HMS Bellona
Days 7 thru 12
Day 7 4/21/2004 21:45 to 22:50 Time 1:05 Total Build Time 9:35
Bulkhead #3 is unintentionally set to the bow fillers. I guess some of the glue oozed out and set #3 in place. I tried to get it off but feared breaking it, so I swabbed yellow glue at the joints between #3, the keel(1), and bow fillers(2). I'm really concerned about how to fit the decks onto the bulkheads. It's difficult to make the fit over the tops of bulkheads 4, 5, & 6....and into the slots on bulkhead 3...especially with # 3 set in place. I glued bulkheads 4, 5 & 6 in place, swabbed glue on their tops to hold the foc'sle, and, after some wrestling, I got it into place and secured on each bulkhead temporarily with brads while the glue dried.
Ok, so now, I've demonstrated the wrong way to assemble! The main deck should have gone in first cause it gots to fit UNDER the foc'sle! AND bulkhead 6 is now set in place.....same problem I had with #3!!! Dumb Ass!! So, after wrestling the main deck(21) a bit, I got it wedged before I realized I had it backwards! What a pro?!?! Ok, so I work on getting it out and now, break the starboard stanchion mold on bulkhead 12. (not doing so good here this evening!) I got it out and glued back the stanchion mold and clamped it. I think it's time to quit before I really do some damage. Maybe a good lesson on working when I'm tired.
Decks Installed Photo (Quarterdeck sects removed)
Day 8 4/22/2004 13:15 to 16:10 Time 2:50 Total Build Time 12:25
Continuing with the frame assembly. I got the main deck installed ok, then the poop, counter timbers, stern balcony, stern wing fillers(28), and bow deck. I glued the decks to the bulkheads and tacked them in place at several spots with brads. I've also dry fit the port and starboard sections of the quarterdeck. If you look at the Stern Photo, you'll see, the foc'sle support(24) under the foc'sle deck. I'm not yet really sure of it's functionality, It's not immediately clear from the plans. I don't like to install parts without fully understanding their function because order of assembly may be critical. But, in this case, it appears to be a pretty low risk.
Day 9 4/23/2004 10:00 to 12:50 Time 2:50 Total Build Time 15:15
I'm beginning work on faring the the bulkheads and fillers. I glued sandpaper to two small blocks to help. I also tried the Dremel but it was too fast with not enough control. I made an attempt at cutting the rabbet but decided to wait until I was more sure of the lay of the planking. Bulkheads & Keel Photo
Day 10 4/29/2004 19:45 to 21:55 Time 2:10 Total Build Time 17:25
The hull is built and the bulkheads have been roughly fared. I'm getting ready to start the planking. I spent a fascinating evening inventorying the wood strips. There are 28 different sizes ranging from 0.5mm x 3mm to 1mm x 1mm to 2mm x 5mm to 7mm x 7mm. Once completed, I began matching the inventory list to the parts list.....another exciting task!! I stopped at #124. In looking ahead I see these strips are used up through #385. Corel's Bellona lists 976 different parts. There are a couple of strips I need to go back and identify.... 0.6mm x 3mm and 0.6mm x 4mm beech board vs. tanganika. I remember using tanganika in AL's Harvey so using that as a reference I should be able to identify them....but not tonight.
Day 11 4/30/2004 13:15 to 15:45 2:30
20:00 to 21:00 1:00
22:00 to 22:15 0:15
Time: 3:45 Total Build Time 21:10
In preparation for planking, I need to mark the waterline. I began by leveling the hull on the keel holder using the waterline marker, then measuring the height of the keel above the table top. This height was transferred to Plate 5A in order to draw the datum line on the plans. At each bulkhead, the distance from datum to waterline. Using a triangle to ensure the rule was vertical 90 degrees from the tabletop, I set the waterline marker for each bulkhead and laid out the waterline port and starboard. To start the 1st layer of planking, I need to locate plank 30a shown on plate 5B. The bottom of this plank locates the top of the lower gunport openings. On plate 5A, at each bulkhead center, measuring from the waterline to the bottom of 30a, I created a table with columns: Bulkhead#, Waterline to 30, Datum to Waterline, and Datum to 30. On the hull, the bottom of 30 is located by adding tabletop to waterline distance to the already measured distance, waterline to 30. Tabletop to waterline was re-measured with the waterline marker for each bulkhead, port and starboard. I don't trust that the keel holder would remain level. With the waterline to 30 added, the waterline marker was set to this height to locate the bottom of 30a at each bulkhead. The waterline marker is then set 10mm below this height to locate and mark the top of plank 30b which coincides with the bottom of the gunport openings. I forgot to do this last part on the starboard side, so I'll have to go back and do it tomorrow. I completed all the bulkheads on the starboard side, locating 30a and on the port side, locating 30a and 30b for bulkheads 3 through 6 before some noises outside scared Stella. I had to quit and hold her till she calmed down....she's such a chicken dog!!
Marking Waterline photo Stella
Day 12 5/1/2004 10:20 to 12:30 1:10
13:15 to 14:45 1:30
16:50 to 17:45 0:55 (had to stop to watch the Derby!)
18:45 to 19:55 1:10
Time 4:45 Total Build Time 25:55
I completed locating 30a and b as described above for the remaining bulkheads. I then tacked a temporary stand in plank using a 0.5mm x 5mm plank left from Harvey at the location of 30a and worked on faring the 2 or 3 bulkheads closest to the stem and 2 or 3 closest to the stern, along with the bow fillers and the stern wing fillers. I primarily have been working on the port side. I pretty much got these shaped and stopped. I made the decision to limit the amount of shaping and "irreversible" work I would do until "the last minute," just before it was needed (Even though I realize that much of this shaping could be "fixed" with a filler if necessary...a procedure I would like to minimize). I found that toward the bow and stern, 30a's stand in demanded too much sideways bending, causing it to buckle. This actually makes more sense to me than the procedure described above...the gunports follow the lay of the deck, NOT the lay of the planking. So, even though it's only the 1st planking, it doesn't surprise me that the natural lay of a plank will not follow the gunports without buckling.
I decided to change tacks....locate the gunport supports that were set against a bulkhead 1st and mark 30a and b on these as the guide for when I install the 1st planking. Then, as I can use temporary battens and plan measurements to locate the remaining ones that "float" between the bulkheads.
I cut 28-17mm sections of the 10mm channel pieces to form the blind gunport supports. Studying plate 9, I determined how these supports were to be placed. I shaped the two supports between bulkheads 7 and 8 to match the curvature of the hull and set them in place. I used, as usual, Titebond yellow glue, leaving a couple of small spots open, on which I applied CA glue (Crazy Glue). The CA glue sets fast and holds the piece in place while the yellow glue sets. This procedure took a bit of trial and error, using a couple of short battens tacked between the two bulkheads. At this point, I think they're placed correctly but don't feel overly confident. When I find when myself in this type of situation, I think it's best to stop, especially when I've worked quite a bit in a day such as today. This gives me time to mull things over a bit.