Irish Royal Mail Steamer Connaught build

[Stuart Badger]

Hi Eddy

No - you're not jumping the gun! BUT - I will be turning the hull over to plank it, and using the floor to support it on the building board. The reason I do it this way is purely that the more measurments I take (ie, extending frame heights) - the more mistakes I make. I also tend to damage things when I start sawing bits off! I just prefer building from the level datum - ie. the keel.

All the best

Stuart

[steamboatmodel]

I had been wondering the same as Eddy. The few plank on frame I have done I did upside down with frame extensions firmly fastened to the building board. I felt that there would be less chance of distortion when fairing the frames and planking. I will certainly be paying close attention to this build to learn more as plank on frame and me have never turned out right.
Regards,
Gerald.

[Stuart Badger]

I have just re-read Eddy's post and now Gerald's - let me clarify something.

The NORMAL way to build a plank on frame hull is as Eddy and Gerald have said. The frames are spaced out on the building board having had their tops extended so that they are parallel with the keel. The whole job is done upside down on the bench.

The method I am using is an adaptation of a technique commonly used for period ships. The keel is laid on the bench, a deck height platform with cut-outs for the frames is supported at the right height and the frames are attached to the keel being jigged as you go. The hull STRUCTURE is completed and then the whole thing is turned upside down for planking.

Please don't run away with the idea that my method is the only or even the usual way to do it. I have some fairly quirky ways of doing things that I have learnt over the years and they don't always jibe with normal practice - but they work for me.

I don't want to mislead any of you!

All the best

Stuart

[Eddy Matthews]

The NORMAL way to build a plank on frame hull

For normal read usual in my case - The way I build hulls could never be classified as NORMAL!! 

Eddy

[Talisman]

Great info Stuart .... only problem now is I'm running out of reasons for not building my first hull 

[Stuart Badger]

Hi PDs!

Today has been the day from hell! Frankly I feel like giving up the build and doing something else 

When I went into the workshop this morning having left the glue curing overnight I was greeted by the sight of a very long hull with 5 frames canted at an angle and fixed in place with glue stronger than the wood. I don't know how it happened and frankly I don't care!

I decided to remove the offending frames with a razor saw, reflecting on the fact that if I'd built the hull using the method that Eddy and Gerald talked about (you know - the one EVERY ONE uses) then this wouldn't have happened.

I got out my old cordless Black and Decker 12volt 'Firestorm' drill to remove the screws holding the keel clamps in place and of course the battery was flat - as was the spare. So I plugged the charger in, recovered from the ensueing bang and am now the proud possesor of a useles drill as the charger has gone to that great tool graveyard in the sky. Had a cup of tea and thought 'Oh well I may as well fair the frames that are ok with my Black and Decker hand sander - after about 10 minutes there was another bang, this one was different, more a sort of plasticky 'I'm going to shatter and break' sort of bang. One useless sander with the drive plate mechanism completely b*******ed.
Back to the workshop? I don't think so!

All the best

Stuart

[Eddy Matthews]

Oh dear, bad news Stuart.....

Anything I can do to help replace the damaged tools?

Regards
Eddy

[Stuart Badger]

 
Thanks Eddy

At the moment new tools are beyond the budget - I can get them sent here from Axminster in the UK, so no problem there. I've just been browsing their catalogue - my goodness things have gone up since I bought mine!. Buying tools here is of course possible but the Greek shops REALLY load the prices for that sort of thing and NEVER have the sanding disks , spare batteries etc.

When I've got my enthusiasm back I'll set to with a sanding block and sweat!

All the best

Stuart

[Stuart Badger]

Hi PDs!

Well I'm over my strop about disintegrating tools and I've managed to re-jig the hull and fit the waterways - so nothing can move out of allignment. Now I start the long job of fairing all the frames BY HAND (rats!)!

Thought you might like some pictures that give a better impression of the size and length to beam ratio - so here's some pics my beautiful assistant took in front of the workshop. The grumpy bugger holding the hull is me and in the background is the Island of Paros.

All the best

Stuart

[Eddy Matthews]

Make the most of it Stuart, you won't be picking it up that easily once it's built!!

BTW, apart from the heat, Greece seems to be a good place to move to - They obviously have 72 hr days there, how else could you do so much in such an apparently short time? 

It looks absolutely magnificent, and just look at the test tank guys!! Boy am I jealous!!

Eddy

[Stuart Badger]

Hi PDs!

You're right Eddy Greece is a great place to move to - it's only really hot in August you know, the rest of the time it's just pleasantly warm and it's a nice dry heat. Great for getting glue and paint to go off!

Anyway - I've faired the hul and started planking. Nothing really unusual, apart from the fact that I have to use three strips of 1 metre wood for every plank - butt jointing at a frame and staggering the joints. I've used two 2 X 5mm beech planks at the waterway to give me a good sharp edge in a hard wood to mount the bulwarks on. The rest of the planking was cut for me by a local furniture maker from some blanks of russian spruce. It's a little bit soft and only 2mm thick - but as I intend to finish the hull with car body filler and add the rows of plating (NO rivets!) then I think it will be thick enough. More later.

All the best

Stuart

[Eddy Matthews]

My god it's been another one of those 72hr days I Greece again!!

How the heck can you get a hull half planked in one day??

Eddy

[Stuart Badger]

Well - it's not a problem Eddy - apart from the smell of scorched timber!

Stuart

[waldenmodels]

That's coming along incredibly fast, Stuart! I'll better hurry
It looks like you're planking one side completely before doing the other? Aren't you concerned about warping the hull?

Cheers,

Oliver

[Stuart Badger]

Hi Oliver!

Must be an optical illusion! I am planking each side strip for strip - I don't want a bananana!

All the best Stuart

PS. Post some pics of your latest hull efforts - I know you had a successful session!