Group Scratch Build

That's it? Nobody else?

bondoman

If it's a steel hull, do you sand it smooth, scribe the plating and paint it?

I don't know. do what you want I guess. I only do wooden hulls in wood. Seems odd to me to go to the trouble of planking and end up with a wooden RMS Titanic, but I've seen it done. 

If it's a steel hull, do you sand it smooth, scribe the plating and paint it?

Here's the entire plan set of Mistral. Simple and pretty!

bondoman

Thank you Rich. I am pretty terrified that this is really difficult.

Bill, you're right. Planking a wooden hull has my vote for the most difficult process in modeling. Having said that "millions" of modelers without your experience do it. It's good, however, to be terrified. Sharpens the skills.

Maybe you;d be more comfortable with a simpler subject than what you contemplate. How about "Mistral", an image of which I posted earlier. The plans are model specific, it;s a simple design (motor launch), and the drawing are clear. I wouldn't mind building her. I'll add a couple of images.

Thank you Rich. I am pretty terrified that this is really difficult.

bondoman

Thank you Rich. I have it all except the table saw (I have a full size one) and a good drill press. Or a keel clamp but that sounds kind of optional with a little ingenuity.

I feel pretty confident as far as the bulkhead assembly and keel goes, but I have no idea how to plank the hull. Off to do some research.

I suggest http://modelshipworld.com/phpBB2/hptintro.php for a pretty good tutorial on the subject. Just don't take it as 100% gospel. Once you've done it you'll have developed your own method.

Thank you Rich. I have it all except the table saw (I have a full size one) and a good drill press. Or a keel clamp but that sounds kind of optional with a little ingenuity.

I feel pretty confident as far as the bulkhead assembly and keel goes, but I have no idea how to plank the hull. Off to do some research.

I posted a photo before of Strongbow. She represents a British steam tug, sometimes attributed to the John Hardie works in Glascow. However, the records of that enterprise show no such vessel, so it's thought that she's just a model of the type. The plans are model specific, very popular in scratch modeling circles. The plans printed at their current scale will yield a model of about 23" LOA. The scale is 1/75 which makes the RW vessel about 143' long. The plans are annotated in German, but are very clear and complete. I've always wanted to build a paddler; never got a round toit. I'd love to build her at 1/35 and R/C her. What would you think of her as a subject?

Rich

Watchmann:

Hi Rich,

Could you please send me the plans for the Calypso?

Thanks

matt

mtarnold@hotmail.com

 

They're in the mail (about 3mb of files)

I got 'em, Rich.  Thanks so much!

matt

bondoman

Rich- is there an approved list?

More importantly, I have the ability to have my folks draw the parts and have my fabricators make them, but I'd rather do it my self. What are the first five tools I have to have?

Here's a pretty good list from Model Ship World (most of which you probably already have). http://modelshipworld.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=705 . 

I agree with it in general with the following exceptions:

What he shows as the "starter kit" dhould include The Dremel tool, Soldering iron, and Hammer from his "intermediate" list, and the Vernier Caliper from his "advanced" list. I have never used his plank nipper, but I know it''s a handy tool (I may eventualy get one myself). You don't need to buy a keel clamp; if your building board doesn't secure the keel, you can easily make one. You won't be happy with an ordinary vise. If you don't have one, get a Panavise. Also, add to this list one of those "Helping hands" 3rd Hand work holders. He refers to "White Glue" (PVA). I would buy nothing but the best grade of Titebond" because the clamp time is half of other PVAs. I would not use CA glue for anything but the temporary holding of workpieces; it's no good for wood.

Concerning power tools, I get by very nicely with: a 16" scroll saw, a 30"X6" belt/disk sander, and the work station (drill press) attachment 220-01 and the flex shaft attachment 225-01 for the Dremel tool. You're going to make a lot of sawdust, so a shop vac is essential. You may already know that you can source these tools cheaply at CPO or Harbor Freight.

For when I win the lottery I will add a small metal lathe (like unimat), a thickness sander, a 4" table saw, and an airbrush & paint booth, but I get by well enough without them.

I probably forgot something (the mind is the second thing to go).

Watchmann

Hi Rich,

Could you please send me the plans for the Calypso?

Thanks

matt

mtarnold@hotmail.com

They're in the mail (about 3mb of files)

Rich- is there an approved list?

More importantly, I have the ability to have my folks draw the parts and have my fabricators make them, but I'd rather do it my self. What are the first five tools I have to have?

Hi Rich,

Could you please send me the plans for the Calypso?

Thanks

matt

mtarnold@hotmail.com

Here are pics of 4 more plan sets in my possession. As before, sorry about the quality.

Fireboat

Granit

Kutter

Mistral

As before, I'll send any of these sets to anyone who requests them.

