MS Bounty Launch
 

Just a survey for the Model Shipways Bounty Launch to see:

A) If anyone would like to see a picture gallery established showing each step of the building process? If not, I would not want to waist the forums disc space.

B) Has anyone built this model before?

C) Any tips or tricks for this model?

I have just started with the first couple of small steps. I will not be painting the model but rather finishing it in natural wood (stain, etc.).

Any thoughts on this would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Richard
:coffee:

Re: MS Bounty Launch
 

Why not Richard. We've got plenty of disk space. If you want, start a thread in the Shared Projects Forum, http://shipmodeling.net/vb_forum/forum31.html and an Album in the photo gallery. You could also post progress photos directly in your progress posts.
John

Re: MS Bounty Launch
 

Well then, if you have lots of space I will post photos.
It is a decent kit with lots of details at 1/16th scale. Now if I could only find a 1/16th scale sailor to put in it....
Richard :coffee:

Re: MS Bounty Launch
 

Question:
At 1/16th scale I do believe that the caulking between planks and any treenails would show.
Anyone have suggestions on how big the exposed treenails would be and how to make the caulking?

:help:

Re: MS Bounty Launch
 

Hello, Richard. I, too, recently started MS's Bounty Launch. Currently at "Stage 2: Bending on the Frames."

Re the false keel, after gluing on all the molds noticed my false keel not straight along "comb"/"finger" edge (the side slotted to take molds). An alarming discovery! Noticed the molds were lined up properly. Soon realized the false keel piece was true as provided, but I had induced "finger wave" when fitting and gluing the snug fitting molds. As you, figured out that shimming the keel alignment tabs would make problem go away. Whew.

Your scribing of plank lines on transom a great idea. Thanks.

Cheers, Morris.

Re: MS Bounty Launch
 

Richard -

I have good luck making simulated "oakum" with black thread - using a knife blade to push it into the planking - at the scale you are working at , it will give you good results . Other methods are to blacken both sides of the planks with carbon or black marker . If you use black marker, be careful , it takes some work to sand it off the face of the planks .

HOLD FAST !

Re: MS Bounty Launch
 

A black/brown colored artist pencil or oil pastel will work and easily sand off the plank face. A marker tends to bleed into the wood. Another thing that worked for me was to bundle several planks together and paint one side black with a thick coat of acrylic paint. More coats can be added to build up thickness if desired, then carefully cut the planks apart, lightly sand the excess paint away and voila, thicker oakum.

Dave

Re: MS Bounty Launch
 

DIVIT, dhartwick,
Those are both great ideas. I think I will try both on some scrap lumber and see which will work the best. I gotta get this stay sail thing figured out first on the Constellation before I move on to the planking of the launch. But I will let you all know (and see) the results of my findings. *hold fast* I think I will have that tattooed on the tops of my fingers :yikes:

1630WEFT,
My false keel was warped from the beginning. What I did to make sure all was square is I clamped miniature carpenters squares in 2 directions and then glued the moulds. However, you can only clamp on so many of these at a time so I decided to let that particular plane be a little off so that at least the "fingers" (mould-to-keel) and mould to work surface were aligned. I did back off from the moulds by about 3" and clamped one vertically to try and take some of the bow out of it (there was not enough room up close to do this right at the mould/false keel intersection). Hope that makes sense. Its a little hard to describe, but in the end, all molds sit flat on the building surface and are parallel too each other at 90 degrees to the false keel at the "fingers".
What do you think of that thoughtless "TRANS" laser engraved in the transom? I found that to be particularly annoying and uncalled for. Dumb move by the manufacturer. There is only one piece like it in the kit so that it could not be mistaken for another part.

Richard

Re: MS Bounty Launch
 

I've also started the kit recently. I guess I was a brave soul going for a plank on frame for my first wooden hull kit, but it's progressing along nicely. I'm about half done planking it right now. Just a couple little issues so far.

The biggest so far is that I had a lot of trouble bending the cherry frame strips, even after a 3 day soaking and steaming. Busted quite a few, eventually I realized to keep a close eye on the grain but even then they are pretty delicate. I may need to get some more pieces for the 'tween frame. I left all the strips I have left soaking while I do the planking work, and will probably boil them right before I bend them.

I also found that as you start planking, and after the keel isn't secured to the form anymore, it does start to lift up slightly. Not sure yet how that is going to make things align when I get to the shutter plank. You've also got to really make sure that the sheer planks are well bonded to the transom, or you'll run into problems when you run the next plank.

Re: MS Bounty Launch
 

As I thought, on one side I came up a wee bit short of plank width when I fitted in the shutter plank. Ended up having to shave a thin strip to fill that area in. But once I popped the hull off the mold you get a real sense of achievement. It still felt a bit fragile at that point, but is much more solid once the 'tween frames are in and she sheer clamp is on. Boiling the cherry strips for the 'tween frames definitely had a much bigger result than just plain soaking them.

Then the real oddball problem I came across, and another area where the manufacturer really dropped the ball. The instructions say nothing at all about the quarterdeck, yet it is drawn into the plans. I haven't figured out yet how I am going to proceed with that area.