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Tabletop Gaming, Models, and Minis => Modelling and Miniatures => Topic started by: Smuckatelli on January 28, 2021, 11:20:02 PM

Title: Plank on Bulkhead Ship Models
Post by: Smuckatelli on January 28, 2021, 11:20:02 PM
I built this model around 24 years ago, plank on bulkhead. My oldest ordered a 48" version of the USS Constitution, still waiting for it....it has been on back order for a while now.
Title: Re: Plank on Bulkhead Ship Models
Post by: Smuckatelli on January 28, 2021, 11:23:28 PM
I was a good boy all year so for Christmas I was given a model of the 1780 American Privateer Rattlesnake. Not sure if there is interest in my build but here it is.

First step was building a jig to hold the hull as I worked on it.
Title: Re: Plank on Bulkhead Ship Models
Post by: Jarhead0331 on January 29, 2021, 02:05:48 AM
This is awesome! Thanks for sharing.
Title: Re: Plank on Bulkhead Ship Models
Post by: Gusington on January 29, 2021, 10:35:29 AM
Gunny you built the above from scratch? If so that's amazing.
Title: Re: Plank on Bulkhead Ship Models
Post by: steve58 on January 29, 2021, 11:15:14 AM
Very cool.   O0
Title: Re: Plank on Bulkhead Ship Models
Post by: Smuckatelli on January 29, 2021, 11:46:59 AM
Quote from: Gusington on January 29, 2021, 10:35:29 AM
Gunny you built the above from scratch? If so that's amazing.

Gus, it is a kit, bunch off wood planks......
Title: Re: Plank on Bulkhead Ship Models
Post by: Gusington on January 29, 2021, 12:04:55 PM
Oh. Still cool, though, Gunny.
Title: Re: Plank on Bulkhead Ship Models
Post by: Smuckatelli on January 29, 2021, 12:33:01 PM
So.....I laid the false keel and connected the stem, stern, and keel to it and then beveled the bearding line. Next step was shaping the individual bulkheads so that the lay flat on the bulkheads as they bend.
Title: Re: Plank on Bulkhead Ship Models
Post by: Smuckatelli on January 29, 2021, 12:39:21 PM
Life was good.... I used the jig to make sure that the bulkheads were at a 90 degree angle from the keel...

This was turning out to be a piece of cake. A lot quicker than the one that I built on the squad bay deck at Bridgeport back in 96.

Next day...after the bulkheads were dry, I held up my creation to check the lines, and then it hit me....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfJ6Uvn41eg 
Title: Re: Plank on Bulkhead Ship Models
Post by: GDS_Starfury on January 30, 2021, 01:24:34 AM
Abba?     O0

Ive been following this on fb, Smucks about to get scurvy.
Title: Re: Plank on Bulkhead Ship Models
Post by: Smuckatelli on January 30, 2021, 08:09:38 PM
Quote from: GDS_Starfury on January 30, 2021, 01:24:34 AM
Abba?     O0

Ive been following this on fb, Smucks about to get scurvy.

There is no scurvy in the shipyard of Smuckatelli ltd.  :crazy2:
Title: Re: Plank on Bulkhead Ship Models
Post by: Smuckatelli on January 30, 2021, 08:14:35 PM
So the next step was carving out the stern and bow fillers. This will give the planks something be glued to for the sharp bending of the planks,
Title: Re: Plank on Bulkhead Ship Models
Post by: Smuckatelli on January 30, 2021, 08:16:30 PM
After that I worked on the Transom.
Title: Re: Plank on Bulkhead Ship Models
Post by: Smuckatelli on January 30, 2021, 08:19:18 PM
Building the Forecastle rails and drilling holes for the belay pins....without cracking the wood was......fun....I think.  :idiot2:
Title: Re: Plank on Bulkhead Ship Models
Post by: Smuckatelli on February 02, 2021, 05:07:43 PM
So regarding the 2 dimensional problem. While the jig held the bulkheads 90 degrees vertically.....it didn't horizontally. For my next ship I will draw gridlines on the jig so that I can properly line the vertical and horizontal lines.

