Armed Virginia Sloop by CurtisW - Model Shipways - Scale 1:48

[CurtisW]

After reading the build logs on the Armed Virginia Sloop by MS I decided to give it a try. I am currently building the Virginia 1819 by AL and am up to the masts and rigging (not my favorite part). So to breakup the monotony I am going to start the AVS.

 

The kit arrived a couple weeks ago after waiting for 2 weeks for it to arrive (backorder). Since then I have been watching the box. I finally gave in to temptation and opened it. Everything was included when I did the inventory. I am not too pleased however with the walnut planking strips the edges are very rough and would require sanding almost every edge. Any suggestions?

 

Anyway a few pictures of the contents of the box and the infamous shipyard.

 

              

 

              

 

 

[Ryland Craze]

Curtis,

 

Glad to see another Armed Virginia Sloop under construction.  There are many excellent AVS build logs and Gallery photos on MSW.  I am sure that you will be hearing from their builders.  Are you going to use a practicum as a guide to building your AVS?  Bob Hunt has a practicum that you can purchase and John Earl has a nice one that is free on his website http://modelboatyard.com/avs.html.

 

Good luck on your build and I look forward to following it.

[CurtisW]

Ryland,

I purchased the Bob Hunt practicum about a month before I purchased the kit. Been reading it over and over. Hope everything is as good as it seems.

 

Curtis

[Ryland Craze]

Curtis,

 

You made an excellent investment in Bob Hunt's AVS practicum.  Many AVS builders have used it over the years and have built highly detailed and crafted AVS's and have enhanced their ship modeling skills.  I cannot wait to see progress pictures of your build.

[CurtisW]

Hello everyone,

 

Time for an update.

 

I test fitted the bulkheads and marked the rabbet line. Most of the bulkheads fit perfectly, a few will have to be shimmed. I like that its easier to add than to take away. Next up cutting the rabbet. I’ve never cut a rabbet before, seems tough. First time for everything I guess.

 

By the way I’ll be using Bob Hunt’s practicum for this build.

 

 

 

 

 

[aliluke]

Best wishes for your AVS build Curtis. You are in good hands with Mr Hunt's practicum. My only advice is to ignore the kit instructions. That is; don't try to mix them in with Bob's. AVS is a sweet little ship and I'm sure you'll enjoy it. I'll keep following your log.

[CurtisW]

Thanks Alistair. I've read your build log also. Very nice work. I'll try my best. These are really beautiful vessel.

[CurtisW]

Well that wasn’t too bad. I cut my first rabbet. It only took about an hour or so. I followed the practicum. It was pretty easy.

 

Next up installing the bulkheads.

 

 

I also installed the keel, stem and sternpost.

 

 

[CurtisW]

I installed the bulkheads and now I'm getting ready to install the sub- decks per the practicum. I have one question though, the practicum says to install the sub-decks then fair the hull before installing the transom frames. Can I install the transom frames then the sub-decks before fairing the hull? Any help would be appreciated.

 

 

 

 

[aliluke]

Hi Curtis

I can't remember my own sequence there but I do remember following the practicum to the letter and it certainly worked. One of the best things about the practicum is how it teaches a sequence of work (which varies from the kit instructions) and I'd follow it if I was you.

 

Your AVS is coming on very well by the looks of it.

[CurtisW]

Alistair,

Thanks for the advice. I've been following the practicum to the letter and its worked out great so far. Just thought I could cut corners which may not be a good idea. Why mess with a good thing.

[CurtisW]

I've installed the sub-decks and faired the bulkheads. I also managed to break a couple stantions in the process. They were an easy fix though. They are FRAGILE.

 

 

 

 

[BareHook]

Looking good! just came across your build.

Ken

[CurtisW]

Thanks Ken, your AVS is an exceptional build. I don't know if I can even come close. I know I can't make sails.

[BareHook]

Me either, I married my sailmaker  . BTW you might consider adding support struts between the bulkheads, I really stiffens-up the frame and helps during the fairing process.

Ken

 

Edit: also the Bow fillers

Edited June 2, 2014 by BareHook

[CurtisW]

Ken,

I thought about the support struts but Bob Hunt's practicum didn't call for them. Its not too late though. Every time I walk by the ship I sand a little more. Guess I'm just picky about the way things look.

[BareHook]

Thats the way to do it, you only get one chance at fairing, and I think almost everyone who has built the AVS, myself included could have done more fairing.

 

Ken

[Ryland Craze]

Curtis,

 

Be sure to fair the bottom rear edge of bulkhead R aggressively.  This will result in a smooth transition of the planks as the turn upward to the wing transome.  I have seen some AVS builds over the years where the bend is close to 90 degrees.  My AVS practicum shows the upward sweep of bulkhead R in photos P1.5.1-2 and P1.5.1-3.

 

Keep up the good work.

[CurtisW]

Ken, Ryland,

Thanks for the tips. I've been working on that last bulkhead trying to get that upward curve as smooth as possible. Taking my time to get it just right.

[aliluke]

Hi Curtis

I echo Ken and Ryland's thoughts. I think the last photo in my first batch on my log shows the degree of fairing of the filler at the stern. A reasonable gauge is - if the first layer of planking is tending to snap at the turn up to the counter you haven't faired enough.

[CurtisW]

I haven't posted in a while. I've been in consultation with the admiral about acquiring more space for the shipyard, it was getting crowded. Excess real estate was not allowed for expansion. So thinking out the box and remembering I had some plywood in the storeroom I decided that if I could not build out I would build up. I think I won that battle, and she is pleased with the result. YEA.

 

 

[CurtisW]

Bow filler blocks and stern frames are installed. The dremel helped a lot with the sanding. Next up timberheads and knightsheads then fairing some more before planking.

 

 

 

[CurtisW]

Its been a while since my last post. Summertime with the kids out of school. I've been able to get some modeling done though.

I've been able to plank the hull and paint. Pics follow. I made a few changes to the build. I did not put in the unused gunports and squared off the stern a bit. the taffrail is not curved as it should be (still contemplating this) may make a change depending on how I feel in the next day or two. more to come.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[CurtisW]

A few more pics.

 

 

 

 

 

And now to repair that bow. The walnut supplied is very brittle and not sized correctly so a lot of sanding and adjustments in sizes is necessary. Its only wood and a lot of fun.

[russ]

The hull planking looks very good. I do not see any big gaps, the lines of the seams look good, and that difficult bend at the stern was handled. Well done.

 

Russ

[CurtisW]

Thanks a lot Russ. I took my time and finally learned spilling, it started out as trial and error and a lot of wasted plank sections but it turned out ok.

[CurtisW]

I woke up this morning to my sons (7 & 9) telling me your birthday present comes today. Well I went to work as usual. I design and build models. Yea what a great place to work and get paid. I saw a box from model expo. I sat through dinner. Then the outer rapping came off. The New Bedford Whaleboat. I got great kids. I resisted the temptation to open the box. Kids are in bed now. Temptation gone MY NEXT BUILD IS HERE.

[CurtisW]

Love my kids.

[CurtisW]

I've completed the deck planking and was even able to start making the deck furniture. I left the cap rail off for now. The deck furniture is not glued in as yet, I'll do that after I install the cannons and rigging, that way the deck will be clear. hoping not to get any snagged lines.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See you soon.

[russ]

Curtis:

That is a good plan to rig the guns before setting the deck furniture. That should help things along greatly.

 

The deck furniture looks good so far.

 

Russ