Chinese Fishing Boat

So, as I said in the mini-tug thread, this is my second Chinese purchase. It cost less than £9 and, apart from glue and possibly paint, wont require any further expenditure I hope.

This is what you get. It came wrapped in bubble wrap and plastic and came within about 10 days direct from China. The overall length is just less than 25 cms. It is purely a static model complete with wooden prop



The laser cutting is excellent and there is a lot of detail etched into the parts. The hull components all came cleanly out of the ply. I think they are about 1.5 mm. The deck is less, and the planks are laser cut in 1.1 mm ply. A dry fit of the components showed good accuracy and the bulkheads were a tight fit to the keel. The deck has cut outs for the bulwark supports so ensures a pretty accurate alignment. 

 

Rather than risk damage by removing the bulkheads, I just ran some thin Superglue into the joints. The deck was stuck down with aliphatic.



While waiting for the glue to harden, I started assembling the cabin. Again the pieces were neatly cut and came away from their carrier sheet cleanly and with only very small 'bridges'. 

 

Next session will start planking

Barrie

another very interesting project, Barrie...…..you pick some really diverse and excellent prototypes...…..

this is what this site needs to attract and encourage new and old builders alike to participate...……..look forward to this one as usual with your builds. 

keep them coming.

A little beauty Barrie. 

hi barrie,

the wood looks very  nicely cut , very neat for its size. is it a common model our just a one of from china, as I have never seen it before.


david

David - its Chinese . The laser cutting is excellent. In fact I made a mistake above. The planking and the thinner wood is solid wood not ply. Only the hull components and the cabin structure are ply.



One side of the bulwarks has been fitted together with the first plank. Planking is going to be tricky as its difficult to use clamps and pins. The structure is also quite fragile so care is needed. I bent the first plank using heat from my soldering iron and super glue to stick it. I will be trying aliphatic for the next plank - less risky when using all fingers and thumbs to hold the plank

I finished the cabin as well. You can see the construction method using tabs for correct alignment.

 

Barrie

hi barrie,

as regards the planking barrie, have you ever tried using string. I make a slip knot then fix around the end of hull as can be seen in photos then just keep wrapping it round, its some thing I have used a lot as it holds the planks tight in place some times a pin here and there helps it not to slip. then when glue is dry you undo and no damage is done.     (if you want to remove this barrie I will not be offended)    thought it might help others.








I fined it better than clamps more often than not. the tighter you can do it the better.


david

Thanks - I will try that David. The first one was OK as I could hold it and run the glue from behind, but that will get more difficult.

Barrie

never thought of that method of holding planks david……..you learn something new every day.....cheers for the info.

barrie, 

I missed this photo out showing the wedges. if you pull the string as tight as possible as you wrap it round, you can then push the wedges under string and it makes a better hold to ribs our keel.






if you can put it with the other barrie ,that would be better sorry to mess up.


david

No problems David.



This morning I fitted the other bulwark and first plank, then carried on planking the original side. I'm using aliphatic glue here - just hope it will hold . I have managed to get some pins to hold as its so small and fragile I am not sure if the string idea would work.
I know its normal to add planks to alternate sides but this is going to be a static model and bit of a twist won't be a disaster . Its also held fairly rigidly by the deck.

Barrie

Five planks fitted each side now. The last one on each side was shaped, and I think all the following ones will need shaping individually.

Barrie

Here's a photo of the model I'm building.



I've almost finished planking one side. It will need a lot of sanding and filling

Barrie

looks and always has looked from your other builds...…...far better than my planking has ever been, or will be...something to be very pleased about...……

if I build a plug from POF configuration, Barrie, I can use almost all of a 7 kilo can of polyester filler, on a lifeboat plug for taking a mould off...…...its the only way I can ever get a proper smooth finish.

god knows how these guys who build the varnished hull Scottish fishing vessels do it...……….I look on in awe, and jealousy, lol.

First side planking finished. As you can see there are quite a few ridges and hollows to sand or fill.



Another couple of planks on the other side - another session should finish off the planking ready for sand and fill. Its lucky I had decided to paint this hull

Barrie

nowt wrong with that planking, Barrie. nothing at all.

Planking finished

after a little sanding

 

and some filler applied.



Barrie

After a quick sand the hull looked quite good. Just a few places required attention from the Squadron Putty. I then gave the hull a coat of acrylic primer/undercoat and a light sand once dry. This has left just a few more blemishes which have been filled. Ready now for marking the water line and then paint.



I have painted the inside of the bulwarks and can now fit the cappings. I fitted a false transom as there were some problems with the original.



I also made and painted the two winches and have tapered the mast. The kit includes a laser cut prop, but I have fitted a plastic one from stock. The stand has been painted, mainly to erase the Chinese name and the "English" one which appeared to be 4 random letters . I have tried to shape the two forward ventilators, but the smaller ones are too small to do the same. I have a couple of life rings ready for painting. The original photo shows what I assume are supposed to be tyre fenders, but I don't think I will fit those. Similarly the supplied laser cut anchor appears too big to me, so I wont be fitting that either.

Barrie

that IS A NICE  looking hull, even before the filler.....

excellent job.

Yes - once I'd sanded off the filler it looked pretty good.

Barrie

I've started painting the hull. Top part has had two coats of satin white.

I also made the mast and painted it. The ventilators have been painted white and the life rings also. They need red adding when the white dries. I haven't fitted the bulwark cappings as I think I am going to stain them so will wait until the hull is painted.

Barrie

Looking rather splendid there young chap 


Dave

The hull bottom has been painted - hope its covered OK as I don't have much of that colour left  The ventilators and life rings are painted ready for fitting tomorrow. I think I should be able to complete this tomorrow.

Barrie

you build 'em too quickly matey...…..you'll be running out of projects. 

I know Neil, but the last three have not had much to do really compared to your lifeboats. I don't have any more projects lined up so will take a break for a while. I have ordered another of these as I think it should be possible to get a better hull having built one. I am also considering four different kits, but haven't made a decision yet.

Barrie

 

Completed . I'm quite pleased with it, but think I can certainly do better with a second one. The instructions were not clear in a few places, particularly where the bulwarks fit. I started with a plank at deck level, when I think the bulwarks should have gone on first. So that and more care with the planking for the second one!

Barrie

Looking rather good there awsome in fact 


Dave

 Really nice Barrie. 

I agree with all your comments...…...a superb build of a very neat nice looking boat...…...roll on your next conquest Barrie.