Most of the screw up from not aligning the bulkheads horizontally would be covered with the planks. What needed to be fixed was the tops of the bulkheads that formed the rails for the weather decks. They were not lined up. I figured soaking the tops of the bulkheads for 30 minutes would make the basswood pliable enough to line them up.

That worked, I now had the rails lined up fore and aft. The problem was that the basswood in some places warped and was bent out of shape. Not a huge deal but it would require a lot of shims & sanding to prep for the planks. I also needed to determine a base from which to measure the gun and oar ports because soaked basswood did not dry at a 90 degree angle....an example, bulkhead D had the portside about .5 cm ofset from the starboard side.

It's all about relearning a hobby that I haven't done in a couple of decades so overall, I'm happy with the mistakes and learning how to correct the mistakes. 
Title: Re: Plank on Bulkhead Ship Models
Post by: Smuckatelli on February 04, 2021, 10:04:26 PM
I installed the wale line plank and began planking  the starboard side. By the time I finished it, it was completely screwed up. I tried mixing black paint with glue and applied it on the inside but that didn't help.
Title: Re: Plank on Bulkhead Ship Models
Post by: Smuckatelli on February 04, 2021, 10:07:51 PM
 I tried a different method for the port side by tearing off the wale line and doing a pre- build of the first 8 planks at the bow. This method was a vast improvement over the first attempt. I ended up pulling the starboard planks off and re-installing new planks.

I then started planking the inboard bulwarks, I used balsa wood on the gun deck.... my end up paying for that later on.
Title: Re: Plank on Bulkhead Ship Models
Post by: Smuckatelli on February 04, 2021, 10:10:09 PM
I gave a shot at making some scrolls for the rails. Not exactly as the directions....but these things are really small.
Title: Re: Plank on Bulkhead Ship Models
Post by: Toonces on February 05, 2021, 11:34:34 AM
Wow, that is really, really cool.
Title: Re: Plank on Bulkhead Ship Models
Post by: Smuckatelli on February 05, 2021, 11:00:23 PM
Finished the weather deck inboard bulwarks. Started working on installing the wale line with thicker planks. This separates the upper part and lower part of the hull. I let the planks soak in hot water for five minutes and then gently bent them to lay on the bulkheads.
Title: Re: Plank on Bulkhead Ship Models
Post by: Smuckatelli on February 05, 2021, 11:02:08 PM
I finished the port side wale line..... now it is time for geometry.... The taped planks are what I will use plank the hull below the wale. The tricky part is that as it gets closer to the bow, the planks need to be thinner while maintaining the same amount of planks. The stern will have stealer planks. I'll put the garboard strakes in tomorrow, section off the hull and then start cutting grinding, bending.......
Title: Re: Plank on Bulkhead Ship Models
Post by: Toonces on February 06, 2021, 01:01:57 AM
Working on something like that must be so damn cathartic.  I really should look into getting into a hobby like this.

That ship you did in the first post is incredible.
Title: Re: Plank on Bulkhead Ship Models
Post by: Smuckatelli on February 06, 2021, 11:20:08 AM
Quote from: Toonces on February 06, 2021, 01:01:57 AM
Working on something like that must be so damn cathartic.

It really is but it is a double edge sword. Mrs Smuck is starting to wonder if it was a good idea because I spend so much time in the office working on it.

From the other 'learned' perspective... when you screw something up, like I did with the port side planking above the wale; you can tear it down and rebuild it. That in itself is a valuable 'muscle memory' type event. 'No matter how badly you screw up something, you can always fix it with some time, energy, and a new perspective.'

The ship in the OP, that was my second attempt at these types of models. The first one was the Enterprise, I ended up deep sixing it after I completed the hull. I was deploying, the hull looked like crap.

The OP ship; Privateer Prince de Neufchatel was my second attempt. I completed the hull before I got married so time wasn't a big factor in it. The deck fittings, Lt Smuckette (3 at the time) helped with that. We PCS'd to Spain and the ship sat for a while until friends and family from the Czech Republic started showing up for vacations. Mrs Smuck, Smuckette, and friends and family could speak Czech while I worked on the rigging. The moment I stopped working on the rigging, they would switch to English or pause and translate what was being said. The time spent finishing up the ship helped make the visits much more enjoyable for all.

