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Would it ever be worth the bother to model a simple box boat like the Big Tortoise? For this moron the answer is YES/TWICE!

I made a cardboard mock up of the beast before I started the build. Being too cheap to spring for the plans, it just made sense to try and follow some of Dynamite's advice. The little cardboard atrocity made from cutting up soda cartons saved me at least one trip to the moaning chair as attached my cardboard "chine logs" on the wrong side of a hull panel. OOOPS!

Making that move in cardboard was a whole lot better than doing in Plywood.

As forum readers know, I have been trying to make some models lately and have decided to try and move into some more ambitious builds, perhaps some of the Dories http://www.instantboats.com/downeastdories/dories.php

I would also like to build something more ambitious full size than my Mary Margaret, much as I love her. An architect's scale ruler arrived today and the instructions on using it were re-read in "Instant Boat Building with Dynamite Payson".

My good friend Tess had been my helper building the Mary Margaret and in fact was a passenger even before Mrs. Doug. She has also painted a model or two and asked for model of the Mary Margaret. Seemed like a good exercise in using the scale ruler.









This one was cut from Balsa wood bought at a 'big box' craft store - the only tools were an exacto knife, excato saw, and some small spring clamps. Hot glue gun provided adhesion, the chine logs and gunwales are not to scale, gunwales were stock left over from the June Bug model and chine logs were "ripped" from scrap stock.

My cutting is improving, the model isn't perfect but it's still kind of cool to take plans and make something you can hold from standard stock.

Hi Doug,



It may not be perfect, but you're improving by leaps and bounds...

And "cool" it is... When I was a kid, I always marveled at Native Americans' abilities to make wonderful things out of whatever nature or the Europeans would toss their way. They could make teepees, canoes, bows, blankets, moccasins, spears, arrowheads... For a kid who was out in the woods a lot, that was just the coolest stuff. And I tried to make neat stuff out of what I had... Let's just call my efforts an abject failure... But now there are these little model boats... I can build them out of throw-away cardboard or whatever. Anyone can. Nothing to brag about, but I learn from them, and the wife doesn't scream when I put them on the mantle. Something from virtually nothing, just like the natives used to do...

Cool indeed...

Alan

P.S. One of the things I've noticed about models is that they kick start the "build technique" engine... That is that they compel a person to question which construction process will best fit a design... Cold molding and strip construction come to mind...

P.P.S. Doug, check out "Building a Strip Canoe" by Gil Gilpatrick (http://gilgilpatrick.com/strip-canoe.html, http://gilgilpatrick.com/) I think you might be right at home in one of those... I got one half built and moved out leaving it behind...

Yeah Alan,

I am starting to get into modeling as a major part of the design selection process. Picking a design is one of the best parts of building a boat IMO. It's the time of dreams.

Here is the B.T. model painted according to my helper's whim....










Might do another simple design tomorrow, I think the practice with the scale rule and cutting will help with more advanced stuff as i progress...

One thing that you may find from model building is that some of the more shapely boats are no harder to build than the "chopping tray" types shuch as Tortoise/ Big Tortoise, Brick. These "square" boats certainly have their place, but they're not necessarily easier to build than a Teal, Junebug or Windsprint. Even the stitch and glue boats go together easily if the panels are cut accurately.
Hvae fun building models and learning instant boat building!

Paul,

you are exactly right about the degree of difficulty as experienced in modeling. I am not as bummed out anymore about having to wait until spring to make another boat, my model making skills have plenty of room for improvement.