HMS Agamemnon by Caldercraft

[HMSFly]

Meanwhile, I haven't been sitting idle...

For the Diana (previous project), I bought a lot of lime wood beams and planks to fill the space between the bulk boards. This simplifies gluing the first planking... Lime wood is sturdier than balsa and actually easy to sand...To determine the placement of the spacers, I used the 1x6mm Limewood strips. This made it easy to determine where the spacers would provide the most support for the strips.
Only the Stern is tricky business. Measure carefully and sand until it fits seamlessly.

To add some variety to the work, I installed the inner planking of the Gun Deck. A little filler...and then some light sanding and paint...it has to be perfect

 

[HMSFly]

The inner planking finetuned...
Filler blocs installed
Ready for sanding

 

[AllanKP69]

Marc
Are you at all concerned with gluing the remaining planking on paint rather than wood or will you be scraping or sanding the paint off first?
Thanks
Allan

 

[HMSFly]

Marc
Are you at all concerned with gluing the remaining planking on paint rather than wood or will you be scraping or sanding the paint off first?
Thanks
Allan

Hi Allan,

I usually paint them with the intention of sanding them afterwards. It helps me see what I've sanded off (the profile)...so it's a matter of working more precisely.
One of "my" tricks...but I admit it's far-fetched.

 

[iutar]

Iutar, to avoid any misunderstanding, do you agree with this?

It's hard for me to judge from the photo, but at first glance, you're doing it right.

 

[AllanKP69]

One of "my" tricks...but I admit it's far-fetched.

Whatever works. One of the great things for all of us is that there are more ways than one at times to reach the same end.

 

[HMSFly]

It's hard for me to judge from the photo, but at first glance, you're doing it right.

Thx Iutar

 

[HMSFly]

Another riddle in the drawings:
the drawings show a "knick" in the main deck. However, it's not present when I (temporarily) insert the original main deck (photo).
Finally, I'll temporarily pin the main deck down. This allows me to sand it flush with the Bulwarks, creating an even surface for applying the first planks.

 

[AllanKP69]

the drawings show a "knick" in the main deck

There are orlop, lower gun, upper gun quarter and forecastle decks. It seems what they call a main deck is actually the gangway around the waist that connects the QD and FC. Unlike the kit plywood base there appears to have been a step down to the gangway just aft of the main mast for the QD as well as at the FC pretty much like they show on the drawing you posted. Looking at the contemporary drawings it gets really confusing due to the curves from the gangway to the QD plus they added a spar deck on Nassau when used as a troop ship. From what I could find, the handwritten notes are from about 1790 and so thankfully do not apply to Agamemnon. See the drawings with the penciled in notes below. Note that two additional ladderways were added when Nassau was converted, but again, it probably should not apply to Agamemnon. There are photos of models of 64s at RMG Collections that appear to have the curvature/widening of the gangway with a step as well. One of those things that most viewers will not notice or know about so go with what you are comfortable with.
Allan

 

[HMSFly]

First planking started.....

 

[Chestcutter]

Very nice start Marc. The strakes are nicely abutting their neighbours. I am enjoying sharing in your build.
Michael

 

[HMSFly]

Happy That I provided a Rabbet !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[AllanKP69]

Hi Marc
Is the picture below the round house deck? If so, do the plans give instructions on the rounding which is 11" at the fore end and just over 8" at the stern based on the contemporary drawing? It does not seem right being flat. The contract for Ardent calls for closer to 9.5" so substantial, thus very noticeable. Regarding the figure in the contract, I am not sure if it is supposed to be centered fore and aft or the forward or aft end of that deck. Either way, it is far from flat.

Allan

 

[HMSFly]

Hallo dear Allan,

Hi Marc
Is the picture below the round house deck? If so, do the plans give instructions on the rounding which is 11" at the fore end and just over 8" at the stern based on the contemporary drawing? It does not seem right being flat. The contract for Ardent calls for closer to 9.5" so substantial, thus very noticeable. Regarding the figure in the contract, I am not sure if it is supposed to be centered fore and aft or the forward or aft end of that deck. Either way, it is far from flat.

Allan

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Don't worry!
I made a copy of this deck from some leftover plywood (1,5mm).
I've temporarily pinned it down to protect the Bulwarks overhangs while planking the hull.
I'm not afraid to break something......

 

[AllanKP69]

Very nice fitting of the front end of the planks in the rabbet.
Allan

 

[HMSFly]

The difficult part .....

 

[richardjjs]

Hello everyone,

As promised I start building the Agamemnon.
I hope for interesting discussions and lots of feedback.


After opening the box I was already confronted with a big disappointment. A part of the stern basic hull being broken!!!
I contacted the shop where I ordered the kit. He in turn has to contact his supplier who in turn has to contact the company Krick in Germany. And then Caldercraft in the UK... That will take a veeeeery long time I'm afraid. I will try to contact Caldercraft (Jotika) directly for a replacement...

In the meantime I will try to glue the broken piece...

And the instruction manual in German!
My prefered shop purchased the kit in Germany.....

Bad beginning good ending?



View attachment 529683

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up th Yorkshire View attachment 529685

Phone John at Caldercraft +44 1905 776073
This is the number from their old place in Worcestershire but appear to be the contact now theve moved

 

[Namabiiru]

Phone John at Caldercraft +44
This is the number from their old place in Worcestershire but appear to be the contact now theve moved

We should keep personal info like phone numbers in PMs. I suggest editing it out of your post. That prevents netbots from harvesting that data and using it for nefarious purposes.

 

[AllanKP69]

The difficult part .

Maybe try soaking it for a while first, then temporarily clamp it in place and hit it with a hot air gun to heat and dry it. It should hold its shape against the adjacent strake of planking.

Allan

Now here's one that will likely make me look like a pain in the arse, but strictly as an FYI for anyone interested. The rabbet along the keel ends short of the stern post. I doubt 1 person in 10,000 will notice/care but for anyone interested.....


Rabbet ends at station 20 on Agamemnon. Ending somewhere short of the post was the norm, at least in most of the 18th and 19th centuries, but I haven't the slightest idea why they did this. The only information I could find was this AI description:
In British ships of war (and traditional wooden shipbuilding in general), the rabbet of the keels, a groove cut into the keel to accommodate the planking, would stop forward of the sternpost. This construction method ensured the keel and the sternpost could be properly joined

 

[iutar]

From this point on, the keel began to taper smoothly. The Rabbet became pointless.