Lehigh by dgbot - FINISHED - Papercraft Square - CARD - monitor

[dgbot]

I have decided to work on another civil war model.  The main reason for this is of course cost of the plans and I like the way they look.  The one I have in mind is the Lehigh.  The Lehigh was a Passaic Class monitor that was commissioned in 1863.  The Lehigh served in the navy off and on until 1898  untill it was decommissioned and sold in 1904.

This model seems it might be fun.

David B

 

[omarcs]

where did you get the kit?  I have made a number oj card buildings but no ships.

[dgbot]

These were models designed by Magnus Mork.  I have found them interesting and fun.  They are a free download.

http://modelsnmoore.com/mmork.php

David B

[dcicero]

Looks like a fun project, David.  You seem to have caught the card modeling bug!

 

 

Dan

[Captain Slog]

Hi David,

 

Looking forward to following another of your builds.

 

Slog

[dgbot]

After looking everything over I followed the same as before and assmbled the hull starting out with the backbone and then and then after assembling the turret I installed the gun deck.  

[dgbot]

After putting on the turret I cut out and formed the funnel.  One of the tnigs I did was to cut out a piece of scrap and glued it to the bottom of the funnel.  This made for more gluing surface.

David B

[pete48]

Hi David , Sweet build you have here 

 

Best Regards,

Pete

[dgbot]

I then proceeded to finish the turret.  I cut out the parts for the pilot house and assembled them first.

  Then I cut out the pieces fo the armor plate and after they were glued together shaped and put to the side..

 The awning supports were a real pain to work with.  If I had the right materials I would have remade them in brass.  They were then glued to the armor after touching them up with a marker they will do.  If I could have figured out how to make them without photo etch I would have.  But my workshop is in Chitown and my sister would not be happy with me making a mess. 

The pilot house was glued on next then the periscope.

David B

[NenadM]

How I miss this log?

 

Never mind, Im here and follow.

 

Unbelievable what can be done by cards !!!

[dgbot]

I finished off the pilot house with the guard around the periscope. When forming the part i used the shaft of a grinder that I had in my tool box.  This made it easy to shape it without tearing.  Once formed I gued it to the pilot house.  When I get back to Raymond I think I wil order some scalpel blades.  I am finding out the adage the sharper the better.  I then touched everything up with a marker.

David B

[dgbot]

When doing the hatch combings I was able to make a substution from my tool box that made a big difference in look.

The first part of the operation was cutting out the combing and forming it.

After folding and trying to form the handles I was not happy with the resut.  This would have been easier with a new scalpel blade.  I found a piece of brass wire and use the pattern to make my handles.

So far I am happy with the results.  I tried using some CA but it did not work so a drop of white glue did the trick for attaching the handle to the body.  I will finish the assembly when I get home.

David B

Edited June 28, 2014 by dgbot

[NenadM]

Nice work David

I could not work with those little pieces without magnifier

[riverboat]

Nice model David.... card models really fascinate me!!..... this looks to be a good one. have fun!!!

[kruginmi]

Nice work David.  I have a made a few card models and really enjoyed them - you are bringing back memories. 

 

Mark

[dgbot]

After I got back I finished the hatch covers and tried to make the guns.  I made a mistake.  I followed the instruction for rhw turret but they said nothing about the cannons.  It turns out the cannons had carrraiges and they should have been put inside the turret. my bad.  I cut the barrels and glued them to the opening.  Reminder note double check the plans and the sequence of building.

I fiinished the hatch covers and glued them into place.

The steeting chain was then cut out and glued into place

I made a few mistakes but also learned a few more lessons as well and had fun.

David B

[dgbot]

The next thing I did was prepare the bollards  This was pretty straight forward the only diffrence was I added a bottom to make the joints more secure.

David B

[BobF]

David -

 

Many modelers consider Monitors to be simplistic vessels.  Your log on the Lehigh proves otherwise!  Can't wait to see your card models up close when you come home.  Keep up the great work!

 

BobF

[dgbot]

Thanks Bob, they look better on photos than in real life.

David B

[dgbot]

Next came the mooring cleats.  After cutting and folding and gluing I let them set for awhile.  The one thing I do not like about this card stock that doubling and gluing makes the part stronger but it like to seperate along the edges when cutting the part out unless the blade is super sharp.  I ordered some scalpel blades off of Amazon and just cannot wait untill the get here.

I used a straight edge like before to get the fold and after spreading out the glue I clamped and let it dry.  Doing it this way helps to alevieate the seperating a little.

After the glue dried I cut it out I had to redo it a couple of times before they were acceptable.

I used a chisel to cut out the base.  Then I glued everything together.

They are not the greatest but the best I can do at the moment.  This is the time when you need a super sharp blade.  My xacto blade was sharpened after each cut and it would dull out quick.  After attaching them they are not perfect but better.  Note to self.  The sharper the better.  My brother in law asked me to use a double edged razor in a holder. It worked great but there was no control.

David B

[dgbot]

The next part was the anchor bitts.  The bitts were assembled and glued as before.  Then they were glued to the deck.

David B

 

[dgbot]

The anchor assembly was next.  Once more I cut out the part and folded over.  This time I tried to make the glue was well spread out before I clamped it to dry.  The first time I tried cutting out the anchor the card stock kept seperating and tearing no matter how sharp my knife was.  That was when the scalpel blades arrived.  What a big difference.  Just a leather strap every now and then.

I trimmed out the inside curve first.  This provided the best way to cut out this part without tearing it.

I then used two straight edges to hold the part steady.

The anchor and the stock were then cut out

Using a piece of string I tied everything together and attached the chain and anchor to the deck.  All of the cut out parts were touched up with a marker.

What a difference a real sharp edge makes.  i would advice anyone who works in this material to use scalpel baldes if they can get them.  They made this job much easier.

David B

 

[michael mott]

David i don't think I would have the patience to work with the card details the way you have. Cutting that curved chain looks like it took a while, well done.

 

Michael

[dgbot]

After 3 copies were made. Like I said the sharper the better. The scalpel will be my primary knife from now on.

David B

[NenadM]

Ouch !

 

It hurts how that beast are small

[dgbot]

The next item to take care of were the lifeboat davits.  This time around I tried a different way of doing them.

After cutting out the patterns I took the time to square them off and then score  the break for folding.  This made for a neater and tighter glue joint less separation.

Next came cutting it out.  What a diffrence in blades.  The only drawback with the scalpel blade is that it is stainless steel and as a result dulled out on the cutting pad quick.  However it was easier to keep honed and was narrower than my xacto blade and with more control.  One of the things I learned on curved parts is to always cut the inside curve first.  That way there will be less stress on the part as you do the outside curve.

I modified the davits that did not have the lifeboat by cutting away the paper and adding lines that were hardend with CA I thought this looked much better.

Once they were glued to the hull I made up the lifeboat and installed it in place.

I see improvement in my work and skills but I am still learning and having fun.  Eventually I will be in the same class as Brian and Cap't Slog I hope

David B

[dgbot]

The next item I worked on were the howitzers.  I just followed the same procedure as I did before.  The end result is satisfactory for the time being.  I have been looking around and eventually I might be looking for photo etched parts.

David B

Edited July 12, 2014 by dgbot

[NenadM]

It seems harder than wood models. Almost impossible mision, and your work is outstanding

[pete48]

Hi David, I agree with Nenad M

 

Best Regards,

Pete

[dgbot]

Once the howitzers were done they were glued in place.

Next in line were the flag poles these were also fairly straight forward.

David B

 

 

Edited July 17, 2014 by dgbot