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Model Shipways Sultana Colonial Schooner Build Log |
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June 23, 2006 |
Well, this is as far as I have gotten. For those that notice, no, at
this time, I do not have provisions for my upper planking-on-hull "yet". I want to be fully satisfied of how the templates work
as per out-of-the-box. When I am happy with the hull shaping, then I can turn my full attention to how I want to complete the sanding
process to "allow" for the upper planking above the wales. I still have some areas on the overall hull that still need some
shaping. I am looking for the correct hull-keel- to the top-of-deck relationship to be correct. At this point, I am entertaining the
thought of using 1/64¨ basswood to do the upper planking. I have some 1/64¨ and 1/32¨ birch that I will look into for the
deck. It is interesting as I mentioned in an earlier post that the birch color looks so close to the actual deck color that I am after.
The discoloration that you see (one is gray and the other is dark patching), is a grey primer and wood filler. I know that the wood
filler is not the same color, but this was replaced by a trip to the lowes to get a matched filler. The gray areas that you see is
a simple deal of painting the transom gray so that I can actually see how smooth the transom will look and the second reason, I wanted
to remark with a pencil a nice clean scribes to see where I am with the sanding process. By painting this area gray and letting it
dry, I was able to see imperfections in my work. No problem about the primer as it sanded away anyway while I was removing those rough areas.
The primer really helps in advertising those areas that are lackluster in shaping.
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Shaping the Solid Hull
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Shaping the Solid Hull
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Shaping the Solid Hull
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Shaping the Solid Hull
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Shaping the Solid Hull
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Shaping the Solid Hull
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June 24, 2006 |
I am having problems with Station #5 alignment. I need to
know what TD= _______.
It does not matter if it is in mm or inches. I think I have a measurement of 5/32¨ or about 4 mm. Something is wrong here.
This is the only station that I am having problems with the Top of Deck (TD). I wish I had more time to describe what is wrong folks,
but maybe later. I have included a picture below.
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Station 5
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June 25, 2006 |
Station 5 is exactly in line with where the volute will
be positioned. There is a small step up from the waste. I would measure the distance to the underside of the cap rail just before the
volute starts to curve around. The measurement I have there is 6mm. That is from the top of the deck to the underside of the cap rail.
To be safe I would calculate and use 7 or 8 mm so you have some room to adjust that height after you finish building the bulwarks.
It is a lot easier to sand away excess wood than add it later.
Courtesy of Chuck Passaro
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July 9, 2006 |
Ok, all can laugh at this one, but it works for me. I ran my plank
under hot water for about 15 seconds, and slowly bent the wood a little at a time, and a little more hot water for about 10 seconds
enough then to wrap around this small can. After about 30 minutes or so I remove the wood strip and apply to boat. The reason that
it looks that way is that I form the arch to cup around the bow of ship.
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Bending Wood for the Bow
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July 12, 2006 |
Some progress - had to do some major carving sanding again after I
started laying the planks down. The planks don´t lie - gotta have a trued hull.
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Upper Planking
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Upper Planking
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Upper Planking
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Upper Planking
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July 22, 2006 |
I plan to do my decking and then lay my inside bulwarks. Again, I stripped
my own decking. from a sheet of basswood 1/32¨ thick. Width is about 5/64¨ for each deck strip. Not at all finished with the upper planking,
but got my own reasons / desires to start some on the deck.
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Deck Planking
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Deck Planking
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Deck Planking
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July 31, 2006 |
Decided to go ahead and layout the decking using my 1/32¨ x 5/64¨
basswood that I stripped myself - wasn´t fun doing it that way, but I am happy with it. I then could not rest on the stain as I looked
and found something I liked but could not find it locally. I settled on using some Danish Oil that I had laying around. I guess I am not
too picky huh !
I used a dremel to drill out the nail holes in the deck. I can subdue then simply by sanding over them. I chose a random point kinda
- not choosy on the selection of the deck nails (faux)
Now, I can move on to laying the "inside" bulwarks.
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Deck Planking
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Deck Planking
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Deck Planking
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July 22, 2006 |
Now, I will say in honestly, I was wondering about the true spacing
of all of the fastenings. Ignorance of decking is obvious here on my ship, but, I am happy to note that you chimed in so that I can
investigate. No, it doesn´t take long at all to do this on the deck. Now, that I have thought about it right now, I am wondering
if I should have taken a pencil and instead of making a hole, make a simulated plug using the pencil tip to make (not a hole) but a
"dot" to represent the plug. However, I have found with a little extra sanding, the holes are filling up leaving or revealing
a mocked up "plug" !
