Krick “Alert” U.S. Cutter, 1/25 scale

Hello Jan. Thank you for the update about the surgery. I am so glad to hear that it went well. If the only "bad" news is that the build is on hold for two weeks (actually, in the greater scheme of things it doesn't really matter for how long) then all is GOOD news. I am sure that the more you rest your eyes now, the better your vision will be in the future. Take it easy my friend!
 
Thomas, Heinrich, Jimsky,

The “Admiral” has given me permission to log in and respond. My vision is very slowly improving from complete blurriness to about fifty or so percent clear. After the regimen of prescribed eye drops I think I’ll be back to one hundred percent by the end of the month.

Jan
 
Rowboat said:
Get well soon.

“Eyes” been enjoying your posts
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Thanks for the reply. The “Admiral” has once again allowed me some PC time. My vision is slowly improving and I’m looking forward to getting back to work on the build. I may have to invest in some close up optics, since my depth perception seems to have changed.

Jan
 
Great to hear from you Jan and that things are getting better. As I have said before, do what needs to be done in your own time and take things easy. The models are not going anywhere! :)
 
Thank you all for your support, I'm officially good to go with a couple of restrictions, mostly "don't overdo, use eye protection while cutting, sanding, painting, etc., and limit work time to about an hour a day" until the next doctors visit.

Jan
 
Todays effort: Correct fairing.

I'm still in a quandary on planking. A couple of weeks back I soaked some planks, temporarily tacked them to the bulkheads to get an idea of how they would lay up when the dried out. This morning I removed them.

The Port side toward the bow.

48167C74-8401-4A5B-8E88-F00ABF538F7E_1_201_a.jpeg

The S'board side toward the bow.

F4BB5B50-88AE-4A06-BC21-195DD4A3EEEF_1_201_a.jpeg

My next step was to attach a short piece of soaked plank at the the first three bulkheads on both sides so see where I "bumbled" up the fairing.

591027DD-F8EA-4D45-8509-F38016B630D2_1_201_a.jpeg21FC1E96-6E05-442D-B8D1-FA596D47FE00.jpeg


Jan
 
Hmmm. You will have to address those kinks. Take your time and approach it as a process of elimination. Remember, sometimes the bulkhead where the kink manifests itself, is not the offending bulkhead - the problem might lie with a bulkhead two or three keel positions away.
 
Heinrich said:
Hmmm. You will have to address those kinks. Take your time and approach it as a process of elimination. Remember, sometimes the bulkhead where the kink manifests itself, is not the offending bulkhead - the problem might lie with a bulkhead two or three keel positions away.
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Heinrich,
I think your right about the bulkheads. The sharp bow and short run on the three forward bulkheads contribute to the problem. I might have been to careful and “timid” with the fairing in that area while trying to avoid sanding the stem. But it’s just another “engineering” problem to solve.

Jan
 
when you form the plank you have to take especially care from the beginning of the plank at the bow
I marked it with an additional red arrow.
The plank has to start from here and will make a curve already from the beginning, so it will contact the first bulkhead already in a different angle than yours.
I tried to mark a possible form with a green line (sorry for the quality) - with this you will have already a difference in the fairing of the first bulkhead
591027DD-F8EA-4D45-8509-F38016B630D2_1_201_a.jpg
 
Uwek said:
when you form the plank you have to take especially care from the beginning of the plank at the bow
I marked it with an additional red arrow.
The plank has to start from here and will make a curve already from the beginning, so it will contact the first bulkhead already in a different angle than yours.
I tried to mark a possible form with a green line (sorry for the quality) - with this you will have already a difference in the fairing of the first bulkhead
View attachment 176607
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Uwe,

Thank you for looking at my attempt. This build very different from my last ones. So I'm in another learning curve. Starting at the bow makes sense. My other builds I started the planks midship and worked them both ways, trimming and tapering as I went. I'm trying to correct for planks overlapping at the bow. So far with my attempts the first, the second and third planks wouldn't snug up against each other at the bow, the radius of curve from the second bulkhead to the stem seems to be my problem.

Jan
 
Hi Jan!

SANY0819.JPG

Here I have illustrated your problem graphically. It is important to bend the plank or you have to use fillers at the bow and stern. What used to be done with two pliers over steam is now done with an electric plank bender. That gives also no kinks. Such a plank bender is one of the most important tools.

With best regards
Thomas
 
Thomas Marocke said:
Hi Jan!

View attachment 176621

Here I have illustrated your problem graphically. It is important to bend the plank or you have to use fillers at the bow and stern. What used to be done with two pliers over steam is now done with an electric plank bender. That gives also no kinks. Such a plank bender is one of the most important tools.

With best regards
Thomas
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Hi Thomas,

Thank you for your information. I have to confess that my experience with plank benders isn’t good. Other than burned fingers my success rate is in the minus numbers. I’ve tried steam bending and have “destroyed” a few planks with that method. My method has been to make a jig in the shape of the bend I need, soak the planks for twenty four or more hours and the place them in the jig to form and dry. That method worked quite well for my last three builds. But since I’m still in the uphill learning curve, I’m sure I’ll master the plank bending methods.

I‘ve seen a lot references to the plank bender used in Europe, the one that looks like “hammer“, but it appears it’s other than 120v/60 cycle. All the others found via a web search, appear to be modified soldering irons.

I do have one of the Mantua plank benders, it’s got to be one the frustrating tools I’ve ever bought. My success rate is close to zero with that tool.

I have also tried the plank crimping tool. I’ve done well with that once I figured out the right amount of pressure to apply while crimping a plank.

So to make a long story short, I’m slowly climbing the rungs of the ladder of expertise, learning as I go and appreciating all the help, advice, critique and general information from forum members like you.

Jan
 
Thomas Marocke said:
Hi Jan!

Before they think about a plank bender. There are model makers who bend their wet planks with an iron. Please put a wooden board underneath. It would be a pity around the table.

With best regards
Thomas
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Owee, the Admiral would be some upset if I did that. Probably not with damage to the dining table, but the "scorch marks" on her iron.:D

Jan
 
Jan. Please do yourself a favour and get the plank bender that Thomas mentions. It is indispensable (it is the same one that I use) and gives you an extra option apart from bending planks. I will explain later how to use this once you have it. If you have a problem finding it, let me know and I will organise it for you.
 
It is ridiculously easy to use and most effective. I soak the plank in water (it doesn't have to be hot water) for about 10 minutes, and voila!

Build 238.jpgBuild 240.jpg

If it works on this blunt hull, it will work on anything.

Heinrich
 
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