For something like 24 years I didn't build another one until this. Through raising the kids, childhood cancer, birthdays, graduations, Commissioning .... just couldn't justify it to myself to build another. That was a mistake, there is no deadline to complete these ships. There were many times in the past 24 years that spending a little bit of time working some planks... would have really helped relieve pressure.

I do have to say, I am on a timeline with this ship though. Lt Smuckette ordered the ultimate Model Shipways USS Constitution for me last father's day. She has been ordering it, paying for it and then getting her money refunded. Eventually she will discover the one place that has the model. In the meantime, I am relearning the good and bad about building these models. I didn't find out until a couple month's ago that Mrs Smuck and the kids have been trying to get that model for me for the past 20 years.
Title: Re: Plank on Bulkhead Ship Models
Post by: Smuckatelli on February 06, 2021, 03:42:09 PM
I divided the hull into 4 sections, I'll focus on one section at a time beginning at the wale. I transferred the width from the fan onto the first two planks. These planks will run from the bow to bulkhead c on both sides. After I trimmed them to the proper width, I soaked them in hot water for 5 minutes and then placed them on the hull to dry. Once dry, I'll glue them on and continue........
Title: Re: Plank on Bulkhead Ship Models
Post by: Smuckatelli on February 18, 2021, 06:41:25 PM
I started the first 4 strakes below the wale over the weekend. The tape helped decide the areas to be planked. The tape also got in the way of the clamps so I took the tape off. I did 2 more strakes figuring that the base one would keep everything good. After the third strake, I put the tape back on and discovered the starboard side  was riding higher that the port side. I ended up sanding the starboard side level to port. Lesson learned; after each strake, put the tape back on and over use the compass for measurements.
Title: Re: Plank on Bulkhead Ship Models
Post by: Smuckatelli on February 18, 2021, 06:45:57 PM
Last night and tonight I put the 4th strake on and focused on the bow and stern. I used the fan to get the bow measurements but I know need to widen the forward planks to avoid making a lot of stealers. You can see the 4th plank down, on the bow is thicker than the first 3. I have 11 more strakes to put in so now I am forced to do math to make sure the planks will go all the way down to the bottom of the ship.
Title: Re: Plank on Bulkhead Ship Models
Post by: Smuckatelli on February 18, 2021, 06:49:10 PM
With the curling iron, I was able to get 2 more strakes of planks on. The bow required adjusting the 6th strake. The port side is wider than the starboard which evens the strakes on both sides as I get closer to the keel. The stern is coming along well. No need to put the planks in boiling water for 5 or more minutes followed by twisting and sometimes breaking the plank. Now it is just wet the plank for a minute, work the iron over it and repeat as needed to get the right shape on the hull.
Title: Re: Plank on Bulkhead Ship Models
Post by: Smuckatelli on February 18, 2021, 06:52:18 PM
Placed the garboard strake +1 against the keel. That was probably the toughest one to do. It shouldn't ride up the bow and when it ends in the stern, it is almost vertical. I should have gotten that curling iron earlier.
Title: Re: Plank on Bulkhead Ship Models
Post by: Smuckatelli on February 18, 2021, 06:55:39 PM
Finished planking the hull. Tomorrow night install the rails and then outside for some heavy duty sanding. Hopefully by the weekend I'll be able to prime and paint it. Need to step up the pace. Our SWO will be here soon and she does the cannons.....as she did back in 97.
Title: Re: Plank on Bulkhead Ship Models
Post by: Smuckatelli on February 18, 2021, 06:59:37 PM
Lessons learned: I got lost in the planking, major mistake was after about 60% of it was completed doing strakes on both sides....I switched over to finishing the starboard side only. Like trying navigate after a helicopter drops you off and you're not exactly sure of where you are to begin with. In squid terms its like launching 18 zodiacs, three at a time until you have the company on line off the oceans side of the ship. By the time all boats are out and you start the 20 nautical mile navigation to the shore......you are really taking a guess-ta-mit based on the tide, current, and how much distance was covered by the ship as the company was forming up.

