The build continues;
Firstly, having checked the drawings, i can confirm depth from main deck to load Waterline ( the land lubber in me feels this is the correct term for how far you fall before you get wet if your boat is full of stuff! ) as 10' on SS Ohio. I have marked this on the following photo but may ballast the model to the lower mark, for the sake of visual interest as she settles in the water.
This is the day it starts to look like the prototype. Firstly the bow is trimmed and sanded.
Its times like this that you just have to stand back and stare at the model, saying repeatedly.." I like the look of that..."
The other major job of the day is side plates on the centre section..
Yay!! Grahams back on the build.... The sides are dry fitted and the internal bulkhead positions are marked on the inner face of the ply. As you can see, we are placing the ply painted side inwards. this is to ensure the timber is waterproof INSIDE the ballast tank section. The paint is ground off the ply anywhere it is going to be bonded, to ensure a good mechanical joint.
The sides are first bonded, and then screwed in position, the sides are manouvered into position by eye and by touch, the screws are placed into the pilot holes and tapped into position using a 'dockyard screwdriver' ( usually referred to as a hammer by a chippy, and a dockyard screwdriver by those who worked within the confines of HM Dockyard, Portsmouth...."Just hit it!" ).
Finally, with the bow block sanded to shape and the sides on, she is starting to look the part. However, with foaming glue oozing out of various parts of the model, we cannot bolt her together for an end of session photo
No more updates this week, as we are off to Alexandra Palace on Sunday to eat bacon rolls and photograph the London skyline...again