Topic: Billing Boats Nr 424 Mercantic cargo vessel. (Read 29117 times)

Ruud109 · « **Reply #25 on:** May 30, 2021, 03:13:10 pm »

Good to see you back, I always enjoy your builds! This one looks to be a good one as well!

Taranis · « **Reply #26 on:** May 30, 2021, 04:47:42 pm »

Quote from: Ruud109 on May 30, 2021, 03:13:10 pm

Good to see you back, I always enjoy your builds! This one looks to be a good one as well!

Thank you. Have I been away?

Ruud109 · « **Reply #27 on:** May 30, 2021, 06:51:59 pm »

well after a week or two :)

Taranis · « **Reply #28 on:** June 22, 2021, 09:29:15 pm »

Having struggled with the bottom sheets I decide to focus on the aft planking around the prop which is now progressing well. I've stopped using CA for planking as it has undesirable effects on my skin. So its a slow job with Aliphatic resin.

Taranis · « **Reply #29 on:** June 23, 2021, 09:55:05 am »

Working late got me to here. I'm thinking I will plank the aft half with the plank joints on the flat midship section.
As it is being glass coated anything goes.

nemesis · « **Reply #30 on:** June 23, 2021, 04:43:01 pm »

Hi Andy, nice to see a rising floor for a change. Lots of this model ended up with a concave bottom. It is coming along quite nicely. Bill

Taranis · « **Reply #31 on:** June 23, 2021, 06:51:37 pm »

What's a rising floor Bill? thanks.

Ply cut the correct way to bend easily.

Full complement of pictures @ https://techno.smugmug.com/Billing-Boats-Nr-424-Mercantic/

nemesis · « **Reply #32 on:** June 23, 2021, 08:06:51 pm »

Hi Andy, Where the plates rise away from the keel, so I suppose every thing drains down to there, the bilges. bill

Taranis · « **Reply #33 on:** June 24, 2021, 08:51:51 pm »

A long day it's been to get to here, a selection of pics from the gallery.

steve mahoney · « **Reply #34 on:** June 24, 2021, 11:01:01 pm »

Good progress – you're certainly not messing around.

Taranis · « **Reply #35 on:** June 25, 2021, 03:39:20 pm »

Cheers Steve, the joy of retirement

Closing the aft skin this morning, shaping and sealing the balsa and resin coating the inside.

Constant checking for any distortion, absolutely bob on with straight edge across the fore deck.

I'm now using a fan to create outdoors when using epoxy. I bought this years ago to speed up drying floor levelling compound and forgot all about it

Now a major workshop asset

Next is the making of a template for a single piece of ply around the bow from deck to gunwale.
The original Mahogany parts that were intended for this must have been a nightmare if even usable with the grain running the wrong way. I'll bet there was much swearing and many bodges in its day.

I don't like to let surplus mixed resin go to waste so this was used to add some lead shot in the stern bilge.

Her bum is lovely and smooth to the caress

No more work at that end now until the full skin is ready for sanding.

So now the bow presents itself for the works

nemesis · « **Reply #36 on:** June 25, 2021, 05:42:15 pm »

Hi Andy. That bow is a thing of beauty, a lovely flair and a pleasure to behold. It is coming along quite well. bill

Taranis · « **Reply #37 on:** June 25, 2021, 05:53:40 pm »

Thanks Bill. There is a lot more to sand off of the bulwark ribs yet which leaves them very weak. I've gathered that builders smash them out after fitting the skin and fit their own ribs more akin to the real vessel. None of that is in the build information but it is the way to go for sure.
I imagine if you put 10 Mercantics side by side they will all be different shapes

I have a good eye and I will be happy with how it develops in my own way

Taranis · « **Reply #38 on:** June 25, 2021, 08:46:43 pm »

I thought that was it for today but bolstered by a single malt I made a start at the pointy end.
There is a mismatch betwixt keel and frames (not my doing) so the skin has to fit best it can and the keel be re shaped to suit later.
Just one half glued and clamped tonight.
Although the bends at the bow look extreme I can firmly say that the stern is the most complex and now behind me. pun

roycv · « **Reply #39 on:** June 27, 2021, 08:58:20 am »

There is a bare unfinished wood hull of Mercantic on ebay, no plans or parts.
Roy

SteamboatPhil · « **Reply #40 on:** June 28, 2021, 05:13:51 pm »

Have to say looking really good Andy, nice work (and one of my most favourite models)

Taranis · « **Reply #41 on:** June 28, 2021, 06:53:51 pm »

I've seen it Roy, very expensive firewood

Cheers Phil.
Now further planking at the pointy end working away from the keel.

At the same time extending the bulwarks forwards

Hande · « **Reply #42 on:** June 29, 2021, 09:28:03 am »

Andy, I hope it's not a trade secret of your's, but after weeks of struggling with mine -
I'm really interested in how you accomplish the neat paintwork along the line where the bulwark knees meet the deck.
humble follower,
Hande

Taranis · « **Reply #43 on:** June 29, 2021, 09:39:36 am »

I have only done that on the Portgarth. My other boats have not been different colours.
On the Portgarth I first painted the deck and masked it up before fitting the bulwark ribs on top of the thin paper masking. You will find pictures in the blog.
https://techno.smugmug.com/Portgrath/Portgarth-volume-5/
Another method copied from John Boyd masks off the bulwarks and ribs without painting around the ribs

Fortuitously Stevn's arctic is all one colour

Taranis · « **Reply #44 on:** June 29, 2021, 04:53:54 pm »

I decided against trimming the keel to suit the bottom skins in favour of re contouring with resin.

Better

Both sides now planked to same stage and some lead shot fitted in the bow

Taranis · « **Reply #45 on:** June 29, 2021, 08:09:16 pm »

A very rare occurrence

To celebrate I fitted another plank whilst under the influence

Colin Bishop · « **Reply #46 on:** June 29, 2021, 09:32:02 pm »

Is that Caviar in the forefoot?

Colin

Taranis · « **Reply #47 on:** June 29, 2021, 09:40:45 pm »

Caviar might be cheaper but not heavy enough

Taranis · « **Reply #48 on:** July 01, 2021, 04:35:26 pm »

Billing Boats HQ touched base today. This will by no means be a quicky but they've asked for my help to reintroduce this kit as there has been much interest shown by Billing fans.
I have of course offered them all that I have in anyway that I can help.

They are extremely busy lately so its a slow burner

Stan · « **Reply #49 on:** July 01, 2021, 04:42:21 pm »

Question for Andy is the Mercantic very similar to the Slipway Dutch coaster?

Stan.

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