Half Moon (Corel) (SM18) 1:50 Scale [COMPLETED BUILD]
Finally got all the decks and bulwarks planked. Lower hull 2nd planking is next.
3 strips of walnut (2 1x4mm and 1 2x3mm) are glued to the hull before the lower planks are added. White wood (tanganika per specs) is what came in my kit for the lower hull. I'm wondering if the tanganika supplied in my kit is wrong as this wood is very soft. I can press my fingernail into it. Doesn't seem like a wood I want on the hull. Plus the strips are suppose to be 1x4mm but they are 1.5x4mm. I believe I'll rip some boxwood or alaskan cedar as they are both clear, light colored woods and are hard, unlike the wood supplied in the kit which is soft and dents easily.
Good morning Rob. Wow- your deck is magic. All is looking really good. Cheers Grant
Slow going on the lower hull. I cut .6x4mm boxwood planks. They bend so easy around the bow that I don't need to wet or heat them.
Lower hull is finished. Don't know why, but I had a hard time planking this hull. It's not too good of a job but it will do. I'm not sending any 'close ups'. 
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The kit supplied 1x4mm walnut strips for the hull aren't all the same color. I cut my own 1x4mm black walnut strips to use.
The color of walnut between the heartwood and sapwood varies in darkness quite a bit. It is possible to stain the lighter strips with, or all things, "walnut stain" and make them match better. Perhaps you can salvage the strips. The lowest wale in my first build and the planking strip above it were both heartwood walnut and didn't match, which still bothers me a bit. I should have stained it before it was coated with lacquer.
Thanks Kurt. Nice looking ship. I like the short pieces of planking on the lower hull. I'll throw the kits walnut in my scrap box. It will be used somewhere. I have several stains and have used them in the past, just didn't want to try to match here. I don't mind at all ripping some strips which match and replacing the kits strips. I enjoy cutting these small strips from wood of my choice.
Walnut is worth saving. You'll find a use for it. The bottom of my ship is mahogany. It was provided in the kit. I didn't have the heart to paint it white, which the hull bottom should be. How are you cutting your own strips?
I've been retired 13 years now. I built several large ships back in the 80's.
Since I recently decided to make shipbuilding my full time hobby, I have bought several very nice tools. All of Byrnes tools (the quality is absolutely great) , table saw, sander, and thickness sander. I also have a 10" WEN bandsaw for cutting wood into smaller pieces before smoothing and ripping. I really enjoy cutting these small pieces. My skill level isn't what it used to be, so I can't make some of the details on the ships which I would like to. But, I look at build logs of all the people like yourself and so many others that build such great looking ships. I've gotten some great ideas from you ship builders.
Since I recently decided to make shipbuilding my full time hobby, I have bought several very nice tools. All of Byrnes tools (the quality is absolutely great) , table saw, sander, and thickness sander. I also have a 10" WEN bandsaw for cutting wood into smaller pieces before smoothing and ripping. I really enjoy cutting these small pieces. My skill level isn't what it used to be, so I can't make some of the details on the ships which I would like to. But, I look at build logs of all the people like yourself and so many others that build such great looking ships. I've gotten some great ideas from you ship builders.
I'm covering the keel with the black walnut.
I'll probably draw some planking lines on the curved bow pieces. They look too big.
I'll probably draw some planking lines on the curved bow pieces. They look too big.
Finished covering the keel with the black walnut. Ready to start planking the upper hull.
Good evening Rob. The black walnut is awesome. You made a good call cutting your own strips. Cheers Grant
I've been bending planks wrong. I just found a video that makes plank bending SO much better for me. A lot of you likely already know.
I've tried it on two 2x3mm walnut planks. I've attached a pic of the plank I bent and it fits perfect - it's not glued yet. I can now easily put a little twist on the plank and give it some lateral bending.
I had to clamp down the bender. I've been using the wood piece behind the bender to form the plank.
HERE the video I watched if you are interested.
I've tried it on two 2x3mm walnut planks. I've attached a pic of the plank I bent and it fits perfect - it's not glued yet. I can now easily put a little twist on the plank and give it some lateral bending.
I had to clamp down the bender. I've been using the wood piece behind the bender to form the plank.
HERE the video I watched if you are interested.
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I had to start over on the wale in the above image. The diagrams say use part #34. #34 is a walnut 2x3mm. I fitted both these and was ready to glue. I went to the instruction sheet. It says to used 2 - walnut 2x2's together. I cut my own walnut 2x4 planks to install.
Good morning Rob. Thanks for sharing this. It is always good to see the techniques used by each modeler. We never stop learning and discovering here on SOS. Cheers Grant
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Actually, the provided walnut within the kit is European Walnut and is a much rare species nowadays compared to Black / American Walnut. Both types of wood comes from the same familyline of trees, but differs a bit. So, The European Walnut is a bit lighter of colour and doesn't have a significant grain pattern compares to Black / American Walnut. This type of wood was chosen by Corel in the 70's because it resembles White Oak on scale and the source for this wood were large forrests in Italy.
Nice build, nice kit!
Thank you Ptèr for the information about the Walnut. It's a very nice looking walnut. I would have used it if it was all the same shade of brown.
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When it's all heartwood, you don't have to worry to much about the shade at all. In due time the darker American walnut will get an lighter and equal brown shade much compared with the European Walnut. If it makes you feel better, use the American Walnut and keep the European for other parts on the model or another ship.
For sappwood however. It's doesn't only have a lighter shade, the texture and hardness of the wood is different so try to avoid this on your model. However, the kitmakers select the woods supplied within their kits, so sappwood shouldn't be in it.
