Muscongus Bay Lobster Smack by MBerg - Model Shipways - 1:24

[mberg]

Hi all,

I've been a member here for a couple of years, but have simply used MSW to post my build logs. Like many others, all that info is now likely lost. My dory and pram logs were quite detailed, and I plan to repost the pictures, but I likely won't bother adding much text.

I never planned to post as detailed of a log on the MBLS and I likely won't change, making logs takes a long time and at this stage in my life time is precious, so most modelling time will be used for actual modelling. I'll update here when taking a bit of a break or waiting for something to dry. Hillbilly Modeler also has very good build videos so a 'tutorial' or 'problem solving' log on this kit is less needed for the community.

I've recently just begun the planking stage, but rather than jumping right in there, I'll preface with a few posts from the original log pictures I took. This kit has a decent amount of quality control issues so some of the pictures may be a little hard to understand without the text context, and I'll leave some of those out. Feel free to ask for any clarification, or if I have any specific photos.

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[mberg]

Shown above, I planked the seats with mahogany strips. Coming up, I also scratch built the cockpit floor out of strip wood.





















Slicer is lovely

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[mberg]

More QC issues, the cabin walls had some sort of oil and laser burn at the same time. The wood was stained, and crumbly.

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[mberg]

On to the planking. The presplied planks aren't the most ideal since they rely on a 'perfectly' faired hull and no two hulls will be identical. Nevertheless, trimming, sanding, bending and finally filler and paint will eventually do the trick.

I formed both garboards and both first strakes before I glued anything in.














And we're basically up to date. I've trimmed in stern end to fit the rabbet, and needed to wet and reform them since they weren't in the rabbet the first time the bend wasn't quite enough. I think I'm going to have a bit of a bad fit on these ones, but we'll see in the morning.

 

[mberg]

I think I'm going to have a bit of a bad fit on these ones, but we'll see in the morning.

Yep. Not entirely happy with how the stern or bow lined up on the first strakes. I trimmed the stern end a little shorter than I should have, and I didn’t close the gap against the garboard at the bow as much as I should have. The only benefit that may give me is keeping a straighter line. Hard to say what’s “right” or “wrong” with these pre cut planks. I’m not overly concerned, since this will be a painted hull and I learned a bit.

I glued on the port side second strake a couple days ago and I’m quite happy with how it’s fitting so far. The stern end has the sharpest bend and twist yet. I was able to hold it in place with good form, but couldn’t think of a good way to clamp it without deforming it, so I remembered our good friend CA and tacked it in place before adding a binder clip on the end.

Unfortunately, I split part of the starboard strake at the stern. It wasn’t cooperating as well as the port side, so I used the opportunity to try the soldering iron plank bender for the first time. Somewhere between that and hand forming it, it split along the edge, fortunately not too badly.

An attempt to repair; I CA glued the underside and white glued the split. As a backup, I also scratch made a new strake, so now I have two: one repaired and one not laser cut, so neither is perfect. I found it tricky to keep the blade on the correct line since it always wants to follow the grain. I’m reforming the one with the split and will dry fit both to decide which to use.

Looking ahead, I released the third strakes and tried to get an idea of how they’ll match up with the second. I can't make sense of the instructions as they say to glue the third strake into the rabbet along the stern first, but there is no rabbet at the stern anymore. They also have a little notch, which I assume is for the rudder post, but it’s not clear whether the ends should butt up against the central stern plank or overlap and be trimmed later. Probably a “cross that bridge when I get there” moment, which isn’t far off.

In any case, I do feel like I’m getting slightly better with each plank and am hopefully the pace picks up a bit through to strakes 4-9.






Thanks for looking in.

 

[DocTom]

Looking ahead, I released the third strakes and tried to get an idea of how they’ll match up with the second. I can't make sense of the instructions as they say to glue the third strake into the rabbet along the stern first, but there is no rabbet at the stern anymore. They also have a little notch, which I assume is for the rudder post, but it’s not clear whether the ends should butt up against the central stern plank or overlap and be trimmed later. Probably a “cross that bridge when I get there” moment, which isn’t far off.

Matt,
It all looks good so far. I think they mean to fit and glue the 3rd strake starting at the stern, to help with the bend. The 3 and 4 strakes abut the central plank, not overlap it. I trimmed several of my planks too short at the stern end. I forgot my geometry, and how much length a bend adds to the strake. Filler fixes all!

 

[mberg]

Filler fixes all!

Hah! As I keep telling myself every time I add a new plank!

 

[JacquesCousteau]

Good to see your build log has been resurrected! Somehow I missed when you (re)started it. You're doing a good job despite the quality control issues--besides the coaming problem, I think you mentioned the centerboard holes being misaligned and the bulkheads being wider/taller than they should be, right? Good work on the planking!

 

[mberg]

I think you mentioned the centerboard holes being misaligned and the bulkheads being wider/taller than they should be, right?

