Polish Pilot Boat

Important Note


The photos in this blog were posted from Photobucket. In view of their new policy, I have cancelled my account and they will disappear on July 7th 2017.  If anyone would like to see the photos I can recreate them from my own PC.


Barrie




For my new project I bought an old kit from ebay. Its from the same Czechoslovakian company as my Fishing Boat Artur . No pre-cut parts, just printed ply and lots of strip wood, plus for this model some 14 mm printed wood which appears to be very resiny pine. 
You may recall that my handicap with Artur was that all the instructions were in German - this time its Swedish  It does come with some diagrams and two sheets of drawings (not scale) showing where every part goes - unfortunately the parts list is in Swedish also.
The box was a bit tatty, so this is the best photo of the completed model that I could get.


This is one sheet of the drawings



This is one sheet of ply showing al the very small parts - I don't think there is any chance of cutting out some of these - the ply is too dry and brittle, so some alternative solution will be required.



I am already thinking I will build the cabin in plasticard 

The supplied propshaft is only 3 inches long, and bearing in mind the problems I had with Artur's rusting. I will be using a new 2 mm one. I am think of using a 260 motor on 6 volts, with a miniature servo for steering.

Barrie

Interesting project Barrie, best of luck sorting it, I'm sure you will as you always do

Thanks for your confidence - I'm not quite sure I agree . I think what will happen is that I will build the hull from the kit, then quite probably scratch build the rest, using the supplied parts as a guide. For example, the kit doesn't include a deck - its just made from the planking, but I think I will add a 1 mm liteply deck, and plank on top of that. I'm also not quite sure about the hull access - that's the problem when you don't read Swedish - and the plans don't show that information. I'm also thinking of replacing the pine blocks with balsa for the bow and stern.

Today I finished cutting out and sanding the hull formers. The keel parts have been stuck together, so the next step is to assemble the hull.

Barrie

I have been playing with my new toy - an Arduino micro-controller trying to automate the ramp on the Calmac Ferry, but today got back into the workshop to continue with the pilot boat. First I supported the keel in a vertical position on a board, then started adding the frames.

Once they were dry, I added the remainder so that I am ready for planking.


Both the bow and stern are made from blocks, so here shouldn't be too many awkward boards to fit (maybe). The wood is not very flexible - looks like pine, and last time on the fishing boat it proved quite obstinate. However, if I can do it there's no reason why you can't Damien.

When its all set, the next job id to turn it over and fix it to board to provide a firm platform for planking. I think I also need to strengthen the joint between the forward part of the keel, and the centre section - its only glued edge to edge

Barrie

I'm looking forward to this build Barrie. 

All the bulkheads are set - had to re-do the forward one it was not square. I think it was the keel that was warped, anyway I've done my best  I have also attached the deck level stringers, and now turned the model over and fixed it to the board. The instructions showed some supports under some of the bulkheads and these have been made. The hull is pinned down at the bow and stern.
I am thinking now that I will buy some balsa strip for the planking. The supplied wood is very inflexible, and also difficult to cut - a knife just doesn't make an impression. As I plan to cover it with tissue (or glass cloth) and resin, I think 1/16 x 3/16 balsa will be OK, and much easier to use. This does mean a delay until I can get to Maldon to buy the materials, but I was going there anyway for thicker balsa and some ply.

Barrie

I picked up my supplies yesterday and started planking today. I actually bought 1/8 by 1/4 balsa for the planking - a bit more thickness to go at when sanding . My plan is to sand roughly then add a layer of filler, sand to shape then add glass tissue and resin - inside and out - so the balsa just forms a framework for the glass fibre.

I am currently using aliphatic glue, but may switch to CA to speed things up.

Barrie

 looking good Barrie.

I switched to CA glue this morning and progress is much faster  It looks a bit rough, but none of it will show on the finished hull - I hope  Another couple of sessions should see it finished, then on to creating the bow and stern from 1/2 inch balsa sheet.

Barrie

I've finished the planking.....



.... or at least I thought I had. I haven't taken it far enough back  It should have gone one more bulkhead astern. Not quite sure how this happened - I blame the lack of English instructions.




