Model Shipways RATTLESNAKE

[STGCS]

Are you glad you did the planking from deck up before planking the hull? JKB. Your pictures are of great help

I'd say yes if I remember correctly. The one thing that bothers me the most is the deck, way to dark. As I understand it, the decks were almost white from being holystoned every day. I think the deck on my Endurance would be more appropriate.

 

[JKB]

I'd say yes if I remember correctly. The one thing that bothers me the most is the deck, way to dark. As I understand it, the decks were almost white from being holystoned every day. I think the deck on my Endurance would be more appropriate.
View attachment 272612

Thanks. Model Expo included “deck gray “ paint. I though it was a mistake but maybe not.
Getting ready to frame gun ports. If I am going to use port covers, do I need to frame these positions?
Let me know if I “over stay” your invitation to help
Jack

 

[STGCS]

Not sure where deck gray would be used except on USN Ship. (Used a lot of it on DD-708 back in the day). Looking back I see I didn't use gunport covers on mine. When I did Pegasus I didn't inside frame them. Some people frame the inside edges of the port. You can also sandwich one piece the same size as the port with another just a little larger, or do both. Guess it's a personnel choice. I did the two layer thing on my Pegasus as you can see in the attached photo. Ask away Jack. That's the purpose of this great website.

 

[JKB]

Just finished midship gun ports and waterways on gun deck. Thinking about next step, putting in beams. Little confused. Would it make sense to plank gun deck next?

 

[STGCS]

Just finished midship gun ports and waterways on gun deck. Thinking about next step, putting in beams. Little confused. Would it make sense to plank gun deck next?

if i remember i did plank first. think i made a template of the deck and assembled the deck then installed it. my usual way to deck.

 

[JKB]

Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[shota70]

Not sure where deck gray would be used except on USN Ship. (Used a lot of it on DD-708 back in the day). Looking back I see I didn't use gunport covers on mine. When I did Pegasus I didn't inside frame them. Some people frame the inside edges of the port. You can also sandwich one piece the same size as the port with another just a little larger, or do both. Guess it's a personnel choice. I did the two layer thing on my Pegasus as you can see in the attached photo. Ask away Jack. That's the purpose of this great website.

View attachment 272639

great progress it's looks beautiful

 

[JKB]

I finally got around to doing my first build log. Already well into the basic hull so this log is not from the beginning. Started by building a clamping base to hold the hull from aluminum angle drilled and tapped to make thing easier to handle. A lot of time was spent building various jigs to keep things square and sized correctly. Need some more sanding then will start the hull planking above the wale.

Question: As to the paint - what is recommended, flat, matte, or gloss? Can't decide if Acrylic, enamel, or lacquer is the best way to go.

All criticism greatly accepted.View attachment 126958View attachment 126959View attachment 126960View attachment 126961View attachment 126962View attachment 126963View attachment 126964

Obviously I'm still learning to plank a hull. Lots of sanding, filling, more sanding...... Drilled the mounting holes and added filler blocks in the hull while I had the keel mounted square in the drill press. After I'm happy with the sanding I spray auto primer and sand again. The color scheme will be the same as the the photo on the box. View attachment 128505View attachment 128506View attachment 128507View attachment 128508

 

[JKB]

Assume I will need to build up bulkheads to level of top plank. Don’t know where I went off the rails. Happy New Year

 

[STGCS]

Assume I will need to build up bulkheads to level of top plank. Don’t know where I went off the rails. Happy New Year

Off the rails is always a good learning experience. I have ripped out and rebuilt many times.

 

[JKB]

Off the rails is always a good learning experience. I have ripped out and rebuilt many times.

I do need to raise the levels of the bulkheads to level of the top plank?

 

[DARIVS ARCHITECTVS]

Check your plans. The top plank’s edge is supposed to be trimmed to whatever the plans show.

 

[STGCS]

I do need to raise the levels of the bulkheads to level of the top plank?

Like Kurt says. If I remember it should be flush with the deck.

 

[DARIVS ARCHITECTVS]

Like Kurt says. If I remember it should be flush with the deck.

Was it truly flush or was there a fishplate (did it extend a bit above the deck)?

 

[STGCS]

Can't remember and I gave the ship to my son so have to look at photos I took. Looks like there is a flat piece of stock that covers the decking and the side planking so I'd go with flush with the deck after it's planked.

 

[WPfister]

Hi, not sure if you still use the site but wanted to say thanks for all the pics from your build, I started building mine a few weeks ago and the pics/writeups are helping me in some respects.
Question: most start the hull planking then the deck planking, I noticed you did opposite. How did this work for you and do you have anything you can mention about this process?
Great build, hoping I get close to the same results. This is my first wooden ship kit.

Thanks

 

[TKAM]

Hi, not sure if you still use the site but wanted to say thanks for all the pics from your build, I started building mine a few weeks ago and the pics/writeups are helping me in some respects.
Question: most start the hull planking then the deck planking, I noticed you did opposite. How did this work for you and do you have anything you can mention about this process?
Great build, hoping I get close to the same results. This is my first wooden ship kit.

Thanks

I did indeed plank the deck prior to the hull. My current Constitution build actually has that sequence in the (Bob Hunt) practicum. If memory serves all my builds were this way. Probably my very first build, USS Syren set my path this way as the Chuck Passaro practicum said so, so I said yes Sir!

The only thing I regret is displaying the lower courses unfurled instead of up and out of the way. So much of the details of the deck are now forever hidden from view.

Good luck!

 

[Winter]

Hi, not sure if you still use the site but

You can see in the profile when the forum participant last logged in.

 

[WPfister]

Thanks TKAM, appreciate info in both your responses. Like I noted in my question, this is my first wood build, so any hints help. Have been doing plastic kits all my life, did the 100th anniversary of the Titanic Kit (1/400) and installed lights, etc but these wood kits are definitely a lot more work. A lot more thinking at each step from plastic kits.
Appreciate the response

 

[TKAM]

Thanks TKAM, appreciate info in both your responses. Like I noted in my question, this is my first wood build, so any hints help. Have been doing plastic kits all my life, did the 100th anniversary of the Titanic Kit (1/400) and installed lights, etc but these wood kits are definitely a lot more work. A lot more thinking at each step from plastic kits.
Appreciate the response

You betcha. Wooden kits can be a steep learning curve for sure. I was lucky in that my first try at it was USS Syren and the full color practicum by the Chuck Passaro as well as his blog while building the prototype was indepensible.