• Win a Free Custom Engraved Brass Coin!!!
    As a way to introduce our brass coins to the community, we will raffle off a free coin during the month of August. Follow link ABOVE for instructions for entering.
  • PRE-ORDER SHIPS IN SCALE TODAY!

    The beloved Ships in Scale Magazine is back and charting a new course for 2026!
    Discover new skills, new techniques, and new inspirations in every issue.

    NOTE THAT OUR FIRST ISSUE WILL BE JAN/FEB 2026

Bluenose I - YuanQuin 1:72 - Loracs (in progress)

Building Water Wells: One modification that Peter introduced was to build water wells. I'm including the steps I used... but be warned, they are a pain to build... at least for me. In the end I got a set ready for later.

NOTE: I just realized I did not leave enough clearance at the top! Well, I got the idea/practice on how to build them. Will give it another shot. Sometimes, you don't get things quite right the first time. The process will be the same though.

IMG_3633.jpegIMG_3635.jpegIMG_3638.jpeg
 
Last edited:
Recommendation for building small copper parts (like above). Copper is nice and malleable but quite fragile to folding. Getting just the right thickness is tricky too. My suggestion for the future. Rather than trying to work with copper only, get some copper fold with adhesive (some are up to 4 inches wide). Then you can "coat" a transparent plastic sheet on both sides, even lay 2-3 layers. You will then have a copper sheet with very sturdy backing. The small piece can be cut easily and even fold back and forth without losing its integrity. I only had 1/4-inch tape on hand, but it tested quite nicely. Food for thoughts: full copper look (even with aging) but with solid backing.
 
It’s nice to see how you build the water wells, Loracs. And indeed there are different options to build them.
And although they will be hard to see, we all know they ate there.
Regards, Peter
 
For me it is indeed all about personal gratification that I craft something to the best possible way. Does not need to be perfect, but that I try my best. Agree, it will barely be seen... but hey! all that water around! Many time I just need the idea and that why BUILD LOGS from all are so precious to modeler. I try my best to have a detailed log. Being the 61th (I think) Bluenose build, there will be some repetition. That's ok thought, small personal touch.
 
Quick update: I reworked the water wells for better fitting. I like them as large as possible (personal preference) but they cannot be an obstruction. Plastic backing is indeed the easiest approach. Here's the third set being folded. This must be the longest thread on water-wells in the history of SOS..... hehe!
IMG_3643.jpeg
 
Last edited:
Supplies: Some supplies just came in, boxwood and pearwood strips for working on the interior of the bluenose. The pearwood color is quite different from the kit. Maybe a difference in age and/or specific variety... it may even change with lindseed oil. Will decide later whether to replace or not the supplied strips. The acrylic square rods are to test an idea (more down the road).
IMG_3644.jpeg
 
Dry Fitting Frames: Let me focus on what I'm looking for with this initial dry fit.

On the stand: That's an easy one. I made sure the frames slide in well and that there are no major mis-alignments.

On the keel: Again, does it slide in without force, position relative to the rabbet on either side, and finally does it sit square (90 degrees) without force on the keel. Both the keel and the frames are made from multiple pieces... so an issue can arise that can be fixed with very light sanding (either or both the keel or the frame). Some frames are a little loose but that is hard to fix and should go away on gluing.

Let me know if I should look at anything else at this point.
IMG_3652.jpegIMG_3653.jpegIMG_3654.jpeg
 
Dry Fitting Frames: Let me focus on what I'm looking for with this initial dry fit.

On the stand: That's an easy one. I made sure the frames slide in well and that there are no major mis-alignments.

On the keel: Again, does it slide in without force, position relative to the rabbet on either side, and finally does it sit square (90 degrees) without force on the keel. Both the keel and the frames are made from multiple pieces... so an issue can arise that can be fixed with very light sanding (either or both the keel or the frame). Some frames are a little loose but that is hard to fix and should go away on gluing.

Let me know if I should look at anything else at this point.
View attachment 562982View attachment 562983View attachment 562985
That’s looking good, Loracs. The fitted nice to the bevel in the keelson. Be assured that the tops of all frames are on line, as fitted full in the jig. Because those aligned tops are the reference for the rest of all the inside beams.
Regards, Peter
 
Last edited:
@Peter Voogt, greeting... a very quick question for you. After planking one side of the Bluenose fully using the Kit strips (50-55 total), is there a comfortable left over? or it is pretty tight in term of number needed. Just trying to plan ahead and see if I could use some for other work.
 
@Peter Voogt, greeting... a very quick question for you. After planking one side of the Bluenose fully using the Kit strips (50-55 total), is there a comfortable left over? or it is pretty tight in term of number needed. Just trying to plan ahead and see if I could use some for other work.
If you plank according to the instructions, you'll have several planks left over. I used some of them for the deck, but I didn't have enough. A few fellow builders donated some leftover planks to me. I'm eternally grateful for that.:)
But how much? For sure do the hull planking before ‘the other work’.;)
Regards, Peter
 
Yes... I learned at the first kit to save even small segment of strips for later use. Often, not much excess. I'm not too surprise. ;-)
 
Nails: This build has a lot of firsts for me. Simulating nails is not something I have done before. Nails on 3mm wide planks will be quite tiny, 0.1-0.2mm, not something we can easily do the traditional way (drilling/filling). So, as pointed out before (I think by Peter), why not just some needle holes.

I'm using a quality compass, something I picked up at a flea market, for accurate and reproducible spacing of two needles. Just poke the board and finish with linseed oil/wax. Overall, they are not bad for tiny ones. Large ones will obviously be out of scale and would need filling (not doing those).IMG_3661.jpegIMG_3659.jpeg
 
Keel extension: I have been spending more time removing chars from various plates... still not fun. I further the keel extension and ribs - fairing and adding bolts. Lastly, worked on the the solid area at the bow. This will help stabilize the first frame when I start assembly/gluing to the keel. This was a little trickier than expected but turned out well.

IMG_3662.jpegIMG_3666.jpeg
 
It was posted before but decided to add here as place holder and reference. Quite interesting video on the bluenose. I like to give people credit when I can. @Peter Voogt posted interesting stills: in the bluenose support page - Bluenose Old Photos, Books, and resources from the past. Any else found this?

Thanks, Loracs. The interview with Ben Verburgh showing his lengthwise half model with complete interior was the inspiration for me to build the interior in my BN. But also for building my current Balder in 2 lengthwise halfs.
Always nice to see the videos again.
Regards, Peter
 
Keel extension (for lack of a better word): The extension was glued to the keel. As with Peter, I glued the middle parts right away for increased stability, just a matter of alignment. Speaking of alignment: This is the trickiest part so far. If the angle is off by less than a degree... the back frames won't fit nicely. Luckily, the kit tolerance on that part is high. If you align carefully with the keel, you will be ok. Still prudent to dry fit, just in case, before the glue cures (see dry fit below).

IMG_3671.jpegIMG_3676.jpeg
 
Last edited:
Ok I must say that I procrastinated quite a lot... delaying gluing the frames to the keel. Enough of that! Today is the day. Either I come back crying or happy... drum roll! See you later with the progress.
 
Ok I must say that I procrastinated quite a lot... delaying gluing the frames to the keel. Enough of that! Today is the day. Either I come back crying or happy... drum roll! See you later with the progress.
Good luck!
 
Back
Top