18' Cutter by Maury S - Scale 1:48 - SMALL

[Maury S]

Thanks Druxey.  The overlaps are sanded.  I clean off the glue that seeps out as I attach the plank, but I have no idea how the underside looks.  David, the boat will be left natural.  First full strakes above the garboard are installed.  Some slight trimming needed on the butt joint of the last plank  (visible on the left) and after smoothing it will still be under the overlap of the next plank.  I'm using the scored lines in the starboard side of the plug as a planking guide, and using tick strips I mark the same distance from the keel on the port side at each rib.   So far, the spiling of the planks has matched one side to the other.

Maury

[tlevine]

Looks very nice.  I had some glue seepage on the interior but was able to remove it with scalpel blades and sanding sticks.

[Maury S]

Thanks for all the likes and comments.  The underside has some glue seepage, but I'm reasonably sure I can get it off.  Fore end of the fourth strake is in place.  Aft end fits over the transom, so this first plank is going to be a challenge getting it around the sternpost without leaving a gap.  A bit of beveling and a notch should make it work.  So far, all planks seem even from side to side, top and fore-aft.  Pleasing run from all views.

Maury

[druxey]

Actually, you should be able to remove the shell from the plug at any point in planking. It's amazing how it keeps its shape without distorting if you've spiled the planks properly. Looks great so far!

Edited August 22, 2014 by druxey

[michael mott]

Beautiful planking Maury.

 

Michael

[Maury S]

Druxey, Thanks.  I took it off the plug to re-glue the transom and was shocked at how much glue seepage there was.  I apply glue very sparingly with the tip of a pin, but I've been assured that it can be sanded and scraped off.  The shell was very stable at that point.  Once I get a plank attached to the transom, it will be quite strong.  All that time spiling on previous models is paying off.

Maury

[druxey]

I found that excess glue was best removed after the frames were in. A fine-tipped brush and isopropanol (a small section at a time) softened any excess glue, and then a miniature chisel tip could scrape off the gummy remnants nicely. Time consuming? Yes, but the result was satisfying.

[Maury S]

Druxey, Thanks so much.  That's a great suggestion.  The first plank resting on the transom is in and it came out well.

[Maury S]

The small cutter is a fill-in project when I can't work on the Echo Section or now Chuck's Cheerful.  Every once in a while I'll add another strake of planking.  The dip in the last strake will disappear when the next plank goes on. The next few planks will be critical.

Maury

[Omega1234]

Hi Maury

 

Looking good!!

 

Cheers

 

Patrick

[dgbot]

A professional boat builder could not have done better.

David B

[Maury S]

I usually work on this when I'm away from my power tools.  More progress on planking.  I've run into a slight conflict with the instructions, but it will work out fine regardless.   I've got to the top plank as lined out on the plug (one side of the plug has slight indentations showing the planks...which I transfer to the other side as I move along).  That strake seems to be described in the instructions as the shear, and the gunwale will go on top of that.  Other drawings seem to indicate that is the washboard which sits atop the gunwale.  I can remove the fore part of the strake and install the gunwale or put the gunwale on top of this strake and not put a washboard on the boat.  They were removable anyhow and I like the lines without the extra height.  I have to make some adjustments in affixing the aft portion of the strake to the transom.  It's a great little project that I may repeat since the cutter is a nice accessory to any ship of that era.

Maury

[druxey]

The plug rim is the top of the wash strake. It can confuse! There are eight strakes for the hull itself.

[Maury S]

Druxey, Thanks, I've removed the top strake and will install the gunwale.  Then I'll decide on the washboards.

Maury