Fairey Faun

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

There is a lot of satisfaction in building hulls in that traditional way. I have always thought it a bit of a shame that so many modellers write it off as ‘too difficult’ and prefer to fit out a purchased GRP hull instead. They are missing a lot of satisfying and educational fun. I have always enjoyed building hulls for my scratch built boats. They complete the full set of experiences of building the hull, building the superstructure, making and sourcing the fittings and fitting out the interior in order to make it all work. The Full Monty really.

But each to his/her own and at the end of the day it is whatever literally floats your boat.

Colin

[Chris FellowsParticipant @chrisfellows72943]

Totally agree Colin. I haven’t even built a kit so far. I might use a fibre-glass hull at some point, though it will be modified, for a future Fairey project, as the full-size boat is fibre-glass, we shall see? I’ve got enough on at the moment!

Ray – as I actually haven’t finished any builds yet it’s 7 at the moment! As for glues, I mainly use De-Luxe Aliphatic which is very similar, canopy glue and Super Phatic. The cupping of the planks on Fisherman was a lot less as they were being fully bonded to the first layer of ply. At least with 1.5mm you have scope for sanding.

Chris

 

[Chris FellowsParticipant @chrisfellows72943]

Being having problems logging into my build blogs again so haven’t been updating. Not that I’ve done that much, especially as we’ve had such a good spell of nice weather.

The strut for the prop shaft has been glued in place and the rudder is progressing, just waiting for some more materials and parts to finish that off.

Chris

[Chris FellowsParticipant @chrisfellows72943]

Still been having log in to post updates problems but Ok at the moment.

Work has continued with the rudder by making a servo arm and installing a micro servo. It’s position has stopped me fitting the battery as far back as I wanted and I’m having to extend the seating area forwards accordingly. I always knew it was going to be a challenge fitting everything in such a small boat which was confirmed when temporarily fitting the RC gear so that I could see how it affects the superstructure.

I really like this hull and am enjoying the build. Have started on the superstructure now and dry fitted one of the sides.

Chris

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Chris,

Lovely work as always, she is turning into a real little ship/boat/cruiser ?

And would make an ideal plan feature for the magazine 🙂  I’m just finishing the draft drawings for Lysander which will be another free plan in a future issue soon, there will be a pause in my output for a while as the tug must be finished 🙂

Best Regards from Kent

Ray

[Richard SimpsonModerator @richardsimpson88330]

Lovely traditional looking model.  Reminds me I’ve still never seen Swallows and Amazons!

[Chris FellowsParticipant @chrisfellows72943]

Thanks chaps.

In some ways yes Ray, but the build is being modified as I go along including the hull which had to have additional balsa to the bow. If I did produce plans I’d have to do another test build really, which I’m not really keen to do. Also there is also a similar, simpler model with a hard-chine hull available as a kit, the Sea Urchin.

I’ll probably do an article on it and the Fisherman at some point though. And if anyone is interested they can always work off my drawings. Not really for beginners though. Am I allowed to say I’m no longer one now?

Only really building it (and glad I am) because I’m a Fairey nut and it’s something different to all the usual ones being built. A guy contacted me who has built a number of Faireys at 1:8 and wants to build a River Cruiser, so I’ve sent him my drawings for that.

Meant to say tiller/rudder arm and not servo arm in my previous post.

[Chris FellowsParticipant @chrisfellows72943]

Back on the Faun and have glued the cockpit/cabin sides in place after removing some of the cockpit sides so that the hull will be visible as per the full-sized boat. First time I’ve built a fixed superstructure model. Access to the motor etc. will be via a removable cabin roof.

[Chris FellowsParticipant @chrisfellows72943]

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Chris

She is a pretty as a picture well done, Ideal for a free plan in the mag 🙂

Regards  Ray

[Chris FellowsParticipant @chrisfellows72943]

Didn’t realise how long it’s been since I last posted about the Faun!

Not a lot done because as I’ve said before I don’t do much building in the summer and have been busy doing other things.

But I did finish painting the hull and over the last few days I’ve made and fitted the front windows to the cabin. Not something I was looking forward to as even holding timber in place to mark up was hard and making a former from a block of balsa didn’t really go anywhere. The windows are quite complicated because as well as the vee they lean backwards, the cabin sides are angled as they move backwards and there is a curve to the top. Added to which they are mahogany and will be stained so I didn’t want to use any filler if I could help it.

So I decided that it would be a good idea to make a plinth first which I could work against and provide additional gluing area. This was particularly important as the starboard side of the cabin had been glued in position leaning out and took quite a bit of force to hold upright.

This worked well and I was able to work out the angles using pieces of balsa and cardboard. I’d assumed that the vee joint between the windows would be at right-angles to the deck but the cardboard proved otherwise! I realised afterwards the angle required is probably equal to the backwards inclination of the windows?