Yes! Those were two of the earlier issues. For the record and any helpful future reference, I ended up fixing the centerboard hole by relocating it in the centerboard, filling it then sealing it with CA. That meant I also had to file out the slot for the rod, but I don't think I've seen a build log that hasn't had to do that. Some other builds have relocated the hole in the spine itself. Regardless of how it's done there's some trimming and reshaping involved - as you know.

The bulkhead issue is a bit tricky since the bulkhead size and shape should be used to help with fairing, but I cannot trust some of my bulkheads size and shapes so it was just 'eyeball it and hope for the best'.

 

[mberg]

While I'm here, this is what I was referring it on the third strake. Image below shows the starboard side, second strake is not glued in and is actually not even 'in' the rabbet, but the two planks match each other well in this position. However, looking at the port side that is already glued in....



We have this issue, when the third strake is in the same position, there's quite an unsightly bag between it and the second strake. I'm not sure if this is a fault of the kit, myself, or I'm supposed to trim the stern end of the third strake. Trimming it 'feels' right, but then why is it notched if it's supposed to be trimmed anyways? These are the questions that keep me up at night.

 

[JacquesCousteau]

That's a tricky junction to plank, for sure! I think I wouldn't trim the notched plank because I'd be concerned about throwing off the planking runs as I continue. I would trim some scrap to shape and use that and filler to fill the gap, and then sand the area smooth. Maybe easier said than done, though.

 

[DocTom]

I would trim some scrap to shape and use that and filler to fill the gap, and then sand the area smooth.

I would try that as well, although I trimmed the end of my strake 3 to fit against 2, and recreated the hole. The unexpected consequence was my strakes barely made it to the top of the hull, and I had to put in stealers at the bow and stern. I trimmed both sides, though. It's probably better to keep each side symmetrical. At this point you could also temporarilyput some tape behind the gap and fill it with filler instead of a piece of wood. Good practice for later

 

[mberg]

I would try that as well, although I trimmed the end of my strake 3 to fit against 2, and recreated the hole. The unexpected consequence was my strakes barely made it to the top of the hull, and I had to put in stealers at the bow and stern. I trimmed both sides, though. It's probably better to keep each side symmetrical. At this point you could also temporarilyput some tape behind the gap and fill it with filler instead of a piece of wood. Good practice for later

Hindsight! If I had have checked this before gluing in the last one, I could've build up some balsa reinforcement in behind that I think would've worked well. In any case, I agree with you both. I think this is the best way to go ahead. This is also one of the least visible areas of the model when displayed....

As I say that, I realize we all know that doesn't matter because we will know it's there.

 

[mberg]

Hang on. What is the purpose of this notch in the first place? I get that's it's near the rudder post, but even without the notch it doesn't come close to interfering. I'm not entirely sure I'm holding it in the right spot.

 

[JacquesCousteau]

I'm honestly not sure if it's supposed to notch around the sternpost or around the rudder hole. If the latter, it may be a relic of an earlier design phase that got left in. Like the markings on the sides of the bulkheads, which were originally intended to help keep the planking aligned, but then that idea was then abandoned, but the markings weren't removed from production bulkheads.

 

[DocTom]

I assumed the notch is for the rudder post, but you're right, it's far too wide (surprise!) I ended up basically eliminating mine, and then filing a new one



Strakes 4 & 5 ended up like this


As I said, the consequence was adding stealers below the shear strake. But I agree with you. Since the port side fits well, I'd add filler to the starboard side. FWIW, they get much easier after 5.

 

[mberg]

FWIW, they get much easier after 5.

Good!

Also, thanks for including the pictures. I remember you mentioned you had trimmed some at the stern and I was going to ask you if you had any photos. Your planking ended up looking really nice there.

Time to get the opposite side glued in then I can wet bend the third strakes and let them dry tonight. I may try to 'back' the opening between the two planks with a piece of card or something to help support the scrap and filler. We'll see what I'm working with once I get the next pair glued on. I noticed Hillbilly modeler ended up doing the same thing.

 

[mberg]

I went ahead and glued the third strakes on as seemed best without any trimming or reshaping. I would've liked to have moved them forward some more to close the gap out, but the edge bend they would need to get around the previous plank on the ninth bulkhead would be way too much so I left them as is with these odd gaps. This left them slightly short on the bow.... I see filler and paint in my future.

The plan will be to trim some pieces to fill the gaps at the stern, and then.... you guessed it... filler. I backed the gaps with some card (aka one of my business cards cut up) which should provide better support and easier positioning of the scrap fillers. That's all for today, letting everything dry, and will wet bend the fourth strakes in the morning. It looks like I'm over the hill now and they'll get progressively easier.

 

[JacquesCousteau]

Nice work! It should definitely get easier from here on out, that stern shape was a real challenge.

 

[mberg]

Couldn't stop. Got the scraps shaped up. One side turned out better than the other since the strake got in my way. Still need to trim a bit down on the one side.