LA SALAMANDRE, bomb ketch - POF - (CAF-models, 1/48)

Hello Uwe ,a big step accomplished,the framing looks very nice,although I still see some laser chars.
Yes you are correct. I have to stiffen the frames with some small timbers between each frame and afterwards I have to sand the complete hull inside and outside. Because of this working step I left some „meat“ and did not made the final sanding earlier.....so still the frames are only rough prepared
 
@Donnie , many thanks for your kind and encouraging words.....

I am starting to prepare the frames in order to stiffen the hull, yesterday some sanding and the first installed ledges at the inside.

You can never have enough of them......

IMG_36561.jpg
 
How will you sand all those “ribs”.
In moment I have carefully sanded the tops, so that I could glue the small strips on both sides, but only temporary.
The next step will be small wooden parts permanently between the frames, so that the frames are also stiff connected at their ends.

IMG_0549.JPG IMG_0571.JPG
This photos are from a chinese building log showing the small wooden pieces between the frames and one phot with outside temporary strips and after the dismantling of them

At this stage every frame is connected to the neighbour frame at the keel and at both ends, so three locations.
With this I guess the complete hull is stiff enough so I can sand the hull inside and outside to the final appearance.
I will use sandpaper in the hand, sandpaper at blocks, Proxxon drill-sander, Proxxon sanding stick etc.
But I think most of the work will be done by hand, careful and with a lot of feeling - this is my plan......
 
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Hi Uwe,

With this type of build is there also a lot of “fairing” (is that the right word?) required before planking?

Yes absolutely!
This kind of kit is more or less like scratch building when you have good drawings.

Imagine scratch building:
You have the drawing, you use the plan of a frame / rib and glue it on top of the wood and cut it out with a scroll saw.
-> Afterwards you have the piece of the frame part not faired in hand, means 90 degrees cutted out. than you glue the parts together and have to sand them into the form you need (fairing, bevelling)

Imagine a POF kit like the La Salamandre:
the elements are precutted with the laser
-> Afterwards you have the piece of the frame part not faired in hand, means 90 degrees cutted out. than you glue the parts together and have to sand them into the form you need (fairing, bevelling)

If you compare both such a kit is "only" taking away the dozens / hundreds of hours cutting with the scroll saw (and off course supplying the complete timber. Afterwards it is more or less the same work (and fun)

In my opinion these kits are also very good as preparation for scratch building
 
Uwe,

Great explanation.
Don't know if at this stage in my life I would have the patience not mention the time to develop the skills that would be required to start and complete such a project as yours.
 
Yes the hull has to be stiff and rigid before final sanding. The ribs tend to flex a little when applying sanding pressure. Although there is a lot of tedious but not particularly difficult work compared to a POB there seems less problems in getting a straight hull with the CAFmodel system and the final result is very satisfying with lovely lines and curves. No extra skills are required. Now that I have completed my first POF hull I would not wish to go back building a POB. POB is building a model that looks like a ship and POF is building a model that is looks and is built like a real ship. Really ramps up significantly on the authenticity scale. The extra effort is worth it.
 
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