Bounty Launch by Canute - Model Shipways - 1/16 - Small

[GLakie]

Just ran across your Launch Ken and you're off to a great start.  

 

Cheers

[mattsayers148]

Ken!!!

 

You're alive, I mean, you're Launch is alive!

[Cathead]

All this talk of hairdryers reminds of an unexpected benefit I had working on my launch; doing it in winter in a wood-heated house. The relative humidity is bone-dry in here when the stove's running 24/7, and I found that soaked planks dried really quickly. Not sure what would or will happen when I work on a similar model in our humid summer.

[Canute]

I was contemplating my garboards and sheer planks, in order to add the next planks. One sheet of the laser cut planks has a very pronounced cross grain, so it looks like the outside will get painted. I'd have to go very dark and the grain still would show.

Then, looking at the bow, I realized the hood ends did not remain in the rabbets. Arggh!   Up with that, I will not put!  Out came the IPA (no, Cap'n, not any kind of ale) and 5 minutes later, I popped the sheer planks off. (Ya know, I could have used a Smithwicks about then. Down to me last Guinness now ) Cleaned off the old glue and I will very carefully, with more lighting and my good old optivisor, re-glue the sheers. I've been putzing around on this hull long enough. Sorry for the building buffoonery, mates!

[Cathead]

When dealing with hood ends, I found it very helpful to use a form with the same curve as the rabbet, to ensure the hood ends stayed in place. Photos and descriptions are here. It's easy to do, you just cut a piece of the scrap wood from which the stem of the keel came, and clamp it parallel to the rabbet. This gives a strong overhang of wood that the hood end can butt up against, making it impossible for it to pop out while drying.

 

I first tried using a clamp itself against the rabbet, for the hood end to push against, but found that a clamp strong enough to hold the pressure also dented the keel. Using the strips of wood works better, as the flat surfaces of wood grain on wood grain have way more friction than a clamp, and a few clamps can be used along the length of the piece, holding it very securely and not risking any damage to the keel.

 

Worked like a charm for the rest of my planking once I figured it out.

Edited April 22, 2015 by Cathead

[Canute]

Cathead, excellent tip. I've got those pieces ready for the rest of the planking.

[Cathead]

Looks like I had the link wrong in the first post. It's fixed now. Also, here's the photo from my log showing what this looks like.

 

[Cap'n Rat Fink]

Great Progress Cathead!

 

Mario

[Canute]

Finally have both garboards and strakes glued up. Now fitting the #2 strakes by boiling the hood ends. I beefed up the stem form with the kit scraps for the stem bracing. Per Cathead in #65 and 67 above, it helps to hold the hood ends in place. I penciled in the lines for strake alignment on the inside of the curves; it matches up with the pencil lines I already had in place in the stem's rabbet.

[mattsayers148]

Hey I just thought of something Ken. It seemed like more than a few of us had our boats spread wider after planking and removal from the jig. So when you get to the point of popping it off, you might consider glueing in some stabilizers to prevent that from happening. And, I'm hanging by a thread here waiting for photos.

[Canute]

thanks for the comments and likes, fellows. Squirrel Whisperer, your wish is my command... 

 

This is my take on Cathead's stem blocking. I cut the part outlines from the parts sheet, marked them to show where the planks should fall and clamped them onto the stem. These are for the sheer strake and next few planks. I have a second set for the lower planks.

 

Sitting with the Admiral eating breakfast this morning, she asked how the Launch was going.   I said I had to bend the ends in boiling water and affix them. She asked why I wasn't using the blow-dryer to bend the ends. Hmm, the Darlin' is on to something here.   So port side plank #2 is hot air bent.

 

One kind of overall shot. I'm tapering the edges by sanding the inside edges to tighten up the outside edges of the planks. Another Maestro Chuck technique.

 

Matt, I've been thinking about that spread issue. Methinks the cherry frames don't sit as tight to the forms as they should, hence the spread. I may tack glue the center seat or affix a light weight spreader clamp across the thwarts. Think light but strong. 

[GLakie]

She's coming along nicely Ken. And yes---Blow dryer is a good idea. That's why she's the Admiral and gets the big bucks. 

[Cathead]

Ken, I think you're right about the cherry frames not quite sitting tight with the forms. A number of mine had just a bit of space after drying, they never quite fit perfectly. You almost have to bend them TOO far to get them to rebound to just the right shape. Be interesting for someone to try sanding the molds down a bit too far, and see if the frames bent onto them ended up just right.

