Author Archives: derschiffbauer

#10 & #11 Strake from Keel

Gluing in Port side #10 Strake

I snapped the #10 Strake on the Starboard side so I’m making a whole new one. I must be careful from now on and use heat when bending across radical bends like over the Bow.

I had to make 2 Specially Shaped Planks for #11. #10 had to take too radical of a turn. I guess you can call it a built-in Cheater.

Specially Shaped #11

I made a built in Cheater since it was getting difficult to go around the Bow. I applied a lot of heat on the Port side and it came out smoother than the Starboard.

Planks to Bow Stem

I had to make them wide to relieve some Stress as the Planks go around the Bend.

#8 & #9 Strake from Keel

5mm worth of Area

The Strakes coming up, I tapered down to 3mm from Bulkhead #2. At the angle that the Strake is coming in, it is actually taking up 5mm worth of space. Next Strake, I tapered even further so I have room for all the Strakes coming forward…

Clamping in Port side
#8 Strake formed
#9 Strake

#9 Strake Planed down the Tapers. Ready for the Soaking…

Tapers to Bow
Ammonia

I use 1/4 Cup Ammonia and then fill the Soaker with Boiling Water. I usually let it soak for like 5-6 Hours… But I’ve also let them soak overnight.

Form bending #9
Planks bending into the Stem
Came up around 1.5mm off

Like my son says – “You’re the only one that will know it’s there!!! …” 🤔🙄🤣

#9 Strake done

#7 Strake from Keel

Form bending #7

What I did to get the Bend is to Clamp down on 2 still wet pieces of wood and let it bend in the shape that you want the Planks to look like. Clamp Down… Leave around a .4mm space between the plank and the wood on the Bow. Then, you take the Plank and shove it in that little space. Carefully bend both the top wood and the Plank around and use the Paper Clip Clamps to hold them down.

🙄🤔👍

Form shaping #7

Don’t make the mistake of putting the UPC upside down on the wood. It leaves a mark. Not that it makes any difference. 🙄🤔

Starboard side Clamping in

I’ve been having good luck by clamping down on the Stem to hold down the Plank.

Clamp on Stem holding down Plank
Curving over Bow Stbd
Another shot
To the Stern Post

I was able to get this slightly curved look by shaving the end of the plank maybe .5 mm at a time… Just to be able to jam it in there and then friction holds it in place . You don’t even need a Clamp! .. 🤔🙄👍

Philosophy and Musings

Model Ship Building is indeed a Slow-Motion Hobby. .. You really have to be a patient person and have a lot of attention to detail.

Which is sometimes my failing is that I don’t have as close of attention to detail as compared to a lot of guys.

A lot of guys eschew the method I’m using and may use some different planking patterns as I’ve seen on different Bluff-Bowed Ships, but I’m sticking with calculating the fraction that you need to taper to fit all the Planks in the same space as the largest Bulkhead to the Stem and Stern Post.

I’ve seen guys using different patterns which are pretty interesting . . 🙄🤔 . Can’t say I won’t ever try them in the future…

My method is the Bow to Stern, Single-Plank Method, which I like. Although I have had to break them up at times as the Planks dictate…

Areas where Planks joined

“Just Listen to the Planks… Feeeel the Planks…” As they say.. .

🙄🤔🫢

#6 Strake from Keel

I used the excess of this Plank and Clamped down on it with this Clamp and then pressed the #6 Plank underneath it.

The outside Plank protects the actual Strake as it’s being shoved underneath it. Both woods are wet and pliable.

#6 Stern

I’m still able to easily press up to #5. Maybe the next one will need a Cheater. You can always “Feel” it… Even though the Planks are wet, you can’t force them too much. 🙄🤔

I think I will work my way UP for a while… 👍

Form bending #6
Gluing in Starboard #6 Strake
#6 Strake done
#6 to Stern Post

Ibex Plane

Ibex Plane Flat Sole Plane 30mm Length, 10mm Blade Width

Ibex Plane

I bought this Ibex 30mm Plane from Amazon.

After I got the Blade adjusted, it works great for Plane-ing the 5mm Basswood Planks to get the ideal Taper on both ends… Front and Stern…

My Video on adjusting the Ibex Plane . ..

Adjusting Ibex Plane

#3 Strake from Keel

Extra Plank over #3 Plank
Close up

While wet, I took 2 small 3cm Planks off the end. I then used it to put on top of the #3 Plank in order to get to turn into the Bow from the #2 Bulkhead.

I slid the #3 Plank underneath it and twisted it to #2 Bulkhead.

Bent to the Stern Post.

I left enough room for a Cheater here.

Clamping in Port Side #3 Strake
Starboard side done