I will say that my models so far, I guess I strive for balance. The balance that I strive for is this formula:
Accuracy & precision vs. Time devoted to the project = my own enjoyment (satisfaction)
I guess I look at things like this to keep myself from going "nuts" over a project because I am just as perfectionist as the next
modeler.
I have come to the conclusion that:
- Who all will be looking at my model.
- Will they know enough about the ship to make critical comments about it.
- Am I satisfied with the work enough to realize the mistakes and the "I should
have done this to it syndrome" and still be overall pleased with the final result.
I have found that coupled with this and the all of the great people on this forum to help, then I am VERY pleased with it all. Why, so that
I will become a better modeler raising the bar to make better ships.
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November 2, 2006 |
Ok, here are some pics of the latest. I am ready to start on the brass
pieces for the Rudder and start building the Transom today. I want to say that if you see some marks and some dings that is just due to
accidentally breaking something or whatever that I plan to go back and touch up more as I go along. I wanted to show the detail of the rudder
opening area. I got that off of a website and I will be glad to share that site, but I need to go back and look it up.
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Overall Hull View
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Overall Hull View
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Overall Hull View
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Overall Hull View
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November 7, 2006 |
I was thinking today how fantastic it is to share our interest with
each other. I was also thinking "why do I post the pictures of my ship anyway?" I guess it is a sense of "accomplishments"
and to give and receive a sense that I am not the only one that is building these ships. I don´t feel like I am the only one out there
racking my head over a set of manufactures plans and directions that do not seem to make much sense and that I am not alone. So when I post
my pictures, it is more like, "this is what I have done and my accomplishments" not so much that I have anything to boast about.
All along in building this Sultana, I have had a sense of "I am lost as to what to do"
In a way, I am almost disenchanted with the instructions and plans that came with the model. If it were not for people here and also Chucks
practicum to "go by" and I use the term go by, becuase I am not out to make a model based on exact things that he did. I want my
ship to personify Donnie. I also want to reemphasize that I turn to Chucks practicum when I get stuck.
It almost seems that Model Expo over sold the Sultana and saying how easy it is to build. I guess it must be me, but I guess I am used
to the plastic versions that the pieces have already been molded and there is really not too much that can go wrong. However, with the
Wooden ships, there is infinite amounts of decisions about what to do. How much to sand, how much to paint, what shade of paint, where do
I place the plankshear, and other items and the list goes on and on.
I don´t mean to complain about model expo, but somehow, they need to come up with a model for beginners that has more TRUE hull already
formed. They need to have more LASER cut parts so as to eliminate the guesswork. You know why I base this information is because several
months ago, I bought the Midwest Lobster Boat for R/C control. Well, upon opening the box, I was first greeted with a instruction booklet
as thick as a magazine with hundreds of steps. The steps were so elementary that it left NO guesswork what-so-ever. What to glue, where to
glue and how to glue. What part goes exactly were and for what purpose.
I know that the Lobster Boat cost like 3 times the other, but good greif, you know, after thinking about it, it seems that the Sultana
is not for beginners. I am sorry for going on like this and it is not my purpose to discourage anyone, but you know, someone else out there
might be just as much discouraged and I am here to tell you that if I can do it , you can to, and THIS is why I post my images.
To let others know that even though in my opinion that this kit is ok, it can be done. I am thinking about that first modeler that has
no clue about ships, how do you think they would deal with this kit? I have some experience with ship building and I am having difficulty
with this model, so would someone feel that has never tackled on of these before. Well, the answer I guess lies here in this website to help
and people like me having a difficult time can relate to those others that are having a difficult time as well. As a matter of fact,
I am wondering right now how many of you that finally got the hull sanded down ever thought that you could muddle thru the rest of it like
the thought that I had. I thought to myself "Thank goodness I made it that far even though I am not 100% for sure that I did it right."
I am sending out this message to those to take heart even though you might be having problems, I know that I am, but I am trying not to get
discouraged.
Pick up the ship again with a renewed interest and think that there is no one to impress but just yourself. If you are happy with your ship,
then that is all that matters. I am trying to get happy with my build.
What is a fantastic model? the one that YOU are proud of !
Dont´ give up
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