- Joined
- Jul 30, 2023
- Messages
- 9
- Points
- 43
Hello Everyone! This is my first public Build Log. It's my 3rd ship (well, maybe 6th counting those I've started and put aside (aka gave up on for now). It's a fairly easy one (I think) and I'm taking my time with it, practicing my patience as well as skills.
So, the Sea Bright Dory Lifeboat is an Apprentice Kit Skill Level 2, previously by Midwest, now Model Shipways. I really wanted to do a Made-in-America ship because of the instructions mainly. The other ships that I've temporarily abandoned had TERRIBLE instructions and if you're not a seasoned model ship builder, that can be very frustrating and discouraging.
So, enough whining, let's get started! Here's the kit - looks good!
In this model, the planks are shaped around two forms on a piece of strongback. Putting the Forms and strongback together was super-easy - no need for photos there. I then attached the stem and the stern to the bottom plank, along with the transom. Still, very simple.
Well, the trouble came when I went to bend the bottom plank. I soaked it in hot water for about an hour. Picked it up, gave it a bend - nothing budged. After mulling it over, I decided to use rubberbands and let the forms do the work. Note that I left the stem hanging over the strongback. I thought more bend in the board would be better than less.
This worked well, until I went to glue (tack) down one side (the stern) at which point the stern snapped. I think that I was lucky to be able to repair it and gently try again. Starting the planking now. The instructions tell you to use Thin CA. Just not a fan ot it. So, I used it to do a quick tack, then used wood glue along the length to make it strong. Tomorrow, I will remove the forms and strongback. It seems a little early to do this - ooops - UPDATE - although the instructions say to remove from the form right after the 1st plank, subsequent pictures do not show the ship detached from the forms/strongback untill ALL planks are installed. So much for english-language instructions...
Glad I read ahead
So, the Sea Bright Dory Lifeboat is an Apprentice Kit Skill Level 2, previously by Midwest, now Model Shipways. I really wanted to do a Made-in-America ship because of the instructions mainly. The other ships that I've temporarily abandoned had TERRIBLE instructions and if you're not a seasoned model ship builder, that can be very frustrating and discouraging.
So, enough whining, let's get started! Here's the kit - looks good!
In this model, the planks are shaped around two forms on a piece of strongback. Putting the Forms and strongback together was super-easy - no need for photos there. I then attached the stem and the stern to the bottom plank, along with the transom. Still, very simple.
Well, the trouble came when I went to bend the bottom plank. I soaked it in hot water for about an hour. Picked it up, gave it a bend - nothing budged. After mulling it over, I decided to use rubberbands and let the forms do the work. Note that I left the stem hanging over the strongback. I thought more bend in the board would be better than less.
This worked well, until I went to glue (tack) down one side (the stern) at which point the stern snapped. I think that I was lucky to be able to repair it and gently try again. Starting the planking now. The instructions tell you to use Thin CA. Just not a fan ot it. So, I used it to do a quick tack, then used wood glue along the length to make it strong. Tomorrow, I will remove the forms and strongback. It seems a little early to do this - ooops - UPDATE - although the instructions say to remove from the form right after the 1st plank, subsequent pictures do not show the ship detached from the forms/strongback untill ALL planks are installed. So much for english-language instructions...
Glad I read ahead
