Great Lakes Freighter

This is a totally different build to the others I have going, it starts on a flat piece of board, a pine shelf actually, both Bow and Stern are built up from several pieces of ply. The base (pine shelf) is where I started, today I rough cut the ends on my table saw. The bulkheads can be made in different ways according to the plan, I have chosen the method of angled pieces of ply with braces top and bottom.

The Base, rough cut.




And the bottom braces and the ply pieces that need shaping.

I have been busy cutting more bits, this time for the bow and the stern, these are made up of several pieces of ply.....

A bit more done here, getting ready to fit the sides.

It's coming along. 

The interesting thing is Damien, it is a completely different build to the other two, if fact all three are so different. I never realised that there where so many different ways to build a model boat, not sure which method I like best yet, the more complicated is the method Eileen is being built on.

Paul,
Any number of modelers building the same model will all use different methods and materials to construct a model the nit-picker rivet counters couldn't tell apart that's what makes it so interesting.

,Eg: my Lady of the lake paddler has balsa bulkheads and spruce stringers the rest is 2mm Screen printers card.

We are always refining our building techniques as we learn to build more and spend less.

Damien.

Sides on now and building up the rear end, I have made the hole for the prop to fit through.

Sides on and all clamped up.




Cut pieces of ply for building up the stern.

The hull is now complete next job involves a bit of carving, in the plans there are templates for profile gauges for the stern, so now I have to work out the positions at which they fit.





For the top laminate of ply I made edges to lift it to give the slope of the deck, there was a space in the centre, to fill and glue this I used the expanding Gorilla glue that I had bought. I taped and clamped it solid but still some escaped.

I have been doing a bit of carving today, getting bottom of the hull into shape

These are the profile gauges for the stern, each one fits in accordance with the plan, this could take a little while to get right.




The front and sides still need a little work but I'm happy with the progress.

Marked the relevant places for the profile gauges which are all numbered so as not confuse me.

Coming along nicely Paul. 

Thanks Damien 

I've been putting off the shaping of the hull for about a week, but finally bit the bullet and the first side is nearly there.

I have two sheets of ply, 1/16 & 1/8, ready for the decks, cabins and upper sides of the ship front and back

Not updated here for a while, I have been carving the stern, not the easiest of jobs, I certainly needed the profile gauges that I took from the plan. I also fixed the stern tube in central position.

This is where I am at present with the shaping of the stern, still a bit of work to do but getting there. I made a little fopaux which neede some wood putting in, I think it will be OK.


The Stern tube in place just before sticking with Epoxy Resin, I like this stuff but it's hard to get a neat job.
I did screw the motor down first, with proper alignment.

Not done much over the last couple of weeks as I have been laid up with the flu...........

A little better and back to it I had more or less finished the shaping of the rear end before my illness. The plan says use a 1/8 x 1/4 brass or pine for a keel, I chose brass and used 3/8 x 1/8  and also made the rear end stepped to accommodate a reasonable propeller and a skeg as a rudder guide. not sure if I am right or wrong here but time will tell. If anyone know better please let on



It's not fixed yet, I need to sort the rudder first.

Enjoying this blog nice to see some calving methods to achieve a nice looking hull 

Coming along very nicely Paul.
Keep posting the piccy's 

what ever happened to this Trout?

It's still work in progress and will resume September/October time.

I just have to much to do in the summer months, the garden, old cars, old motorbikes holidays............the list goes on, I have more projects than time left to do them but I like to be busy

dam that pesky summer demanding all that time away from boats

Roadrunner wrote:

dam that pesky summer demanding all that time away from boats

That's the trouble when you have a big plot of land it's quite demanding. These photo's are from a while back, it's a bit tidier now and the sheep have gone, only a few chooks remain.







The front garden as it was...........

As promised, now back to the boats, a bit later than anticipated but it was a nice longish summer.........

I had a tidy up yesterday and look at things on this boat. I made a place for the battery to sit and am at present planning out where the electrikery bits will fit before fitting some of the deck. The plan is to put the on/off switch under one of the many hatches.

A bit more done, I decided to put the ESC and the receiver in a forward position near the battery and I have put a tube made from a part of a roller blind, super gluing the split that the blind fitted in, it's for the wiring to the servo and motor to go in.







I have also made a start on the forward cabins, I am going to put in some LED lighting inside and Nav. lights front and rear, I have a hole for the wires in the centre of the cabin area to the battery drilled in readiness.





Fuses will be fitted to isolate both motor and ESC plus all other electrics.

A little more progress, I have been messin' with the Main deck and false hatches. Three section are removable for maintenance access, there will be one more piece of the main deck at the stern that will be removable for access to the rudder linkage.





I have to trim the edges of the removable bits





Just one more hatch to do but this will lift off and reveal the on off switch.

Any more progress on this?

Soon with a bit of luck, have had a bit of Ex trouble, ground work and fences (fences to keep her and her dogs out), once we have divided the land I can then get on with my life................

All I need to do is build a bench and shelves to house all my kit and then I can get on with my boats. 

Watch this space (not to long I hope).

I must be waking round with my eyes shut, as I have missed this mighty build as well, but what an amazing build it is..........

enjoying it thoroughly and will take notice of builds more. neil.

Thanks Neil, I'll be back at it soon with a little luck.................... before he's due to come down the chimney I hope.......

i'm a bit the same myself with the ferry at the mo. sod all enthusiasm, as my retirement day is getting oh so close, and the thoughts of getting astride a beamer  rt 1200 tourer beckons lol.

Hi all. I have just joined and found this build of something I am feally interested in building. Alas to my disappointment it seems tha the build was never finished. Can anyone update me on this pleas. Or does anyone know where I can get the plans. I am in the UK

I just joined. I am afraid you won't get a reply. You asked a question in January 2024, Its now June. Either the members are dying before they complete a build or just went dormant. Good luck.

There are plans for an earlier Great Lakes Whaleback ore carrrier at

https://www.nemoha.org/3710942/image/4532450

There is quite a lot of information for these boats online