Don,

I for one, find that boat quite without character. I would not be interested in building her, but if your heart is set on it, good luck with it. Also, I might be persuaded to build a bread & butter hull, but reluctantly. POB is really my thing.

I'll shortly post some more candidates for consideration.

At least one of you wanted to see the Great Lakes fishing boat, so here it is.

I have square on shots from three more directions, but no top-down shot. I'd have to draw planform from the other views, but don't see that as a show stopper. I do intend to do drawings soon, and then build her, probably starting in early 2012.  I would do it as a solid hull (bread & butter, actually) with an cavity in middle to leave one of the doors open.  Would also do the cockpit/bridge as a built up area.

What would qualify would be largely up to the participants. Don Stauffer has indicated a preference. I've mentioned some of my criteria for a subject. Your buoy tender certainly qualifies. Lets see who else may want to come aboard and try to form a concensus. It's all grist for the mill.

My daughter won't be back home until the end of the month with my modeling stuff, and as I said I still have maybe a month after that to finish my current project, so I would probably be a late starter.

So would this ship qualify for your GB?

I've been collecting information on her for awhile, because I love lighthouses and go to every one I can. I have no doubt that I will never progress beyond the hull stage, but this would be very fun to do. Former lighthouse tender, now a historic landmark.

USCG "Fir" (WLM-212)

BTW took these pictures on my lunch break a mile from my office last summer. I work right down by the waterfront and go down every time I can to watch the ships come and go. A real blessing.

bondoman

If I built this ship it's 175 feet long. Too big at 1/48 for my purposes, and I like 1/72. Is that a good ship scale? In terms of fittings etc. being available. Otherwise 1/96 but then the details are getting a little finicky.

I'd build it at 1/35 and R/C it but 1/72 is certainly a good scale for a static model, and fittings should be available although no guarantees. It bears mentioning, I'm not a purist when it comes to adhering faithfully to the original. If I can;t get the fitting in 1/39, I'll cheerfully accept 1/35.

The most comprehensive inventory of fittings I've found is at Cornwall Model Boats. You might look there at fittings in that scale.

bondoman

http://www.uscg.mil/history/webcutters/NPS_Fir_HAER_Report.pdf

Please look at pages 35-39 and give me your opinion on whether or not there's enough there to build the hull?

There appears to be more than enough info there, assuming that those plan sheets can be lofted to scale and retain their clarity.

BTW, I have an other plan set for a USCG buoy tender. I can send you a set if you wish, but it's about 12mb of files including many pages of instructions in English and just one plan sheet. which however shows adequate detail for construction,  including all the bulkhead templates.

If I built this ship it's 175 feet long. Too big at 1/48 for my purposes, and I like 1/72. Is that a good ship scale? In terms of fittings etc. being available. Otherwise 1/96 but then the details are getting a little finicky.

bondoman

OK. Sounds fun. I suppose the thing to do would be a small boat of some sort.

EDIT: I just looked at your build. A VERY small boat. Where is your favorite source for drawings?

 

I bought my bunker boat plans from http://www.ebay.com/sch/vergina123/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=25&_trksid=p3984 . They have many others on CD for $5-7. I've downloaded several others from http://www.freeshipplans.com but as I mentioned previously that site has been hacked and isn't fixed yet, if it ever will be. In short, my favorite site is where I can find them, cheap or free. You can take any of these to Kinko and have them lofted to any scale.

http://www.uscg.mil/history/webcutters/NPS_Fir_HAER_Report.pdf

Please look at pages 35-39 and give me your opinion on whether or not there's enough there to build the hull?

OK. Sounds fun. I suppose the thing to do would be a small boat of some sort.

EDIT: I just looked at your build. A VERY small boat. Where is your favorite source for drawings?

bondoman

I'd like to, but I have never built up a boat hull before. Is the model limited to wood, or could it be plastic? Is the prototype wood always, or do you do POB and then smooth it out to be, or clad it, for a steel hull?

 

Bill, To answer your questions see my log at /forums/t/132734.aspx?PageIndex=1 . The process would be very much like this, and as I mentioned before, I think we should all be on the same or a parallel track with these methods. Don't be concerned about inexperience. Any modeler with your experience should do just fine, and group building is a fine way to get into these methods, where other participants are at hand to give specific help.

I'd like to, but I have never built up a boat hull before. Is the model limited to wood, or could it be plastic? Is the prototype wood always, or do you do POB and then smooth it out to be, or clad it, for a steel hull?

bondoman

I will watch with interest.

Bill, How about participating?

By all means post the photos if you have them. I might be interested in such a subject, but for a vessel that size I would build in 1/12 or 1/20 scale, and POB.  I don't suppose it would matter much if we were to work in different scales, as long as the process & materials were otherwise similar.