the sun for several hours is still darker but appears much lighter and more acceptable in my eye.

What say ye?   

Edited July 6, 2014 by SawdustDave

[pete48]

Hi Dave , I see where you are comming from, Will bleaching work ? I would try bleaching a test piece ( I am sure you already know that) Wood can be mysterious, you dont always know how it will respond to finishes, stains etc.( bleach , I cant say that I have ever tried it ) I am curious how it will turn out , I am sure it will turn out great

 

Best Regards,

Pete

[SawdustDave]

Progress on Mayflower #1....

Added channels, now ready for some shrouds.  After searched my bone yard for chain plate material, found plenty of chain, but the links were all the wrong scale....so had to create chain links with 2mm wire....each chain plate required 4 links.

 

Tried a new approach to aligning the tops of the deadeyes as they were applied.... the white thread seen below is tied in as a temporary level line - worked very nicely for me.

 

 

So, it looks like we're back to my favorite task of all (NOT)....let's tie a vew hundred clove hitches mate.

 

[pete48]

Sounds Like fun mate.

 

Best Regards,

Pete

[SawdustDave]

Meanwhile, I'm still trying to knock out a few heart deadeyes for MF#2 each morning....

 

Made up a new set of glasses using three pair of 3X readers I came across at Walmart.... very light weight....the 9X power let's me really get in close.  Also, doesn't seem to bother my eyes using them for short periods.  Highly recommended.

[popeye the sailor]

I rather like the different hues in planking Dave....it seems logical that no two planks will age the same way. I've seen that method of calking......in fact, in the Billing's kit of the Regina, they supply thin strip mahogany to lay in between the planking. I did it.....and I liked it quite a bit. sanded with a couple coats of lacquer, it looks very nice very nice build you have going......got some sweet looking detail

[Mirabell61]

Whilst we're in this sharing mode, here's a little collage of the tool caddies I use to keep from going nuts reaching for the right tweezers, snips, file, knife, pliers, hole drill, saw, or whatever else we tend to accumulate over the years.

 

Thats a very tidy and nice toolkeeping Dave,

everything handy and has its place for a quick grip..

 

Nils

[SawdustDave]

Thanks for the visit mates....rather enjoying being able to jump back and forth between the two projects being they are at considerably different stages of development.

Cheers

Dave

Edited July 9, 2014 by SawdustDave

[michael mott]

Dave the ship looks great, the jury rigged eyeglasses are brilliant. I will have to try that myself.

 

Michael

[testazyk]

Love your craftsmanship and tool organisation!  For what it's worth I think trying to get your planks all consistent would be a good idea in this case.  Just be careful not to make the too dark one the too light one!

[pete48]

Thanks for the visit mates....rather enjoying being able to jump back and forth between the two projects being they are at considerably different stages of development.

Cheers

Dave

I am in agreement Dave , It's Fun

 

Best Regards,

Pete

Edited July 10, 2014 by Pete48

[SawdustDave]

Love your craftsmanship and tool organisation!  For what it's worth I think trying to get your planks all consistent would be a good idea in this case.  Just be careful not to make the too dark one the too light one!

I think I've got it about as close as it going to get Testazyk.

Thanks for your comment

Dave

[SawdustDave]

Update on both Mayflower builds....

MF#1 - 1:76 scale.... Finished tying all rat lines....installed preventor stay riggs for all masts.  Installed bow sprit and rigged the fore top mast preverter stay.  Looks like we are finally ready to add some yards and begin some serious rigging.

 

As for MF#2 - 1:60 scale.... Completed first planking of the hull.  Will begin working on keel and beak assembly tomorrow.  I have been spending most of my time on MF#1 the last several days.  Plan to move over to MF#2 for a few days and develop the hull and bulwarks above the decks.... possibly begin outer skin planking of her hull.

Edited July 15, 2014 by SawdustDave

[russ]

Nice work on the rigging. The 1/76 scale model is really looking good.

 

You have made good progress on the 1/60 scale model. Once you get the keel, stem, and sternpost it will really begin looking the part. Nice work.

 

Russ

[SawdustDave]

Turning back to MF#2 this morning....

While browsing Walmart several days ago, I ran across this amazingly beautiful bamboo serving board....completely struck by the beauty of the grain, I could not help but invision it as the hull of a ship.  So this morning, I experimented with ripping the outer surfaces from two edges and creating planks.  I think I love it!  The edges are so clean, and the bending quality could not be any better.

