24' gaff-rigged ketch by vaddoc - FINISHED - Scale 1:12- exploration - a Tad Roberts design

[captainbob]

She's a fine looking boat all dressed up now. 

 

What glue did you use on the sails?  Every time I try the glue wicks into the cloth and discolors it.

 

Bob

[vaddoc]

Thank you all, considering it is my second model I am happy with the result. I realised though that I forgot the reefing lines so one more loose end to tie.

Patrick, houses in Britain are really small so no chance for a glass case!

Bob, I used Aleene's glue which I think is just ordinary PVA glue which shrinks and dries virtually invisible. The cloth is synthetic but still it glued fine.

[Omega1234]

Hi Vaddoc

 

Nice work, but, not having a glass case could be a problem once those cobwebs start to grow.

 

More importantly, if this is only your second model, then you've already set the bar very high. Very impressive to say the least!

 

All the best

 

Patrick

Edited February 26, 2016 by Omega1234

[vaddoc]

Dear all

This is the last photos to be posted as the project is finally competed. The photo quality should be much better as I used the Admiral's new phone.

 

I managed to fully blacken the barrels containing the essential supplies for any yachting expedition.

 

 

Although the metal is copper so supposedly easy to blacken, there were persistent areas that did not. In the end I took the Dremel to the entire metal surface to get it to blacken. For the future though I will be using thinned black gesso and then dip the parts in Pledge as I found this produces very good results with minimal hassle.

 

I also fitted the reefing lines and made a cradle. Nothing too fancy though, I used leftover wood and a cheap cutting board from Tesco. The joinery was a bid tricky but came out fine, I still need to finish the cradle and add the name to it. Butterfly Explorer!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I thought though that it would look better with the sails furled.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was a 21 month journey but it was great fun and I learned a lot. A big thank you for your support and suggestions throughout the built and of course to Tad for releasing such a nice design.

 

Regards

Vaddoc

[Omega1234]

Hi Vaddoc

 

Congratulations on completing your beautiful ship.  She's an absolute triumph and a real credit to your skills and workmanship.

 

Nice!!!

 

Cheers

 

Patrick 

[pete48]

Wow, Vaddoc,  That is Amazing, Congratulations. I thoroughly  enjoyed watching you build this Beauty. Well done

 

Best Regards,

Pete

[druxey]

Congratulations on a fine model, Vaddoc. Very nice indeed.

[mtaylor]

Lovely work, Vaddoc.  Congratulations.

[michael mott]

Vaddoc, First Congratulations on a finely executed model, I have really enjoyed following your journey. I think that the sails furled are a good choice, mainly because it is not in the water and sailing. Sitting in the cradle it makes good sense to have the sails furled, you also know that they are proper sails. Again congratulations on you fine model.

 

So what's next?

 

Michael

[vaddoc]

Thank you all, much appreciated!

Michael, I would really like to go for a fully framed 2 mast schooner but I think this is too big of a bite for now. So I have decided on a much smaller project that will give me the chance of practicing planking, framing, rabbet cutting etc. Of course there will be a log!

[IgorSky]

Excellent work! Congratulations, Vaddoc!

[BenF89]

Congratulations! She looks amazing!

[Vladimir_Wairoa]

On 2/15/2015 at 11:00 PM, vaddoc said:

I had another go today making the oars. I watched a video on you tube of a company making high end oars and copied their method. I also found out the maths behind the length oars should have and for this boat its 32 cm, much longer than the first attempt.

 

First I made a rough pattern of the curve of the blade from scrap plywood.

 

 

Then I glued a small piece at the end of the long pieces that will later on be glued together. This because the end of the curve goes beyond the width of the strips. I used lime for two reasons, because it sands easily and also I have lots of it.

 

 

I then made some more pieces from the pattern. The darker ones are pear, but these are cut at an angle to the grain so that when all are laminated it will provide some strength against breaking.

 

 

All are glued together

 

 

And glued again

 

 

This is how it looks before the sanding spree

 

 

The  corners near the shaft where cut off and then carefully the oar was sanded into shape. The improvised table for the Dremel was very useful.

 

 

The blade was shaped first and then the shaft.

 

 

 

This is how the oar came out, it certainly looks better.

 

 

 

 

 

It took half a day to make one oar and the chances of all 6 coming out reasonably alike I think are slim. Might be better to go for flat ones which should be easier to make.

 

 

 

Amazing stuff Vadoc ! 

[vaddoc]

Thanks, it was indeed a very fun boat to build. I still have not got round to taking some photos for the gallery!