Huntsman 31

[Eddie LancasterParticipant @eddielancaster]

Hi. All, I have been reading all of your comments with great interest. I have taken one step forward and two backwards today, but I am now back on track. After fitting the deck it was slightly wider than the hull in a couple of places. not by much but enough to not be able to sand it back without it looking obvious with the outside plank varying in width, but a bit of filler soon sorted that problem.

But after rubbing down and another coat of primer filler that was sorted.

The next problem was the plywood grain running across the planks

If I left the deck like that it would annoy me every time I looked at it, so on to plan B or is it plan C by now?

Thanks to Colin and the fact that he had set the precedent of planking the deck that is now my plan, a quick look at the Mantua web site showed that they had some 1mm x 3mm. lime strips in stock, a phone call to them and they are in the post. I am sure they will follow the curve around the deck edge, and as Colin suggests a bit straighter at bows as on some full size.

Regards to all.

Eddie

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Yes, that is the downside of a printed ply deck, it's amatter of luck how noticeable the grain pattern is. Fortuntately it wasn't too bad on my Swordsman.

I have experienced the same problem on Caldercraft kits but the deck aresa were not so great and it was possible to 'distress' the planking to mask the grain pattern. OK on a tug or coaster but not on a smart Fairey.

I had no problems in bending the planks around the hull aft of the cabin front. It is best to start at the outside and work inwards then the inevitable very narrow bits and 'stealers' tend to disappear under the side of the cabin.

Colin

[Eddie LancasterParticipant @eddielancaster]

Thanks Collin, it was my plan to start at the outside, I have also cut a king plank for the foredeck, that and the outside rail will then be stained to contrast with rest of the deck., well that’s the plan.

Eddie.

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Eddie,

The Mantua mahogany looks like teak when sealed with water based varnish And looks like varnished mahogany round the edges with oil based varnish, worked well on White Marlin 😄

Regards Ray

[Eddie LancasterParticipant @eddielancaster]

Hi.Ray, that’s the contrast I am looking for.

Regards.

Eddie

[Eddie LancasterParticipant @eddielancaster]

Not a lot of progress yesterday or today, after making the decision to plank the deck, the 1mm x 3mm wide lime strips arrived from Mantua today, in fact they are only .5mm thick so that will help when fitting the rubbing strip around the top edge of the hull.

The planking strips have been stuck on edge to some thin black card. using a pritt stick glue stick, this appears to work well without sticking the strips of lime togther.

I then weighed them down using my 40" rule under some odd weights that I have laying around, until the glue has dried.

The first batch of 12 pieces ready to be separated with a new blade in my mini knife, this will be done tomorrow to be sure that the glue has fully hardened.

Regards.

Eddie.

[Eddie LancasterParticipant @eddielancaster]

The planking strips have now been separated and each has a black card caulking strip attached to one side.

While I was waiting for glue to set or paint to dry I have been preparing parts that will be needed later in the build,

The window frames have been painted and glazed.

I checked the fit of the windows in the cut outs in the cabin sides and found that because of the acuracy of manufacure the very small radius left in the corners by the cutter was enough to prevent the windows from fitting in there respective apertures, using a sharp blade I removed the small radius from each corner and the glazing then dropped into place.

Another pattern has been cut from 1/32" ply to form the deck edging to fit around the stern.

After steaming for a short time I was able to pull a planking strip around the former, holding it in place with drawing pins until it dried.

Regards.

Eddie.

[Tim RoweParticipant @timrowe83142]

Great stuff Eddie

That deck going to look the business.

Work is seriously getting in the way of modelling but I did get another coat of paint on Galileo and some marking out for some more wood removal on the Huntsman. If I am feeling brave enough I might stick the forward bulkhead in place.

Cracking pace.

Tim R

[Eddie LancasterParticipant @eddielancaster]

Hi.Tim,will have to see how the deck looks when it’s finished, my ideas sometimes outweigh my skills.

I am looking forward to seeing Galileo finished and on the water, what paint are using? it can be difficult to get decent paints for brushing these days, although I know Ray swears by Humbrol and gets a good finish.

Regards.

Eddie.

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

I like Humbrol as a brushing paint. If you leave it to harden properly you can wet’n’dry it and T-cut it to get that sprayed look.

Ashley

[Eddie LancasterParticipant @eddielancaster]

Hi. Ashley, I used Humbrol years ago when you could get it in larger tins, I could have used it on this build, but my other boats are too big, I have used Craftmaster paints in the past that are specially formulated for brush and spray application on vintage vehicles, including steam engines.

Regards.

Eddie,

[Eddie LancasterParticipant @eddielancaster]

I have now started the deck planking, the king plank cut from 1/32" ply has been fitted.

The first two planks fitted. the first one fixed with Slow-Zap cyno, for all the others I am using Aliphatic applied with a small brush to the deck and plank edge.

The planks are held in place with drawing pins while the glue sets, it doesn't take long in this warm weather, the planks are fitted dry to get the length and holes drilled for the drawing pins, the plank is then removed the glue applied and the plank refitted, the head of the pins hold the plank flat at the curves.

Regards.

Eddie.

[Eddie LancasterParticipant @eddielancaster]

The deck planking is now finished, a bit more sanding to do and then sanding sealer, I am then back on track.

Regards.

Eddie.

[Tim RoweParticipant @timrowe83142]

You running a night shift as well Eddie?

Tim R

[Chris FellowsParticipant @chrisfellows72943]

Was thinking the same, bloomin' heck!

Chris

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Superb Eddie.

Colin

[Eddie LancasterParticipant @eddielancaster]

Thanks gentlemen, it did go a lot better than I thought it would, and as I said before the glue goes off very quickly in the warmer weather.

Thank you Colin for your comment, high praise indeed from a master Fairey builder. .

Regards to all.

Eddie.

[Eddie LancasterParticipant @eddielancaster]

Onwards and now upwards, I have now started work on the cabins and cockpit.

The first planks of the main cabin roof laid.

Regards.

Eddie.

[Eddie LancasterParticipant @eddielancaster]

The lids are now on both the cabins, and sealed with two coats of sanding sealer inside and out, I have also made a trial fit of the cockpit sides ready for fixing tomorrow.

Eddie.

[Dave MilbournParticipant @davemilbourn48782]

Eddie

Be sure to fit the superstructure onto the hull while you fit the cockpit sides and floor pieces – or at least while the glue sets. If you build in a twist at this stage you'll never get rid of it. Ask me how I found out…

Dave M

[Eddie LancasterParticipant @eddielancaster]

Thanks Dave, will do.

Eddie.

[Eddie LancasterParticipant @eddielancaster]

I haven't posted for a couple of days now as I didn't think you would want to see a photo of paint drying.

The hull has now had its final coat of paint and is dry.

The cabin is still in the paint shop, ready now for the cockpit to be painted.

Regards.

Eddie.

Edited By Eddie Lancaster on 09/06/2020 12:34:44

[Tim RoweParticipant @timrowe83142]

And he uses super quick-drying paint. Amazed at the velocity!!

Brilliant

Tim R

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

I like the blue on the upper part of the hull, especially the bow, I thought of doing something similar but didn't dare!

Colin

[Eddie LancasterParticipant @eddielancaster]

I had to think hard for sometime before I decided to attempt that colour scheme, but I did like the full size boats with that paint scheme.

A couple of days in a hot conservatory, and the paint is almost baked on, plus using Harris blue masking tape from Halfords, which is low tack, helps. One downside I have found, of liteply is the open and course grain, that needs extra care with the early preparation with the primer filler, you have to be sure the grain is filled before you move on to the other primers and top coats.

Eddie.

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