Flying Cloud - deck parts

Finally have all the deck parts constructed and ready for primer.

I knew there was a good reason why I kept those old lazy susans.

They make it easy to spray these parts from all sides.

This is just the primer coat.

May need another.



Flying Cloud - copper bottom

The old wooden ships were vulnerable to all the critters that live in the water and like to eat wood.  So the builders covered the bottom with copper plates.  There are a couple of different approaches to doing this on a model.  I decided to use the adheasive-backed copper foil tape that is generally used in stained glass applications.  Here's how it works.  The hull is nearly covered here:



The copper foil comes in a roll.

Roughly measure a length to install.

Then put the copper strip into a "jig" to hold it in place upside-down.

Next, cover it with a strip of wood that's a little narrower than the copper.

Then, use this handy pattern making tool to "dimple" the foil from the back.

The effect is almost looks like rivits.

Now, a little more detail every half inch.

Looks a lot like copper plates.

Peal off the paper backing and apply the copper strip to the bottom.

Use a sharp blade to cut off the ends.

After a few more strips, the bottom is completely covered.

Flying Cloud - Bending wood

Flying Cloud has a nice rounded stern which required some wood bending.

Wood bends easier when it's wet, so I built this "soaking tank" for long strips of wood.  It's filled with water.

Hook the wood strip with a handy clothes pin and drop it into the tank for a couple of hours - overnight is better for harder wood with tighter bends.

I cut a form in the shape of the stern and wrapped the soft wet wood around it and left to dry.

Now it can be glued in place.