Hi Everyone
I'm at that stage of the build where I seem to spend ages messing about with small details but it seems like nothing is getting done! Also some supply problems have limited my progress on actually finishing the fittings - I have lots that are part completed but not done. Hopefully "more on that later".
Anyway I thought I would have a go at one of the ships boats to break things up. This is the 25 foot cutter, standard item on most RN WW2 destroyers - plans in 'The Life and Ship Models of Norman Ough', and also EJ Foeth's brilliant HMS Hood blog 'On the Slipway'. There are photos of the one from HMCS Haida online.
The hull is a Deansmarine vacforming. After fitting the basic seats, keel, floor etc from plastic strip I then 'planked' the hull using gumstrip sealing tape. This is based on techniques from Phillip Reed, Brian King & the Norman Ough book. The tape is cut into approx 1.5mm strips using a new scalpel blade. The 'planks' are then added starting from the keel. This took some practice knowing how much time to soak the strips to activate the glue & some judicious use of PVA to secure the ends which want to un-peel. Also avoid the temptation to do too many planks at a time (maybe 4 in one go, then allow to dry?). As the glue is water soluble there is some time to adjust and re-do if needed.
Once the planks are all on, they are soaked with a small amount of thin CA glue which sets everything hard, then the ends can be trimmed off using sharp scissors and sanded flush.
The cabs are made from plastic card with paper strips for detail, railings from the ends of broken PE stanchions. Small deck details ("greebles?") are stolen from an airfix 1/600 HMS Suffolk.
Now have to do the 16ft motor boat and 27ft whaler.
Hope this is of interest!
James