Yesterday and today I managed get the frame together and install the lower deck and planks. So all in all I think it's a good start.
Next comes the fun part in which I sand the frame work to the curvature of the hull. This allows proper installation of the hull planking and makes for an easier and smoother job.
In case anyone is wondering the woods used for this ship are Sapelly, Walnut Basswood, Boxwood and of course Plywood for the frame work.
Heavens! you are fast. This is the mechanical part of the assembly. Immaculately work. Good luck with the rest.
ReplyDeleteThanks Pablo - This is the easy part.
ReplyDeleteThat was easy? I'd have broken half of it already...
ReplyDeleteLOL!! the easy part is hard.
ReplyDeleteHi Warren,
ReplyDeleteFollowing your work with interest as I have finally opened my AL 1:48 HMS Surprise kit. I found all much as you have described it. Beautifully laser cutting, particularly the Walnut pieces. I started with building the Launch, just to get my hand in, and have now proceeded to the point where the bulkheads are loosely in place, the fore & aft bulkhead strengtheners gluing done, etc.
The thin under planking sheets forward went in with minimal fuss and the bulkheads check out 90 deg.
My question to you regards the aft sheets and did you encounter difficulties with the length and fit of the two aft sheets?
I had to trim a millimeter from the forward ends and am looking at the possibility of having to trim the aft ends of these sheet to fit the final bulkhead & kingshead assembly at 90 degrees. Did you find any dimension discrepancies at this early stage?
Hi slashusr - I don't recall any major fit problems. The main problems I had with the kit was they gave me a disc with plans on them but no actual plans, there was not enough tan thread of all sizes. The so called brass thread isn't and behaves more like spring wire. If you want to soften that wire you'll have to heat it up. I used a stove burner. I wish I could be of more help. Understand that AL are no longer made in Europe, they are made in China now and the quality of the new AL kits have been depleted.
ReplyDelete