Cutty Sark by Chef de Gare - Sergal

[Chef de Gare]

I've just discovered a lot of interesting Cutty Sark information and photos here:  worth a look if you haven't seen it.

 

http://www.rmg.co.uk/sites/default/files/media/pdf/Conservation_Plan_1_History_of_Fabric.pdf

[NenadM]

There two more similar materials

 

Thx for sharing

Edited January 21, 2015 by Nenad M

[Chef de Gare]

Latest progress at the front!  For the anchor winch arrangements I looked at the Sergal plans and the photos of the real ship and decided to try to model the real version instead.  The handles are cut down from the kit items and removable as in real life.  The ship's bell is a bit over-scale and really a bit too low as I have placed it, but not too bad in general.  

 

From spare bits of brass sheet I've also tried to cut the cat-faces for the end of the catheads, reasonably successful but I may try again.

 

 The Sergal plans didn't show the companion steps for the front deck at all. The CS specification says that in real life they apparently had brass treads to give firmer footing. Trimming a narrow strip from spares of the metal plates for the hull provided a good approximation to those.

[NenadM]

Very nice details

 

Keep on

 

Nenad

[Chef de Gare]

Hmm, I seem to have been becalmed for a long time!  A bit of lost direction, but now back on course for some more progress.

[NenadM]

Nice to see you again

[Chef de Gare]

Good to have started again.  Very wet day here, could be useful time!

[Chef de Gare]

The winch and pump assemblies I'd completed were waiting to be put in place...now done as shown here.

[Mirabell61]

Very nice Fitting out Chef,

 

the winch and the crank-pumps on deck look great....

 

Nils

[Chef de Gare]

Just started on building the three boats that sit above the deckhouses...struggling with attaching the 0.5mm walnut strips to the frames, as these photos show!  

 

Although I've carefully assembled all the frame parts correctly the profiled sections are too far apart to allow a proper curve to be formed and also it is VERY hard to find a way of holding the strips in place while the 'quick-grab' wood glue dries enough to fix them.  To make matters worse, each boat is meant to have two layers of strips...

 

As yet I don't have a solution to the problem and I've not spotted anything about building these boats in other CS build logs.  Maybe everyone's leaving this job until the very end !

[NenadM]

I faced with similar problem at the very stage of my build, and resolved it adding extra ribs ( See post #7 in my building log on first page). Maybe, just maybe, thinning ribs and add some extra ribs is solution

[hof00]

Hi Chap,

I persevered with the two Lifeboats but discarded the small Gig, not to scale anyway.

From memory, I didn't have too many problems with planking these, used Aliphatic Resin and small Bulldog Clips and used Ramin/Mukal 0.5mm strips for planking. A careful sand, added Thawts and Gunwales after painting.

 

I installed the Lifeboats on the Aft Deck house. The other two, Captains Gig and Longboat I made from a Balsa plug, Planked and Painted. These are upside down on the Fore and Aft Deck houses so didn't matter that they are solid Balsa, more or less....

 

Have a look at my Build Log/Gallery.

 

Cheers....HOF.

[Chef de Gare]

Thanks to Nenad and hof00 !  I think it's time to strip off the few planks I've put on so far and add some extra ribs...and I like the balsa solution.

 

Chris B

[keelhauled]

Your planks might be too thin in addition to having too few ribs.  If you increase the number of planks and still have the issue try using a thicker plank.  If you want to keep the thickness of the thinner plank you could use a plug to build around, then add ribs to the interior if you are showing the inside.

 

Also it doesn't look like you faired the ribs.  If they aren't faired the planks won't run smooth.

 

Keep up the good work!

marc

Edited October 3, 2015 by keelhauled

[Chef de Gare]

Thanks Marc!  Good point about the ribs, I hadn't thought of that and the Sergal plans don't point out that it's needed to make the planks run smoothly.

[Chef de Gare]

Return to posting updates......I'm presently working on the masts and leaving the very tricky lifeboats work until later (yes, bad practice I know!).

 

 

 I've done the necessary tapering by following the tips on MSW about holding the dowel in an electric drill and applying graded pressure with coarse sanding paper.  I was a bit sceptical as to whether it would work well but with the right speed and the right paper it works a treat!  

 

Although my Sergal kit (bought boxed but with the hull frames already done by the seller) appeared to be complete there was no dolphin striker so I've made one from scratch, taking details from what CS photos I could find online.  Quite pleased with the result.

 

The Sergal kit mast collars are cast metal and in my kit poorly finished.  I also didn't see how they could be drilled with holes without fracturing. So again a scratch build job! In the photo the slotted piece is made from a cut and drilled piece of the brass in a pin of a UK mains electric plug soldered to a copper collar made from a bit of scrap thin sheeting.

 

The wooden frames that attach to the masts (cross trees?) are made from 2 x 2 and 3 x 2mm strip.  The wood provided in the kit is described as walnut but I don't think it is.  Whatever, it is very difficult to drill 1mm holes in without splitting! So I resorted to cutting strips from scrap hardwood that would take such drilling and not split.

[NenadM]

Oh, boy, this is just - fantastic !!!!

[Chef de Gare]

Thanks for these kind words Nenad.

 

The Sergal website says the CS is not a kit for a beginner but I've always liked intricate work.  It all started with Airfix plastic kits when I was about 10!  The rigging stage could be a lot more difficult for me though..... !

[Chef de Gare]

The retirement project has just been given a lift...today the postman brought the three sheets of Campbell plans I ordered from the Greenwich maritime museum.  When I looked at their website weeks ago it was being redesigned and closed for business, but it's now active again.  Well worth the wait, the plans are incredibly detailed. 

[NenadM]

Maybe a bit confusing in sheet #3 ?

[Chef de Gare]

A bit more progress last week on the foremast:  spider rings at the base and the first completed yard.  Only 15 more yards to go!

 

I'm using soldering to join the ends of the various brass mast and yard rings.  The Sergal plans show drilling and pinning the ends to make a joint but although quite tricky, soldering is actually easier than trying to drill holes in very short stubs of brass strips.

[NenadM]

Brilliant !!!!

 

You push me to the devil`s road

[samson]

 Hi  Chef de gare 

 

Lovly build you making ther .  il like your details on the masts ( the brass strips.) wery mouch.

Cheers.

Jens

[the learner]

Great start on the iron work! I have recently taken over the masting and rigging of the Cutty Sark That a friend built. It will be pretty much from scratch as my friend bought a older partial kit. I have all the plans so I will have something viable to build from.

 

I have torn out the stubs and have constructed the lower mast and am working on the lower tops.

 

I will be watching your build and perhaps a few questions from time to time.