Author Archives: derschiffbauer

Bitts for Main Bulwarks Rails

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This is some painstaking work making these Tiny Bitts…

Bitts

The Pieces the kit gives you are these 4×4 Mansonia pieces which I have to round out the bottom and use a Razor Blade and File to shape into the Bitts.

Hard to get a clear picture

The Bottom is what they gave me.

I first used a Square File and rounded the square to a small dowel.

I file it round
I razor in approx 1.5mm
Finished Bitt

Once you Razor in around 1.5mm from the bottom, you Razor in from the top down at a slight angle, holding it with some Parallel Grip Pliers at an angle and use the X-Acto like a Plane and slice down being careful to stop as you approach the Razored in line…

At least this Manzoni Wood is pretty strong for the Bitts.

Beginning of my Bitt Mass Production
Doing Mass Production

Can you believe that the Kit gave you only EXACTLY 34 3x4x15mm pre rough cut pieces?!?!!!! .. I’m surprised they didn’t just give you a piece of 3x4mm and tell you to cut your own pieces!!! .. 🤔🙄😲

Bitt Construction

I’ve had to keep making new ones. It has taken me nearly 2 weeks to make 34 of them I am ashamed to say!!! .. I keep striving to have them even!!! .. 🤔🙄😲

Forward / Main Bulwarks Rail

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Forward Bulwark Rails

Minwax Colonial Maple 223 for the Stain. To match the Hull which I will leave as natural Wood.

Pre-fitting Forward Bulwarks Rails
2x7mm Mansonia for the Main Deck Bulwark Rails
Traced out marks as guide for bending

I’m currently soaking the 2x7mm Mazsonia Wood that is the Rail for the Main Deck.

After installing the Chain-Wales, they kind of got in the way of Tracing..

Bending Main Bulwarks Rails

I soaked the wood a few hours in Ammonia and Water.

Third Planking Upper Hull

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Third Planking

Here I’m essentially doing a Third Planking because I screwed up with the Gun Ports!!! .. I DO like the cleaner look though… 🙄🤔👍

I’m telling myself that the HM Bark Endeavor was well reinforced for the Antarctic / Arctic conditions…

Lines look so much cleaner
Starboard side done

I have a sliver of a gap from the last Plank to the Wale. It’s barely perceptible so I’m just going to leave it… 🙄🤔

That sliver …

That sliver isn’t worth it… Yet… It will drive me crazy until I fix it!!! .. 🙄🤔😲

From Bow

Third try Upper Rubbing Strake / Chain-Wale

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This is my third try with the Upper Rubbing Strake and Channel combo.

First time was with the Walnut 1.5x3mm Stakes, next was with the 1.5×3 Basswood but with the Gun Ports. This time it’s my last 1.5x3x650mm Basswood Strakes. I might have to buy some more. Although I still can cut down some 1.5×5 Basswood Planks I have lying around on my NovelLife Mini Hobby Table Saw …

Bending Strake (again) 🙄
Attaching Chain-Wale to Rubbing Strake

UGH… I STILL screwed up when I broke it while trying to attach the forward Chain-Wale to the Rubbing Strake. I repaired it with SuperGlue.

Painting Rubbing Strakes
Starboard side done
Starboard side
Port side
Window and ornamental molding

Taking a break… 🙄🤔👍