Billings Boat Mary Ann

[Guest]

Hi Paul

Good progress with the hull. What type of filler do you use, Does it have to be wood filler?

I am using wood filler on some parts and a white putty on others, the reason being the putty gives off a strong odour so try and keep it to minimal

I can see that planking is something of a technique to master. Do you know of anyway to treat the planks so that they bend more naturally to the shape you want, steaming them perhaps?

I found that just soaking the planks for 20/30 mins makes them easier to bend with this model anyway, i know when i first built this 30 odd years ago you had to steam the planks which i think works well i recall reading somewhere that using a steam iron for bending the planks is one good way by steaming and bending the wood at the same time you can also buy plank benders but have never used one so cannot comment on how good they are and patience is a big asset when doing this job.

If you try to rush the planking you will end up breaking more than you bend lol.

hope this helps

steve

[Guest]

hi Paul

If you have time could you describe in broad terms the difference in the sets Gillows to Plastic models & difference in constructing.

to be honest not really sure if i can give you an answer to this one as i have not touched a plastic kit in 40years so i would have thought things have improved with them since then.

sorry mate

steve

[Guest]

Tell you what, this and the other boat kits on here has certainly got me a'thinking about getting something along the same lines!They certainly make up into lovely models.

Who knows, as a retired thick old joiner, I might just stand a chance of completing one.....Now where's my chain saw?

Ron

Hi Ron

Your right there they do make up into some great models and being a joiner well it would be right up your street i recon, i think wood is a great to work with and have always prefered making my models in wood.

go on give it a go

cheers

steve

[Ian M]

Hi PaulGood progress with the hull. What type of filler do you use, Does it have to be wood filler?

I am using wood filler on some parts and a white putty on others, the reason being the putty gives off a strong odour so try and keep it to minimal

I can see that planking is something of a technique to master. Do you know of anyway to treat the planks so that they bend more naturally to the shape you want, steaming them perhaps?

I found that just soaking the planks for 20/30 mins makes them easier to bend with this model anyway, i know when i first built this 30 odd years ago you had to steam the planks which i think works well i recall reading somewhere that using a steam iron for bending the planks is one good way by steaming and bending the wood at the same time you can also buy plank benders but have never used one so cannot comment on how good they are and patience is a big asset when doing this job.

If you try to rush the planking you will end up breaking more than you bend lol.

hope this helps

steve

Here is a good one. Ammonia. Pop your planks into a tube and fill it with ammonia. Leave it overnight. In the morning you will have planks that you can tie knots in. Rise the ammonia off and pin or clamp them to the former or the ribs of the hull and leave them to dry. Once dry, then you can glue them.

If you are going to sail the boat, once the hull is done coat the inside with glass fibre resin. This will give it strength and make it water tight. If you are going for a natural wood finish on the out side, after sanding the planks smooth, a single layer or clear resin with a glass fibre felt will give you a glass clear and hard surface. WITHOUT having to give it umpteen coats of varnish and sandings.

Ian M

[Guest]

hi Ian

Some good tips their that i did not know about

cheers

steve

[Guest]

hi all well home again so should be ready to start again soon hope you all enjoyed the nice weather cheers steve

[Guest]

ok well been busy working on the wheelhouse given the parts a coat of paint and cut out the window frames using plasticard cut into 2mm strips took me bloody ages lol.

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[Guest]

well worth the agony and squint eyes mate good job

mobear

[Guest]

thanks mobear i got myself one of those headsets with the magnified lenses came in very useful, dont think i could have done it without something like that to hand. steve

[Guest]

Added the handrails and perry buoy holders to the side of the wheelhouse and painted the funnel with aluminium effect paint and when dry i then blackened the end to give a soot effect using an eyeliner pencil and smudged it, i think it turned out ok.

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[Guest]

really good effect mate looks used and grubby

mobear

[Guest]

finished the cabin skylight with a couple of alterations, the 2 top halfs of the skylight were solid pices of wood and did not look right to me so cut out the centers and then added some bits of copper wire and a piece of clear plastic for windows then stained and varnished it all.I know i wont be able to see into a cabin but i think it was worth the trouble to improve the look of it, the plans just show it drawn on.

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[Guest]

well think im happy with the wheelhouse now new done any kind of weathering before so just tried to do a little bit of salt water weathering on the wheelhouse door and added a handle for the belt drive for the winch instead of the wooden wheel the kit gives,may attempt to do a bit of rusting on the wheelhouse casing but not sure yet, but if it goes wrong i can always paint it out again.

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[Guest]

spent the last couple of days planking the deck and nearly got it finnished

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[Guest]

that wheelhouse looks the business mate, i think you're right ... it could stand a little weathering (not going overboard though)

Planking is a killer on the tedium eh