Vintage Gentleman’s Cruiser

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

The model commanded plenty of attention today at the Haydock show despite it's OTT proportions and we actually sold a set of plans for the same five footer!……With a promise to post the build on the forum

With the model in front of us, we were able to make a few improvements to the design

The Abell drive mock up was also of great interest to the curious!

We also sold a set of plans for another Brutus craft!…..The build will be interesting?

Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

WIP picture

The trick is to make the basic structure very strong to cope with the clamping forces

The main feature of this chaotic clamping session is the main lever at the concave section…

It`s clamped at the bottom, which is acting as a pivot, with the top clamp doing all the work

The little red clamp is there just to stop the top clamp from slipping off

A few coats of Corporation Pop, seems to help

Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

This is more like it!……Working on the hull itself

Cleaning up the top deck edge and making plenty of dust!

So we are using a vacuum cleaner and it works nicely

Note how we`ve cut the stand out to fit the work bench?…..This is a nice feature, as normally, the job is Rocking Round the Clock!

Bob

[lnvisiblemanParticipant @lnvisibleman]

Bob

Were you an undertaker before retirement ? You could bury me at sea in that hull and I'd probably wash up near Amy Jane in the antipodes !!

Mike

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Where have we seen this before?

Shades of Brutus?

Bob

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Bob

Try shades of Edwardian design as most warships, liners and river boats of this period all followed the principal of the vertical bow.

The only similarity with Brutus is the bow above the water line. The visible bow wave on the cruiser is totally different to Brutus as the wave angle is longer and untidier whereas Brutus has a taller and cleaner bow wave.

Paul

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

What have we done?

"What`s this "WE" business?"…..Says Paul

OK,….What have " I " done?

I noticed on the photographs of the real thing, that the stern has a sexy "leaning in" area, which takes away the boxy look and since the stern needed a modification anyway, I got to work with the razor saw and mallet and neatly removed it

Just waiting for Paul to update the drawings

Bob

[Tony HadleyParticipant @tonyhadley]

Most impressive, Bob. Watching this thread with interest, despite it being far to large for my storage and building facilities. Some years ago an ideal power source would have been a couple of Taplin Twin model diesels.

Tony.

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Thank you Tony

It certainly is rather large, but it makes a nice change from the average size of model

The power saws, mallets and chisels come into their own!

Smacking the back off was great fun!…..I used a razor saw and hammer down the seams and they fell about laughing!

Todays powerplant will be two 850 Abell Drives…..That`s four 850`s!…….Just for fun!

Bob

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Dear All

As you have seen we are having a little redesign around the stern area so production has ceased for a couple of days whilst we bottom it out.

Paul

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Just discovered an error!

Former 3 …………The stringers closest to the bench are 10mm out!……..One stringer is on the wrong side of the line………..I thought there was something wrong, looking at it, at the show!

All the fun of the fair…..It`s only wood!

Bob

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

I didn't want to say anything …………I thought that I had coc..d up the drawings

Edited By Paul T on 05/09/2014 13:05:31

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

The razor saw and hammer is a super combo for splitting glued joints!

The error was soon rectified, Paul

The hull at the moment is in a state of complete flux, due to the overall size!, making it a bit of an effort to manhandle

It's easier to work on a section that is accessible

There is a nice feeling of satisfaction, as the problem areas start to diminish

Photos to follow when presentable!

Bob

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Bob, you need to get one of these for the current round of boatbuilding.. . Ashley

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/cfc100-1-tonne-folding-workshop-crane

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Very droll, Ashley

It's not that heavy, it's just the bulk of the thing, being handled single handedly, surrounded by obstructions

Let's call it therapeutical activity as part of a keep fit programme?

Once it's on the water, it will become a Teddy Bear!

All good fun, but slightly eccentric?

Bob

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Not eccentric, great fun boat building, thats what it is! Ashley (please, never droll!)

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Work in progress picture

Levelling the foredeck by using the ply as a surface plate

Checking that it`s level and parallel with the rear deck

Note……….. "Put anywhere" dust exhaust nozzle block

Bob

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

For the avid follower.

The high commander, Rt hon Bob Abell Bo,BBc and bath plug, has convinced me that we should be producing a slightly different version of the Vintage Cruiser.

The original Lady Jane version is a traditional 1920s river cruiser having regal lines and an imperious appearance but the new version, called Lady Joyce will have 1930s styling with genteel curves and flush decks.

Both designs will be run in tandem so there will be 3ft, 4ft and 5ft variants of each type, there is a great deal of drawing to do but it will be worth…. it the only downside is that Bob will need a loft extension and a low loader.

We might need slightly more space at Haydock next year.

Paul

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Nice to see you back in action, Paul, but don't overdo things

So it's called Lady Joyce then?…..I was thinking about….Duke of Haydock?…..eh?

Don't forget we've got cambered decks too

It will be a handsome craft with plenty of varnished mahogany everywhere

Capt Bob

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Capt Bob

Is that REAL mahogany or just plywood?

Don't forget the polished brass.

Paul

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hello Captain Paul ……..Cad Des Extra Ordinaire

I used to be a dab hand with the old acrylics!

So it's just common or garden plywood, enhanced with the artist's license, using Burnt Sienna, Raw Umber and a dash of Yellow Ochre!……Plus a touch of Photo Shop, where required

All good fun, but it ain't arf heavy Mum

Bob

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Fab Shop to Top Shop

I fancy building the main cabin to see how it looks with the Acrylic Mahogany finish

I've got the 3 foot set of drawings….Is it just a matter of scaling them up for the 5 foot version?

I assume we are clambering the fore deck

Got the prow shape sorted now, picture coming shortly

Bob

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Top shop to Fab shop

Dear chief engineer

The tail seems to be wagging the dog at the moment as the fab shop is making alterations to the design without telling the design office what is happening.

Take pity on the poor draftsman and please let him in on the secret so that he can stop stumbling around in the dark

[mike farrellParticipant @mikefarrell21522]

Paul I cannot see a day when you are stumbling around in the dark Michael

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Thank you Michael

Perhaps stumbling around in the dark is a little melodramatic but the chief engineer is enjoying himself so much that he might forget to record the changes that he is making. Without this information it will be like trying to put a burst balloon back together.

Paul

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