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[JonC]

Hello and thanks for accepting me on the forum. This is the third time trying to write this post so hopefully I've solved it and can post no problem going forward.


Perhaps a little introduction.
I got into model boats about a year ago after visiting the tall ships event in Hartlepool, seeing those almighty and graceful ships and boats, set me on a course to have my own sailboat albeit much smaller. After finding my local club in Darlington. I bought an old nivarna sailboat that was going cheap and some older 27mhz radio equipment to install. The thing had big anodised turnbuckles and was painted bright purple. I set to respraying, and transformed it into something much nicer. Re-rigged with smaller .ore delicate looking swivels and quick release clips, the boat now sails beautifully.
My daughter decided that she wanted a sailboat too after finding it really relaxing by the water controlling a sailboat, so I looked on ebay for some plans and a magazine article. By chance the one I bought also had on the reverse side of the sailboat plan Steve Whitelock Sandy Bank. Inspecting the drawings it looked easy enough so why not. The daughter can wait a little longer lol.


So onto Sandy banks....


After buying the balsa required, I glued up the bottom from two pieces, glued the bulkheads in place, then set to arranging where the radio gear and battery ect was going to go. I made some retaining boxes for the electrics to stop them sliding around too much. Then the top decks were glued into place. And all sides sanded vertical.


Here's where I had my first mistake and knocked one of the supporting pieces out with the sanding block. Several cursing words later, and a bit of glue and time for it to set solved that issue. So finished sanding the sides a bit more carefully this time.


The propshaft and prop had arrived by this time, so I drilled through with good intentions to glue the prop into place. Here's where I made my second mistake. I drilled the hole through the angled sternpiece too high. This I've overcome by sanding the hole where the prop should have been. This will be filled with epoxy when set up, and the two pieces that support the extended propshaft will go some way to plugging the gap andstopping water ingress I hope.


I started on the combing on the top deck, while I rebuilt my pride, this was reinforced in the corners with 1/8" square balsa, then glued into the deck, which was sanded open for a good fit.


I then built up the wheelhouse and engine room from 1/16" ply. I could have just painted it but the more clyde puffers I looked at the more I thought need to do justice to that box, errr wheelhouse. So it has been covered with thin strips of wood. Just using normal wood glue. The windows been coloured in with a sharpie before the overlay of wood.


So far it's looking something like a boat, just need to buy some thinner ply for the sides,1/16" isn't going to go around that stern easily. Make up the rudder, and glue the prop in permanently.


Hope those pics have posted this time....
Jon

[GG]

I don't believe "Glynn Guest" designed such a model.


Glynn Guest

[JonC]

I don't believe "Glynn Guest" designed such a model.


Glynn Guest

My sincere apologies, I'll correct the title. I've bought a number of your designs and I seem to have confused myself somewhere along the way.

[GG]

JonC,
      Thanks for a prompt response.  I really wouldn't want to take credit for someone else's work.
Good luck with this design.
Glynn Guest

[JonC]

Hi Glynn,


No worries I understand. I was donated two plans of yours, Dusty Miller, and Beadle, along with the articles from model boats, by a member at our club. He was singing your praises at your designs been perfect for a novice like me. I had already started Sandy bank at this stage. I have a feeling this is where I've gotten confused. Beadle is currently cut out of plywood and ready to sand and stick together. The steam plant (of which I'll be making two), is based around the dimensions of the USE steam plant.
Jon

[JonC]

I went to the club today, but after an hours travel to get there due to rush hour and an accident. It was all locked up with no one there. "Club closed due to extreme weather". It was chucking it down.


S[size=78%]o I went home and figured I may as well work on the puffer[/size][size=78%] for a couple hours before I head to work for the late shift.[/size]




I epoxied the propshaft into place on the bulkhead, then epoxied it through the bottom keel area of the boat. Since I'd made this hole overly large, I cellotaped the inside and while still runny and freshly mixed, let it pour in little by little dripping it off a think stick. This seemed to work OK, and i tried my best to make a clean job of a mistake I'd made earlier in the build. The motor and prop was turned by hand several times during all this epoxying to ensure it was free to turn.


Once that was done, more balsa was cut to add the rear keel and support the prop. This been shaped so it would ensure a flat bottom to the boat. The rudder attaches to this using a thin strip of brass, and tube soldered together and glued around, when I'd finished the prop looked too close and a little weed would have clogged it I think. So the alternative, I came up with was to add a keel the full length of the hull. This should strengthen the keel and rudder mounting position. It'll be shortened and shaped once the sides and rudder are attached.


To stop it from rocking side to side and help with straight line navigation. Two strips added to help balance the look. I doubt these are prototypical to a clyde puffer, but there there for a practical purpose in model size. The majority of the time they won't be seen.


Extra pine wood supports were added under the 1/16" ply deck. This is to give certain features like the handrails at the stern, which will be made from split pins, and the mast support, to have a good foundation to fix to.


A productive few hours of fun, since the weather hampered fun at the club.
Jon