I will now have to find a way of completing the planking up to the area to be filled with blocks.

When I've solved that problem, then I will line the inside with glass cloth and resin before I start sanding the outside.

Barrie

The remaining planking has now been completed. I think that after application of filler and lots of sanding, it will blend in OK. I think that next I will line the inside as I said before moving on to fit and carve the bow and stern blocks. It will give more strength to the hull.

Barrie

Looking like this will be a nice little model! I will continue to watch with interest.
On a personal note I would not have used balsa,especially if you are to R.C.It.But as you aim to sheath it in fibreglass,it will give it the strengthening needed.
Good Luck with her 
Mick F

Mick - I agree balsa is not ideal, and it is not my favourite material, but the strip wood that came with the kit was old, brittle and a lot of it cut across the grain. I built another model of the same age and from the same manufacturer, so knew that working with the supplied material would not be easy or very successful.
I have a relatively local supplier for balsa so went with that. Hopefully by the time its covered inside and out with glass and resin it will be strong enough.

Please not evidence of support for Cornish industry - although I believe they are owned by a Yorkshire firm

Barrie

Yesterday I set out to line the interior of the hull with resin and glass tissue. Unfortunately it was very cold and the resin wouldn't run, so I stood it in some warm water, which made it run, but also seemed to accelerate it going off   The result of this was wasted resin, leaving me with insufficient to finish the job. So I didn't hold up progress I finished the job this morning using Easi Kote water based resin, so the whole of the inside is now strengthened ready for vigorous sanding of the outside
I have also fitted the balsa blocks to the bow and stern ready for carving/sanding to shape.
Barrie

 

 Coming along nicely Barrie.

Lots of carving and sanding this morning . I think I have got the stern shape correct, but I am not too happy with the bow yet. I had to give up as my hand kept seizing up  . My prop shaft arrived so I fitted that and also the tube for the rudder. When I'm happy with the shape of the bows I will start to apply some filler to sort out some of the problems and holes  .

Barrie

Yesterday I did a little more shaping on the bows, then applied the first filler. It will need more I think  . The filler was quite slow going off, so I didn't get much sanding done and went off to do other things. More today!

Barrie

Almost there   After another session of sanding, this is the last lot of filler - I hope  . Still taking quite a while to set hard, so will finish sanding tomorrow. I have created a template for the deck and marked out the openings required. The instructions show a large centre section as removable. I'm not sure if this is instead of the areas I have marked. or as well. The drawing isn't very clear   I will start by removing the areas I have marked, then see if that gives enough access. This will be a sub-deck made from either 0.8mm ply or some liteply. I will plank it with the supplied wood strip.

Barrie

she has a beautiful shape to her hull......really showing some good sea keeping lines now....super. matey.....I tell you what Barrie, you keep me interested constantly.

neil.

Final sanding today, then I gave it all a couple of coats of EzeKote resin before starting to apply the tissue. I was going to use polyester resin and glass cloth, but given the problems I had doing the inside, I decided to stick with what I have used before. I have done one side - the other tomorrow with a bit of luck.
Once that is on it will be a case of sanding then more resin, then more sanding etc. Any remaining blemishes will be addressed at this stage, although it may need a coat of primer to reveal them. 

Barrie

Today I applied the tissue and resin to the second side. I was hoping to be able to do more, but its too cold for the resin to dry quickly  Before covering the second side, I did do some sanding and trimming of the first side just to be sure it would be OK. I finished making the stand - it was supposed to be from 2mm ply, but I transferred the shape to some 6mm liteply. It also only had one dowel, but I have used two and stained and varnished it. If it doesn't warm up its going to take a while to get enough resin on the hull.

Barrie

The hull has had both sides treated with tissue and Eze Kote. Several layers of Eze Kote have been applied and sanded down. Its now ready for a coat of primer so I can see the blemishes and decide if I want to do anything about them   - this is a working boat after all  My problem now is the weather. It need to warm up a bit so I can spray the primer.


