Rattlesnake by KenW - FINISHED - Model Shipways - Scale 1:64 - American Privateer

[JSGerson]

How did you even know to order the capstan kit if Chuck hasn't yet built one himself let alone advertise it?

 

Jon

[KenW]

Hey Jon.  There are some advantages to being a member of the Ship Model Society of NJ.  Chuck Passaro is an active member.  Chuck is also willing to cut special orders for anyone.  Working out the details was easy.

[JSGerson]

You lucky stiff! I met Chuck at the last NRG Conference in St. Louis when he demonstrated how he makes his wonderful miniature rope. What surprised most of us who witnessed the demonstration, was that he used the simple Model Expo wooden rope walk (as opposed to the Byrnes precision machined rope walk). He did modify it so that it accepts an electric drill to power it instead of a hand crank. He was willing to answer any and all questions and talk with you. Awfully nice guy.

 

Unfortunately for me, there is no modelling club near me to help me along.

 

Jon

[KenW]

My experience is that Chuck is just as willing to answer questions via this site's Messenger or through emails.  In fact, we worked out all of the capstan details via email.

[KenW]

I finished the planking above the wales on both sides up to the top if the gun ports.  I have yet to add the moulding since I have yet to cut a razor blade that scraped a suitable moulding shape.  I’m still working on that. 

Also, I realized after re-reading Jon’s (JSGERSON) build log that I forgot to add the sheaves on the sides.  So I ending up removing planks, created the sheaves and carved out a place for them on new planks.  Once everything was put back together, the result looks pretty good.  

So the sides are done; and once I get the moulding to look right, I can start planking the lower hull.  I need to drill the treenails, of course, but I have to wait for my drill bit order to arrive. 

The photo looking from the stern shows there are problems that I hope will be covered by the fashion pieces.

 

 

[rafine]

Really nicely done Ken.

 

Bob

[JSGerson]

Your hull sheaves look a lot more realistic than mine since mine were added after the hull planking was done. I assume you drilled holes in a piece of wood, did some carving, and inserted the piece through the hull with some support pieces. 

 

What are the problems you discovered with the stern?

[KenW]

Thanks Bob and Jon and the 'likes'.

Jon - The problem with the stern is that the first two hull planks don't go all the way back to the counter.  Again, I hope that the fashion piece will cover that up once it is installed.  Otherwise I will have to remove those planks and redo them.

Cheers.

[Blue Pilot]

Very nice log and build.

[rafine]

Great to have met you yesterday Ken. It will make following along even more enjoyable.

 

Bob

[KenW]

I agree totally. And remember, when planing a visit to NJ, the club meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month. (Except for Dec., when we meet on the third Tuesdy.)

Cheers

[scott larkins]

Coming along nicely.

[augie]

Love the sheaves.  Time well spent.

[KenW]

Next up is mapping out and planking the lower hull.  I cut a paper strip for each bulkhead and was pleasantly surprised that the strips for the starboard side also fit the port side.  What I didn’t like was the way the width of the planks dipped slightly between bulkheads ‘H’ and ‘M’.  I looked at the hull and did some more sanding thinking that perhaps the fairing was off.  But that yielded no change.  Likewise, there was no change after I redid the hull stern where it met the counter.  My only conclusion is that I probably was off when I located the wales.  I don’t see how I can redo that at this time, so I will plod ahead and hope for the best.  The photos show each bulkhead marked with the width of the 21 eighth inch strakes and the belts I marked with artists tape.  The bottom of the tape is the top if each belt.

 

[JSGerson]

Even with your perceived errors, they appear very minor if at all detectable, in the images. Your planking looks like it well on its way to a handsome hull.

[KenW]

Thanks Jon. 

I've been looking at your carvings - and I don't see how I'm going to be able to do that. 

But, for now, the lower hull is calling. 

Cheers.

[JSGerson]

Those were and still are my first and only carvings I've ever made. I just took it one small step at a time. All I can say is try it, you have nothing to lose (except wood and time) and who knows, you may be a unknown Michelangelo!

[KenW]

I will give it a try, but I won't expect too much.

[KenW]

Just a quick status.  I have completed the first belt of 5 strakes.  My planking plan is being followed with only a couple of slight corrections needed.  I’m not having any problems with the planks at the bow.  I’m following Chuck Passaro’s method which can be seen in the video on his Cheerful build log (page 16, entry #316).  The problem I’m having is at the stern.  I can’t seem to get a proper bend to get the planks up to the fashion piece.  I think an edge bend plus a very tight ‘regular’ bend is needed and I’m getting small spaces between planks.  Also, the ends aren’t really lining up well, although I figure I can cover that with a piece of molding.

[augie]

She's looking good so far, Ken.  I've struggled as well on that 'compound bend' up into the transom.  I'm assuming your fairing is fine so as not to get too severe an angle.  I normally just soak the plank well, temporarily fasten it in place until it dries and then do the final fit.  You'll nail it, I'm sure.

[DocBlake]

Very nice job so far!

[GuntherMT]

Looking great.  What wood are you using for the lower hull?

[KenW]

Thanks augie, as well as Dave and Brian.  I'm using holly on the lower hull; that way I don't have to paint it white (all my mistakes will show).

Cheers.

[GuntherMT]

I thought it looked way too nice to be basswood!

[KenW]

Another Update:   I have completed half (10) of the planned strakes working down from the wales.  After sanding with 80 and 150 grit, I feel that while the workmanship isn’t perfect, it’s better that my last model.  There will be more sanding with finer grit once the outer hull is done.  I added the garboard strake using a 3/16 inch strip and then made new paper strips for the lower half of the planking.  The plan is still for 10 strakes on the lower portion.  If there is too much space for the last planks, I will reduce a larger width strip and hope that the needed width is so small that it will not be noticed.  I still haven’t soaked a single plank in water.  I’m replacing the forward garboard plank because I don’t like its positioning and the way the two sides don’t line up.  So, while there are a lot of ‘summer-time fun’ interruptions, modeling does continue.

 

[augie]

Solid start.  And yes, get those 2 garboards lined up together or you'll wind up with different plank counts P/S.  Don't ask how I know this.

[Blue Pilot]

Nice job so far, she looks great!

[KenW]

Thanks Augie and Mark.

I have replaced the port side forward garboard plank and the length also changed slightly.  The new plan still calls for 10 strakes to be added to both sides.

Thanks for the 'likes' as well.

Cheers.

[rafine]

Looking very good Ken.

 

Bob

[KenW]

It feels like forever since I had made enough progress on my build to justify an entry in my log.  But the lower hull is now fully planked.  I’m not totally pleased with the result.  Looking back, I think my planking plan was not as precise as it should’ve been; and the plan I had was not adequately followed.  I will have to do better on my next model.  Somehow the whole plan just seemed to dissolve as the end drew near.  Hopefully, the tree nailing will distract from these problems.  The obvious sanding on the ‘wales’ is to remove the lip between the wale planks and the lower hull planks.  I decided that I want to adhere to the plans and have a half inch black band around the boat measuring down from the ‘top of the wales’.  There’s still a lot of work to do.  Now, it’s on to the dreaded tree nailing.