1:72 Granado cross-section from J. Staudt plans

[RichardG]

So I think I've decided on a design and strategy for my new cross-section. Granado 1:72 - I have already made a Miniature Arts one in pear which gave as a birthday present to a cousin. However, I wanted to do something familiar for a first scratch build, so I'm following the Staudt Granado plans with a little variation From P. Goodwin's book.

For material, I sourced some very nice Castello. More yellow than my other pieces, which are a little whiter.

I'm laser cutting the frame pieces. Biiiiiiiiig learning curve and still can't really figure out kerf and material loss from filing, so everything is cut oversized and final sizing at a later stage. Added to this challenge is variation in the amount of power required to cut through the wood as it can vary slightly across a single sheet. This makes power/speed selection difficult because I don't want to burn the material, but I do want it cut all the way through! Overall my main concern is the accuracy of the inside line of each frame so as to reduce fairing too much because I'll be leaving out chocks on some of the frames. This will make then difficult to fair without distortions.

As the frames are glued end grain to end grain, I'm using bridging blocks/scabs to give strength during fabrication. Everything will be hand polished and waxed which adds a further level of challenge with compulsory tooling wherever there are parts glued together.

All I have completed so far is the keel and a couple of frames, but I’m set on my path now so here's hoping!

 

[AnobiumPunctatum]

Your chocks are looking to small. The length of a chock is 2.5 - 3x the thickness of the timber. You can divide the moulded breath by 3 to get the vertical size of the chock.
If you choose the variation with double and single frames do not trust Goodwin. There is enogouh space for four single frames. If you have a look at the later Aetna-class, the ship has only single frames with nearly the same room and space.

 

[RichardG]

Your chocks are looking to small. The length of a chock is 2.5 - 3x the thickness of the timber. You can divide the moulded breath by 3 to get the vertical size of the chock.
If you choose the variation with double and single frames do not trust Goodwin. There is enogouh space for four single frames. If you have a look at the later Aetna-class, the ship has only single frames with nearly the same room and space.

Thanks Christian,
That is a fair point. I was never entirely happy with the chocks, but following the Staudt plans and other builds on SOS I assumed them to look like that. The scantling in Goodwin doesn't mention them nor are they included in the illustrations. I'm essentially following previous example, but now see that may not be the course I continue on.

I must consider ease of building because this is my first scratchbuild and something of an experiment, but I'd like to do the best job I can. I feel rather foolish for ignoring the chock dimension problem. I could see it, but something stopped me from correcting it! Human nature and lack of experience come to mind I'm grateful for your bringing it to my attention.

I'm now considering a different scheme, but it seems difficult to arrive at anything conclusive. Is it possible that the frames had scarfs instead of chocks, or perhaps both? Considering the aggressive curvature of Granado, chocks throughout seems most likely, but would they have been strong enough?

 

[AnobiumPunctatum]

For single frames you should use chocks. For double frames I would not do the work, because the work is nearly invisible.

 

[RichardG]

I realise that all this will be small and may not even be noticed but I was inspired by the following sectional model, all be it from a later period, and would like to employ a similar aesthetic.

I'm enlarging the chocks, or spaces for them, using the 2.5 - 3x thickness length. It won't be 100% accurate, but then there seems to be variations with most models.

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[RichardG]

The final sectional is loosely based on a combo of Staudt, Goodwin and other sources. It only covers the section containing the shell room. Frames 2 to 10 of Staudt's plans. As mentioned previously, I want to keep it small and simple as a first scratch build. I am having a garden room workshop built so still working in a very small space until then.

This test fit (frames not glued to keel), is as far as I have reached. Because there will be no chocks, the frames timbers are currently just glued end grain to end grain hence the supports. Some areas will be partially obscured by clamps and strakes, but that is my choice.
I'm basically working from the inside, so the insides have been lined up as well as possible for minimal interior fairing. Most of the fairing and sizing will be the exterior.
Temporary ribands on the exterior will be used when working on the interior.