Bristol Pilot Cutter by michael mott - 1/8 scale (POF)

[michael mott]

Denis, Bob, Elmer, John, Thanks for checking in. John the card catalog cabinet is full of tools and model supplies.

 

Michael

[michael mott]

Cabin structure part 13

 

Well it felt like the 13th today, I was basically not happy with the construction of the hatch. I should have given up on it at this stage.

 

 

However I persevered sanded and looked at it on the slide logs, and then began a new one. I spent a good part of the time working on getting some accurate cuts on the table saw and in retrospect I need to make some adjustments to the large fence which is slightly out of alignment because I was having some binding problems using the fine adjusting fence, so worked of tuning it but still was not really happy with the cutting.

 

the next picture shows the new frame for the hatch, I should have gone this route in the first place.

 

 

Next the new planks with fir splines ready to be beveled and then glued.

 

 

The new frame will be more sturdy and a bit longer

 

 

I will attach a keeper plate on the bottom side of the hatch side rails instead of the half round tubes.

I will use the KISS method

 

Michael

[michael mott]

Cabin Structure part 14

 

The inside beams were shaped with a paring chisel to clear the forward end bulkhead of the companionway.

 

 

Test fitting the frame of the hatch

 

 

The new boards were glued to the slightly modified hatch frame.

 

 

The next picture shows the rebate for a new piece of side rail on the hatch cover. I am more pleased with the aestetics of having the brass rail engage on the inside face rather than the outer ones. This enable the design to be a little narrower and not to overhang. I did not like the way the original design overhung the slide logs, it felt a bit clunky.

 

 

close up showing the curve detail the ends of slide logs. The top boards will get a half round covering batten.

 

 

The brass rails are fitted with some #1 flat head wood screws, and the hatch slides nicely

 

 

In the open position

 

 

The next part will cover the companionway drop in boards, and trim.

 

Michael

 

 

 

[DSiemens]

Doesn't get any better then the KISS method.  Also doesn't' get any better then this.  Absolutely incredible work.   

[popeye the sailor]

fantastic work Michael

[WackoWolf]

She just keeps getting better and better everytime I see new pictures of here, excellent work. Thank you for sharing. Keep the picturs coming.

[Sailor1234567890]

So full scale next? Beautiful work.

[captainbob]

Ah. to be 8 1/2 inches tall and sail away in your lovely boat.

 

Bob

[Jim Lad]

Keep it coming, Michael.  I can't get enough of your beautiful work!

 

John

[Elia]

Michael,

 

I'm just catching up after some time away.  I'm speechless.  Your work is exemplary.  All of those details built as would a true boat/ship.  The blocks, that compass, and the companionway are stunning.  Is this model a prototype for full scale fabrication?  Come on, fess up.

 

Cheers,

 

Elia

[usedtosail]

Michael,

 

I just got through reading your whole build log. All I say is Wow! That is some beautiful wood and metal work. You say you were a professional model builder. What a dream job, but I am sure it had its days. I am just glad you still enjoy model building, since myself and probably many others are learning a great deal from your work.

 

Thank you.

[michael mott]

First I would like to thank you all for your kind remarks and all the likes, I can see the merit of the likes button these days and have started to use it myself.

 

Well working tiny has its limits and so I am back on the bigger cutter for now. As I have been working on the cabin structure the mahogany surround of the cockpit has been troubling me I kept looking at the wide surface and the large diagonal sweeps of the corners and it kept nagging me.

 

 

In order to resolve this issue I just gave it a bit of a trim.

 

 

I think the narrower look is much better.

 

 

 

I think this will mean building a new cockpit with a more narrow wall that sticks above the deck about 8 inches in scale.

I am beginning the trim for the closure of the companionway. Working through the pros and cons of doors or boards.

 

Michael

Edited November 6, 2015 by michael mott

[Timothy Wood]

Sweet, very sweet!  Keep up the beautiful work!    

[Jim Lad]

Delightful, Michael.  If you keep having these re-thinks we might have to start calling you 'Rework Mott'! 

 

John

[Sailor1234567890]

Beautiful.

[popeye the sailor]

looks great Michael.........that's the thing about scratch building.   you walk away feeling good about what you've done,  but when you come back to the table........you look to improve with a better Idea.   it's a continuous circle,  until the last part is in place. 

[dvm27]

I agree with your refit Michael. The lines of the narrower cockpit flow beautifully into the cabin structure.

[captainbob]

i like the reshaping of the cockpit and agree that the walls are too thick.

