Removed the rest of the film, marked bondo locations Overall just a few small bubbles Other half, this one only has 3 spots I think Very tip of stern isn’t great Plan is to do a quick bondo job and wax the mold tomorrow, maybe a layer of film or two. Planning to layup first hull Saturday. I’m goin to Mark rib locations on the mold then use about 3/4-1” strips of mat for ribs, stringer, deck rim. Will use 1 layer of mat on the sides.
Not the update I was hoping for, but another project came up that took my weekend, so no hulls before Nate’s battle. I did finish the other project with time to clean up the molds. Here are some pictures. This is my first mold without a flange, so the mold extends beyond the top of the hull, so I cut the edges off the casements so laying up the hull should go well Filled in the few holes with bondo Might sand the bondo quickly on Tuesday or Thursday, maybe mark rib locations and wax
Kevin, after my disastrous experience with the bondo used to repair defects in the Hawkins Class cruiser mold I suggest you apply a sealer to it before waxing the mold. I waxed the Hawkins mold thoroughly but the bondo still stuck to the first hull and the mold is being repaired again, this time with gelcoat.
Thanks bob, hopefully my bondo has been minimal, I sanded it down and hit it with clear coat acrylic. Also marked rib locations, planning two 3/8 in bow and 12 1/4 Stern Plan is to wax and coat tomorrow, hull 1 Saturday. Fingers crossed
So, its been a DAY that is less than wished for,,,,, kinda day, and well I read your post and I have to confess got a bit excited for the results of your first hull. Well I had a very Witty comment to make about Nike ads and just do it and another Individual who is featured in new ads..,, and rather than carry on the day, I decided to stay positive I think. Thank you Kevin for sharing this journey which has made My days a little more fun filled as well as Thank you for your dedication to your real profession and this country to keep the rest of us safe. My hat is off to you good sir!
I made hull 1 today. Took about 5.5 hours including fiberglass cutting time. I made the sides first to get the casements set, then did the rest of the hull. Used two layers of mat for most of hull, casements were more (lost count). I think the next hull I will do one side/casements, then middle, then other side to minimize time between some batches. A lot more tedious than the little Tromp hulls. Hull came out pretty easily once I started separating the flange. In general there are very few air pockets, and only a couple small ones that might made it beyond window cutting. I marked the hull to cut to size, will complete tomorrow and float test to see how displacement will turn out. Only 7 more to go
Well, my gig might be up haha. Right after finishing hull 2 I was visited by the fire department due to complaints by some other residents. Windows were closed due to rain, so more fumes made it out than normal. Firefighters thought the hobby was cool, I don’t think I’ll get kicked out but we will see. I’ll have to shift hull making (and probably sheeting too) to Marty’s (until he kicks me out haha). Anyways, hull 2 is sitting in the mold, I cut hull 1 clean, pleased with how it came out Shifted to my large mat order. Should be enough to make remaining hulls Cut pieces before laying up hull Hull 1 on hull 2 while waiting for some of hull 2 to kick Cleaned up stern, was pretty easy Sides bowed in a bit Ran a float test, nice to work on a boat that fits in the tub At 18.5 lbs here, below scale Heavy weight here, 21.5 Sits on the stringer at heavy weight, will probably aim for scale-ish (19.5) Will be a couple week delay before I get to more hulls. Will cut 2 down and prep mold between now and then, maybe precut may (since that step doesn’t smell haha)
Definitely don't get yourself kicked out. lol I'm sure we all can wait a little longer for our hulls. Hulls look good though!
You could sleep and build in Marty's garage? Save a ton on rent. But then you would be "on call" for boat work 24/7.
Popped hull 2, looks like it came out pretty good as well, no significant bubbles. It was a nice clean pull as well, all I really have to do stick a chisel between the flanges and one half comes off pretty easy, other one with only a minor amount of pull. Proper amounts of PVA mold release is key
I have found that molds break in and improve to a point. I clean with warm water and apply one new coat of wax and then PVA for each hull and they do well unless I am careless around features like casemates. you put a lot of features in that one. good luck. I know a lot of guys were smiling at the Battle here in anticipation of getting one to build.
Cut excess off hull 2. Y’all might want to look into a water cooled dremel to get through the sides, air cooled was getting pretty hot haha. Planning for hulls 3 and 4 this weekend
Thanks Caleb and Bob. Hulls 3 and 4 are in the books. Hull 3 was a tank, I was mixing too much resin. It had a few defects that I had to remove, overall still good. Here are shots of hull 3 cut down Thick on the sides Hull 4 is in the mold, Steve will pop it out for me and get the mold ready for Friday to lay up another one. Plan is to make 5 and 6 next weekend
Hull 5 is curing, slated for beaver. Hull 4 is out of mold and ready for cut, slated for Matt A. Here is 4 Defect in the bow of 4 The defect was hard to understand, until I saw it happen on 5. I lay up in phases, starboard side first, then middle, then port. I lay up the port bow when I do the middle. When I was finishing up the port side, I heard the mold pop two times, I think the part of the port bow that I lay up before the rest of the side contracted or something and popped in while heating up. Looks like 5 will have a similar minor defect, but I make the hull thick enough that I can grind it all flush and/or it will get cut out with windows. I build for battle not for show haha Here is 5 I’m pretty consistent with 4 hours per hull lay up time. Planning to do 6 on Monday on a day off. Maybe I’ll work on my own soon
I just wanted to say, I got my hull from Kevin this past Saturday. He's a hull building machine and he builds them tough. Great strength, captured all of the details of the casements and armor belt, got the narrow shape of the ship's very sharp stern. Great hull for battling, thank you again @Kevin P. for taking charge and making this a reality.
