HMS Bellona
Days 13 thru
Day 13 5/5/2004 20:15 to 20:45 Time 0:30 Total Build Time 26:25
I continued installing the gunport supports. I'm having some trouble, though, cutting the "wings" off when required. I bought new, really sharp kitchen knives recently and cut a flap off the tip of my thumb while dicing an onion! I can't hold these 12mm x 17mm x 10 mm pieces of channel tight enough in the miter box...so I only completed two and stopped.
I'm still studying the planking methodology. I'm going through Jim Robert's article on planking for the 3rd time3. I noticed that I located the tabletop datum differently than his recommendations. He located the waterline at the stem and stern posts and measured down from there. I could not see clearly, how to accurately locate these points. So, as I described earlier, I leveled the keel and measured down to the tabletop to locate the datum.
I was also looking through Lavery's book on the Bellona. I learned some helpful details on the planking. Specifically the "hook and butt construction" of the main wale and the way the plank thickness below the main wale gradually reduces to the 4" thick plank over a spread of 6 planks.4
Day 14 5/15/2004 09:20 to 10:55 Time 1:35 Total Build Time 28:00
Continuation of gunport support installation. I didn't write anything at the time so I actually have nothing here to add from day 14.
Day 15 5/25/2004 19:35 to 20:30 Time 0:55 Total Build Time 28:55
Continuing with gunport supports on the starboard side. (The ones attaching to the bulkheads). I've had a little trouble getting them set right as far as the depth into the hull. I used a small section of plank to try to set the depth, but in working, to error on the light side so I would have to trim rather than have to build up. The differences here are tiny. The more important consideration is that the cannon are all at equal depth so they extend uniformly out of the hull.
Day 16 6/15/2004 11:00 to 11:50 Time 0:50
12:40 to 14:00 Time 1:40 Total Build Time 31:35
Having completed the initial placement of the gunport supports attached to the bulhkeads, on the starboard side I place a batten lined along the bottom edge of the gunports. Starting at the center bulkhead (#8) and tacking the batten at each bulkhead, I proceeded toward the stern. The aftmost support required some trimming to allow a smooth lay of the batten. Then, I began tacking at bulkhead #7 and moving forward, I found that the natural lay of the batten gradually ran more and more below the lower gunport edge (no great surprise). Due to the bluff of the bow, I had to remove the gunport supports attached to bulkheads 4 & 5 and reposition them against the batten. I also had to shape the bevel of bulkheads 3 & 4 to allow full contact of the batten on the bulkhead surfaces.
The use of this batten is really a continuation of the faring of the bulkheads to ensure a smooth hull. I began faring the starboard stern wing filler as I had previously done on the port side. As I did this, the filler began to separate from the stern wing along the top edge. This is where the filler is shaped down approaching zero thickness to form the hull shape. I stopped at this point and worked some yellow glue in behind the loose edge and clamped it.
The learning today with faring the bulhkeads and having to reposition some of the gunport supports reinforces my general mode of operation which is not to get ahead of myself when it comes to shaping the hull and placing components. I plan to continue with the use of the temporary battens to fare the bulhkeads and check the gunport supports. I continued the process, fitting a batten along the gunports lower edge on the port side and along the waterline on the starboard. Next I will continue the process with a waterline batten on the port side and probably 3 more down to the keel and possibly 1 or two above the gunports. With all of these in place, hopefully, I will be able to see a better representation of the hulshape and I can begin thinking about the rabbet.
Faring Batten photo1 Faring Batten photo2 Faring Batten photo3 Faring Batten photo4
Day 17 11/3/2006 13:10 to 16:15 Time 3:05 Total Build Time 34:40
As you can see, it's been quite awhile since I last worked on the Bellona. If you like, you can check out my new website, roseislandphoto.com for an explanation (See the "About" link). Briefly, since I bought a digital camera, I've gotten very enthused about photography which is where I have been spending most of my spare time. But now, since I've retired, I have more time available and while I'm continuing my photography, I'm also getting
back to model shipbuilding.
I've spent quite a bit of time over the last couple of weeks re-familiarizing myself with the ships plans and planking procedures. I'm not including that time in my Build Time count. I wanted to re-convince myself that the gunport supports I'd installed and the faring of the frames had been done correctly so I spent a little over an hour doing that. Then I decided to go ahead and take the plunge and begin with the first layer of planking. As recommended by the Bellona plans, I installed plank 30a. This is the plank that locates the tops of the lower deck gunports. I got it installed using yellow glue and brass brads at each frame to secure it in place. It didn't look bad but I felt pretty awkward...it's been a long time since I've done this type of work.
Day 18 11/4/2006 13:10 to 14:45 Time 1:30
19:35 to 21:45 Time 2:10 Total Build Time 38:20
During the afternoon session, I made some faring adjustments (sanding) on the port side and installed plank 30a on the port side. In the evening, I installed, on both port and starboard the planks defining the bottoms of the lower deck gunports (30b).
Day 19 1/6/2007 14:00 to 17:00 Time 3:00
19:20 to 20:00 Time 0:40 Total Build Time 42:00
After examining the planking I had already installed, I believe that 30a on the starboard side is about 1 mm low amidships (in the center). I cut and added some strips to make up for this. 1 mm doesn't seem like a lot, but when the gunports are only 10mm high, it can make a visible difference. I may have to make some more adjustment to the bottom planking involving some cutting or more likely, sanding, but I'll wait until the first planking layer is complete so I can be sure of what I'm cutting. During the evening session, I began preparing and shaping the next plank to be installed. As the hull curves inward near the top, known as the "tumblehome," the edges of the planks need to be beveled a little so the planks will fit smoothly around the curves. I learned this the hard way.
Day 19 1/7/2007 12:40 to 13:50 Time 1:10 Total Build Time 43: 10
I'm ready to install the planks to define the tops and bottoms of upper deck gunports (30c & d). I decided to install one of the upper deck gunport supports to make sure I understood the placement. Installed the support at frame 5 which is near the bow. I sanded it down to fare it a bit and decided I was ready to proceed with the planking. While a plank was soaking in water and the plank bender was heating up, I began pulling some of the temporary brads from the previously installed planks. I then installed 30c on the port side. I'm starting to get more used to the work.
Day 20 1/9/2007 19:20 to 20:10 Time 0:50 Total Build Time 44:00
This evening, I prepared and installed 30d on the starboard side. I'm really starting to feel comfortable with the work....probably screwed Something up! I'll add some photos in the next few days.