 

So, since the stern is the only hull surface I have used walnut planking thus far, I have decided to simply re-plank the stern with these bamboo planks.  In fact, I was going to have to re-do that job any how after discovering (as usual) that I had made an obvious error in the original planking with regard to the location of the gun ports.

[popeye the sailor]

now here's a wood I've hardly heard being used for hull planking.......sounds wicked cool! I wonder how well it will take stain. from where your deriving these planks from though, the wood might already be sealed. I don't want to sound like I'm critiquing or anything, but the transom counter tends to curve more on the starboard side. is there supposed to be a curvature there? since your going to redo the stern, you could trim it straight across and do a gradual curve down to the lower fascia. super job on the MF#1......can't wait to see the second planking on the MF#2

[SawdustDave]

Popeye.....Just returned from Walmart to purchase another of these bamboo trays....bad news - there was not another one to be found.

GREAT news, however, I found a.much larger tray of the exact same material....good to go!

Yes, the surface is completely sealed with a very fine finish.

 

As for the shape of the transom.....camera's really tell the tale huh.

Thanks for pointing that out....we can fix that whilst re-working the other. And for the record.....please do not hesitate to critique my work. In fact, I need all that I can get. Seems like I am more prone to mistakes as I am returning to the shop than I was just a few years ago. Takes a while to regain the required disciplines of measure / re- measure; check and double-check each detail.....But enjoying it more now than ever.

Hearing from friends like you really makes my day.

Cheers

Dave

[russ]

The stern looks great. The choice of bamboo planking is interesting. I have seen bamboo used in other applications. If it works, go for it.

 

Russ

[SawdustDave]

So here's the large bamboo tray I found.... 16" x 16" square.  There's another 16" width counting the four side rails.

 

Another interesting discovery....after ripping the two surfaces on the table saw, I get some really neat scrap pieces which, after studying them for use, I determined they are a perfect thickness for deadeyes.  Played around with making a jig to cut them into perfect triangles with a little holding jig....then drilling holes and a little bit of finish shaping.  I think I am going to like them better than the results I've been getting from the walnut.   Got to play with this some more before I decide.

 

So, the stern has now been sanded back down to a point I can begin applying the bamboo planks.  Also did some re-shaping of the transom because Popey's sharp eyes pointed out a little cervature problem (thanks mate).....

 

[russ]

Although I have never seen bamboo used for deadeyes, it might work. Nothing lost in the attempt.

 

If it does not work, I would advise using boxwood.

 

Russ

[SawdustDave]

Russ....so far, I am finding this stuff cuts so clean, really sharp hole drilling, easily shaped.....and nice color. Still playing with it.....will post more as it develops.

In past, the only application I have used bamboo has been for tree nails....never considered the beauty of the grain until finding these tray products.

Now surprised at how nice it cuts.

Dave

[shoule]

 I'm sorry to interject, and it might not apply here as I didn't work with laminates, but years ago I worked a lot with bamboo and I found, at least in the species that I had available, that the outer, appealing, hard layer was very thin. Once sanded through, the texture lost its luster and became very soft and bland.

 It was also sort of dangerous to sand because the fibers are long, straight and sharp. It wasn't uncommon to wind up with a three inch splinter.

 Again, it may not be the case but it's just a little info on bamboo.

 I enjoy following your project and have taken in quite a lot.

 

Cheers,

Steve

[SawdustDave]

Thanks for your input Steve....very interesting information regarding your experience with bamboo.

Hopefully, the amount of sanding required in this application and with this particular species of bamboo will not be an issue.

We will soon have answers to these questions as I am about to head back to the shop to begin putting the first planks in place.

Cheers mate.

Dave

[mtaylor]

Dave,

 

I have some of those cutting boards also.  I use one in the shipyard for various things including cutting using a chisel.  The darn thing appears not to be what we see as skewers.  Maybe it's not what we think as traditional bamboo?  I just know it's hard and darn near indestructible.

[SawdustDave]

I think the final verdict is pretty clear.......... Walnut or Bamboo?

What say ye mates?

 

PS....Popeye, I had not completely fixed the re-shaping of the transom on the port side at the time I took this shot. It has, since that time, been taken care of and came out just fine.

Edited July 20, 2014 by SawdustDave