French 8 pounder frigate La Castor, from Le Renommee draught by Jean Boudriot, Combination method, Bread and butter and plank on rib.

My last post was Sept 3, when I completed planking the starboard side, and today is the 27 October and I have finished planking the port side. Now I can begin the fun part, detail. Bow, stern, and on deck, lots to do and I am looking forward to the winter to get my attention away from the cold, ice, snow and shovelling. Here in Eastern Canada, the North part of New Brunswick, we get plenty of winter. I have plenty of wood, of various types and look forward to this part of the building process, the carving.

Bob

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Began to build a model of the French 8 pounder frigate La castor, built in Quebec City at the Royal Dockyard, by R.N. Lavasseur, master shipwright. I am basing it on the plan for Le Renommee, of 1744, of the same class. I am building her in the combination method, lower hull bread and butter, upper hull plank on rib. It is a method that I enjoy working in as I do not show the lower hull construction.

Hallo Bob alias @Squarebriggs

we wish you all the BEST and a HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Birthday-Cake
 
Work continues on the model, planking the upper deck (using Maple) and enclosing above the main wale (using Yellowheart) and planking the interior bulwarks (Basswood). Beginning to create the upper deck details as well, fore capstan and fore topsail sheet bits. It's coming along nicely, not perhaps to the quality of some of the models I see on this site, but it is my pride and joy, built my way.

Bob

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That is a very precise planking. How long is the hull and
My last post was Sept 3, when I completed planking the starboard side, and today is the 27 October and I have finished planking the port side. Now I can begin the fun part, detail. Bow, stern, and on deck, lots to do and I am looking forward to the winter to get my attention away from the cold, ice, snow and shovelling. Here in Eastern Canada, the North part of New Brunswick, we get plenty of winter. I have plenty of wood, of various types and look forward to this part of the building process, the carving.

Bob

how wide the planks at midships? Rich (PT-2)
 
The hull is 33 3/4" from stem to taffrail, and the widest plank is 1/4" wide at amidships, as per draughts.

Bob
Thank you. Those are larger than my present Bluenose which as 1/8" planking so a number of challenges are present in that more narrow plank width and faux nailing. If things were simple life may not be as interesting. Rich (PT-2)
 
Making some progress, slow but sure. Finished planking the hull above the main wale with Yellowheart, and carving and installing rails and Channels from Pear wood, planking the upper bow area with Ebony. The overall look is improving and beginning to look more like she should.

Bob

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Did you use brass nails for the ebony upper bow (which is what it looks like) or are those treenails? Overall, it's taking shape very nicely. Good work!
 
I am making slow but sure progress on the model, plenty of other carving jobs have crept up in the mean time, so my time is divided between them. Let me see: ladders from main deck to the walkways between quarterdeck and forecastle in Pear wood, forecastle breast rail in Boxwood, Ebony and Pear, outboard boat skids in Pear, chesstree carved in Pear, and some quarterdeck planking in Maple. I am enjoying the carved work, a challenge for sure, but very satisfying.

Bob

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It has been a while since I last posted, but progress is steady, a great way to pass the winter and this Covid 19 thing. I spent the past few days working on the bow assembly and associated carvings, it is coming together well, not quite finished but I thought I would share my progress. I applied some oil (Danish Teak Oil) to the forward part of the ship to see how it will look, and I am amazed at the rich colour that the oil brings out in the various woods, sure makes them Pop! The oil also pointed out some areas that need sanding where glue has leached out, but that is for a later time. Still have some work to do on the bow and then I can attack the stern, and a real challenge that will be. Twenty seven months into this project and counting.

Bob

progress 1.jpgprogress 2.jpgprogress 3.jpgprogress 4.jpgprogress 5.jpgprogress 6.jpgprogress 7.jpgprogress 8.jpg
 
It has been a while since I last posted, but progress is steady, a great way to pass the winter and this Covid 19 thing. I spent the past few days working on the bow assembly and associated carvings, it is coming together well, not quite finished but I thought I would share my progress. I applied some oil (Danish Teak Oil) to the forward part of the ship to see how it will look, and I am amazed at the rich colour that the oil brings out in the various woods, sure makes them Pop! The oil also pointed out some areas that need sanding where glue has leached out, but that is for a later time. Still have some work to do on the bow and then I can attack the stern, and a real challenge that will be. Twenty seven months into this project and counting.

Bob

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The transition area where you applied the oil and aft which is bare really brings out a deep luster to the wood with a nice warm appearance. When you touch up the hull bow planking and the other details that you want to work on it is now and will be a great build to see. Rich
 
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