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MATTHEW - POF - 1:55 scale

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Gene Bodnar

Sun Nov 29 2009, 06:23pm

Registered Member #126

Joined: Tue Jul 21 2009, 11:20am
Posts: 1778

1. Using mainly the Lines Plan of the Matthew, I lofted the Keel Assembly, the 41 frames, and the Building Jig.

2. The Keel Assembly consists of the keel itself, which is 7/32" molded dimension made of lattice pine, and its numerous pieces that comprise the deadwood at the bow and stern. There are no notches cut for the frames because all square frames have 1/32" notches that rest directly upon the keel.

3. The Building Board is a 1/4"-thick piece of basswood, and the Building Jig is a piece of 1/8" basswood. After laying out the proper waterline to use, the center of the jig was cut out with an X-Acto knife and all the frame notches were cut out with a razor saw and X-Acto blade. Finally, the Keel Assembly was aligned in the Building Jig, and the jig was assembled permanently and glued in place.

4. Most of the frames will contain 5 pieces of lattice pine trenailed together to form the basic shape of the frame. Ten are ready to cut out so far.

Gene

longboat

Mon Nov 30 2009, 09:49am

Registered Member #196

Joined: Wed Aug 05 2009, 09:02am
Posts: 23

I was surprised and pleased to see the POF project started. Thank you. !:55 seems an unusual scale, is there a story behind this? Also, you have used Basswood for the building board and the building jig rather than plywood, is this something new? Just wondering.

Thanks, Jerry

Gene Bodnar

Mon Nov 30 2009, 12:46pm

Registered Member #126

Joined: Tue Jul 21 2009, 11:20am
Posts: 1778

Hello Jerry,

The scale of 1:55, which comes out to about 0.22" = 1', was an error on my part. There was a little scale notation on the Lines Plan, added apparently as an afterthought, that I took as gospel, but it turned out to be irrelevant information. AFTER I lofted all the frames by hand, I discovered that I was using an oddball scale. Instead of re-doing all my lofted drawings, I decided to go with it. I should have done my research BEFORE lofting the drawings.

The basswood building board and building jig seemed convenient. I ran out of plywood and Masonite, but I did have a large supply of basswood on hand. This is the first time I've used basswood for such things, but I can say that cutting out the little notches was certainly a very easy task with this wood. Let's hope the notches don't break off on the jig.

Gene

longboat

Wed Dec 02 2009, 10:30am

Registered Member #196

Joined: Wed Aug 05 2009, 09:02am
Posts: 23

Thanks Gene, the lofting of the frames for this ship must have been tedious. I can appreciate your final decision to go with the 1:55. Looking forward to seeing your progress.
Longboat

Gene Bodnar

Fri Dec 04 2009, 05:45pm

Registered Member #126

Joined: Tue Jul 21 2009, 11:20am
Posts: 1778

27 square frames and 7 half frames have been installed. There is still much sanding and aligning to be done on them. And there are still 7 cant frames to be installed, and they are half the width of the square frames and half frames. All frames installed so far are extremely fragile, being only 3/16" sided dimension and an average of 5/32" moulded dimension.

Gene Bodnar

Fri Dec 11 2009, 06:52pm

Registered Member #126

Joined: Tue Jul 21 2009, 11:20am
Posts: 1778

The bilge stringers, keelson, and mast steps were installed first. After that came the deck shelf and the deck clamps. Then, a few hours were consumed in fairing the interior and exterior portions of the frames, which was rather difficult to accomplish because the frames are so fragile.

Six strakes of exterior planking followed. So far, I've left them unfinished. Then the wales were installed and stained with Colonial Maple stain. Trimming at the bow and stern still needs to be finished.

Finally, the deck beams, which are 3/16" wide, were cut individually and installed, allowing room for the various deck openings. The carlings are next.

Gene Bodnar

Sun Dec 13 2009, 06:04pm

Registered Member #126

Joined: Tue Jul 21 2009, 11:20am
Posts: 1778

The knees and carlings have been installed. The mast holes have been fitted. And the main deck planking has been completed -- only half of the main deck planking will be included in order to show internal structural work.

Gene