Fishing Boat Artur - again!!

So here goes with my second build of the old Czech kit Artur. I originally built this in 2014 - 8 years ago! I subsequently sold it.
This new kit bought on ebay for £59 is in good condition and has only a couple of problems - so far! The prop tube is there but the shaft is missing so I have ordered a new complete assembly. The other problem is that part of the keel is warped. I have steamed it and it is now clamped to the bench hoping it will straighten.

The formers have been cut out. This time I was able to use my Dremel Moto saw which made it a lot easier



I am now stuck waiting for the propshaft and also some brass tube and rod for the rudder. I will probably continue cutting out the other parts while I wait.

Barrie

This is going slowly - its been too hot for modelling. All the formers are cut and sanded, and the three pieces of the keel are joined together.
But I had a problem with my Dremel drill - its cordless. 
Last year I thought the battery had failed because it wouldn't charge, so I ordered a replacement. That charged with no problems - until last week when it refused to charge.
I decided to try to find a replacement drill and sent for one from Amazon. I didn't like the look of the latest Dremel, so selected another brand. When it came it was too heavy and bulky, so I returned it and ordered another replacement battery.
Before that arrived I decided to do some testing on the two batteries that I have. I had already dismantled the original Dremel one and had the three cells out of the case. I tested these and found all to be holding a charge . The replacement also seemed to be the same, so I started prodding and poking the charger.  
Not sure what I did, but its now charging both batteries.  which is good except that I now have three batteries

Barrie

A bit of progress this morning after it warmed up and stopped my hands locking up!



The forward part of the hull assembled and glued - not the deck that's just to make sure everything is aligned. 

Things turned for the worse when I moved on to the stern  As far as I can see there is something wrong somewhere. 

 

As you can see the two parts do not match up  I'm not sure what's wrong here. Once the forward part is dry I need to do some measuring but at the moment I cant see what I've done wrong.

Barrie

I finally got the stern to align after adjusting the notch in the upper keel  I think my problems arose because I tied to follow the instructions. I didn't have this problem last time, but I had no instructions to follow
I have fitted the stringers so almost ready to start planking, but first I want to check the decks to ensure they fit easily and don't overlap the sides. The ply they are made from is very hard and doesn't sand back easily.



The hull is very similar to my Polish Pilot boat which took on water when I sailed her on Sunday - not sure where from. I want to seal around the propshaft with resin if I can get it into the tunnel.

Barrie

I trimmed the decks to make them fit to the outline of the stringers. They should just slot in place when the time comes - I wish

I decided to start planking at the top - This way I should be able to get the bulwarks looking neater, although I think I will need to skin the inside as the material is quite rough. Since taking the photo I have added one more plank to each side. 
I started off using my Proxxon Vice to hold the hull, but this one is much easier to use - clamp for the ball is at the front which is more convenient. I can rotate and tilt the hull to make it easier to apply the glue etc.
I test fitted the rudder tube and found it wasn't as vertical as I thought so I will have to adjust that at some time.
I have sealed round the prop tube exit with epoxy glue, and plan to try to fill the tunnel with liquid resin from the inboard end.

Barrie

The build is progressing nicely  The planking is going well. There are no very sharp bends required, so the upper planks don't require soaking to help them fit the hull. The lower ones do as they bend and twist, but is getting easier as I move up the hull.



Last time I built this model I had problems with the timber, but this time its going well. The planks are quite rough, but otherwise OK.
I have filled the incorrect rudder shaft hole with a piece of dowel and will have to drill another.
I wont post any more photos until the planking is finished unless I hit any problems

Barrie

You got enough clamps there Barrie?
I'm glad this is going better it's frustrating when things go badly.

You can never have enough clamps - and if you think you have, then they are the wrong type 
... particularly true in this case.  I need more with a wide opening.

The modified paper clips have proved very successful and speeded up the planking. Having used one to temporarily hold the plank, you can then insert a pin through the 'loop' if needed.

Barrie

Planking finished  Just got to remove the last pins and trim the ends. 
Next job will be to line the interior with glass tissue and resin before I start sanding and filling and sanding and filling and ........