The first picture shows what happens when you don't focus. The second picture.....I should not have made that strake so thin.
Title: Re: Plank on Bulkhead Ship Models
Post by: Smuckatelli on February 18, 2021, 07:01:11 PM
Lesson learned: I used a fan to come up with the width of the planks at the bow. I should have used a compass instead. There was really no need to make the first three strakes this thin. With the curling iron I could have had all planks the same width.
Title: Re: Plank on Bulkhead Ship Models
Post by: Smuckatelli on February 18, 2021, 07:02:21 PM
Lesson learned use insta-cure cyanoacrylate 1-3 second glue to hold the piece unplace while the wood glue dries. The clamp that I used to hold the wale line in place put too much pressure on the wood. If you look close you can see the port side wale line flares up. This had the effect of throwing off the width of the strakes on the port side. Not major issues, once she is painted and fitted out it would be very difficult to find these mistakes.
Title: Re: Plank on Bulkhead Ship Models
Post by: Smuckatelli on February 18, 2021, 07:04:19 PM
Tonight I installed the molding strip, it runs the length of the ship. I rounded the squire strip of wood.. The outboard covering strip towards stern of the ship, pretty easy as were applying the rail caps. On the stern I made the rail using my trusty curling iron. I also installed the rail caps. Next step is priming the hull.
Title: Re: Plank on Bulkhead Ship Models
Post by: Toonces on February 18, 2021, 07:30:10 PM
That is really, really cool.  I've never built a wooden ship but I did look into trying it a few years back.  I wanted to build a model of the whaling ship they have in Mystic, CT (can't remember the name now).  It looked pretty complicated but there were also some models of just the little row boats the harpooners used that looked like a good starter kit.

It's funny but I've actually been contemplating getting back into building plastic models.  I think a hobby like this would be good for me.  I've never had very much patience and a project like that would really help me to simply slow down and enjoy the process rather than the destination.  I've never been good at that.
Title: Re: Plank on Bulkhead Ship Models
Post by: Toonces on February 18, 2021, 07:37:06 PM
Actually, here it is: Charles W. Morgan.

They do sell it in the plank on bulkhead format as well as plastic, but this is way out of my league.

(https://sdmodelmakers.com/var/images/product/500.1000/598bf93553217.jpeg)

Something like this is more what I had in mind:

(https://i.ebayimg.com/thumbs/images/g/3d8AAOSwt39gFFyT/s-l200.jpg)
Title: Re: Plank on Bulkhead Ship Models
Post by: Smuckatelli on February 19, 2021, 09:14:44 AM
Toonces, I strongly recommend that you get:

https://www.micromark.com/Model-Shipways-MS2140-Charles-Morgan-Whale-Bark-Ship-Kit-1-64

Looking at the finished pictures....you easily get the feeling that it is overwhelming.

I guarantee you, it isn't too much to handle. There is no hurry to get it done, on average.....it will take about 500 hours of work due to adjusting screwups....wood is very forgiving, don't like how a piece turned out...make a new one. I've already done this with the scrolls, starboard planking above the wale and numerous planks below the wale. It is very easy to stop work, put it away and go on with life when new priorities pop up. It also very easy to start back up when you feel the need to mellow out, de-stress, take a breather from life.

For my first completed ship; started the build in 96, finished in 99 or 00, I got married so the ship was put on the back burner for a while. I used a local hobby shop in San Clemente and Cadiz to get supplies and parts. Now, when I need something, I order it online and I get it within 2 days.

