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Greta. A scratch build from plan

  • Thread starter Thread starter JayDee
  • Start date Start date
  • Watchers Watchers 5
Joined
Nov 27, 2025
Messages
11
Points
48

My project of building this model started six months ago when i had the opportunity of getting a laser cutting machine reasonably cheaply, I had the plans for this model for a few years now and have now gone through the learning curve with the machine. I have had a bit of experience on computer machines at work in the heavy steel industry and I found this machine the easiest of all to learn getting the hang of the Lightburn programming software was fairly easy too. Anyhow on with the show.
Photo 1 is of the plans I will be working from.
Photo 2 is of a similar model I found online.
Photo 3 is for the keel.
Photo 4 is of the keel & prop.

1 Greta Plan.jpg

IMG20240428124037.jpg

2 Keel & Prop.jpg

3 Keel.jpg
 
I need to Shape the bottom and stern edges of the keel, then make and install the Rudder, I have just ordered the Brass sheet for that. In the meantime I am now working on the bulkheads these are cut on the laser cutter but first I have cut them out of stiff card to check them out as wood is a lot more expensive and I need the practice,
16 Bulkheads in all.

IMG_20251207_110429_1.jpg

Stern Ribs.jpg

IMG_20251207_110421_1.jpg

Bow Ribs.jpg
 
Thanks Peter, I have made a little bit of progress, I have done a fair bit on the cabins as I could work on it inside the house, unfortunately my wife has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's and is in need of constant care so it has been slow. I will post a couple of photos in the next few days.
 
Beautiful yacht.
I just love the classic look of these vessels.
She’ll be a beautiful model.
Looking forward to seeing the deck houses you’ve built.
Sorry to hear of your wife’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis.
 
What a good subject for a model - It has a look of belonging to a different, kinder age.

J
 
Thanks for the comments guys, when you are struggling to get things done for the family, it is good to get 1 hour to yourself sometimes, that's when I do a few moments on the build and it is good to get some feedback sometimes, it gives me the inspiration to do a bit more. Hear are a few more photos of Greta.

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20260521_165339.jpg
 
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Thanks for the comments guys, when you are struggling to get things done for the family, it is good to get 1 hour to yourself sometimes, that's when I do a few moments on the build and it is good to get some feedback sometimes, it gives me the inspiration to do a bit more. Hear are a few more photos of Greta.

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View attachment 623944

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The care of your wife is the most important for you, John. But good to see you found some time for your model.
A nice solid base for this model. What is the scale and the length of the model?
Regards, Peter
 
just a thought, and I can see from the photo's that you've passed this stage, but,
Given you created the frames from the lines plan, and given that the lines are mere representations of the shape at a particular station, and the shape between the stations shown is a continuous curve, any point of which can be interpolated by a lines drawing...

Is it not feasible to produce the frames at every, say, half inch, or quarter inch, or, using 4mm material, every 4mm along the length of hull? In effect you can produce the finished hull shape entire in what modellers used to call 'bread and butter' style (though rotating to vertical rather than horizontal. As your subject is a painted hull, then a swipe over with some 240 grit and a paint job would give you the entire hull finished.
I don't have 3d capability or machines, so I may be talking sawdust here, but just saying..


Jim
 
Hi guys, thanks again for the comments. Peter the length is 1030mmm at the moment without the bow spit and Jim I think the weight would be the problem with a 4mm bulkhead every 4mm apart the bulkheads in it are 4mm thick now.. has anyone any ideas about motor size for this thing bearing in mind it is not a speed boat, is there a formular to work out the power to weight to prop size and all that stuff. I had a little 2 cylinder steam engine intended for this boat originally but gave it up after the problems I had with the Robert E Lee paddle steamer and councils about the boiler permits and such. Sorry about the quality of the film but I do have a good set of legs don't I? LOL.

ENG 1.jpg

View attachment 20140525_155622.mp4
 
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