Building Ardent

[Derek BradleyParticipant @derekbradley32270]

Chris – I don't think I would be any good at a build blog as I tend to plod along at my own pace (at times very slow) and forget to take photos at the appropriate time. What I have been doing is to just add bits and pieces to the original listing of the Fairey Huntress Winter Special and no one has suggested that they should be moved to a separate posting so I just 'keep plodding along'.

Derek.

[Chris FellowsParticipant @chrisfellows72943]

Derek – you might be plodding along but you are making more progress than me!

I might have to have a week off and make some real progress before winter is over and other distractions come along.

Chris

[Eddie LancasterParticipant @eddielancaster]

The resident seamstress/sail maker cutting and sewing the sails for Ardent.

The finished sails, after some time sorting my leech from my luff and warp from my weft! They may not be perfect but as long as they drive Ardent along I can then get a better set made later if needed.

We are off to the Ramsgate club sailing site this morning for coffee and maybe a bacon sarny if we are lucky!

Eddie.

Edited By Eddie Lancaster on 22/02/2018 09:16:34

[Eddie LancasterParticipant @eddielancaster]

Been down to Ramsgate harbour today, 4deg.C but felt more -4deg C. A plethora of cruisers both sail and motor to look at colour schemes and fittings Cervia is also moored here.

Eddie.

[Derek BradleyParticipant @derekbradley32270]

That brings back many memories, Eddie. The last time I was in Ramsgate was many years ago when I made an overnight stop with a Cobra 750 yacht I had bought at Hayling Island and was on way to a mooring I had on the River Crouch. Unfortunately, too old for full size sailing now but I quite envy you living on or near the coast. I got the drawings of Ardent from Sarik today (just could not resist them) and, in addition to the excellent drawings, they included a copy of the original article from MMI, May, 2003.

Derek.

[Eddie LancasterParticipant @eddielancaster]

Hi, Derek. I don't live here I am just visiting my friends for a few days, the photo's of Cervia remind me of the time when I was going to build it as a model, we were visiting the same friends when Cervia was in service with the Sally Line ferry, operating out of Ramsgate, my wife got me an invitation to go aboard were i had the chance to see the engine and boiler room.

The drawings for Ardent are good, I obtained all the materials from SELEC, the parcel arriving 24 hrs. after ordering!

Good look when you start your build I look forward to seeing it.

Eddie

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Eddie

Had you thought Ardent in fullsize is maybe a steel or aluminium construction so timber decks are out ? those types and size of yachts being single chine often lent themselves, with the advent of GRP moulding, chines disappeared.

Regards Ray

[Derek BradleyParticipant @derekbradley32270]

Ray,

I think you will find that there were quite a few multi-chine boats built in plywood both by professionals and amateurs. In fact, for amateur construction, it was very popular and I think that there are still many designs available for multi-chine dinghies and yachts. I would think the main reason being the ease of construction and the lofting out of the full size panels both for frames and hull panels and the use of marine ply. I also think that the same principles apply for model boat/yacht construction.

Derek.

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Derek,

I don't know, but I thought Ardent was a 30 foot plus yacht like Vic Smeeds Panache, If she is actually only the size of an Eventide say 26 foot could well be home built in ply.

Regards Ray

[Derek BradleyParticipant @derekbradley32270]

Ray,

Ardent (full size) is a 30' yacht and is a french design and the drawings for the model are to 1:10 scale by Didier Flechet and on the drawings he describes it as a 4 berth cruising yacht. I would assume that some full size boats were built but I have never seen or heard of one, but from the drawings I would think that it was quite a capable yacht. Strange that, although the designs are French and a lot of the measurements are metric, it is described as a 30' yacht and at 1:10 scale that gives a model with an OAL of 36". I believe that imperial measurements were used for many continental boats.

Derek.

[Eddie LancasterParticipant @eddielancaster]

Hi. Ray & Derek, It's nice of you both to take an interest in Ardent, I do like these discussions, you can learn so much.

Further to Dereks comments it does say on the plans that early boats built to this design used timber masts and spars, and metal fittings but later on in the 50's and 60's synthetic materials were being used for sails with aluminium extrusions,I assume for the masts etc.so this gives an indication as to the time these boats were first being built.

Eddie.

[Eddie LancasterParticipant @eddielancaster]

The deck of Ardent masked off ready apply the anti slip areas.