I've known you for a while, this is the ship that you want to build as your first.
Title: Re: Plank on Bulkhead Ship Models
Post by: Smuckatelli on February 21, 2021, 07:17:13 PM
Primer applied tonight. The primer is used to prep the wood for painting....it also highlights flaws in the build. Wood filler and a lot of sanding in my future.
Title: Re: Plank on Bulkhead Ship Models
Post by: Smuckatelli on February 21, 2021, 07:19:24 PM
Put wood filler in the areas that the primer pointed out...then sanded the primer off. Used the airbrush to apply the first color. Probably another coat after a light sanding tomorrow. Once that color is set, I'll yellow ochre around the gunboats and top rails. I'm holding off on the waterline for last....it is tallow kind of off white. Working with acrylic paint is a lot easier that enamel. Thin it with water, wash hands with water...... I'm going to use the airbrush as much as possible with this boat. Even, thin coats and it shows the grain the wood.
Title: Re: Plank on Bulkhead Ship Models
Post by: Smuckatelli on February 21, 2021, 07:21:12 PM
All in all... I'm okay with how the lines came out. The tape worked, some areas bleed through but some good lessons learned, multiple thin coats... the starboard side should turn out better.
Title: Re: Plank on Bulkhead Ship Models
Post by: Smuckatelli on February 24, 2021, 10:20:10 PM
Painted the port side rail caps...pretty easy. I filled in the scroll concave portions with black paint.  I need to hold off taping the starboard side until tomorrow night. The paint from today needs to set
Title: Re: Plank on Bulkhead Ship Models
Post by: Smuckatelli on February 24, 2021, 10:23:20 PM
I finished the bottom of the hull tonight. After the 3rd coat, I noticed that there were spots 'soaking up the paint. I ended up putting another primer coat on, no problem with soaking after that. I finished off with 2 more coats of the hull paint. Because airbrushing puts a very thin coat of paint on, there is only a 20-30 minute wait time for another coat. There are some areas that I need to touch up where the paint meets the other color.
Title: Re: Plank on Bulkhead Ship Models
Post by: Smuckatelli on February 24, 2021, 10:26:55 PM
I also made a couple test runs for the weather deck planks earlier. The light colored strakes are how they come with the model. The darker colored strakes; first I rub a pencil on the sides to simulate caulking. Next step was punching two small holes on the ends to simulate tree nails and then a light stain was applied. The reason for 2 stained samples was to get a feel for how it would look on the boat. By scale the planks should be 5" which comes out to about 26'. The shorter strakes are 2.5". I took advise from my daughters and will be going with the 5" planks to keep the deck from being too cluttered.
Title: Re: Plank on Bulkhead Ship Models
Post by: Smuckatelli on February 24, 2021, 10:29:28 PM
I built the gun deck tonight, initially I was going to make the planks 2.5" but then our Surface Warfare Officer kicked in and said keep it to scale, if not, it would look like an arts & craft project. So, I kept it to scale and made the planks 5" in length.
Title: Re: Plank on Bulkhead Ship Models
Post by: Smuckatelli on February 25, 2021, 12:55:15 AM
Glue dried so I figured I would do a quick test fit with the gun deck.
Title: Re: Plank on Bulkhead Ship Models
Post by: Smuckatelli on March 02, 2021, 11:14:10 PM
Found a shortage with the kit tonight. There was 2 11" strips of grates, all together 22". Not enough to finish one covering.... I'm going to have to 66" more. I glued the gun deck on the hull. I'll fill in the gaps on the deck planks next week.
Title: Re: Plank on Bulkhead Ship Models
Post by: Smuckatelli on March 02, 2021, 11:17:28 PM
I took the weekend off. Tonight I made the anchor piece for where the anchor rope comes out.....and....I broke out my curling iron. I made the upper cheeks.
Title: Re: Plank on Bulkhead Ship Models
Post by: Smuckatelli on March 02, 2021, 11:20:50 PM
Tonight was about details. I built a binnacle that houses the ship's compass. The one that came with the kit was a metal casting, didn't really look that good. I also put on the lower cheeks and carved out a DOG figure.....not a squirrel........ I also found a small attachment for my curling iron.... I was able to curl the wood. Not perfect but good for a first try.
Title: Re: Plank on Bulkhead Ship Models
Post by: nobodyjune61944 on May 11, 2021, 11:43:35 AM
That is amazing.  I lack the patience and the steadiness of hands to do anything like this.