La Renommee 1744 1:48. (CAF) by Salty

[AnobiumPunctatum]

Thanks for the photo‘s and compliments. I have to modify the design, because I do not have 3mm space between my frames.

 

[dockattner]

I have never done diagonal planking - I'm guessing it presents some unique challenges. This kit seems very well designed.

 

[Salty]

Paul, yes, each plank is different, each has to be steamed and there’s not much space for clamping. Thankfully, the pieces are very accurately cut as you can see from the stern section below which has planks going in every direction. I’m surprised it’s progressing as well as it is given all that, but it is.

Christian, further to the issue of homemade clamps, I think knurled thumbscrews would improve things. Mr Google says they’re available in sized smaller than M3, so should suit you purposes.

I have finished the aft section of the planking:





If you look closely, you can see one plank is a bit larger than the others at the base. I started planking from each end of the section, but the two ends didn’t quite meet as planned. So I decided to make a new plank, rather than just use the last kit plank with a triangular stealer. I don’t think it looks too bad and it won’t be seen in the finished model.

I’m not sure why this happened. All I can think is that it might be because the longitudinal plank defining the lower edge of the diagonal section is a millimetre or so low.

Kind regards

Salty

 

[Salty]

I am waiting on a missing sheet of diagonal planking to be sent by Tom at CAF.

In the meantime, I have been working on the mast step for the main mast (top) and fore mast (below):





I went for 0.8 mm brass as bolts in the end. Despite being relatively big, I don’t think the brass overwhelms the wood. I did think about trunnels, but thought that metal fasteners may have been preferred in the original ship because of the need for strength.

I made the eyebolts and rings in the chocks from 0.5 mm wire. I am waiting on some Brass Black as I have decided to try it on the fittings, but probably not on bolts/nails. On Le Coureur, I left the brass untreated and I think it looked quite good, so I’ll be interested to see the results.

Kind regards

Salty

 

[Salty]

While I am waiting on the missing sheet, I thought I would also have a go at trunnels:





They are birch and I had to do a little hunting to find them as most toothpicks where I live are in fact made of bamboo. I don’t think bamboo is quite as good because the fibres are quite visible (or so I think). At first, I was a little disappointed, but I went back over them with a medium sandpaper followed by a scraper and that seemed to improve matters. The cherry should darken over time and that should bring out the contrast even more.

Kind regards

Salty

 

[dockattner]

Scale looks about right. What size hole did you drill?

 

[Salty]

Paul, the trunnels have 0.8mm holes, the same as Le Coureur. It’s quite difficult to say why I chose that measurement. As you say, it’s more about the look. One millimetre is too big and half a millimetre is too small…

Here is the bow section of the diagonal planking finished:



It was a little easier than the stern, but a lot of care was still needed and I even I took up and relaid the three planks next to the stem because I just thought they weren’t sitting quite right.

And here is what it looks like with both the fore and aft sections completed:





Kind regards

Salty

 

[dockattner]

Paul, the trunnels have 0.8mm holes, the same as Le Coureur. It’s quite difficult to say why I chose that measurement. As you say, it’s more about the look. One millimetre is too big and half a millimetre is too small…

Here is the bow section of the diagonal planking finished:



View attachment 602528

It was a little easier than the stern, but a lot of care was still needed and I even I took up and relaid the three planks next to the stem because I just thought they weren’t sitting quite right.

And here is what it looks like with both the fore and aft sections completed:

View attachment 602529

View attachment 602530

Kind regards

Salty

Agreed. What looks right is the best guide. FYI I used 0.6 mm for my 1:48 Kingfisher and Saint Philippe.

 

[CLB]

FYI - scale size for this ship - 0.4mm for hull square nails, 0.6mm for treenails and 0.8 for square bolts on the wales

 

[Salty]

Paul, who could argue with the look of Kingfisher and Saint Philippe?

Chris, as you rightly point out the type of fastening is another important consideration to take into account when deciding what looks right. I find myself staring at my small ruler and thinking how big would the head of the trunnel/nail/rivet actually be.

I have started to fill in the section in the bilge with longitudinal planking. All the planks are pre-cut and the position even marked out on the full-sized plans.





Kind regards

Salty

 

[Salty]

Here is the port side finished:







It’ll look better after I sand and scrape, but I’m happy with how it’s turned out, particularly where the planks meet the keelson for and aft.

There isn’t much fat in the end of the planks in each strake, so I haven’t been able to get all the joints over frames, but I’m not too worried as none of this will be visible. I’m not going to trunnel this section, mostly because the planks fore and aft are too narrow.

Unlike the diagonal planking, I’m going to do both sides of the longitudinal planking as the plan is to cut out most of the frames on the starboard side, but the extra planking in the bilge should keep everything aligned.

Kind regards

Salty

 

[Bryian]

excellent work.