Constructo 1799 Enterprise help

Boat David’s:

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I find I’m using the instructions to see the next part of the build less and less and tracings of the plans more and more. For this step I found that the plans gave me a better idea of what to do than the pictorial instructions.

It is exactly the way to work....the drawing should be the guiding document, everything else is only an Add-On.

Short info: The parts you are showing are the so called "Catheads" which are used for lifting the anchors.

I just found this explanation:
The projecting pieces of timber near the bow served as crane booms for hoisting the anchors to the rail. The "Cat" is the complication of tackle that is used to raise the anchor from the waterline to the catheads. The cat tackle has a multiple block to aid in lifting the anchor up to the cathead. In other words, once you raised the anchor and stowed the main cable, you need to tie up the anchor where it wouldn't swing free and damage the ship. That was the cathead. Once raised, the anchorswould then be secured to the catheads until they were ordered cast off again. The anchor ring is catted by the large hook attached to the projecting cathead. Generally, a Cathead is the outside spool on a winch, used in handling hauling lines and in topping and lowering booms. Catheads may derive their name from the carvings or cast iron caps in the form of cats or lions, the cat in the eighteenth century being a royal pet. These decorative heads were often plated in gold, and were one of the few ornaments found on a warship.
cathead.jpg
from https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ship/sail-hull.htm

This is a "cat"
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The boats were at this time not lifted by davits, in this time of your ship the boats were lifted with the use of the yardarms, also yards were used for all lifting excercises for stowing, cannons, water barrels etc.

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Only for the future time for your built - the tackling of the anchor is very special, so try to get the necessary information before you install the anchor

Sorry for this long reply....it got longer and longer with writing o_O
 
Hi Uwe,

Excellent explanation. Another bit of ship terminology learned.

My fault for getting the part name wrong. I wasn’t sure why the instructions had labeled it as “boat davit “

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I’m getting a lot better at finding answers to a lot of the questions that keep on me on the “how do I do this” path
 
The next “how do I do this”

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Another experiment: Braces and Head Rails.

My first try will be to soak the 2X2mm pieces and place them in the little jigs.

If that fails I’ll try using a soldering iron to bend the wet pieces checking them against the plan.
 
I do not know, if these jigs will work.....the rails are 3-dimensional and the used drawing for the jig is only 2-dimensional.
So the real rail will be longer, than shown on the 2-dimenional drawing......
 
Excellent point, Uwe.

I hadn’t considered the difference. Another lesson learned from “the Masters”.

I think I’ll use some 12 gauge copper wire and physically lay it on the Stem to the hull to get the approximate bend and length for those pieces.

I’ll post some pictures after trying that process.
 
Constructo loves to put us making impossible things. I already had my share.

If those pieces are to be made out of strips of wood (I mean, if they are not preformed) I can think of 3 ways of solving the problem.

-Carve the things out of blocks of spare wood or...
-try to mold them freehand using an heat gun (with gloves) - has worked wonders for me so far or...
-use ammonia (50/50 with water). Horrible smell, don't breath it. Ammonia breaks the structure of the wood and allows it to take almost any shape you want. 24 hours should do.

Hope it helps

JL
 
Constructo loves to put us making impossible things. I already had my share.

If those pieces are to be made out of strips of wood (I mean, if they are not preformed) I can think of 3 ways of solving the problem.

-Carve the things out of blocks of spare wood or...
-try to mold them freehand using an heat gun (with gloves) - has worked wonders for me so far or...
-use ammonia (50/50 with water). Horrible smell, don't breath it. Ammonia breaks the structure of the wood and allows it to take almost any shape you want. 24 hours should do.

Hope it helps

JL

I made a quick jig aproximating the bend that I needed. Soaked the pieces in a pill bottle for several hours and then used a soldering iron to work the 2 X 2mm piece into the curve of the jig.
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I think the process worked quite well
 
If it worked... fine! :):)

But I thought it was a double curvature piece...

JL

I plan on doing the double pieces today. But the Sun is out and the temperature high for today, tomorrow and Sunday are forecast to be 85 F. (29C) or more. I think The backyard pool will probably delay the work.

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Little shaded now but will be in full sun in about an hour.
 
I know how you feel. I left home behind and headed to Algarve, wonderful beaches and always good weather. No ships for 2 weeks at least. Even the hobbies need a rest.

JL
 
I know how you feel. I left home behind and headed to Algarve, wonderful beaches and always good weather. No ships for 2 weeks at least. Even the hobbies need a rest.

JL
We have to take advantage of the weather. Pool season is short. We have it open from the end of May to the middle of September.
 
Braces and rails part 2:

I finally settled on a mix of Windex (for the ammonia) and hot water to soften the pieces of wood prior to applying heat to bend them. The pieces were soaked overnight, bent, soaked again and heated with the soldering iron to get the final shape. (The time in between was spent in the pool, current outdoor temperature is 91F/32C, the pool is at 80F/26C).

The final product.

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The result.

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The little things:

No,no, no, i’ve not given up. The weather for the past week has been great. The temperatures were in the 90’s (32C) or more. We spent a lot of time in our pool. I did work in the boat yard at odd times doing the little things that will be mounted on the hull.

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