Cutty Sark by Keith B - Billing Boats - circa 1970's?

[Keith B]

Cut out the decks,a quick test fit,and just some small adjustments to be made. A bit of sanding will have it done.

Out comes the Dremmel again as I attempt the first try at the inner panels for the bulwarks.

[NenadM]

Last picture : is this for white panels?

[Keith B]

Hi Nemad,yes it is. This is just a first attempt,but I think it will be okay once it's trimmed down a bit.

[NenadM]

It is hard to get equal 78 longitudinal holes without standing drilling tool, or very calm and precize hand. One tip, if you do not mind: when you make them ans when you are satisfied, do not takw macro photos, you will se that them are not equal and not on right position, and you will not be satisfied. Watch whole thing from some distance if you dont want to get in perpetum mobile of remaking

 

[rfolsom]

Nenad has excellent advice;  I did my first tests on this in November;  I'm now planning on installing my strips sometime this week...  I have made some progress on other areas in the meantime, but the fact that I cannot get these ovals all equal has haunted me for the last eight months.

 

Time for me to just live with the inaccuracies; (most of which will be hidden by other details anyhow)

 

Great job so far!

 

~Bob

[Keith B]

I agree totally with both of you.I'm not seeking perfection,just the feeling of "that looks pretty good" will do for me!

[clearway]

viewing all this makes we want to start another cutty build and get it better this time- only thing stopping me is i know what i am in for from last time!!!

[Keith B]

Marked out the deck for houses etc. and gave the inner bulwarks first coat of white paint.

[Keith B]

Started planking on rear deck

[Keith B]

Thought I'd knock a few of these up while waiting for everything to dry.I've got to trim them to size yet though.

[rfolsom]

Quick note:  those notches on the rear (poop) deck are not necessary;  the bulkheads need to be trimmed there as well. (If you haven't already done so)..

 

Decking looks great!

 

~Bob

[Keith B]

Oh well,very dis-heartened today.Just received an e-mail from the museum,and they tell me they are out of stock of the general arrangement plans for the Cutty.They don't know when they will be doing any more,so work has now come to a stop.I guess this model will now have to be shelved,or binned,as I can't carry on with these useless Billing ones.

I suppose I'm going to have to start looking for a new project now.

[clearway]

Ouch keith- the billings plans do show you where the winches pumps bollards etc should be. Could you not check Bob's and Nenads logs for help too?

Keith

[Keith B]

I'm getting it sorted now I've calmed down a bit!

[NenadM]

Thought I'd knock a few of these up while waiting for everything to dry.I've got to trim them to size yet though.

 

Take care about thickness of stanchions. In my opinion cooper is too soft for this work, and if you chose thicker wire, it can be too much massive. And cooper can curve when you mount cooper stanchions

 

Try with thin paperclips or something similar made of steel or iron 

 

Nenad

[rfolsom]

Keith;  24 gauge wire is the closest gauge to the actual 1.5" diameter (.0195 scale inches, at 1:76.8 scale) for these stanchions. 

[clearway]

There is also annealed iron wire which is used by people who make jewellery and is available from most craft places- using some to make the chainplates for my billings victory.

Keith

[Keith B]

Oh well back to it at last.I've now acquired a decent set of plans at last.New deck now planked and in place,and new (3rd attempt) foredeck. The first one was "Billing" shape,and totally wrong,the second one was my own attempt at getting the shape right,and this one is off the new plans.I'm happy with it now! The trim round the edge is built up with 5 layers of 0.5mm veneer.Much easier to bend than a thick piece of wood,and I think it looks okay.

[rfolsom]

Very nice work.  Remember, there's only two of us doing the Billings Cutty!!

[Keith B]

Yes Bob, but both of them are going to turn out rather different to the Billings spec!!!

[NenadM]

Things go better, I think ?

[Keith B]

Definitely!!!

[rfolsom]

When I first assembled the keel, and test fitted the bulkheads,  they were spot on with Campbells plans.  Billings is not a shipshod company;  but they don't seem to carry through to the end.  I'll be curious to see your fitting kit (I don't have one).  I know the blocks and deadeyes are plastic. (No bueno para me)

but the brass winches, pumps, and capstan are invaluable, and I'll either have to fabricate these (yeah, right) or purchase them.

[NenadM]

Make it, Bob, do not bye

[Keith B]

First fix of deadeyes on the rear deck.Don't know if it's the correct way of doing it,but it works by this way!

[Keith B]

Here's a small selection of brass parts from the fittings kit. The deadeyes and anchors are plastic,but I'll put up with them,as are the lifeboats and jolly boat,so I might have a go at building my own. Depends on how much patience I've got!

[NenadM]

In this kit, hiden in one of those plastic bag with fitings, there is a thin piece of patience. Find it and use it !!! It is magic!

Grow as you use it !

 

I am not jokeing

 

Maybe a little, but patience grow with experience

 

Dont let you situation when one day start rigging, and decide to use wooden rope ants, to ask yuorself WHAT I HAVE DONE ON DECK?

 

Every decision in modeling this beast has long lasting consequences

 

So, if you decide hard, keep it to the end. If you are not sure, stop and think and re-think ten times

[NenadM]

And Her Majesty (beast) deserve and ask for patience

[clearway]

Seeing those fittings brings back memories! As mentioned in Bob's cutty log i replaced the dolly winches with more realistic sergal ones though i did use the billings rollers and warping drums. In my cutty kit the deadeyes and blocks were made of wood.

Keith

[rfolsom]

Looks like a great sturdy way to affix those deadeyes;  I'll probably just use CA.