October, 2019
I am starting a new scratch-build project - a cutaway model of the stern section of a round-stern workboat.

I am using the same plans I used for the full model round-stern that I started in late 2017. The plans include a very cool exploded view of the stern construction and that inspired me to make a model of it.

The model is at 3/4" scale (1:16) and will be about 7"x7".

October 16, 2019
I started the model on October 11. The first step was to make the up- and down-chunks because they define the shape of the stern. Each one is two layers of material and there are 5 chunks per layer. Each piece was cut individually and glued together. There are also 31 bolts in the down-chunks. The "bolts" were made from 1/32" brass rod and the "nuts" from 1/16" square brass tubing. The plans show that the nuts were square, not hexagonal, so the brass tubing works very well.

Nuts and Bolts

Building Jig

With the chunks made, I had to devise a jig to hold them in the proper orientation. It turned out to be fairly simple - just some blocks of wood glued to a board with some more blocks screwed on to hold the chunks in place. Those three made that assembly very solid. I added three more for the other set of chunks. I'm building the hull upside down because of the orientation of the keel assembly.

October 16, 2019
In the picture on the left below, the staving is just temporarily leaning against the chunks. In the picture on the right, the staving is all glued on. At this point (yesterday, Oct. 15) I had made the keel/horn timber assembly and fashioned a jig to hold it in place as well. Today, I am working on adding about 3 inches of side planks. Then I will start to plank the bottom.

Building Jig

Staving

With the chunks made, I had to devise a jig to hold them in the proper orientation. It turned out to be fairly simple - just some blocks of wood glued to a board with some more blocks screwed on to hold the chunks in place. Those three made that assembly very solid. I added three more for the other set of chunks. I'm building the hull upside down because of the orientation of the keel assembly.

Many of the bottom planks have to be twisted to fit properly. You can see in the picture below how I do it. I cut the plank to length first, then I clamp it in a vise and use small bar clamps to provide the twist. I hit it with a hair dryer on its hottest setting for a few minutes. Allow to cool, then the twist will remain. You'll need to over-twist the planks because they'll spring back some when you release the clamps.

By the end of the day, I had the sides on the boat and about half the bottom planks. The planks in the remaining section are all triangular shaped, so they will take a bit of time.

Twisting Planks

Planking

October 18 , 2019
I only had about an hour to work on the boat yesterday, but today, I finished planking the hull. Still lots to do but I'm happy with the progress so far. I just realized that one of the mounting holes is going to get covered over by the metal shoe iron I have yet to add. No big deal.I'll drill a new hole.

Planking

Planking

October 20 , 2019
I've been working on the interior of the boat adding blocking above the up-chunks as well as all the various timbers to support the decking. Yesterday, I worked on the rudder post making the retaining nuts as well as the tiller arm. I also installed blocks for the steering rope. I can't install the rudder until I do more work to the outside of the hull so things are just sitting there temporarily.Next, I'll work on the decking.

Interior

Rudder Post

October 22 , 2019
All the decking is done along with the collar boards (coamings).Most of the upper deck is made from 3/32" square boards and each has to be fit to the curve of the covering boards, so it took most of a day to finish them. I also made a fitting for the prop shaft. It looks a bit rough in the close-up, but those scratches are not visible when you're just looking with your eyes. Old Earl should have been more careful with the wrench when he tighted those big nuts!

Decking

Prop Shaft Fitting

October 26 , 2019
Today, I worked on the hardware needed at the stern. That included the shoe iron, the prop-shaft fitting, the prop itself, and the rudder. Lots of fun work in these. Both of these pics are upside down - it was easier to hold everything in place that way. The prop-shaft fitting is glued on and will be painted when I paint the hull. The rest will be painted separately and added later because they need to go together in a particular order and, of course, I don't intend to paint the prop. At this point, I'm ready to start masking and painting. .

Prop and Rudder

Prop and Rudder

October 27 , 2019
Done! I got the boat painted today and everything assembled, so I can call this one done.Sixteen days from start to finish and there were a couple days when I didn't work on it at all. It was a really fun project.

Finished	Finished
Finished	Finished
Finished	Finished

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