• Win a Free Custom Engraved Brass Coin!!!
    As a way to introduce our brass coins to the community, we will raffle off a free coin during the month of August. Follow link ABOVE for instructions for entering.
  • PRE-ORDER SHIPS IN SCALE TODAY!

    The beloved Ships in Scale Magazine is back and charting a new course for 2026!
    Discover new skills, new techniques, and new inspirations in every issue.

    NOTE THAT OUR FIRST ISSUE WILL BE JAN/FEB 2026

Build log for Muscongus Bay Lobster Smack by Don Ricardo

Glue the gar plank into the rabbit. I like using PVA glue such as tight bond and clamping it into place. Don't forget to bevel one edge of the length of the planks so they fit together more closely. Also glue the plank edges to the next plank not just glue the planks onto the bulkheads.

Rob
 
Having a bit of trouble getting the gar plank into the rabbit at the bow, me thinks a lot more boiling water is needed.
I did not glue the planks together on the first attempt nor had I sanded the edges of the planks. That resulted in a less than satisfactory planking. Call that lazy and impatient.
I got a 33 watt soldering iron from Home Depot and will try shaping planks with that. Using boiling water seems to cause the planks to expand, and you can't glue them up until they dry out.
Never used a soldering iron before to shape planks, any suggestions, and will this burn the planks? Does the plank curve away from or into the soldering iron? Can it be glued immediately after bending with a soldering iron?
Using yellow PVSA glue.
 
Last edited:
Soldering iron to use in bending planks. It's 10V 30 watts. It comes with three tips, one flat blade, two round tips.
Do you run the planks over the tip, or over the larger tip holder? I checked out Model Expos soldering iron, but it's $50.00, looks much better than this one. I might use Christmas money to purchase that one but would rather not.
Any tips or advice on using this for plank bending?
Using steam from the tea kettle is hard on the fingers, if concave or convex curves does it matter which side of the plank gets ironed? Compound curves, one flat fist then second to try for the compound?
Trying to get the Gar Plank into the rabbit at the bow.

20251231_123539.jpg
 
I have the gar planks on, but snapped the next plank right at the bow. The PVA holds until I soak the plank. What would a good glue be for this repair.
This is a new phone, the old one "sank". Still trying to figure out the photo side, not the same.
 
I have the gar planks on, but snapped the next plank right at the bow. The PVA holds until I soak the plank. What would a good glue be for this repair.
This is a new phone, the old one "sank". Still trying to figure out the photo side, not the same.
PVA will loosen when exposed to water or alcohol. Once you have the damp plank in the position you want, clamp it into place and let it dry before you glue it.

Rob
 
Glue the gar plank into the rabbit. I like using PVA glue such as tight bond and clamping it into place. Don't forget to bevel one edge of the length of the planks so they fit together more closely. Also glue the plank edges to the next plank not just glue the planks onto the bulkheads.

Rob
After soaking the planks, if the part attaching to the frames is wiped dry, can they be glued immediately after with the PVA glue with clamps?
I have been waiting overnight before adding thr next plans and was wondering if that would speed up the process.
 
Do not know how to start a new thread. However, at the bottom of Oneida Lake, a Durham Boat has been found in fairly decent condition. It will not be raised yet as that is very expensive and no one is ready to preserve it and raise it at this time.
These were river boats, used as commercial haulers on America's inland rivers and lakes. They were also instrumental in Washington's crossing of the Delaware River during both the Battle of Trenton and also the Battle of Princeton. They were instrumental in saving the Colonial Army after the fiasco of New York, making then a significant part of our early history.
They were capable of carrying up to 20 tons. They also had no seats so the pictures of the crossing showing troops sitting are erroneous. They were flat bottomed with two bow sections and no stern section so did not have to be turned around, and were propelled down river by oars and up river by oars and poles.
 
After soaking the planks, if the part attaching to the frames is wiped dry, can they be glued immediately after with the PVA glue with clamps?
I have been waiting overnight before adding thr next plans and was wondering if that would speed up the process.
I would perhaps use a hair dryer or heat gun to dry out the planks if you were in a hurry. I don't know if you dry the surface would do the trick.

Rob
 
Last edited:
After soaking the planks, if the part attaching to the frames is wiped dry, can they be glued immediately after with the PVA glue with clamps?
I have been waiting overnight before adding thr next plans and was wondering if that would speed up the process.
Well my buddy came over and wanted to see the Lobster Smack, so I got it and was bringing it to him, tripped on the stairs and dropped it to grab the handrail. That brok
e the fall. But I landed on the Smack!
Got a sore back and a crushed Smack.
I occasionally get a bout of vertigo.
 
Last edited:
Oh no!

You make that sound terminal. But the good thing is the smack broke and you didn’t.

Chance to start over or locate another kit and put all your experience to use.
Full size, we’d steam a plank if necessary to persuade it to bend, clamp it to shape until it cools. Let it dry if necessary, then glue it another day. As to fitting to a stem rebate (rabbet) then the same thing applies. Ensure the rabbet is the right size and depth, and fit the plank carefully whilst dry. Steam to shape, let it dry, check and tune the fit, and the glue up ibecomes free of excitement.

Commiseration on your ‘incident’ - let’s call it an opportunity

Jim
 
Just reordered a new kit. I think the model sprites are angry with me
Kit will be here within a week. There is a weak spot on the stem that keeps breaking. After gluing the three stem sections together would applying super glue harden the wooden stem a bit more? I am finding some others who had the same problem with this kit.
 
Last edited:
Ok, while waiting for my new kit to arrive I thought I would get the sails ready. I have seen some stain their sails with tea. That seems problematic to me as tea is acidic and I don't know how long before it would be, or even if it would be a problem.
What do you do to stain your sails or do you just leave them white, or whatever color your sail cloth happens to be?
 
Ok, while waiting for my new kit to arrive I thought I would get the sails ready. I have seen some stain their sails with tea. That seems problematic to me as tea is acidic and I don't know how long before it would be, or even if it would be a problem.
What do you do to stain your sails or do you just leave them white, or whatever color your sail cloth happens to be?
I just left my Norwegian sailing pram the color it came in and I think it looks fine.

Rob

IMG_8419.jpeg
 
The model looks fantastic over all! What is the sail material? It looks so much better than the burlap like material found in many other kits.
Allan
 
Back
Top