Mayflower by gluedandscrewed - FINISHED - from Model Shipways plans

[gluedandscrewed]

I guess the mayflower must be considered my third build,,big red and black thing in the picture was my first,,five years   the little life boat my second,, the mayflower my third...blew up chucks plans to double size and so far everything other than the eye bolts around the coaming and the rivets on the rudder is hand made,,turning the life boats rudder and oars was an exercise in tenderness

[Omega1234]

Hi Glued and Screwed.  

 

Your photos of the bulkheads and deck of your Mayflower look really good.  How big and what scale are you building to?  Have you started on the hull, yet?

 

Nice lifeboat and launch.  Can you tell us a bit more about them as well?  

 

I'll definitely follow along.

 

All the best. 

[gluedandscrewed]

the kit was  22 inches,,i doubled that to 44 inches,,,putting on the second planking on the hull,,the launch is bread and butter construction with patterns of the msw plans,,, took about a week to do

[gluedandscrewed]

thought i would include a couple pics of my first scratch build

[Omega1234]

Wow. That's impressive. How many channels for your Radio Control set do you need? In all seriousness, very, very nice. That is one very beautiful speed launch that conjures up memories of romantic cruising in old Hollywood movies. Well done.

Edited September 15, 2014 by Omega1234

[gluedandscrewed]

there is a 454 ci mercruiser under the hood,,unfortunately she sits in drydock about 90% completed

[Omega1234]

The paint job and the varnishing look top notch. Beautiful quality there!

[gluedandscrewed]

five years of work,,hope the mayflower doesnt take that long

[Omega1234]

It doesn't matter how long these things take. Labours of love take as long as they need to take.

[GuntherMT]

Beautiful, both of them.

[gluedandscrewed]

got away from the missus long enough to trial fit some pieces

[Omega1234]

Hi GluedandScrewed

 

Your ship is looking great.  I haven't seen that method that you're using, but, it's certainly woking perfectly.

 

At the rate you're going, it won't be long now before the hull's completed.

 

Well done.  

Edited September 17, 2014 by Omega1234

[gluedandscrewed]

didnt know i had a method 1234   being totally new to this I'm not confined by the " thats the way its always done" convention

[Omega1234]

There's heaps of differing ways to skin a cat.  It's never that important how it's done, as long as the end result is worth it.  Looks like your outcome is definitely going to be worth it.

 

Well done and look forward to following your progress.

[gluedandscrewed]

i know the purists out there will call it a sin but the thought of having to fair 1/4 inch 5 ply plywood bulkheads with a batten and sand paper by hand did not appeal to me at all. i know the project would have ended up on the bottom of the koi pond before i finished half a bulkhead so this was my approach to the dilema,,,after cutting out and dry fitting the false keel and bulkheads i took the bulkheads to my disc sander,set the table at 45 deg. and sanded them at that angle,,as can be seen on the little skatch..left a little land on the edge,1/32 to 1/16th of an inch,,just enough to hold some glue. took 20 minutes and she was fair...glued up the components and started planking not being very concerned with the look of it as the first layer is mostly there to give shape to the hull and provide a good bedding for the second layer.. minimal edge gluing only where the planks were twisted and lifting an edge CA glue is damn  expensive,, that done,,i dug up some left over epoxy resin left over from the big build, thickened it with flour to the consistency of soft peanut butter, just thick enough to stay on a vertical surface,, those in california can use organic flour next took the putty and spread it all over the inside of the hull and the gap between the planks and the face of the bevel on each bulkhead,, let it cure over night,,rough sanded the out side,, applied wood filler ,,minwax,, great stuff,,,fine sanded and was done...end result looks ugly on the inside but wont be seen,,, the hull is so strong and rigid i think i could stand on it without hurting it... 1/16 planks on 2 1/2 to 2 3/4 inch spacing with absolutely no give in them,,,time ? two days for a 31 inch hull with an eight inch beam

[gluedandscrewed]

hey,,,i do have a method 1234

[Omega1234]

Looking good so far.  Just curious.  Is the purpose of the false keel to give more stability afloat?  If so, will your Mayflower be radio controlled?

Edited September 18, 2014 by Omega1234

[gluedandscrewed]

think i'll quit posting,,went around and saw some of the work being done by guys with cnc mills, routers,lathes, minature saw and the like, absolutely museum quality work, beautiful,  i'm working with a 20 yr old scroll saw, dremal tool and an antique drill press

[Omega1234]

Peopke have been building models fior centuries...long before CNC and routers, etc, were invented. Remember, it's not the tool , but how you use it that's key to a good build.

[mtaylor]

think i'll quit posting,,went around and saw some of the work being done by guys with cnc mills, routers,lathes, minature saw and the like, absolutely museum quality work, beautiful,  i'm working with a 20 yr old scroll saw, dremal tool and an antique drill press

 

I don't think there's a builder here who hasn't felt that way...  

[gluedandscrewed]

i know the planking is not right,but, being the prime and only contractor on this build i took a few liberties, besides she's a work horse destined to ply the seven seas not sit on a mentle

[Omega1234]

You may be the 'prime and only contractor', but we are the clients and admirers. As such, we see no flaws. Instead, all we see is lots of progress and positive results. Well done and your MF sure looks great!

[gluedandscrewed]

thanks 1234,, she is making progress cause i no longer have a life

[gluedandscrewed]

mistakes have been made but for a first build i am very satisfied, wife thinks i have become posessed, maybe shes right,,already thinking of what to build next,,,,she came into the cave yesterday and observed " youre almost done"

 

[Omega1234]

Very nice!  What fantastic progress you've made in such a short time, which show that you don't muck around!!!!

 

Love the paint job too.  Your wife must be proud of you.

 

All the best and happy modelling.

[gluedandscrewed]

thanks 1234,,started early june,,say 14=15 weeks times at least 40 hours a week,,,, think the wife might just be right

[gluedandscrewed]

only reason i can find for the main channel falling over the gun port is that dimensions taken of flat drawing dont compensate for the curvature of the hull,, just gonna have to run the chain above the gun port to the hull,,live and learn

[Omega1234]

We all "live and learn". Don't worry. Afterall, at the end of the day, admirers of your MF will be focussed on the whole model, rather than picking faults and mistakes.

 

From what I can see, you've done one hell of a job. I'm definitely looking forward to the masts and rigging, etc.

 

Well done!

[gluedandscrewed]

masts and rigging,,, me too,, its all gonna be new to me

[gluedandscrewed]

looks like youre the only one looking at my build lieutenant