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Working Steam powered wooden Drifter trawler, Formidable LT100, 1:24th scale

Stevedownunder said:
Part 7.

Returning to completing work on the removable section once that was done I could start on planking.

After adding some keel doublers, fairing the frame’s checking progress with a fairing batten until I was happy that my planking would sit flat on the frame’s and into the rabbet.

From Tree to Sea tells me that LT 100 had 22 strakes on each side of the hull. Following Harold Underhill’s instructions to work out the run of planks I ran 3 temporary battens starting around mid ships on the turn of the bulge on each side of the hull to divide it into 4 areas, the other two battens halving the area left.

The objective is to get these battens to sit flat on the frame doing this without bending up or down pull them around the hull so they sit nicely, a fair bit of fiddling around is required, adjusting looking from different angles until you are happy with there appearance, then walk away for a while come back and check again!

I ended up changing the run of these battens several times, ending up using a red pencil to mark the final run because there were too many pencil marks! Once these 4 areas had been marked out accurate measurements were taken along the circumference of the frames.

Two of the areas would have 6 strakes each, with the other two areas having 5 strakes. Proportional dividers were used to divide these areas to give the plank width at each frame.

Before going any farther a “butt diagram” was worked out to find where the plank ends would fall, as it turned out this was a very handy thing to have.

I made a plank holding clamp that made it easier for me to hold and trim down planks.

I also made a steaming apparatus, an old electric kettle being the steam source a length of galvanised down pipe with a “T” put into it at one end and a piece of mesh bent to form a shelf for planks to lay on while being steamed.

I intended to plank this model in a fashion similar to the real boat, for the most part I think I have achieved this.View attachment 183121View attachment 183122View attachment 183123View attachment 183124View attachment 183125View attachment 183127View attachment 183128View attachment 183129View attachment 183130

Chers,
Stephen.
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Steaming the planks with your setup is definitely next level! Very impressed. The emojis just aren't adequate to convey how much. I'm new to the post and am sorry to hear about your wife.
 
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MisterCA said:
Steaming the planks with your setup is definitely next level! Very impressed. The emojis just aren't adequate to convey how much. I'm new to the post and am sorry to hear about your wife.
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Hi MisterCA,

I found that steaming wasn't an option it was a necessity. Thank you for your wishes and comment.
 
Robberdebop said:
Hi Steve,

I was reading your log from the beginning, as it is new for me. I was stunished by the quality of this build... Then in the end the post about your wife. Condolences with this lost for you and you dear once.

Best regards, Rob
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Hi Rob,
Thanks for taking the time to read my build log, I hope you are enjoying it.
Thank you for the condolences.

Cheers,
Stephen.
 
Heinrich said:
This is one of the finest builds on SOS, Rob and you will be hard pressed to find a nicer gentleman than Steve.
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Thank you for your glowing report Heinrich,
I feel quite humble at reading it.
I am not sure if I agree as there are quite a lot of highly skilled people doing beautiful work on this site, that includes you, building very nice models with the simplest tools.

Are you running a VPN or have you relocated?

Cheers,
Stephen.
 
Stevedownunder said:
Thank you for your glowing report Heinrich,
I feel quite humble at reading it.
I am not sure if I agree as there are quite a lot of highly skilled people doing beautiful work on this site, that includes you, building very nice models with the simplest tools.

Are you running a VPN or have you relocated?

Cheers,
Stephen.
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Hi Steve

I am using a VPN - I am still in China.
 
Stevedownunder said:
Why I have paused, building my Drifter.

Hello from Australia,

I can’t believe that it has been a little over 3 years since I posted anything on this build log.

A lot has happened in my life in those 3 years, as I am sure it has for everyone, my wife became very ill again with Hepatitis B, and what the doctors were calling severe Cirrhosis of the Liver, after treatment she improved to the point of being stable. She then decided to return to China to be with her friends and family back there, with my daughter and I visiting when we could.

Unfortunately she was slowly going down hill again, my wife was a very stoic person and didn’t let on how she really was doing until things got too much for her, at this point I went back to China to help her come home in early January 2025, once she returned to Australia she was quickly diagnosed with stage 4 liver cancer that had spread to he lungs and other organs.

She gave everything she had to overcome this however she lost the fight on the 8th of April 2025.

They say time heals and I would agree, although in some ways time helps you to adjust, something I am still doing. After 32 years of marriage you lose more than just your wife when she passes, you loose part of yourself, for me it has and still is taking time to find myself again.

I will return to building the Drifter at some point. I have built a small trawler and I have bought 2 semi kits from APS models, an Australian manufacture, at some point I will post build logs for these 3 models, however I tend to run out of time and energy for writing logs.

Look after yourself and your loved ones.
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In such cases finding the right words can be challenging but you sumed up the situation very well. I'm sorry for your loss but time will heal and leave only the wonderful memories as treasures to encourage, strengthen and fulfil your future. Cheers.
 
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