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Hello All

C

czarroman

Joined
Feb 20, 2025
Messages
8
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I have read many articles and ship building logs on this site for a few months and have enjoyed them and found them quite helpful so I finally decided to join.

As a kid I built lots of plastic airplane models and my grandson and I have recently been building some snaptite models as well. About 30 years ago, I was working on a plastic Constitution model and got about half way done and life intervened. I may still have it in the attic.

My bucket list goal is to build the Constitution out of wood from a kit but I figured I better start at the beginning.

I have completed the dory as my first project and I’m working on the Norwegian Sailing Pram. I’ll try to include a picture of the dory.
My plan is to make the John Smith Shallop by Nitkin next.

I have my first question about the Pram.
I feel my mast (made from 2 rectangle pieces) is too small to be secured to the boat especially when the rigging is tightened.
My question is how to attach it to the boat securely?
I have already attached the eyes, etc to the mast so I would like to salvage it. I was wondering about shaping a short piece of dowel so it fits tight in the boat hole and then drill out the center of the dowel to fit the mast into and then glue everything together. Is that a reasonable thought? Will the dowel split?
I’m sure there are MUCH better ideas out there.
Thanks in advance for your support and help.
Mark

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Welcome to the forums !
I'm very glad to hear you started with the kits you did. Your plastic aircraft model experience will help a great deal, but there are many different things you will learn about the wood kits and ships as well !
Your Dory looks great !
For your Pram, there is not much to hold the mast at the base. However, the rigging is supposed to help hold the mast in place.
You could put another piece of wood on top of the existing 2 and this piece would also have a hole in it for the mast to go through. That would help some. Or, you could install something temporary to help hold it in place, but even this won't help much. The other thing to consider is do you want it to be installed so if you bump it, it comes out of the base, or do you want it installed so when you bump it, it snaps in half in the middle? :)
 
HaHa. Love the comments
Corsair, great idea about the second piece of wood.
Thanks all.
Mark
 
Everyone has been so cordial and welcoming. I am looking forward to my participation in this group.
 
Welcome aboard from Connecticut USA. I agree with Corsairs suggestion. You may want to look at other building logs to see how they set things up. I think you were very wise starting out with the simpler builds. That has always been my suggestion.

Here is a link to my build log for my sailing pram if it helps.

Norwegian Sailing Pram from Model Shipways Building Log

This is my first building log. This is the second wooden ship I have built. I have done plastic models for many years. I found the Ship of Scales site and decided to dip my toe in after reading for a few months. My first build was the Grand Banks Dory, which I found to be a lot of fun. My...
shipsofscale.com

Rob
 
Thanks Rob, I will check out your building log. That will be helpful.
I grew up in Hamden, CT and went to UCONN. Great to hear from another Constitution State person.
M
 
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