The Shipyard ( Dry Dock ): Builds & Questions > Working vessels R&D:
Podge's Smit Nederland Rebuild
Capt Podge:
In 1997 I started my first kit build - Billings "Smit Nederland" - 5 years later, yes 5 years, she took her maiden voyage.
At the time of purchase I didn't realise that this was an experienced builders kit (perhaps the guy in the model shop could have advised me of this). Anyway, I was torn between "Neddy" and the Bugsier 3 so went for Neddy just because she was the bigger of the two.
So, off we went, full of enthusiasm. That's when my lack of experience kicked in.
A number of mistakes were made and had to be put right.
For example: Having installed the Becker rudders I then painted them with undiluted Humbrol Enamel "to protect the brass" :embarrassed:
When the time came to fit the main deck I noted there were 2 sets of dotted lines (which, as it turns out, is the marking for the installation of the bulwarks) which I, in my ignorance, thought were cutting lines. Yep, I went at it with the Stanley knife. :o
Fortunately, I hadn't got very far before deciding to offer up the deck to the hull to test for fit. Another look at the plans (there were no building instructions) indicated where I'd gone wrong.
These are just a couple of examples to show just how much of a novice I was O0
So, after years of frustration, she finally went on her maiden voyage. One of the lads took a photo for me thus:-
underway.jpg
Now to the reason for the rebuild......
I'd been sailing the model on a Sunday morning at the lake, was asked to attend a meeting, so took the boat out of the water and sat her on one of the display tables outside the clubhouse. (You can probably guess what's coming...)
I came out to find my boat on the deck with bits & pieces scattered about <:( and one of the rudders broken away from the hull.
One of our own club members claimed to have accidently caught his clothing on the boat and dragged her off the table >>:-(
So, rather than make the situation worse, I just gathered it all up and returned home.
I tried to make repairs but it was never going to be the same again so the boat was put away in a dark corner and a start made on my next model.
Some months later, I was told what had really happened that day........needless to say that guy left the club and hasn't been around since.
Well, that's the background out of the way.
11 models later, I've dug Neddy out of the mire and she's in the workshop now.
Here's a couple of photos of her just before I stripped her down...
dust01.jpg
dust02.jpg
So, the top hamper was removed, dusted off and washed, dried off, then placed in shallow trays until needed - this included mast & rigging, funnels, radar, binnacle, aerials, guard rails and access ladders. The whole of the bridge was then dismantled. The parts will be used as templates for replacement.
Next came the main superstructure, followed by all the fittings, then the bulwarks, main deck and finally the running gear.
Some bits I'll be able to reuse, others will have to be remade.
I actually started this about a week ago and initially wasn't going to bother putting it on the Forum but I thought that perhaps it may be of interest to anyone else rebuilding this type of vessel.
Here's what I was faced with once the strip down was completed....
filthy.jpg
damage01.jpg
damage02.jpg
damage03.jpg
Now the clean up could begin...
More to follow later on today
Regards,
Ray.
Martin (Admin):
We feel your pain Ray! >:-o
How are you going to 'beef up' the hull around the rudders and shafts?
Capt Podge:
Spent the next five days rubbing down the hull (and my finger ends {-) )
stripping01.jpg
stripping02.jpg
This next photo shows the extent of the damaged where the rudder broke away...
damage04.jpg
The inside of the hull was given a cursory wipe down and will be sprayed with a coat of primer later, just to tidy it up a bit.
cleanup.jpg
As can be seen from this next one, the hull has been stripped right back to the bare plastic.
clean.jpg
--- Quote from: Martin [Admin] on September 08, 2015, 01:17:34 pm ---
We feel your pain Ray! >:-o
How are you going to 'beef up' the hull around the rudders and shafts?
--- End quote ---
Martin, I think this answers your question %)
Next up, the repairing of the gaping hole.
My initial attempt was to make a copy of the Stbd rudder seat, using P38, so I brushed vaseline in and around the area, mixed the P38 and this was the result...
plug01.jpg
Unfortunately, the rudder seats are "handed" so all I ended up with was a copy of the Stbd seat :embarrassed:
Then I came up with the idea of using a piece of shaped balsa, epoxied in placed both inside and out to seal it - here's the result...
plug02.jpg
plug03.jpg
Before applying the epoxy I marked, in pencil, the position for drilling. This shows through the glue for when I reach that stage.
I think that should be satisfactory.
Regards,
Ray.
Capt Podge:
And now to bring it up to date...
First task was to make and fit the deck edge supports.
A 69cm strip of wood, 6mm x 3.5mm, was clamped in place 3mm below the edge of the hull. The replacement deck will be 3mm thickness and therefore should sit flush with the top of the hull - I hope...
These supports also help to give the hull a bit of rigidity.
Once happy with the position of the supports they were glued in place with Cyano, using the capillary method to ensure the whole strip is secured to the hull.
deck_supports.jpg
The hull was then set aside to dry off.
In the meantime, the main deck was sanded back to bare wood. This also assisted in the removal of the bulwark support locating lugs which, due to the dismantling process, had snapped off flush with the deck.
So, here's a few more shots, with brief notes....
deckoff.jpg
That's the deck as it was when I removed it...
decksanded.jpg
That's the deck sanded down on both sides....
deckdamage.jpg
...and that's the result of my butchery from when I first built the model :embarrassed:
Regards,
Ray.
Capt Podge:
Forgot to add these other photos of the bits and pieces, some of which will be ok, others not so...
bulwark_supports.jpg
That's all 69 bulwark supports - they will all have to be renewed.
ruddersetc.jpg
The rudders, props etc will be cleaned up and reused - I hope.
bitsandpieces.jpg
...back to the rebuild then:-
Incidentally, the sanding of the deck has removed approx half of the thickness i.e. 1.5mm.
Now that the locating lugs have been removed, it's time to make a new deck.
A sheet of 3mm ply was selected and the old deck taped down firmly onto this, as a template.
template.jpg
The result isn't too bad and will be trimmed down gradually to achieve a good fit.
newone.jpg
...that's where we're at now.
Regards,
Ray.
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