Planning for the next project.....

[RichardG]

I still have the 1:160 and 1:96 enterprises to complete, which I'm really enjoying.

However, I can't help thinking about what comes next. I have never attempted a scratchbuilt ship. I made armoured vehicles from card 50 years ago, but thats my limit.
I know there is a lot to learn and folks on SOS are really helpful, so I feel a tingle of confidence.
The first project will be a cross-section. I was looking into the 'Triton, project, but Allan drew my attention to some inaccuracies, so I'll pass on that. Granado is my next choice. I already made the 1:72, which I really like but have promised to a friend, so I figure a Granado X-section in boxwood at 1:96 might be a nice challenge. I have the 1:48 plans and the Peter goodwin book, so there's a fighting chance of success.

More excitingly I now have a supply of genuine English boxwood (Buxus Sempervirens). An acquantance from my piano technical work has some pieces up to 5'' in diameter and 12'' long!! I have a small sample to test out and it looks promising. I realise there'll be a lot of waste material, but as I'll be working at a small scale I can be a bit more efficient in milling the lumber............................

 

[DAWarden-(Jaager)]

I did a search on-line for hardwood in England and the returned info is shocking. I am not sure if your hardwood lumber yards are selling wood or platinum. For a first scratch POF, I would use a hardwood species that is easily obtained. Based on what I guess is available I would use Maple (Sycamore - (Acer pseudoplatanus)) or Beech or Birch. I would want to see the grain on the last two. I would never use something as rare and dear as Buxus for framing - the loss to sawdust is just too great. The cost to benefit equation does not support using Buxus for large volume structural elements. For carving and deck structures it cannot be exceeded.

 

[RichardG]

Hi Jaager,
You raise a good point. I wouldn't want to disrespect such a rare material. The waste I mention above is largely because of the quality of the colour variation and overall quality of the material.
I'm only considering a 1:96 cross section of Granado based on the plans drawn by Jeff Staudt, so very little material required in total.
The frames will be built from individual futtocks, so minimal waste there. Having said that I did see some cut through logs of the Buxus and they were shot with discolourations, splits and bacterial damage, so there are only quite small usable areas anyway. I can easily obtain very large boards of highly consistent Castello for the floor timbers, lower futtocks, riders and magazine structure, which are the thickest and strongest members.

 

[Bob Cleek]

Ditto to what Jaager said regarding the use of boxwood. Boxwood's greatest value is as a carving wood. There are other far less expensive and scarce species which will provide a better appearance if left bright and if they will be painted or stained, there's no difference either way. I'd add swiss pear and cherry to the list of alternate species to consider.

I'd also mention in passing that you may want to do some test runs on building up frames from futtocks at 1:96 scale. That's some very tedious work which quite likely won't even be noticeable without a magnifying glass at that scale if you're using a species without visible grain. 1:96 is 1/8" to the foot so even a six-inch molded frame is 1/16" at scale and on a doubled built-up frame that would make the futtocks 1/32" on their molded dimension. I'm sure you know that, but visualizing it and actually physically doing it, are two different things. It would seem with "as built" framing at 1:96, you are contemplating very difficult miniature scale work for a first scratch-built project. That's McNarry, McCaffery, and Reed level miniature ship modeling!

 

[RichardG]

Hi Bob,
I understand your point, but prefer working in small scales. To me 1:96 is medium and 1:72 is large. My current build is 1:160, but that is a bit too small for me in truth. See below.
I'll follow your advice about a test frame. Great idea. It will be a nice break from my current build.

 

[RichardG]

I am very grateful to Bob for drawing my attention to potential problems with my proposal. I hadn't really though it through in detail. I especially like his idea of making a test frame to see what I'm getting myself into. It'll keep me away from the Enterprises for a while.

So.....I've prepared a 1:96 Granado frame ready for cutting out when it has dried sufficiently. The trusty fret saw, and the usual files, will be my weapons of choice.

I'm using high-quality Chinese buxus for the frame, and same quality brown Buxus for the chocks in order to create contrast and see the elements more clearly.

I haven't decided whether to make simple isocoles chocks or whether I'll go with the Jeff Staudt's plan and use the stylised chock and scarf method. Hopefully the later............................