There are also the balsa blocks for the bows and stern to start to shape - these are the bow blocks



Barrie

The inside has had glass tissue and resin - another coat of resin needed when its dry, and the outside sanded and first layer of filler applied. I started with the dregs of a tin of P38 which was quite tough to apply, then opened a new tin - what a difference . It obviously isn't a good idea to keep it too long
I think I need to make myself a curved spatula for smoothing the filler in the concave areas.



Barrie

The hull has now been sanded - its not perfect and will need more filling but I am waiting until I have made and fitted the bow and stern blocks. These are taking a long time  The balsa is very hard and difficult to hold to be able to use any cutting tools on it. Most of the shaping so far has done by hand sanding, although I have now got some coarse sanding sheets for my Mouse.
I made an error in the shape at the bow and have had to add some 1/2 inch balsa to pack it out.

These still have a long way to go.



The stern blocks have to come out of these - you can see how much has to be cut away.



Barrie

The two bow blocks glued in place. Still a long way to go, but they were getting difficult to hold.



The port side is nearly there. I will finish it when the bulwarks are fitted.

There is a limit to how much sanding I can do in a session. Even wearing a quality mask I soon end up sneezing and eyes watering. I hate balsa

I think I may start cutting out some of the superstructure as a relief from sanding.

Barrie

I've got a top of the line filter mask for boiler inspectors to go inside large vessels you breathe absolutely no dust at all  then you take it off and all the fluff embedded on your clothes gets you. I'm no fan of it either.  

I've decided to put Artur to one side until the weather cools down a bit.
I am going to examine the contents of the "Fraser River Tug" package. 

Barrie

We just don't do heat in this country do we? It was quite cool in my shed as it's so thickly insulated it reflects away but it's creeping up slowly.

The sun doesn't get to mine until mid-morning, but its just so generally sticky that I decided to leave it.

More seasonal temperatures returned today, so I did a little more sanding. Both bow blocks are now more or less finished - just need finishing when the bulwarks have been installed. I also made a start on the stern blocks. I'm having difficulty visualising the shape of these. This is where I've got to with the first - I've already made a mess of the other and will need to add some more material eventually.



If the weather stays like this for a couple of days, I might get at least one stern block finished before I go on holiday next week.

Barrie

Nice bit of carving I'm dreading having to do anything like that.

The bows were mostly done with my B&D mouse sander, but the stern definitely needed carving. The big problem is holding them - can't use a vice. Not helped today by a dodgy thumb
I will be fixing the stern block to the hull soon to hold it and try to help getting the correct shape.

Barrie

Hi Barrie,
A little trick i used is screw a wood screw through a thin piece of scrap plywood then clamp the plywood to the bench with the screw protruding up.
Screw the Block onto the screw and that would hold it whilst you work on it.

Artur is coming along nicely.

Martin555.

You will have noticed that this build has gone quiet 
Firstly I had an almost three week holiday cruising to Spitzbergen in the Artic Circle. During that cruise I managed to pick up Covid which has left me quite weak. I am still getting over this. 
I will be going away again in a few weeks and it is unlikely that I will start modelling again before I return around the end of September.
I do check the Forum daily whilst at home but am unlikely to respond to posts. I do receive emails whilst on holiday.
Barrie

Hi Barriew,
I hope you have a very nice holiday.
We will see you when you return to your model making.

Martin555.

Having got over Covid at last, I have become bored . I don't feel like continuing with Artur at this time so have bought a new kit - Aylsham a Broads Cruiser.

Artur will continue (probably) later in the year.

Barrie

Artur is in the recycle bin at our local tip!! I couldn't face all that sanding.

Barrie

Hi Barriew,
That is a great shame.
Still imagine you still have plenty left to build.

Martin555.

Gus

I think I may have them. I'll have a look tomorrow and let you know. 

Barrie

Gus

Sorry - they went when I binned the hull etc. 
Do you have a scanner? It is possible to scan the German text and then use an online OCR service to get the instructions into a format suitable for use in a translation program - I have done this in the past. I can probably give you more detailed instructions if that would help. I would offer to do this for you, but on Monday I go into hospital for three weeks!

Barrie

Please do not worry, I hope all goes well for you from Monday. Just as well as I am away from Friday for two weeks I will be going to North West Spain, that's where my wife comes from.

If you're still struggling when I get out, I would be happy to help trying to get the instructions translated.

Barrie