 

I also suspect this is why some of us needed stealers. If the molds are absolutely tight, then the planks as pre-cut may fit just barely right. If there's any spreading at all, then naturally the hull becomes a lot wider and you end up needing stealers. Just a theory, but it makes geometric sense to me.

 

Otherwise looks just right so far!

[mattsayers148]

Looking awesome Ken. I too love the hair dryer.

[CaptainSteve]

Ken, I be jus' a-wonderin' if ye be makin' further progress on getting yer Launch launched ??

[thomaslambo]

Hi Ken,

 

Wow, I see you're getting some sage advise from excellent builders   

 

I'm experiencing the same problem with my AL Bounty build.  After checking the planks carefully I find many, if not most, are cut across the grain...making then very difficult to work with.  I made the painful ($$) choice to replace them....along with the dowels trying to pose as masts   

 

My compliments on your fine progress     

[Canute]

Cap'n, it's lurking in the shop. I've been lured by a card ship from the American Civil War. Not to worry, I'll get back to it.

 

Boyd, thanks for the compliments. I had a wee block and wandered into a card model. I'm more comfortable with wood, just need to do some of the basics better. I'm fortunate for the assistance of all you folks and hope I don't prove your judgement isn't misplaced.

Edited October 13, 2015 by Canute

[Landlubber Mike]

Hey Ken, just came across your build log.  Your planking is amazing - even more so that it is your first wooden build.  Very nice job!

[Dimitris71]

Hello Ken, just saw your build log and i think that you did a great job. !! I will follow with interest!! :)

 

Kind Regards

Dimitris

[Canute]

Thank you Mike and Dimitris. And the likes from the posse, Matt, George and Cap'n Steve. I hope to jump back into this soon. Cutting paper and card is beginning to pale in comparison to the feel of working in wood. I may end up moving back and forth.

[riverboat]

Nice build Ken.... really nice work on the planking!!

 

Frank

[jmcsys]

I've just found your build. Very impressive. And you make no apology for taking your time. Really impressive. I see your are getting a ton of advice from folks. Most impressive of all. The commonuity is very generous and supportive and you have tapped into that BIG TIME. Way to go.

 

While certainly good for you, its great for me too. The conversation you are having with them really shows me the thought processes behind the approaches and the choices that get made. Your log is great for this.

 

The pics are great too. They show the work of one who really appreciates craftsmanship. While increasingly rare these days, craftmanship appears to be a hallmark of the model ship builders. You are proving yourself more than up to standard. I will enjoy following your progress.

 

BTW, thank you for the likes. They are voices of encouragement. And as a beginner, I need all I can get.

 

Joe

[Canute]

Jim, this boat building hobby really is a group effort. I'm better in some areas and need help in others. And this community is great. Thanks for you comments.

[PAnderson]

Nice work so far Ken. I just started this boat. I hope you don't mind if I follow your build. I am just getting ready to bend on the frames.

 

Merry Christmas,

 

Paul

[Canute]

Not at all, Paul. I grew up not far from Cresskil; over in Lodi. I'm getting back into the wood side again. The card boat is on hold until I can make smoother circular cuts in the cardstock. I can't smooth it as much as I'd like.

You should also look at the builds by Matt (Squirrel Whisperer), Captain Steve and Mario. Good work on those.

[mobbsie]

Hi Ken,

 

These are all important lessons for me and my Armed Pinnace.

 

Regarding the bending of planks, I also use some old curling tongs the wife discarded, seems to work a treat.

 

Keep it up mate, I'm watching.

 

Be Good

 

mobbsie

[Canute]

Thanks for all the comments and likes, folks. I expected to dive back in but my sinuses said "No,Sir" since Christmas. I am bummed.

 

I'm planning to do some bends with the hair dryer, ala the Maestro's technique. I may see if the Admiral has an unused curling iron, too.

[Canute]

Sort of a reawakening for me over the weekend. I finally added another plank. :)  One small step for a ship building padawan....  

 

Been a bit of a mental block, so I sat down with the Admiral, a former Reg Nurse and worked it all out. I had to get past a few ideas about being "available" for "small" little jobs (GIs may recall what an sljo is) around the house. No more wasting time on the computer, that kind of stuff. I'm back.

 

Lawrence, thank you for your kind support. I hope to complete the planking without further ado and try my hand at rigging and adding some accouterments to the basics included in this kit. I haven't rigged a ship since high school, back in the late Renaissance. (Around the Beatles invading the USA).

[Cathead]

Looking forward to seeing what you come up with.

[Guest Tim I.]

Canute,

 

I am not sure how I missed this log of yours. I enjoyed catching up on it, and am pulling up a seat for the rest of your build. Great start so far!

 

- Tim