Cutter Cheerful by Maurys - 1:48 POB

[Maury S]

I bent the stbd side piece and over did it a bit.  Easy to correct.  Just learning to make those little adjustments that only come with experience.  Chuck, the strake above the molding is broken up by the gun ports.  Do you bend a full-length piece to a fair run before you cut it in small segments or bend the pieces separately?  I'm not there yet, just asking.

Maury

[Chuck]

I didnt bend it.  I just cut it into small sections.

[Maury S]

The next strake up needs some minor tapering and a notch for the gunport.  I used the heating iron to put a slight bend in the plank before gluing.

Maury

[Maury S]

More planking.  I started using CA on the planking and things went much faster.  The next step is to make sure the tops of the frames are fair and match from side to side.  Tops of gun port verticals need to be sanded off.  Square tops of the frames get faired.  This will give me a place to measure the width of the next two planks up to the shear.

Maury

Edited April 13, 2015 by Maurys

[Maury S]

I finished the planking above the wales on the starboard side.  They still need the tops faired and a bunch more sanding.

Maury

 

[Maury S]

Port side upper planks installed and the outer aft frame thinned.  I used a Jewelers saw and chisels to thin them.  I was afraid to use a rotary tool at this stage.

Maury

[Maury S]

The counter took some edge bending as well as the gentle bend of the stern and came out well.  Edge bending is still something I'm getting comfortable with...the inside of a bend seems to bend a bit sharply in the center rather than a gentle sweeping curve.  I even place two clamps in the middle of the plank to widen the curve.  Trial and error.  The transom edge bending is less severe and went on well.  I did the lower strake pieces first, then moved to the solid plank above the gun ports and then filled-in the rest.  Next up are the fashion pieces covering the edges of the counter and transom.  Question for Chuck...The planking over the square tuck is vertical on the plans and in your build log, but seems horizontal in the pictures with the instructions.  I seem to recall more discussion about the vertical planking and the surround on the build log at the time, but that does not appear now. 

Maury

[Chuck]

That looks very good.....

 

The square tuck planks are 100% vertical.  See how they follow the stern post.

 

 

[Maury S]

Fashion pieces cut, shaped and glued in place.  Tops will be trimmed later.

Maury

[Stuntflyer]

Now that I have started Cheerful, your posts including the nice photos have helped me to answer some of questions which I have had so far. Nice work Maury!

 

Mike

Edited May 18, 2015 by Stuntflyer

[Maury S]

Third coat of paint on the counter.  One more to go should even everything out.

Maury

[Maury S]

The wales have been installed on the starboard side.  The pieces were cut to size, tapered at the bow and cut to fit the shape of the fashion piece at the stern.  These went on much easier than the original planks.  A little sanding, then I'll put a coat of sanding sealer and start painting them.

Maury

[Chuck]

Looking good Maury 

[Maury S]

Over the last few days, I've applied six well-thinned coats of black paint (Model Expo Hull Black) to the wales.  I don't have Chuck's skills at hand painting without going past the edge, so I taped it with Tamiya masking tape.  Very little bleed-thru and most of that scraped-off easily.

Maury

[Maury S]

Laying out the planks below the wales.  I used tick strips every other bulkhead starting from deadflat and ran a batten at the mid points (10 planks down) from stem to where the square tuck joins the stern.  That seems the most critical alignment of the planks.  Since it was fair, I marked all the bulkheads with a dark line.  Same exercise on the other side.

Maury

[Maury S]

Working on the first strakes.  The center and aft sections go on first, then the drop plank.  First pieces  are tapered to about 1/2 full width between bulkheads B & J then installed in segments.  Aft section takes a big twist as it gets to the square tuck.  Next are the drop planks.

Maury

[Maury S]

There was a dip in the planking so I spiled the next strake to even it out.  You can make it out at the fourth bulkhead from the stem at the end of the drop plank.  There is a light pencil line on the strake where the problem was.

Maury

[Chuck]

Nicely done so far.   

[CAd My Fingers]

Very much enjoying your build, Maury--your commentary as you progress is exceptionally helpful and your work is excellent!

 

Cheers,

Jay

[Rustyj]

Hi Maury,

 

Very nice catch there. Everything is looking really nice.

[Maury S]

Slow progress.  More planking.  I'm not happy with my progress with edge bending, so I'm back to spiling...and getting better at it.  After they are all in, I'll smooth them a bit (Particularly at the drop plank, which was thicker).  Five more strakes in the upper band.

Maury

Edited June 28, 2015 by Maurys

[Maury S]

More planking over the last few weeks. One more strake on each side and I can go to work on the transom.  

I made a jig that fits over the plywood spine so when she's upside down for planking, the fashion pieces wont get broken since they stick up a bunch.  It can be held in the vise or propped up on a block of scrap wood (as shown here on pic. #3).  My spiling is getting better.  Sure it uses a bit more wood, but careful planning gets several similar pieces cut from one strip with only modest waste.  I've also given up on soaking or steaming the planks.  Pieces this thin (.0475") need bending only with a very hot blow dryer and some gentle pressure.  No more shrinkage when dried and no more raised grain nor water staining.

Maury

[Maury S]

Before moving to the bottom band of planking, it's time to work on the Square Tuck.  All of the ends of the planks so far are smoothed against the base for the tuck.  Lots of sanding to do on the planks, but that's for later.  Next comes the fitting of the various pieces that make up the tuck section.  The green tape is being left on to help protect the extensions of the fashion trim.

Maury

Edited July 30, 2015 by Maurys

[Maury S]

The Square Tuck framing is done.  Next is the planking inside the frames.  I left the inner edges of the frames straight rather than the beautiful curve Chuck put on his.  Thanks for all the likes.

Maury

Edited July 30, 2015 by Maurys

[druxey]

Why did you leave those inner edges straight, Maury? You might wish to consider revisiting that, as it will add beauty to the lovely hull lines.

[Maury S]

Thanks for the comments about the inner edges.  Chuck and Druxey are right.  The straight line of the inner frame pieces did not look right.  I added and shaped some pieces to follow the curve of the outer edge of the frames.  Now for the really small planking inside the frames.

Maury

 

[druxey]

Now, isn't that better? Looks much nicer to my eye, Maury!

[Rustyj]

That looks great Maury. I'm glad, and I bet you are too, that you bit the bullet and redid it.  

[Maury S]

I'm sure grateful for all those critical eyes.

Maury

[Maury S]

Square Tuck planking done.  Some sanding and maybe some putty to hide the gaps and it will look good.  Sure glad I rounded those frames.

Maury