Hi Kym,

Many thanks for your kind comments.

Good luck with your launch. It's small in size, but a lot of fiddly work.

Regards,

Adam

nice neat and tidy,well done.

Hi Folks,

Thought it was time to update my build progress past week or two. No progress on the launch as the main effort was tied up with installing the lower deck and dummy gun support beams. The lower deck was fairly straight forward in the end. Minor panic attack in the beginning as I was uncertain whether the forward and mid-ship sections were supposed to be level as raised in the Build Discussion. Inserting the brass pin nails with a small hammer and centre punch so close to the ribs was a heart-in-mouth affair. Pre-drilling pilot holes with a smaller diameter drill bit certainly helped. I could only get within some 20mm in from the base of the rib. I don't have a pin pusher in my tool stash. This may be in my wish list along with an electric plank bender. Although I'm thinking that the plank bender will be taking priority fairly soon.

Installing the dummy gun support beams was a slow affair. The beams do not sit flush against the rib. This is also compounded by the required curvature of the outer rib profile as well as the degree of vertical twist required (especially with the forward sections. A liberal application of PVA glue, half a dozen small clamps and a good 24 hours whilst waiting for the glue to fully cure before removing the clamps and proceeding with installing the next support beam. I did find benefit in making a bevel on the inboard part of the beam that rests on the lower deck. The bevel was made by taping some sandpaper to the workbench and running the beam across the paper. Only needed to take off 1-2mm off the edge of the beam to ensure that there was sufficient surface contact with the lower deck.

Once the dummy gun support beams were fitted, I was not overly confident with their physical integrity for later in the build when there is a requirement to drill holes in the beams for the dummy cannons. Not sure on how much punishment the beams could endure, so I spent a few days in search of a solution. I went in search at the two major hardware stores to no avail. I could find dowel in various dimensions from 4mm upwards, but nothing square or rectangular in similar sizes. In the end I came across a packet of balsa bricks from a local retailer of fabric, craft and homemaker supplies. These were just about the size I felt happy with. A quick rub of the ends with sandpaper ensured that they sat snug up against the support beam. Secured in place with a good smear of PVA glue (just to be sure, to be sure). As an added bonus, placing two of the bricks on top of each other makes just about the right height to brace up the deck support strips that will go across the deck. Hopefully I can get that part finished over this weekend.

So, whilst falling behind a few weekly issues, steady and methodical progress that I am happy with has been made. Really looking forward to getting back onto the launch, but dreading the looming cloud mass on the horizon that is associated with planking.

You all have fun now.

Regards,

Adam

Looking good Adam, some really fine work done there.... .. Don't be overly concerned about the planking, just take your time and look at the tips and techniques available around the forum.... If you follow the instructions in the mag then you won't go far wrong.... Mr T's diary you will find is also a great help..... Keep going, will be following your progess....

Regards

Alan

Looking good Adam

Hi there,

Continuing on with the main ship build, I have done a dry fit of the middle deck pieces. In a few places the rib keyways required some enlarging in order to for the deck to slot into place. I'm not sure why this was the case, as there were no problems with the lower deck.

There is a slight hiccup with the forward deck pieces. (Hopefully the pictures help with my explanation). The deck that sits on ribs 5, 6 & 7 is fairly flat when viewed side on, then I have a sudden step down to rib 13 (about a 2mm drop). I didn't really notice this when laying the lower deck. From what I understand there is supposed to be a gentle bow on the deck, but this does not seem to be that case for me at this stage.

The ribs are sitting all the way in the keel and the deck is sitting flush against the deck supports on each of the ribs. I'm thinking that I will need to put some thin strips on the deck supports at frames 5 & 6 to raise the deck slightly. This will be followed by taking some of the thickness out of the deck support at frame 7. This will achieve a gentle bow, but I am not too sure how this will affect the build later when it comes to laying the top deck. There are no dramas with the aft deck section so that is some relief at this stage.

Any suggestions on the way ahead are definitely appreciated.

Regards,

Adam

Hi Alan,

Very many thanks for your help. I've just read your diary and my problematic rib 13 is not quite the same as yours. Prior to commencing my build I read previous posts about the rib 13 and its offset shape that were being experienced by other builders. So I checked and rechecked this rib (and all others) prior to assembling them. No problems were identified at that time. So I plodded along thinking all was well.

I was thinking that I may need to bevel the aft edges of the deck supports. I was considering this as one of the leading options (short of a painstaking disassembly that I definitely was not looking forward to and I was keeping that as an absolute last resort). So thanks again for your assistance.

Regards,

Adam

Sorry Adam, my post should have read bevelling ribs 7 and possibly a little of rib 6... not ribs 6 & 5. Have amended the post... Should have double checked what I had written... apologies....

Regards

Alan

Adam, I had the same problem with my build. It is a manufacturing fault. It will indeed interfere with future fixtures and gun ports. You need to fix it now. Loosen the ribs and level all deck plates lay flush with each other. I recommend you re-order the faulty parts before proceeding with your build. (Did you fit the cross over deck supports underneath the the deck plates?)