The Model Boatyard - Pinky Schooner

Fame

June 1, 2016

A new model on the ways! I recently returned from a trip to New England visiting lots of maritime museums. I wanted to make a model in memory of the trip and have decided on a pinky schooner. The ship in the image above is Fame of Salem, which sails out of Salem, MA. Unfortunately I was not able to sail on her or even get very close, but I like her color scheme and what I can see of her deck layout. I'm basing my model on Model Expo's kit of Glad Tidings. That boat was built more as a yacht for naval historian Howard I. Chapelle back in 1937. I prefer working boats, so I intend to change the deck layout by eliminating most of the deck houses and adding some hatches. I don't anticipate too many other changes.

The kit itself is excellent. There are 6 sheets of very detailed plans drawn by Ben Lankford. He also wrote the instruction manual. This would be a great kit for a dedicated first-time modeler. It will take some time and effort to complete, but the results should be worth it. I may be writing an addendum to the instructions as I go along to help the new modeler.

June 12, 2016

I now have the bulkheads assembled on the false keel with the rabbet cut. I also installed the carlins and deck beams. I am going to change the deck layout to make it look more like a working boat. I'll have a smaller, simpler deckhouse forward, and two hatches in the center.That necessitated changing the deck beams and carlins as shown on the plans. I'm ready now to start planking the hull.

Assembled Bulkheads

Carlins & Deck Beams

June 18, 2016

I've been working on planking the hull. I now have the B and C belts completed. Six more strakes to go. I'm far from the world's best when it comes to planking, but it will all get painted anyway.

Planking Progress

June 22, 2016

Done with planking the hull! The whiskey plank went in at 8:48 last night. Celebrated with a healthy shot of Kraken rum. Not whisky, I know, but I felt like rum was more appropriate for a New England boat. My planking job is not going to make anyone's top-10 list of best-planked hulls, but I've seen worse. Hell, I've done worse! Besides, as I said before, a few coats of paint on the old girl and a couple more shots of rum she'll look just fine.

The Whiskey Plank	Planked Hull
Bow Planking	Stern Planking

July 3, 2016

The deck is planked and the deckhouse and hatches are done. I need to make some lifting rings for the hatch covers. Just haven't gotten to that yet but that will be easy enough. I am happy with the way the portholes turned out. I had originally just painted them red like the deckhouse, but a friend suggested they should be bronze so I redid them. I will be putting Mod Podge in them to simulate glass. I see there's a little ding on one corner of the deckhouse that needs to be repaired. Only just noticed it.

Deck

Portholes

July 20, 2016

The hull is now essentially done. I built the bulwarks from scratch because the ones in the kit didn't seem to fit properly. I also built most of the caprail from scratch for the same reason. I'm not sure I like the color scheme - it may grow on me - but I don't think it's likely I'd repaint it now. Next step is to make the rudder and tiller and add various deck details.

Painted Hull

July 29, 2016

Still working on deck details. Just finished the binnacle cabinet. It's hard to tell scale without a human figure, so I hired a crew member. The binnacle cabinet will be tied to the deck once I start putting all the pieces together.Still a few small details to finish on the deck then I'll be ready to start on the masts and spars.

Binnacle Cabinet

Deck Furniture

September 2, 2016

What happened to August? Still working on the boat although I took a couple weeks off because I got a new kitten. Named him Marco (Polo). He explores everything! Just about 8 weeks old in the photo below. I have all the masts and spars completed and just finished the chainplates today. I'm waiting for some wire to arrive that I plan to use for the standing rigging. I have all the rope made but have not yet started stropping blocks.

Marco

Chainplates

September 10, 2016

Yesterday, I made some shackles that I'll need on the bowsprit. If you'd like to learn how I made them, check out my technique page. Today, I got the chainplates and the bowsprit installed. The footrope you see in the picture is only on temporarily. I need to get the bowsprit shrouds on first but I haven't made up the rope for them yet. I'll do that tomorrow.

Shackles

Bowsprit

September 26, 2016

Moving along slowly. Some days I work on the boat, some days I don't. I got all the standing rigging done today. I used stranded wire to make the shrouds. Pretty difficult to work with because it's springy. The rest of the standing rigging is ordinary rope.

Bowsprit Rigging	Mastheads
Parrels	Shrouds

September 30, 2016

Running rigging is now done except for making some fake coils to hang on the cleats. Next steop will be the anchors.

Rigging

October 6, 2016

She's done. This was a great project. A few hiccups along the way, but every model is like that. All in all, I really enjoyed building this one and recommend it to anyone who likes such boats.

Starboard	Port
Starboard Looking Aft	Looking Aft
Port Looking Fwd.	Port Aft
Bow	Bowsprit