I spent most of today's session trying to figure out the motor and servo mounts. The smallest motor I think suitable is a 260, and its too big to line up accurately  I have cut away as much of the keel as I can , and now it touches the side walls. I am very reluctant to go to a pulley or gear set up, and have now managed to get it reasonably in line. I think that this will work OK without too much loss of power - its going to be a very light boat. The servo also gave problems, and this is the second attempt to mount it



If the weather doesn't warm up, I will cut and fit the deck next. I was going to use 0.8 mm ply and plank on top of that, but I now think that I will use 3 mm liteply and mark the planking. I think that this will give a stronger hull.

This build is turning out to be more of a scratch build than a kit build

Barrie

Taking shape nicely Barrie.... One question how do you keep your work area so tidy? I have over 60 feet of workbench space & it is all full!!!!

Mark..

Mark,
The answer is that I have a young (5yrs) Grandson who complains if the workshop is untidy when he comes on a Wednesday  Of course, when he's finished it isn't very tidy. 

The deck has now been lined out and fitted. I am now working on the gunwales which I realised needed to be fitted and blended in before I can apply the primer. They have been cut from 0.8 mm ply and are ready for fitting. There is a lip left between the deck edge and the hull sides to allow for fitting. I think this is correct, but again not reading Swedish, its a guess . The bow and stern will probably need steaming to get them to fit.

Barrie

Do you want to send him round here, I am sure he is better than tidying than me!!

Mark..

The gunwales have now been fitted - that at the stern was a real problem to fit, and in the end required some filler. I have also realised that I haven't cut the freeing ports and hawse holes . I'll have to figure out how to do that   There are rubbing strips to fit at the joint between the hull and gunwale.
I have also cut out the bulkheads to improve internal access. 

Barrie

 

OK - spot the difference, or Barrie's mistake   I had managed to put the stern gunwale on upside down  Corrected now and I've started applying the rubbing strips. The stern one is still to do. Given the quality of the wood supplied this is going to be tricky 



Barrie

I've now finished installing the rubbing strake at the joint between the hull and gunwale. I have also installed most of the inboard strip to make the gunwale capping - just the stern to do  .
I have also successfully cut out one of the freeing ports. It proved easier than I expected   Tomorrow I will cut the other one and try to finish applying all the strips round the hull. Then I will be able to get some paint on it to see what needs filling.

Barrie

 

Windy wrote:

Do you want to send him round here, I am sure he is better than tidying than me!!

Mark..

nah, c'mon, every one on here and mayhem knows that my needs for a tidy workshop are paramount.............I need to find my chuck key, lol

Coming along nicely Barrie

Thanks

I cut the other freeing port this morning. All the strip wood is now on. Just some filler to rub down at the stern - it was tricky getting the strips on round that shape . Since taking the photo I have also installed the Bulwark Supports down one side whilst waiting for filler to dry. When they have been fitted on the other side I will treat the top part of the hull with Eze Kote, and then it will be ready for spraying. I am waiting to cut the Hawse Ports until I get some fittings - which is the next job today. Source all the fittings I need to build the superstructure etc. There are non supplied, in fact I realise that all the small parts shown on the ply are to make lamps, ventilators, mast rings etc.

Barrie



(There seems to be a problem with Photobucket, so I am hosting this on Servimg)

I finished off the bulwark supports this morning, applied Eze Kote to the bulwarks, and masked off the deck and freeing ports ready for a spray of primer. After a wet morning, the weather has improved to give bright sunshine, although a very cold wind. I took the chance to spray the primer in the sun in front of the garage, after bringing the spray can indoors to warm up .
As I expected the primer has shown up a number of areas that require attention from the filler . So that will be the next job when the primer has a chance to harden. I'm not seeking a perfect hull, but some of the hollows in the planking will need filling.

Barrie

As you can see in the previous photo and this one, there are quite a few holes that need attention  Today I just added some filler. It is actually quite difficult to see where it is required when you are close up. It will require some serious sanding tomorrow 

Barrie

Filler rubbed down and hull re-primed! Its not perfect, but much better than it was

Barrie

It looks pretty damned good to me Barrie.

You have done a very fine job especially with such a difficult material as balsa..........I just don't have the patience myself to work with it myself.

neil.

