Dinghys and lobster pot

[SE18]

Hi guys,

Made some dinghys and working on a few lobster pots and need to make some colorful floats for my waterways. For perspective, the distance between the track rails is 32mm so you can see the size (scale is 1:13.7). As you know, I don't have a pond, just a series of canals and aqueducts coursing through my yard.

Made boat from double-thick heavy cardstock, sealed with layers of shellac. Will do some wood ones next. This is my first attempt at boat building and wanted to start out w/something simple. Notice I found a good use for nasty string algae.

 

[addy1]

Very nice! love the algae ropes........good use.

 

[taherrmann4]

SE18 very well done, can't really tell it is a smaller scale. Everytime you show us pics it makes me want to put in an outdoor garden railroad around my pond. Have been doing research on using steam instead of electrical engines but some folks say it dirties up the tracks and therefore there is more maintenance that needs to be done. Also starting to plan it out where it would go. I would need to build quite a few bridges and maybe even a tunnel or two. Who knows been thinking about this for a few years now and still haven't started.

 

[SE18]

thanks guys. Electric to rails is something you don't want. There's steam, battery and battery with R/C. I use all 3. I cut my own ties from cedar and plant them in hypertufa or concrete for ease of maintenance. The guys on this forum can help you: http://www.7-8ths.info/index.php?action=forum or I'll be glad to.

Dave

 

[koiguy1969]

VERY COOL!

 

[j.w]

Those are so realistic looking and very neat!

 

[brokensword]

I think you should think of adding a 'shipwreck', maybe something from Jack Sparrow's day? Be pretty neat to see it perched along the bank...sort of give the raccoons and herons something to think about, hey?

 

[sissy]

gosh great job on the boats I thought they were real and do you have the pattern I would love to try it too

 

[SE18]

Hi, thanks everyone.

Sissy, I winged it on this one. The boat is about 8 inches long; I don't have it in front of me. Here a crude actual sketch that you'll have to clean up with one of those French curve plastic things they sell in stores. Using the cleaned up forms, simply get some super glue and begin by forming the sides, holding them tight for about 20 seconds as you go along the length. The fore of the boat will naturally curl upwards as you go along. I made mine using a double hull (bottom and sides) using especially heavy folder paper, which is really hard. The super glue didn't completely seal it so I used putty (5 minute epoxy) and wood filler. The 2 seats, gunnel strips and fore part between the gunnels, transom (back) and the rib (under the middle seat) I simply took paper to see how it would fit and then using the paper, cut the cardboard and superglued those in (double thickness as well but single would have worked all around, just liked the added heft).

The chine on the bottom, used a piece of folded cardboard from the same stock, and smoothed it over with putty. You don't have to use putty and wood filler but I used both, being my first boat.

Then, I sprayed it white with regular spray paint.

Then 2 coats inside and out of shellac

then another spray coat of white

then about 3 or so layers of oil paints, rubbing with my fingers before each coat dried.

I even rubbed some wet clay I found outside for added texture

then sandpaper for scrap marks

the biggest challenge is waiting for it to dry and to rub at the right moments

My next boats will be cardboard followed by wood.

I'm also this weekend going to build a portage train to haul the boat

 

[sissy]

I still can't believe how good they look I have heavy card stock here so going to try it out

 

[ponderpaul]

SE18 very well done, can't really tell it is a smaller scale. Everytime you show us pics it makes me want to put in an outdoor garden railroad around my pond. Have been doing research on using steam instead of electrical engines but some folks say it dirties up the tracks and therefore there is more maintenance that needs to be done. Also starting to plan it out where it would go. I would need to build quite a few bridges and maybe even a tunnel or two. Who knows been thinking about this for a few years now and still haven't started.

Never satsified are we, there is always just one more little project – more or less :redface:

 

[addy1]

Just love what you are doing, what patience that takes.

 

[j.w]

You are very artistic and I can tell you love doing it and you put your heart into it! It shows in how nicely your items turn out. Those little boats and lobster traps make me want to get out in Puget Sound and start crabbing, yum (no lobsters around here unfortunately), lol!

 

[SE18]

sorry, been away a few days. Sissy, the most important thing is to super glue those 3 pieces I showed you together. After that I just cut scrap paper and eyeball the fit and transfer the markings to cardboard and glue those in. Hope I was clear.

I'm preparing to do my first wood boat now that I know cardstock is easy.