PaintChip's Blog
PaintChip's Blog

Asheville-class Patrol Gunboat Mark II

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Entries on 27-September 06

entry Sep 27 2006, 08:37 AM
I spent the bulk of last night skinning the bow. I wasn't able to use large sheets like on the rest of the hull simply because the curves demanded better control. So after some thought I tried using a combination of 1/2" and 1" strips, lots of pins and clamps, and water to soften the balsa up to make the curving easier.

I spent a good bit of time just getting the knuckle to follow the correct places on the 0+4" frame...I felt this was a critical piece to the overall look of the hull. I'd not be worried as much if other parts below the waterline were not perfect but since the knuckle is one of the parts of the hull that defines a PG it has to be right. I also decided to not try to make the bow watertight with wood. I left gaps of about 1/16" or so between the planksto give some "fudge factor". I didn't want to fight the wood as I had done with the Dumas hull and leaving some gaps made it much easier to deal with. I figure that the gaps can be filled easily before fiberglassing to smooth them out.

Unfortunately the bow is the area that got the most glue out of the entire hull...I may have overkilled attaching the planks to the keel and remaining hull area smile.gif I went through a lot of hot glue but I wanted to make sure that I had a good bond that would hold the shape until the fiberglassing could commence.

I still have to trim and mold the very tip of the bow but that won't be difficult...just a matter of taking time to do it. Once that is done I'll add a basswood piece for the transom and then start the little bit of filling and sanding on the hull before laying down the fiberglass.

 
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