Muscongus Bay Lobster Smack from Model Shipways by DocTom - Build Log [COMPLETED BUILD]

Post 18- The Jib

I added the jib today, fairly easily except for loosing two of the hanks - one went flying off my tweezers into the ether, and the other fell off the sail as I was attaching it. Luckily I had a piece of blackened copper wire left over from my blackening experiments, so I fashioned a hank out of that. Rigged the downhaul easily.
Jib added.jpeg

After adjusting the sails a bit I added the jib sheets. I then tied everything off and fixed the belayed cleats with a bit if CA glue. The cleat with the jib halyard over the peak halyard got a little crowded, and although I belayed it properly, the jib halyard got a little funky looking because it got caught on the heavier line. Hopefully the hank will hide it.

A little crowded.jpeg

Some overall views of my ALMOST complete smack:
IMG_5256.jpeg
3-4 view (1).jpeg
jib sheet.jpeg

All that remains is to add the topping lift, trim the lines and add the coils and hanks, then add the oarlocks. I've made the main sheet and jib sheet coils already.

A question for those who know more about rigging than I do: would there be enough extra line on the downhaul and topping lift to require a coil. I'm thinking those lines don't move much and would just have a tail of rope off the cleat.
 
Post 19 - Finished!

I added the topping lift this morning.
Topping lift start.jpeg
Topping sheave.jpeg Topping lift belayed.jpeg

I think I even belayed it properly.

After that I worked on the rope coils and hanks. I used the Syren coil and hank making jigs, which worked well, especially after I realized PVA glue doesn't stick very well to polyester thread! Getting the coils for the main and jib sheets properly situated was tricky. I used 5 minute epoxy to fix the lines where I wanted them, and then added the coils. The epoxy was probably a mistake, as it is shiny, but I wanted to have some time to maneuver the coils.

Coils two.jpeg

I then made two hanks for the throat and peak halyard.
Port Hank.jpeg Throat Halyard hank.jpeg

I decided the port cleat was crowded enough, so I took artistic license and left out the hank for the jib halyard.

I then cleaned up, painted and installed the oarlocks.Oarlocks.jpeg

And with that she is complete!
Complete!.jpeg
From the Side.jpegIMG_5288.jpeg

In her temporary berth:
in situ.jpeg

I really enjoyed making this kit, despite some frustrations with quality control of parts and sometimes vague instructions. I learned a great deal about model making, and feel like my skills have improved considerably. Overall, I found this Model Shipways 3 boat kit a perfect introduction to the hobby, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for their first wooden ship model build. I now have the confidence (and more importantly - the skills and understanding of how kits are put together) to tackle much bigger projects.

My thought is to begin the Model Shipways USRC Harriet Lane, which they advertise as the 4th in this series of learning models. After that, I plan to do the NRG Half Hull Planking Project and Rigging and Masting Project to improve my skills before attempting a model with complicated planking and rigging.

Thanks to everyone for following along!
 
DocTom said:
Post 19 - Finished!

I added the topping lift this morning.
View attachment 609653
View attachment 609654 View attachment 609660

I think I even belayed it properly.

After that I worked on the rope coils and hanks. I used the Syren coil and hank making jigs, which worked well, especially after I realized PVA glue doesn't stick very well to polyester thread! Getting the coils for the main and jib sheets properly situated was tricky. I used 5 minute epoxy to fix the lines where I wanted them, and then added the coils. The epoxy was probably a mistake, as it is shiny, but I wanted to have some time to maneuver the coils.

View attachment 609663

I then made two hanks for the throat and peak halyard.
View attachment 609655 View attachment 609656

I decided the port cleat was crowded enough, so I took artistic license and left out the hank for the jib halyard.

I then cleaned up, painted and installed the oarlocks.View attachment 609659

And with that she is complete!
View attachment 609657
View attachment 609658View attachment 609662

In her temporary berth:
View attachment 609661

I really enjoyed making this kit, despite some frustrations with quality control of parts and sometimes vague instructions. I learned a great deal about model making, and feel like my skills have improved considerably. Overall, I found this Model Shipways 3 boat kit a perfect introduction to the hobby, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for their first wooden ship model build. I now have the confidence (and more importantly - the skills and understanding of how kits are put together) to tackle much bigger projects.

My thought is to begin the Model Shipways USRC Harriet Lane, which they advertise as the 4th in this series of learning models. After that, I plan to do the NRG Half Hull Planking Project and Rigging and Masting Project to improve my skills before attempting a model with complicated planking and rigging.

Thanks to everyone for following along!
Click to expand...
Good morning Tom. Kudos- you totally owned this. Cheers Grant
 
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