Wow! It’s been another long break in between build log updates. It’s been since this past spring since I’ve posted with any kind of regularity. But that’s what happens to many of us during the warm summers, we get out of the shipyard, play and work outdoors, spend additional time with families and our grandkids who have the summer off from school, etc, etc.
That’s not to say, though, that I haven’t
tried to advance some on this
Constitution build these past few weeks. My recent efforts have been to plank the outer hull from the tops of the recently completed gun deck gunports up to the spar deck planksheer, which will be the bottoms of the spar deck gunports. However, for several reasons, this became more challenging than I anticipated, as I was measuring, placing and gluing plank strips… and then later on in the planking process, getting the isopropyl alcohol out and
ungluing planks that were not eventually lining up properly in all spots against the spar deck planksheer. And I did this a few times! Grrr… I even took a bit of a break to lessen the frustration, setting the ship aside for a few days. More on that in a bit.
But, after a couple days, I put the ship back on the table with the intent to finish this phase. In order to get that final top plank to line up exactly with the spar deck plank sheer, I took a slightly wider strip than the 3/32” x 3/64” strips I have previously been using to plank the outer hull in this area and measured where I needed to cut the wider strip so it laid perfectly against the planksheer. Then, using an exacto blade, I trimmed the planking strip to those marks and… going to call this good. Yes, that planking is slightly wider than the others, but being directly below the spar deck gunports and after the strips are painted black and channels, deadeyes and rigging all get in the way, the differences (hopefully) won’t be distracting.
So, time now to begin working on the upper bulwarks planking at the spar deck level. I have seen some prior build logs plank the inner bulwarks first, others have planked the outer bulwarks. I notice that Robert Hunt’s practicum planks the inner bulwarks before marking the gunport locations.
It appears, though, that the inner bulwarks will need some type of rivet or bolt appearances, along with various cleats and pin rails on them and those can be done later. So, I will place the outer bulwarks planking now. The practicum calls for 4 rows of the same 3/32” x 3/64” strips to establish the tops of the spar deck gunports and the top rail. I will, of course, take note of the open waist on this 1812-ish version, so the bulwarks will not be planked in that area.
So it is time to continue building. If anyone has comments, concerns or suggestions, I appreciate the follows, likes and comments, as always! A few weeks ago, several weeks before the frustrations I mentioned above that had me set the
Constitution aside for a few days, I received a Model Expo email (one of the
daily ones that many of us subscribe to) that was advertising Ernest Hemingway’s
Pilar Fishing Yacht.
Well, crap! I was thinking the
Constitution would probably end up being the last model I would be working on. But, noooo… Model Expo had to advertise the
Pilar! For the past 15 years or so, my son and his family have lived in the Keys, so we have made numerous trips. In that time, of course, I have learned all there is to know about Hemingway and his beloved yacht. And there is a rum company in Key West called Hemingway Distilling Company that proudly makes a rum called Papa’s Pilar. And, yes, it is mighty tasty! So, of course, I now have Model Shipway’s
Pilar on my shelf waiting its turn. I have even begun some research and other preparation work to get ready for that build. Whether I will wait until the
Constitution is finished (whew, whenever that may be?!?) or whether I work it in and build both simultaneously? That decision will eventually be made.
Until then, I still have my
Constitution to build! Again, I appreciate the follows and comments.
