JFC so this is how I find out we're gonna be smelting Lead, isn't it. *grabs respirator* FINE. but I'm gonna complain the whole time.
After consulting with some captains I decided to change how I'm going to build the stringer. Instead of cutting 2 windows along the stringer then reinforcing it, im going cut the full window out then build a stronger stringer onto the hull. Bonus for me is that it makes it way easier to cut the windows and I'm finished with the rough cut. It got a touch wonky in the stern but I'm happy with it. I'm going to be reinforcing the ribs after sanding down the bumps that were added on to the hull for what I assume was for a stringer location. Last picture is a top down view of the concept of the stringer. One layer of basswood along the interior of the hull. One layer between the ribs along the length of the ship. One layer of carbon fiber over top as the exterior flush with the hull.
Got the built in armor belt/stringer on the interior of the hull flattened out (1st pic shows that bump). Then got the port side ribs reinforced.
I've been working on a few other random projects over the recent weeks but recently got back on the PE. Doing some lead pouring for bilge keels. Shoutout to @Anvil_x for the router work. Length came out perfect. The red lines on the lower hull are the scale start/stop marks for the bilge keel. Got the windows cut out and feel pretty good about it as a first go at it. I know it's a cruiser but I want this boat to last so I did an interior reinforcement of the ribs. Also the hull had a ridge along the inside that may have been designed to be the armor belt. But I didn't like the location compared to scale so after flattening the ridge a bit so could get my wood built stringer in, I really felt like it needed it. The reinforcement also gave me a chance to fix some aggressive cutting mistakes I made when I cut the windows. After cleaning up the interior rib reinforcement I built on the stringer. It's all Bass wood, then sanded down to match hull shape, then lightweight fiberglass cloth.
Shout out to my supervisor. She keeps us at at a cruicial 38 digit minimum during cutting activities.
Not anymore. Sure it might be overkill for a cruiser but it's my first go and I'm trying to include things I will do in larger boats. But I also want longevity and I think this should hold up for years vs just leaving the hull fiberglass in place. I was going to skip the fiberglass layer and use a strip of Carbon Fiber. Turns out CF is $#!+ for impact resistance. I verified this with my small hammer, useless. @Anvil_x knows his materials haha.
That is on my list of things to do for the Lutzow. Put a wood stringer back in. I accidentally cut it out when cutting the windows.
Just so no one takes my advice without context... This is the 1st time I've cut windows. Been rebuilding and playing with fastgun boats for 2 years but just started my own somewhat unsupervised construction. That said I don't think I'll ever bother to cut the stringer out again*. It took ALOT of time, you're literally doubling the amount of panels you have to cut out. I did maybe half of one side this way and then CANX that after reassessing my plan. *there's probably a hull out there that it makes sense to keep the FG and reinforce it. I'll cross that quarter deck when I get to it.