 

Bob

[TBlack]

OK. If Michael, Greg, Bob, John, and Popeye think the cockpit surgery was an improvement, so do I, although now there's no place to sit.

 

Tom

[michael mott]

Tim, John, Sailor, Denis, Greg, bob, and Tom, thanks for your feed back on the change. and for the likes.

 

Regarding a place to sit I was thinking that something along the lines of this cockpit on Mascotte would be good. I notice that Olga alongside has a similar set up.

 

There is a seat across the aft end of it and for standing the walls are a little higher which I would think will support one a little better with the slightly higher walls and better for keeping water out.

 

My original thinking was to have a gasket under the edge of the top of the cockpit so that I could seal it. I am now thinking that if i rebuild it the same basic style as the one on Mascotte then I can fix it solidly to the hull with a lift out bottom to access the lines to the rudder control. But I can fit a clear lid into the top when I put it into the water.

 

The picture that shows the reshaped cockpit that I have already made shows the fact that it was a loose fit into the hull. This change will allow me to use narrower planks and fit to the curves in the deck better with a caulked seam around the joint between the cockpit and the deck which would also look better I think.

 

Michael

[Sailor1234567890]

Sit on the deck outside the coaming. I think looks trump function in that case.

[TBlack]

Michael, is that you in the bo'sun chair taking the picture?

[Jim Lad]

Difficult decisions, Michael!  I think the lower coaming might look neater on the cockpit the way yours is set up as completely separated from the cabin.

 

John

[michael mott]

Sailor, thanks for your thoughts

Tom, in a word NO, I don't do heights.

I see what you mean John I will mock it up first now anyway I will need to make it a little larger all around in any case.

 

Michael

[TBlack]

Michael,

I'll stick my neck out here (I'm not an aesthetic kind of a guy) and agree with John on the lower coaming given where it's placed. The reason for it is to keep water that washes down the deck from coming into the cockpit, so how high does it need to be?

 

Tom

[michael mott]

Tom, I would guess from all the cockpits that I have looked at that there seems to be no hard and fast rule for this dimension.

 

Michael

[Yambo]

Forgive my ignorance Michael but having looked again at your earlier pictures where you scaled yourself against the Cutter (I've been following along avidly as your work is beautiful), what would be the preferred way of getting from the cockpit to the cabin and how would that be made easier with a higher coaming?

 

Unlike yourself, I certainly haven't done any research into this but if the cockpit had direct access from the cabin a higher coaming wouldn't be an issue. Anyway, as I said, I'm no expert!    

[michael mott]

Yambo I am looking at these examples of various cockpits. When I started building this model I knew a lot less than I do now and I still don't know very much about these boats but I am learning. My next model cutter will be of an actual cutter which will make some aspects a lot easier no doubt. As for this build it is a mixture of aesthetics and my own knowledge of sailing full size sailboats that are helping to guide my decisions, alongside examples of new and existing pilot cutters. If that makes any sense then you are less confused than I am.

 

 

http://www.sandemanyachtcompany.co.uk/uploads/439/Birdseyeview.jpg

 

http://images1.hellotrade.com/data2/NJ/CD/HELLOTD-1823938/HesperAlongs_500x500.jpg

 

http://www.pilotcutter.co.uk/sites/default/files/stern.jpg

 

http://newimages.yachtworld.com/resize/1/63/80/4476380_20131210043953740_1_XLARGE.jpg?f=/1/63/80/4476380_20131210043953740_1_XLARGE.jpg&w=606&h=467&t=1386679453000

 

http://mahasagarboats.com/pilotcutter/images/92pict07.jpg

 

Michael

[Yambo]

Well, don't give yourself too much work by changing things too much. Your talent will be better served by making a perfect model of an actual boat and let's face it, the second image shows a cockpit much the same as you have made ergo, it's just fine.  

 

Please don't think I'm criticising here, the format of your model should be as you want it. For me, the skill workmanship that has gone into it speaks far more than the design. I can't wait to see it launched.  

[Sailor1234567890]

I disagree. Though respect your opinion. I find the beauty in a lot of these projects are in the design details. Working at a scale that allows you to replicate everything to scale is great. If you leave a hatch door too thick, or have a coaming out of scale, it tells the eye immediately that you're not looking at the real thing. To me the height of this art/craft/skill is being able to trick the eye into thinking that you're looking at the real thing in full scale. The thick cockpit coaming you had would never pass that test for anyone with an interest in yacht design and beautiful boats in general. It just looks off. Kudos on correcting that.