I have 3/32 rails to install after bending, it was suggested to use steam to soften these...would soaking in boiling water work as well?
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Ok, thanks for that. Since the "Boss" is going out today I will snitch some of her Windex, and heat water in her kitchen, which she is overly protective of, and get on with it.Hot water works well. What I find also helpful is to rub some regular Windex (that has ammonia) on it and let it soak in for a few minutes. I find the ammonia really helps with the flexibility of the wood.
Rob






With the filler, I find using several light "coats" letting the previous coat dry seems to work better than just putting on a single thick layer.I messed up the beak. I had some rubber contCt cement spilled on it ans tried scraping it off with my Exacto. I took too much off so the beak didn,t align properly. Glued some scrap balsa on it to build the stem back up, we'll see if that works. I added filler at first with my fingers, need to put it on with a spatula, will have to add more filler , I also failed to mix enough water. After the beak repair is finished, I willredo the filler. Two more newbie mistakes!
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I believe I spent as much time repairing and replacing as I did building. Still ended up with a decent model, and I created some new words.A few years into my retirement I have decided to attempt wooden ship model building. My first foray is the Model Expo Lowell Grand Banks Dory.
I know my skill set would make the three-piece bottom fairly simple. However, as it is my first build I took the easy way out and chose the one-piece bottom.
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I measured and marked out the cleats, and chamfered the edges before cutting them, requiring only chamfering the ends when placing them.
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Following the guide I prepared and installed the stem and transom. Then set the bottom curve.
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I encountered an issue (my own) with the frames. They assembled all right. Getting them into the jig, and having them set at 90 degrees was the first issue. After sanding the inside of the slots, where needed, I placed each from and support. I found I needed to file opposite top and bottom long edges to get the frames to align at 90 degrees.
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Now, my next issue with the frames. In a number of builds there were comments about the fragility of some wood pieces due to the angle of the grain to the piece. I found that out the hard way. Attempting to be as careful and gentle as possible I had two frames break from the rubber band pressure. For one frame the broken piece landed in the middle of the workspace. The second broken piece disappeared into the ether. [Update: When cleaning up after this build, before starting the Norwegian Pram, I found the errant piece on a window sill. Oof.] Using the template I was able to manufacture the missing piece. Unfortunately, I miscalculated and the piece was a tad short. When the bottom was laid out over the frames there was a gap of a few millimeters. I filled the gap with a piece of scrap from a piece sheet that was the right thickness. Glued that in place, and sanded to shape. What I learned from this particular occurrence is in the future, put the template on a piece of carboard or dense foam and use pins to wedge the pieces in place while mapping out the 'missing' section.
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Forming and attaching the garboard planks presented a minor problem. While soaking the port plank I used a metal weight to hold under the water. Oops. The metal left a stain, Hoping paint will correct that error. While working the starboard plank, sanding down to the laser printed sanding mark, the edge split and separated along much of the the mark. Apparently I put too much lateral pressure on the edge while cleaning them up. using diluted PVA glue I filled the gap and clamped the piece in place.
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So, to this point I have the port garboard plank glued in place, and the starboard garboard plank bent. While bending the starboard plank the plank split at the guide line, again. Re-glued and clamped. Will attempt to glue into place later today.
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Has been quite enjoyable, a real test of patience (waiting for the next step).
Cheers
Same here,I'm on the Chesapeake Bay Lobster Smack. and it seems like repairing goofs and breaks takes longer than the build. My wife charges me a dollar for every cuss word too.I believe I spent as much time repairing and replacing as I did building. Still ended up with a decent model, and I created some new words.
models. Most of the problems started when I broke the stern frame work, that repair was a royal pain and I am not sure everything lined upI miss oil based paint! Painting is not my forte. I hate acrylic paints.
I miss oil based paint! Painting is not my forte. I hate acrylic paints. When I try to apply a second coat of acrylic paint. it seems to dissolve the first coat and mix with it. The coverage is not good. Is there a trick to using the second coat with acrylic paint?