The windows were then cut-out a little way from the lines and I carefully sanded the chamfers on the bottom and sides until the windows fitted and then marked and cut-out the curve to the top, again to a chamfer. The top of the curve was flattened as the vee results in a point otherwise.

I’ve learnt from bitter experience not to cut out the window opening(s) until the blank(s) fit properly! So this was then done using a coping saw as the pieces were too small to do using the scroll saw.

Each window was then glued in place using aliphatic and left overnight and found to be nice and solid. The port cabin side was then glued in place and secured with a clamp and elastic band. The errant starboard side was then held in the same way and the inside moistened with spit and left overnight. Next morning found it nicely conforming to the required shape and it was easily glued to the window.

Bit of sanding where the cabin sides stood a little proud and happy with the outcome. I fully expected to have least a second go!

Can now proceed with the roof and a bath test.

[Richard SimpsonModerator @richardsimpson88330]

A lot of angles to think about but you’ve achieved a neat job.  As you say varnished wood looks beautiful but its very unforgiving of any remedial work!

[Chris FellowsParticipant @chrisfellows72943]

Certainly was Richard.

Been a good week really as been able to spend a few hours on Faun and as well as the windows I’ve managed to construct the roof as well. My first lift off roof and it was a bit tricky but got there. Bit of surface filling required and then Eze-Kote, lightweight cloth and paint.

Not too much left to finish off the build then. This was the last build to be started and will be the first to be finished!

Oh, and the roof was my first real use of the odourless cyano that Colin recommended. Thanks Colin, it worked a treat. So good to have a full range of glues at my disposal again.

 

 

 

 

 

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Chris,

Top work with the cabin roof 🙂

It has such a cheeky look, she just cries out for a nose and mouth on the bow !!

Regards  Ray

[Chris FellowsParticipant @chrisfellows72943]

Thanks Ray. Like the Thomas the tank engine of model boats! Or those cars from those cartoons!

[Richard SimpsonModerator @richardsimpson88330]

Absolutely, we’ve had ‘Cars’ and ‘Planes’ from Disney, this looks like the draft idea for ‘Boats’!

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

I think  Pugnacious is the word….

Colin

[Chris FellowsParticipant @chrisfellows72943]

Nooo, Faun wouldn’t hurt a fly!

Roof has had its first coat of primer/undercoat and one of my most enjoyable jobs, applying varnish, especially to the mahogany.

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Chris.

I don’t want to worry you  !! but you are dangerously close to finishing a boat 🙂

Regards Ray

[Richard SimpsonModerator @richardsimpson88330]

Lovely job Chris.

[Chris FellowsParticipant @chrisfellows72943]

I know Ray, frightening! There was more work in the hull, but no strakes, chine rails  and pulpit rail to fit which is welcome. Some of the full-size boats have a windscreen on the roof, which I may or may not fit. Due to the curvature of the roof it will be difficult to make but always something I can add later.

It will be so nice to finish this model and then get on with the Fisherman and the other Faireys again.

Thanks Richard, it’s really been a joy (and some pain!) building this little boat and is definitely one of my favourites.

Chris

[Chris FellowsParticipant @chrisfellows72943]

Not too much more to do now. Roof is being glossed along with the motor mount and other bits and pieces inside the boat along with some more varnishing.

Window frames have been made from 0.5mm plastic card and a coat of primer/undercoat applied. I usually chrome paint but as mentioned elsewhere I’m going to do in another colour. I’ve bought some tins of various browns and have primed some plastic card so I can do some tests. Black is another option used on full-sized boats but I think that may be too much of a contrast as well, we shall see. Trouble is it’s very difficult to make frames as narrow as full-size to scale and so they can be too dominant.

Looking forward to tomorrow as I can reinstall the rudder, prop shaft, motor and RC equipment and it will then be ready for testing! Which just leaves a bit of detailing. Talking of which some goodies arrived in the post.

 

 

 

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Chris,

I hope all those crew with wheels won’t be steering in different directions!

Looking really nice. I have had to stop work on Silver Mist for a couple of days to resolve some horrid issues with updating my PC but I hope it is now OK although I will have  a £180 bill from our local computer support company.

Colin

[Chris FellowsParticipant @chrisfellows72943]

🙂 As you probably guessed I’m stocking up for my other builds as well, hence the different sizes, and some more due tomorrow.

My PC has started running slowly recently so I need to try and sort that out – usually I can sort it myself and hopefully that will be the case again.

Chris

[Chris FellowsParticipant @chrisfellows72943]

Started fitting all the hardware but came to a halt when I found I hadn’t got a servo extension lead left so had to order some.

Got enough in to allow me to try in the “test tank” though. Pleased to see that it sits at just the right angle and the slot for the rudder arm is well above the water level so water ingress won’t be a problem. Despite it being a round-bottom hull it is very stable as well so no worries when it comes to the lake trials.

For the window frames I decided to go with satin black in the end.

Chris

 

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