Thanks Neil - its not my favourite material either, but it was better than the stuff in the kit

I'm reasonably happy with the hull now. Onto the superstructure which I will again scratch build - from plasticard this time

Barrie

Fitted the coamings today - just two short bits to go - then corners to make watertight. I also started cutting out the cabin parts, using the ply pieces as templates. I seem to have lost some of the parts, at least I can't find them  , so I will have to make them up  .

I finally managed to order some paint yesterday from a supplier who didn't want more money for postage than the value of the paint  That should be here next Monday, so then I can apply some paint and mount the prop and rudder. I cant decide what to do about the deck - I think its too light, but I have already given it two coats of varnish so stain will probably not take - I wonder how it would look painted light grey? I plan to use this inside the bulwarks.

Barrie

Hi Barrie,

I have heard somewhere that you can add a small amount of black or other colour paints to varnish as a tint, they would have to be compatible though.

I may try that Troutrunner. I plan to paint the insides of the bulwarks light grey which is why I thought of using it for the deck - it would save a lot of very fiddly painting

Today I worked on the main cabin. All the pieces are now cut, and all the window openings, ready to put together after I've finished cutting all the porthole openings. I have done one side. these are 10 mm diameter and I used a stepped drill for the job - rotated by hand not in a drill. The flat area at the front and the roof are supposed to be made from the planking strips. I may use those for the roof as it has some curves, but I think 2 mm plasticard will be fine for the flat area.
Having used plastic, I think it will require some extra stiffening, although the wooden roof may be enough.

Barrie

The basic cabin is now finished ready for trimming and filling. I added a bit of extra stiffening to compensate for it being 1.5 mm plastic card not 2 mm ply . I think it wil have to have some means of being fastened down as it doesn't feel too secure. I couldn't make the coamings as tall as I would have liked as the portholes already show the coaming. I have had to sand a dip for each one  
I also need to work out where I can put the switch as there is rigging attached to the cabin roof which may make it tricky to remove at the lakeside.
After the glue dries hard, I will trim it up and then work out how to attach the roof.

Barrie

 

Looking mighty fine Barrie. 

The cabin is now finished apart from fitting some doors.There were none in the kit as I think they were drawn or scribed. I may make some from 0.5 mm plastic card. You will see that I have used the wood parts supplied for the skylight (not the portholes they were bought). 
I also fitted the prop shaft and propeller as well as the rudder and skeg. although I have not completed the linkage to the servo. I was going to install the motor but didn't have the correct connector for the ESC so it will have to wait. 
When I came to fit the portholes in the skylight I found the Hawse Ports which still need to fitted so that is probably the next job. I can then start painting the hull as my paints were delivered today

Barrie

She's looking great Barrie and contrary to what has been said about kits on another site, we love kits on here matey.

cheers, neil.

Hi Barrie
I like it, looks good. Oddly from the link on Mayhem I could see all thr photos, but now having logged on I can only see a few - odd? Never mind.

Dave

Dave

Most of the photos are hosted on Photobucket, but a few are on the photo server which is part of the Forum. Maybe that's the difference, although noone else has commented.

Barrie

Barrie....those deck vents you are asking about  on mayhem are of graupner origin as used on their RAU 1X WHALER KIT..... I don't know but think I had a couple in my garage a while back.....will have a look tomorrow....but don't build yer hopes up.finding them might be a lost cause............but definitely graupner.
neil.

Thanks Neil. If you can't find them there are some RB fittings which are the correct size and shape - don't know how I missed them as I always check Cornwall Model Boats for fittings.

Barrie

All the major parts have now been constructed.   I have started painting - the top of the hull has had two coats of satin white, as has the cabin. I have finally fitted the Hawse ports, and the inside of the bulwarks has had one coat of light grey - it will need another. 
Apart from painting, I think the next job is to taper the mast - it goes to a sharp point, and then there will be rigging to do. I have one or two hatches to build, and I think there are parts for the small winch. I've just found on the ply parts to make an anchor  which is supposed to go into a hole in the bows - maybe

Barrie