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

[paulsutcliffe]

Looking great on the stand Michael, I'm getting Confused which is the model and which is the real boat😀😀

Regards

Paul

[Thistle17]

Your observation about this scale certainly does open up opportunities. Dovetails and raised panels my, my. Your imagination and execution of the stand is intriguing to me as I just went through a struggle to come up with one for a 1:20 scale model that weighed 45 pounds. Nice work Michael!

Joe

[michael mott]

Thanks for the nice comments, they are appreciated. Also for all those who visit and follow along.

The rework of the opening for the section that houses the companionway and skylight are now moving forward in earnest, now that I have figured out what I am doing.

the strengthening of the structure and cleaning it up was accomplished by adding some fir longitudinal beams, this also added a lip around the opening.

 

 

 

Next the cross beams that form part of the removable section were dry fitted with enough clearance so not to bind when lifting them out. thee are clear fir. A full 1 inch by 6inches.

 

 

After the discussion about yellow cedar I went and found a supplier here in Edmonton who has lots so I picked up a length of nice clear wood 53 x 1 1/2 x 6 and re-sawed it into some various sizes to work with. I made a strip 6mm x 15mm to fill in the spaces between the cross beams and glued them in place after laying a strip of Tamiya yellow masking tape along the edge of the framed opening.

 

 

Once the cedar and fir were glued up, I glued a piece of clear fir 1x6 along the top side as a strengthening member.

 

 

Next I did a dry fit of the companionway and the skylight to ensure that the whole assembly will work.

 

 

 

The next task will be to take off the removable part and finish the ends and sides to form a clean box like structure that will slow down any errant water that might want to slosh in during the heavy weather sailing. 🌊.

 

Michael

 

[paulsutcliffe]

Very nice Michael must be great to work at that scale and show all the lovely joints etc

Regards

Paul

 

[popeye the sailor]

I've gotten the same pep talk Michael       glad to see your back in the workshop!   look'in real sweet!

[Bedford]

Beautiful work as always, it's a great scale to work in.

[EdT]

Fantastic, Micheal.  I have been going back over your early posts.  The metalwork knocks me out.

 

Ed

[michael mott]

 

On 10/11/2018 at 8:32 AM, paulsutcliffe said:

must be great to work at that scale and show all the lovely joints etc

Hello Paul yes I really enjoy working at this scale, that said it becomes more difficult to hide errors.

 

Hi Denis, thanks for looking in.

Bedford, Thanks for the kind remark.

 

5 hours ago, EdT said:

I have been going back over your early posts.  The metalwork knocks me out. 

Hello Ed, thanks I really appreciate your comment, having spent a great deal of time admiring your own metalwork.

 

Thank you to all who have pressed the like button, it lets me know that you are following along.

 

One of the advantages and disadvantages of designing as I go along is that the structure evolves over time. I have been fiddling with the deck structure for the companionway and skylights for what seems like years and not being very happy with one thing or another. this time i feel positive that I'm getting somewhere now. The structure is solid now and can be lifted off easily in order to add the ballast weight for when I do put her in the water to sail. here are a few shots of the progress.

The first shot shows the Mahogany drop sides for the "lid" these are glued along the length and dovetailed at the corners.

 

 

a close up of the corner, I only used one dovetail the height is a scale 6 inches or so and the thickness is a full 2 inches in scale.

 

 

The stern end all cleaned up.

 

 

I will be adding a thin foam seal around the bottom where the "lid' meets the deck as an added protection to the interior. It will just look like one of the other sealed black joints.

 

I also finally added the rail across the stern, it still needs a little shaping but at leat it is now glued in place.

 

 

 

That's all for now.

 

I have to head out to the lake, being as I am the harbor master of the Edmonton Yacht Club and the docks are coming out tomorrow. September has been a very cool month and we did not get much sailing in during the month. The docks were supposed to come out today but it was 0 degrees, and it is warming up tomorrow to 11, so it will be easier on everyone's hands. there is over 520 feet of floating docks in two lengths that need to be dissembled and stacked on the beach for winter. Also and additional 380 feet of fixed dock. We have a club meal when we are all done.

 

Michael 

 

 

 

 

[druxey]

Nice dovetails, Michael. Enjoy hauling out tomorrow! End of season is always a little sad, I find.

[Jim Lad]

Beautiful work (as usual), Michael.  I bet you'll be looking forward to that dinner by the time you have the docks hauled out!

 

John

[BANYAN]

That is looking great Michael; and agree with Druxey, the joinery is very good.

