Hi all,

having finally received my first two installments I thought it would be time to 'park my bumm on the bench' and claim my space for the build log. I doubt it is going to be as frequently updated as my other build because a wooden model takes just that little bit longer to put together.

My target time is two and a half years.

But this is the state of play at the moment.




Five sheets of wood in total. For some reason I received a replacement sheet with issue 2 for one of the sheets that was contained in issue 2???????

The two sheets look absolutely the same but is there a known issue with one of the sheets in issue 2?

Also there is a slight bow in the first sheet, unfortunately lengthwise. Otherwise the deck would undoubtedly have helped to keep the false keel and formers straight but I think I'll have to water the sheet and keep it flat under weights and let it dry out.

Luckily I have a month until the next issue comes so it won't frustrate the build too much. .

And I'll need to visit the lumberyard in the weekend anyway to get some sturdy planks and brackets for the jig. That idea I have already nicked from the forum!!!

I hope I'll have a few snapshots of the jig this weekend. And I'll keep you updated on the bend in sheet one.

But more about that later!

Adrie.

With such precognitive praise, what could go wrong, Steve!



Mind you, I'll prorbably going to find that out!

Nevertheless, much appreciated!!

Adrie.

Hi Adrie, welcome to the world of wooden ship building..... look forward to seeing your progress on this one....

Regards

Alan

Hi Andy.

Thanks for the best wishes, I think I might need it!

But what's life without a little bit of a challenge, right?


Anyway, one thing is clear. I won't fail for lack of positive waves being sent towards me!

Much appreciated!!

Adrie

Cheers for the good wishes, Jim!

It will be a while still until I can truly start. But I am looking forward to it!

As for the kitchen table, my mizzes will kill me if I tie that one up for a week so I am afraid it will have to be the hobby table.

But why do I get the feeling that an irate wife will be the least of my troubles?

Well, we'll see.

But thanks for your comments. They were much appreciated!

Adrie

Hi Matelot.

I'm not sure yet. This is my first wooden shipbuild in about 30 years so you'd be right in saying that I would be rusty in some of the required skills.

But I guess it depends on how the build goes. If a model is looking good right from the word go, you are automatically drawn in to enhance the looks even further.

I have no set plans to change the build as of yet but will follow where the model takes me.

So for now I'll just follow the advices and common practices seen on this forum at least until the planking is finished and then take it from there, even though I DO think that the 'homemade' ropes look awesome . But that might be one step too far for me at the moment.



Adrie.

My missus doesn't really have much of a choice in where I build it, nowhere else to do it, it has however driven her mad for the last few days though!!!

Many thanks for the supportive words, guys. Much appreciated!

Knowing myself I'll probably go all gung-ho on her but for the moment I will take it one step at a time.

There is so much information that i still have to digest and understand, like for instance the beginners planking guide. I have read it several times and think I understand some of it but I know that I'll get 'it' when I have the skeleton of the ship in front of me with a plank in my hands.

There's going to be a lot of: "Oh, so that's what they meant!" moments (I hope ).

But for the moment I am still eagerly waiting for the first sheet which had a twist in the width to come out from under the weights, get the frames out and start sliding things in the right place.

For which I will need the jig. I have the plank (a nice inch thick piece of MDF, I remember somebody saying that it needed to be sturdy so sturdy it will be!!! ) and the square brackets which I have already found out aren't really that square. But a few bangs with the hammer should sort them out! Infact most of them already are, just a few are proving more difficult. But they will all listen to the rule of my hammer!

And I'll do everything at a leisurely pace to give me time to get my head around what I want/need to do before actually doing it.

I am lucky to have a 'secondary' build that I am thoroughly enjoying doing it so there will be no anxious pressure to get things right fast. That's where things go wrong, I think. Trying to do too much too quickly.

So first the jig to be made exactly right, then the keel and frames, then the deck and planking it, then glue the frames, then make sure all is faired nicely, then re-read the planking guide again with the framework in hand, and then (with a prayer on my lips) start the planking. And that is for the moment as far as I am willing to take it.

So that's the plan so far and no doubt the plan will change as I continue but that should be months from now so for the moment it will do.

But one thing I did learn from modelling before is that you never plan for the step, you have to plan for the next step, BEFORE you start work on the previous step. And not to look too far ahead when you aren't certain about any of the previous steps.

But hopefully I will be able to get the jig ready this weekend. I DO have a deadline of two and a half years to meet!

But be certain that you will all be kept updated!

(Only not just yet ...)

Nice start Adrie

I made some suggestions on Jims thread you may or may not find helpful.