About time to start the next build thread. I’ve been working on the plug for a bit, had to take about 6 weeks off for life but was able to resume work last weekend. Ended up making a weird hybrid plug, would have been easier to start from scratch. Bought a few books, started with WWII plans and improvised on the stern based on a picture. Made casements first, then framed out bow and stern. I think the lines I chose are close, but probably not quite 'full' enough at the bottom. Oh well. I build for combat, not for beauty haha Got the first layer of spackel down in the seems. Very happy with the 'high strength' version
Thanks guys. Sanded her down and first coat of paint to even out the surfaces and allow getting a better look at the lines Next step will be more spackle/ joint compound then paint and sand a few times. The first coat of paint is always a nice step to get done, now just polishing the cannon ball
Yes. 3 of the 4 were rebuilt twice, one was rebuilt 3 times. Length, width, stern profiles, casemates are quite different.
Some progress this weekend Had to sand down the bow some more More spackle needed to get towards a smooth surface Now time to sand down again some of the bow frames were slightly off, causing asymmetry. Decided to build up the other side with spackle Painting again to make surface more consistent, easier to see imperfections. Bow is getting better, still a bit more to add then sand down Stern is good enough for combat Spackle to build up side of the bow Next step will be some joint compound for any surface inconsistencies, then sand down and paint hopefully just one or two more times
Thanks. Got more work done, most of plug is about done, just a few more spots and the bow These pictures might look the same as earlier ones, but they are different (plugs are fun) this was joint compound now for the little imperfections sanded with 220 Hopefully done next weekend
I will typically only go to 220 (sometimes 120). All portions of the hull get cut out, balsa covered, or painted over so I scale my time/effort appropriately. Some of the real hull makers go to 300 or 400. A hull this size has a lot of surface area to cover, and it’s already a lot of time and effort before you actually get a hull out of it
My wetsanding kit goes to 1500.... plus three increasing grades of rubbing compound.... but I’m weird.
Wetsanding balsa sheeting is overkill at any grit. Lol. I’m talking plugs to molds for the sake of return on investment. Highly polished molds will make hundreds of parts. The slightest imperfections start sticking and chunking out pretty quickly. I’ll go back to being quiet. Lol
Finishing things up on the plug. Sanded the build-up area down Painted I'll do one last hit with joint compound on a few areas, one more coat of paint.
Thanks Tim Last round painted with blue Crook in the bow is gone I think she is done. The franken-plug turned out alright