I used Sandtex smooth masonry paint in the end, although it says it's smooth there is enough texture to look about right at this scale, two coats gives a thickness that stands above the base paint,

The next job is the keel weights,I have made the pattern so that I can cast them as soon as we get a dry day, they need to be 4lbs. in total.

Eddie.

[Derek BradleyParticipant @derekbradley32270]

Eddie,

I like the way you have done the non-slip areas – they look most realistic. Your build has certainly come on a long way since your last photos. Keep up the good work.

Derek.

[Eddie LancasterParticipant @eddielancaster]

Good morning Derek, I'm glad that you approve, I was not too sure that it would be over the top, but I am pleased with the look.

I am also doing work on the pond yacht, i have fitted the frames and glassed the inside. just the outside to do today and then on to painting both hulls, always a long job for me!

Eddie.

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Eddie

Yes she is looking very sharp with those deck panels, also like the colour, multi tasking's the way to go

Regards Ray

[Eddie LancasterParticipant @eddielancaster]

It's not multi tasking I can still only do one thing at a time, and that with some difficulty!

Eddie.

[Eddie LancasterParticipant @eddielancaster]

I got out in the garden yesterday afternoon and cast a couple of weights for the keel, using the pattern that I had made earlier I made an open mould in soft sand.

The first casting. I wanted a 2lbs. weight, this one was 2lbs. 2 oz. just right after a bit of fettling. The second one was 5oz. light so that went back into the pan, re-melted, and a third one poured, this one turned out OK.

The next job was to fix them to the keel, this was done using epoxy glue and two brass pins through every thing, clamped together and left overnight, a bit of filler here and there and it will soon be ready for painting.

[Eddie LancasterParticipant @eddielancaster]

Started to make the hand rails for the cabin top today, this one is ready for staining and varnishing.

This is the embryo of the second, the pegs are pieces of cocktail sticks glued into holes drilled where the supports will be, they not only locate the rails on the cabin roof but they also strengthen the supports. The finished rail is mounted on a piece of scrap ply, this will then be used as a jig to drill the holes in the cabin roof, better to get the holes in the right place on a piece of scrap first!

Eddie

[Eddie LancasterParticipant @eddielancaster]

Ardents hull after the first five coats of primer/ undercoat, the first four coats were rubbed down with 240 grade wet and dry paper, used wet, this may sound a bit drastic but I like to rub the first coats almost back to the wood, in fact the wood does show through in places, after each coat has been rubbed down I check for any areas that may need filling, by the time you get to painting, the imperfections should be small and only need a smear of filler, I like the Humrol filler as this can be sanded back to micron thickness, the next few coats will be rubbed down using 800 grade and then finally 1200 grade paper before starting on the topcoats.

Eddie.

[Derek BradleyParticipant @derekbradley32270]

Eddie, that looks nice.

Derek.

[Eddie LancasterParticipant @eddielancaster]

Hi. Derek, thanks for your comment, all I need to get now is some decent paint for the top coat,I want either Craftmaster coach paint or International paints. I think I can get them from our local marina, well fairly local,you can no longer get this type of paint from our DIY stores.

Eddie.

[Derek BradleyParticipant @derekbradley32270]

Eddie, I know what you mean about 'our kind of paint' not being available through the DIY stores. I know that King's Lynn Model shop do some very good enamels but not sure whether they mail order them. Have a look at – http://www.kingslynnmodelshop.co.uk and see what is listed.

Derek.

[Eddie LancasterParticipant @eddielancaster]

Hi, Derek, I have ordered my paint from Craftmaster paints at Cambridge, they do a range of paints especially for the the vintage vehicle and steam fraternity.

Even after eight coats of undercoat and you think you have eliminated all the blemishes another one pops up.

So on with some more filler! It looks like far too much but it was a bit the size of a good match head.

After allowing to dry for twenty to thirty minutes a quick rub down with the wet and dry and it's back to the paint tin.

Even after eight coats the paint is not that thick, you can just see were the wood is showing through.

Eddie.

[Derek BradleyParticipant @derekbradley32270]

Hi Eddie,

Thanks for the tip about the Craftmaster paints – I will have to have a look at their website.

Derek.

[Derek BradleyParticipant @derekbradley32270]

Eddie,

Couple of small queries – what wood did you use for the chine stringers and what filler are you using?

Derek.

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