work in progress, 1/6th 1890's navy steam launch built to navy plans

[tghsmith]

had to move the aft pullies for better operation,, waiting on some music wire and springs to finish rigging the steering,, as a small side project started cutting the stock for the boat chest,, decided to see what this little byrne's table-saw could do.. it works better than nice!!! made some very small tongue groove stock for the bottom boards, the very small dovetails should be "fun" to cut..

 

[tghsmith]

the boat chest progressed today, cutting dovetails with a jeweler's saw and an opti-visor,, still needs the feet and to make the brass hardware..did a side project for another steam boat modeler..

 

[tghsmith]

has a crazy idea and had to see if it would work,, a 1/6th scale saw for the boat chest,, ground down a saws-all blade, maple burl for the handle,, still needs some finishing and brass pins,, (it will cut)

 

[tghsmith]

still have to lock the cables in but the steering gear is about done!!!

 

[tghsmith]

steering wasn't done!!! corrected a major directional mistake and re-rigged it all, it's now working (correctly)

 

[tghsmith]

still not much on the wood side of things,, boiler base ring soldered, sleepers for boiler installed in hull with boiler hold-downs added,, built a servo gear-drive unit to turn the steering shaft,,

 

[tghsmith]

tested the servo driven geared steering system this morning,, all looks good yeah!!!!

 

[tghsmith]

getting the lead out this morning, building up a form to steam bend the deck coming around,, wood that was on clearance at HD

 

[tghsmith]

managed to get it roughed out,, a very long saber saw blade for the inside,, the outside will send some time on the disc sander to get it to the final line, that the surface that counts..

 

[tghsmith]

new sanding belt and disc made the work go a little faster,, the form is about ready, will trim down the top edge to make clamping easier,, time to start steaming again...

 

[tghsmith]

the maddness goes on,, shop time has been hard to find the last week or so, started work on the figures for the boat, a coxswain, engine man , a lieutenant and wife.. using purchased 1/6th scale jointed bodies and held sculpts,, glass eyes added (1/6th scale figures is a really big hobby thing) hats and details added using epoxy sculpt media.. bodies filled out using light-weight epoxy sculpt,, kind a slow process as you have to wait till things cure before moving on..

 

[JohnnyR]

impressive!

 

[Ricksmi]

I'm impressed great work.

 

[tghsmith]

back to a little wood-work,, cut the white-oak stock for the coming to shape, turned it into thin sections on the table saw, final thickness on the precision sander (great great tool)steaming hot water soaking and double layers bent around the form nicely.. once again you can never have to many clamps

 

[tghsmith]

all those clamps and the form actually worked.. the coming is rough fitted!!!!

 

[tghsmith]

a little better photos, very happy with the results

 

[tghsmith]

started working on the lamination for the cherry coming cap rail, this will be five strips 3/5th are in the clamps for the night.. good photo of the rail and the cask I get to make..

 

[tghsmith]

glued the 3/5ths of the coming cap to the coming, had to get a little inventive in the clamping,,

 

[tghsmith]

the time spent making the form and all the soaking, steaming, gluing, clamping and shaping looks like it paid off.. some quick stain to check to see if the glue lines would vanish.. I think we're good on this complex part..

 

[JohnnyR]

I love following this build! The coaming looks great.