 

cheers

 

Pat

[Bedford]

I have that type of pencil shown on deck, it really puts the scale of this build into perspective.

[cog]

5 hours ago, Bedford said:

I have that type of pencil shown on deck, it really puts the scale of this build into perspective.

Hughe isn't it ...

 

Your tennons turned out good Michael, especially like the double dovetail.

[michael mott]

Thanks for all the comments and likes.

the skylight inner sleeve was fitted this evening, this was accomplished by first rough fitting then working from the underside with the skylight taped down.

 

 

The mahogany sheets are 1/2 inch thick and form a nice locator for the skylight.

 

 

The top edge was softened a little for ease of placing the skylight on and off.

 

 

Now located in its final position.

 

 

I need to cut up another CD case to make the glass for the port side lights.

 

Michael

[EdT]

Spectacular precise joinery, Micheal.  Bravo.  Seeing your hands in the photo makes me envious of your scale.

 

Ed

[Jim Lad]

Just delightful, Michael!

 

John

[dvm27]

Either you have very small hands or that's a very large model, Michael. Exquisite work!

[PeteB]

Hi Michael

I missed the start of your beautiful Cutter but have spent the past couple of days just taking in the craftsmanship of both the joinery and metal work. I got about a third the way through the build when I realized I wasn't going to remember the myriad of techniques you have so generously shared so I went back to the start with a pen and paper for a aide memoire.  Thank you for sharing a beautiful build. Cheers Pete  

[michael mott]

Thank you all again for your encouraging comments.

 

I will be back in the model shop this evening, today I was gutting out the cockpit of maria.

 

Michael

[michael mott]

I spent the evening getting the curved top of the fixed portion of the companionway properly fitted. first i used the "thickness planer" a simple way to get the wood down to a consistent thickness. It is made from a slab of cherry with some guide rails to accept the Veritas low angle block plane, with some 1/8th thick strips of evergreen styrene 3/16 x 1/8th this allows the plane to ride along on the side edges without going beyond the depth of the side strips.

 

 

 

 

 

After a few strokes the strip is down to a consistent thickness in this case .121" just a hair under 1" scale thickness.

 

 

Next the final adjustment before glue up.

 

 

I did glue them up but did not take a picture I will clean it up in the morning.

 

Michael

 

 

[popeye the sailor]

superb workmanship Michael.......looks great      looks like you'll need to refinish the deck,  with the modification.  later,  I'm sure it's in the plan   

[michael mott]

Hi Denis yes the deck will need some finishing later.

Today I began fabricating the sliding hatch. The cross members were shaped by clamping them together then gluing the longitudinal planks a couple more to go and then sand to a smooth finish for the canvas top which will get painted white. There will be brass runners along the top of the rails.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Michael

 

[EdT]

Wow.  Fantastic clean woodwork - and that goes for your tools and benches as well.  I'm in awe.

 

Ed 

[michael mott]

Thanks Ed, and for all those who added likes.

 

Today I started on the brass metalwork for the two plates at the entrance to the companionway and for the top rails. first order of the day was to cut some strips from the .031" sheet stock. I cut 3 pieces 1/4" wide and one 1/2" wide. I used my new 200x 1.2mm slitting saw on the big table saw. I was really pleased with the resulting cuts.

 

 

and a close up of the edge straight off the saw.

 

 

after measuring the vertical plates I cut the angles with the jewelers saw. The port side one was a bit sloppy on following the line .

 

 

The starboard one was a lot better.

 

 

Next the holes were drilled and countersunk for the fake 3/8" scale wood-screws.

 

 

The small copper Sig rivets had a head diameter of .055" and shaft of .023" I chucked these in a pin vice in the lathe and filed the pan head to a countersink profile.

 

 

 

Tomorrow or later today I will fit them to the companionway. which has been sanded ready for the canvas and the capture runners

 

 

 

Michael

 

[druxey]

I like the faux countersunk screws, Michael.

[michael mott]

Thanks Druxey

I have test set the port side rail and plate.

 

 

 

 

It would be good to find some actual screw this small.

 

Michael

[Mirabell61]

Very nice Work Michael  

 

Are you going to provide sails and perhaps RC controll ?

 

Nils

[Jack12477]

Michael, have you looked at MicroMark Screws ?  

[druxey]

Watchmakers' screws?

[michael mott]

Jack , Druxey, thanks for the tip I am not sure why I didn't think of this. I looked on the net and there are quite a large selection of watch and eyeglass screws in sets and kits so perhaps I will try that source.

 

Michael