Fairey Swordsman - SLEC kit

My kit arrived a couple of days ago, at the same time as the temperature started to rise
Today I made a start but the temperature didn't allow me much time in the workshop. I did manage to mark all the parts with their numbers and remove the keel components. These were sanded to remove the lands and are now ready for assembly when the temperature coms down a little.

 

Barrie

On Monday I started sticking the parts of the keel and deck together. I furnished it this morning.



I removed the formers from their sheets and trimmed and sanded them ready for the next stage but I need a building board before I can continue. I have ordered some 12mm ply.

Barrie

OK, I didn't photograph it, but I made my first mistake  There are battens around the deck opening. I stuck them to the edge of the cutout, but they should have been on the underside  There is no plan with this kit and I had to work from the colour photos in the manual. 
My building board arrived today so after fixing the deck to it I glued the bearers where they are supposed to be! 



I'm ready now to mount the bulkheads and the keel.

Barrie

The keel and bulkheads are now fitted. 



The keel need shaping, and thee seems to be quite a lot of material to remove. I hope my tiny plane is up to the job.



Next are the stringers which will require steaming. 

Barrie

Finally got round to more work on Swordsman. Stringers added and I've started sanding the keel to shape.



Barrie

Keel and stringers sanded to shape and first two bottom sheets fixed.



The next two should go on OK, but the forward ones look to be oversize by quite a lot.

Barrie

More of the bottom sheets applied.



I had to trim the front section - I hope It got it right



Barrie

Last bottom sheet 



and a start on shaping the balsa block. I don't have a gouge, so its slow progress with sandpaper on a bit of plastic pipe.



Barrie

Nearly there with the first block, but three more to go. 



This is where I've got to - very dusty job.

There's going to be a lot of filling required

Barrie

More work on the balsa blocks. These are getting close to the final shape - I think



I have continued to add the sides, but I think I will have to remove and re-do the forward one. The instructions and photos are not very clear in this area, but thi is obviously wrong.



Barrie

Panel replaced. Luckily I had a sheet of exactly the same material so it should not be noticeable. 

Barrie

This is now ready for the filler

Side two all planked 



Next job is to steam the transom, and then start filling

Barrie

All the edges now sanded down and I've started filling some of the many gaps. Still lots more to do, but its a start.

 

I though I was going to have to steam the transom which would be awkward as getting from the kitchen (steam) to my workshop is a slow process in my current state. However, I tried some dry heat from a hair dryer which seem to be adequate so that is the next job.

Barrie

Added some more filler today

 

and more sanding



Bar rie

Transom now fixed and sanded. More filler added to the bows. I had to stop at this point as it was too cold in the workshop - I couldn't hold the tools.



Barrie

Very nice work but seems a lot of effort. I recently built a wooden model boat company Thames lifeboat and the sanding of the bow blocks did my head in. Getting the right shape, or close to it was a mare. Reverted back to vac form or fibre glass hulls for future builds

Yes - it is not the easiest way to build a hull, but for me its the building that's important. Its unlikely this will get near the water as I no longer drive and the sailing water is 30 mils away!

Barrie

Finished sanding and a coat of resin applied to the hull.



and now a layer of tissue and resin applied to side one. The instructions suggest using glass fibre tissue and epoxy resin, but I have used Dave Milbourn's favourite method of tissue and acrylic resin - easier to apply. 

Just a few kinks to sand out when its set hard.

Barrie

The whole hull has now been covered with tissue and resin - several coats of resin. Once completely set it will need rubbing down. The next job is to fit the chine strips and also the strips to the underside of the hull. I an hoping to get these done before the weather gets too cold so that I can at least spray the hull with undercoat before I fix the laser lined deck overlay.

Barrie

Chine strips now fixed and the first of 6 spray rails to the underside. These are fixed with superglue. 

Barrie

Spray rails now fitted and covered in resin. Ideally I would give the hull a spray with white primer, but I'm not sure the weather will cooperate.
If not, its onto fitting the prop shaft and rudder.

Barrie

Too cold for spraying so onto the prop-shaft and rudder tube.

 

The motor mount is not yet crewed down. I am currently using a solid coupling - not sure if that will be OK, but time may tell - if the boat ever gets onto the water

The hole in the prop-shaft is to allow me to grease/oil the shaft. It will be covered with plastic tube or tape.

I do really need to spray the hull as the next step is to fit the laser engraved deck, which would be better done after spraying.

Barrie

if you leave it like that and glue the motor holder instead of using screws it should work (start with superglue and then fill up with 2k epoxy or similar). If you use screws there may be some tension at the end, then you'll ruin the 'gears' (in and out parts of the shaft) and it will start either leaking water, oil or grease.

I hear what you say Jorg, but it is unlikely that I will sail this boat. If it does become possible I will change the coupling for a flexible one. For that reason I will screw down the mount so that I will be able to move it should that be necessary.

Barrie

I did manage to spray the hull with primer earlier this week.

Today I fixed the deck overlay.



Barrie

Finally spent some more time in the ice box (workshop). No too long but did fix the motor and the coamings round the opening in the deck, before my fingers gave up!
That's it for a while I think.

 

Christmas Greetings

Barrie

Improving health and weather have allowed me to get back to modelling  
A few days ago I treated the decks to a coat of teak stain. Today I started to assemble the cabin. The whole cabin is removable so there will be very good access.



Since taking the photo I have glued the front and back screens and removed the assembly from the hull to allow me to strengthen the joints.

Barrie

I've started planking the front cabin roof.



Barrie

I finished planking the forward cabin roof.  Needs quite a bit of sanding to get a good shape

Barrie

Now sanded and filler applied. Started on the rear cabin roof



Barrie

The forward cabin roof is now almost finished (photo was out of focus). I also lined the underside with tissue stuck on with PVA.
All the rear cabin roof planks are stuck and the underside lined. Ready for sanding and filling next session.



Barrie

Rear cabin roof sanded and filled waiting final sanding.
Next up is the cockpit area. I can't follow the instructions for this so I will be making it up as I go along


Barrie

I had some problems with the cockpit  As I couldn't understand the instructions I decided to build it as a separate unit and then fit it to the cabin. Unfortunately it doesn't fit . I have sealed it and painted it, and will have to work out how to include it.



I've turned my attention to the electrics. The ESC is mounted on the bulkhead in the forward cabin with the battery tray in the middle and rear cabins. The steering servo is screwed to the back of the battery tray, and the Rx will sit on top of the tray. I am fitting a fuse between the battery and the ESC and this will be used as the switch.



Barrie

The cockpit has now been fitted into the cabin. I had to fill in but this will not show as I intend to plank the area behind the windscreen. The Cabin sides have now been painted a pale blue, and the hull given a coat of grey undercoat.



Barrie