1/48 scale Launch, plank on frame, by neptune

[neptune]

And now I am going to Hijack my own log and show you how I normally build my small boats, some of you maybe
interested,


First of all i carve a wooden plug to the inside dimensions of the boats frames, with a channel cut out through the
middle and up the stem that will take the keelson and apron, I also nail a metal band around the plug just above
where the frame tops will be cut off, the band has to be the thickness of the frames away from the plug, the frame
ends tuck into this band to secure them.
This photo shows the plug with the apron running down the bow and going along the keel as a keelson to meet up
with the transom.and then the ribs going over the plugand then down inside the metal band, finally there is a small
strip of timber going along the tops of the frames to hold them in place, you can see the cut off line marked around
the timbers just below the metal band, any questions just ask,


another view, this is a 1/48 scale 32 foot launch from the drawings by Underhill,


view from the stern,


The shell of the launch after planking,


One in frame and one in shell,


inside view,


another inside view,

 

[neptune]

Some different plugs That I have made over the years,


a small cutter,


another view of the cutter,


a double ended whale boat,


This is a shell of a pinnace, all these boats are from Underhill's drawings to a scale of 1/48,


overhead view,




exterior view along the pinnace,


and an internal view,

 

[neptune]

And while I'm at it here are a couple of pics of an anchor I cast using white metal and Casting plaster for the mould,


I made several of these from a plastic original that a mate of mine made, this one is a reject due to the damage
on the top of it, but you get the idea,

 

[Peglegreg]

G'day John
Looking great. The thickness of the planks, are they about 0.5mm or what?
How did you bend the the last 2 at the stern? Steam and hot iron?
Happymodeling
Greg

 

[neptune]

G'day Greg, yes the planks are 0.5mm thick, and I used the Amati plank bender on the front and back 25mm,

Best regards John,

 

[epicdoom]

Excellent Step Planking Job

 

[Uwek]

G'day Greg, yes the planks are 0.5mm thick, and I used the Amati plank bender on the front and back 25mm,

Best regards John,

I guess the electric one and not the manual one?

 

[neptune]

I guess the electric one and not the manual one?

G'day Uwe, no it is the manual one that I use, and if the planks are really thick I use a tall coffee peculator to soak the planks in,

best regards John,

 

[Maarten]

Hi John, again a nice build.
On what deck are you going to put these, a 1:48 scale kit you haven't told us or your admiral about yet?

 

[Aginvicta]

Nice work John, and some great ideas for scratch building small boats. A lot of kits still seem to have cast metal or resin ships boats that do not fit in with a wooden ship,

Cheers Andy

 

[neptune]

These next set of pics show the finish of the planking on the starboard side of the boat,




This shows how I curved the plank ends to help fit them to the frames,I used the Amati plank bender shown and
bent both ends of the plank for approx 25mm, no hot water was used in the planking at all,


Fore end,


aft end,


Now a little tale of caution, you can see the fifth plank is too short, that's my fault, I had accidentally used plank 6
instead of plank 5, I had cut both planks free from the sheet of wood and mistakenly picked up the wrong plank,
it wasn't as short as this but I had to square the end to sit on a frame, lucky for me both planks had almost the
same shape and with a little bit of trimming I was able to overcome the mistake I had made,


The finished planking on this side, it hasn't been stained or varnished yet, just had a wipe over with a damp rag
to show the planking a little better, I'm pleased with it apart from the piece I had to add,

 

[neptune]

both sides have now been planked,






inside view


rudder now attached, she just about ready for a coat of varnish.

 

[neptune]

After the first coat of varnish, the varnish is still wet, bow view,


stern view,


Transom view,


Bow close up,


stern close up,


and overall view with my thumb to show the size, just some wash boards and row locks to go now and she will be
finished,

 

[Peglegreg]

G'day John
Just brilliant. I didn't realized how small this build is until you posted this picture:

It so tiny and the amount of details.....

.....it's mind boggling.​

Happymodeling
Greg

 

[neptune]

A couple of pics with the wash boards and row locks attached, also two of the six oars, the top one has been
rounded, i round all the handles with fine sand paper before shaping the blades,


another view


the lower oar is how they are supplied, and the top one being shaped,


This is how I shape them, first I cut the curve into the front of the oar with a small scalpel blade, and finish it off
with fine sand paper,


another view,


then I cut and sand the back of the oar to shape and finish with fine sand paper, that's my finger supporting
the blade,


Another view,


The six oars after shaping,


and another view, they have to have a band attached across the bottom of the dlades yet and also a coat of
varnish,

 

[Peglegreg]

The whole model is oarriffic mate. Well done.
Greg

 

[Aginvicta]

Nice work on the Oars John. I have 6 Oars that still need finishing, can I send them over to you?
Cheers Andy

 

[BigMike]

The whole model is oarriffic mate. Well done.
Greg

Well played Greg.

 

[epicdoom]

very nice and even included the curve in the paddle, Great work

 

[Bryian]

its looking great John. Are you adding any masts ?