Siadwell

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Ralph……Any chance of a progress report, please?

Looking forward to the news

Bob

[Ralph PinchParticipant @ralphpinch41762]

Hi Bob, having problems with my PC, hoping its fixed now.

Working on the propshafts now.

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Nice quality workmanship, Ralph!……..Well done

I really do like the planking too!…………..It seems a shame to paint it!

Show us some more please?

Bob

[Ralph PinchParticipant @ralphpinch41762]

thanks Bob, here's a couple more,

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Thanks Ralph

Very nice too!

Are you using handed props then?

Bob

[Ralph PinchParticipant @ralphpinch41762]

kind of you Bob, it will be a shame to paint the hull, I will see how good the planking is after sanding and decide then, if I varnish, if it looks wrong when completed I can still paint the hull but not the other way.

I am using opposed props, there seems to be very little difference to either setup so just got left and right as both were the same price.

Good luck for the first outing of Lady Joyce today.

Edited By Ralph Pinch on 27/06/2015 09:47:54

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Thank you, Ralph

The snag with RH and LH pros is that the RH prop will unscrew itself, when stuck in weed etc

Lady Joyce excelled herself today……..See the thread for blow by blow events

Bob

[Ralph PinchParticipant @ralphpinch41762]

Well its update time, planking is now complete and Siadwell is sitting on her cradle, overall happy with the finish but I don't think that it's good enough to varnish, now I will be sealing and strengthening the hull with a coat of clear epoxy resin on the inside, then its the big rubdown.

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Well done, Ralph…..You've got over the biggest hurdle and it's all plain sailing from now on

Cutting the former tops off is great fun too, as the weight rapidly drops off

I covered my hull with wallpaper backing and there was no filling required

Any thoughts on the power plant?

A big steam engine would be very attractive………Coal fired of course?

Bob

[Ralph PinchParticipant @ralphpinch41762]

Bob you are a tease, coal fired steam engine indeed……. A nice little boxer engine would be nice but then there is all the restrictions in where you can sail……….when I released Siadwell from the assembly frame and turned her upright I was suprised just how light she is……….Big yes, heavy no.

Now it's rubdown and blending in time.

[Ralph PinchParticipant @ralphpinch41762]

Just before I started to apply the resin a precautionary task was required, epoxy resin can be a nightmare to rub down so I have sealed the hull, I covered the hull with masking tape to stop any bleed from hairline gap's between the planking, 10 mins now can save a load of aggravation.

[Ralph PinchParticipant @ralphpinch41762]

Just before I started to apply the resin a precautionary task was required, epoxy resin can be a nightmare to rub down so I have sealed the hull, I covered the hull with masking tape to stop any bleed from hairline gap's between the planking, 10 mins now can save a load of aggravation.

Edited By Ralph Pinch on 13/07/2015 13:10:59

[Dave MilbournParticipant @davemilbourn48782]

Ralph

I think you'll be pleasantly surprised at how easy modern epoxy laminating/coating resins are to sand. They don't need de-greasing like the old ones did, and if you use a decent abrasive paper (like silicon-carbide) then the whole process is a relative doddle. I use Z-Poxy resin, by the way.
The added benefit from your sticky-tape ruse is that the resin will creep into any small gaps between the planks and set up hard to seal them – although I think anyone would be hard-pressed to see any gaps in that planking! I shall now go out to my workshop and look at the obechi planking I did on my Victory tug – and silently weep………………….

Dave M

[Ralph PinchParticipant @ralphpinch41762]

Dave your a trove of information, it was a while ago since I have used any resin and it was a nightmare, would not use any on my bikes because of this, as for the planking, had a little titter at your closing remarks, but you will be surprised to hear that yes the planking looks good in the pictures and superficially in the flesh BUT I upturned the hull and checked all of it with a flashlight.

The comments I have in mind cannot be used on this Forum, nicest possible one was used frequently on my school reports many years ago "could do better".

The Hull would make a great lamp shade lol……………slit's of light every ware…………."must try harder" is another frequent report comment that springs to mind.

So I will join you in the silent weep.

Footnote………..whats even worse is that I asked for epoxy resin but got polyester and never even noticed.

[Ralph PinchParticipant @ralphpinch41762]

Have just removed the masking tape and to be honest there is very little bleed, the flash light just magnifies the smallest slits that you would not see normally, but the masking tape has highlighted one thing……… what I thought was a smooth flat hull is anything but. this would not be apparent until paint was applied, thinking of skimming the complete hull with Bondo to smooth the lines before I spray, just like the old days with my bikes………lol

It should be watertight then!!!

comments are welcome.

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Ralph

I've been up this street before…….many times

EG…….Louis Heloise……Pocatannia…….Altair……..Britannia……..Pocahontas……..Skylark…….Jeannie Deans…….JDAW ……….Thames Barge and three 1 Metres .etc.

All big planked boats……All hard work!

Then came Great Eastern at 84"…….Time for a change!

Breakthrough!………Rough coarse sanding and cover with card plates………Lovely solution

Then came…..VGC………..Covered with wallpaper backing and a few coats of paint and varnish

Result…….Perfect solution…….Dead smooth and no leaks

Decision time?

Bob

[Ralph PinchParticipant @ralphpinch41762]

Hi Bob,

Early in my married life I very quickly unlearned how to wallpaper, if she see's this boat with wallpaper even lining on it she will have me decorating the house, there goes my modeling time so wallpaper is definitely out.

Cards……well that's too much like wallpaper and the said repercussions.

The Bondo I use is not much like P38 filler but more flowing, bit like icing a cake lol……. used more to contour and level than fill ,

So its the Bondo dog I think.

Ralph.

[Ralph PinchParticipant @ralphpinch41762]

Hull with first coat of primer

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hello Ralph

It looks all white to me!…….Get it?

Bob

[Ralph PinchParticipant @ralphpinch41762]

Nice one Bob Abell……….nee Monkhouse, got it lol

Ralph.

[Ralph PinchParticipant @ralphpinch41762]

just taking a break from the sanding, started Siadwell's tender.

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hello Ralph

Are you doing a clinker build?

I was surprised to learn that every plank has it`s own shape?

Will watch with interest

Bob

[Ralph PinchParticipant @ralphpinch41762]

Hi Bob, looking at the pictures of these cruisers on the interweb, the little tenders seem to be clinker built, so to keep authenticity I am going to try to plank using the clinker method.

Think that this will tax my skills but in for a penny………..and such.

Yes I believe that every plank is shaped, so the linisher will be working overtime.

Ralph.

[Ralph PinchParticipant @ralphpinch41762]

Clinker…….CLINKER………B****y stinker, what a nightmare………could not master this type of planking so back to the carvel method, don't,know if the hull is the wrong shape or my skill level is sadly lacking. Wasted half a day trying to get right. ………….Sorry no paragraphs again. Tablet playing silly buggers.

Ralph.

[BanjomanParticipant @banjoman]

Hello Ralph,

First of all, congratulations on the lovely Siadwell build so far – that hull looks really nice, and the planking just so!

I don't know if you have access to the book in question, but there is a very good section on clinker planking in Vol. 2 of Harold A. Underhill's Plank on Frame Models (**LINK**) … might be worth a look, should you feel tempted to have another go … And it is of course a very interesting read in any case!

/Mattias

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