Next project: the Viking ship

[Leo_3344]

Just started something new: a Viking ship. It took a few tries before I knew how to bend the wood, and a plea to my wife for using her steam-iron. On the outside grooves are made of 1 mm wide and 1 mm deep space 10 mm apart to get the view of layered wood. On the inside grooves are made of 1.5 mm wide and 5 mm deep, spaced 2 mm apart, to make it easier to bend the wood. It's poplar, so really soft ply and it bends easily with a little hot steam. I used a few plastic pipes to hold the ply while bending it. After that, I had to hold them to cool down, keeping them exactly symmetrical. Finding the angles to cut the front and rear was not so easy! Then I had to find a way to hold the two pieces together to glue: had to use my imagination to create something that would hold them together... A few pics are here to show. The next days I'll show the progress.

[artme]

Watching with interest Leo!!!

[crowie]

A Viking Ship sounds a good challenge for your talent Leo..
You may need to buy your own steam iron or a replacement for you good lady.
Keep the notes & photos coming, thank you..
Cheers, crowie

[Leo_3344]

The hull came nicely out of the "mold". Cutting down wasn't easy but it worked. Next is attaching the bottom...

[PLD]

This is going to be interesting!

[artme]

Wonder if my ancestors glued the bottom on their ships????


I was finding it a little difficult to sort out exactly what you were doing
but that has come out really well!! Well done Leo!!

[Repliconics]

Really great to see you back in the workshop mate!
It looks like this will be a very interesting build.
Cheers.

[elderly]

Looking good Leo.
Cheers Frank.

[Leo_3344]

When I looked at the inside of the hull, I realized much of it would be visible. The cuts I made to bend the ply, could loose very little pieces. So I tried to fill them up. Again, this was no good: you could still see the cuts. Ugly, in fact. So I took a piece of 3mm ply and steam-bended it the other way, sanded it to fit on the inside of the hull, with the cuts against the first part of the hull, and nothing would be visible.. It wasn't as easy as I write it here!! The first piece glued and fitted inside, I have to wait to let the glue dry. I do have to put a small piece right on the edge to hide the cuts from both pieces, but that was intended all along... I'll keep you posted!

[Dalboy]

You certainly making up for lost time in the shed Leo. The ship is looking good and I like the way you have got around the bending of the ply

[Leo_3344]

Putting the extra ply inside the hull worked out fine. The edge on top is hidden with a small strip of 3 mm ply, not steam bended, but just glued on. On the back I put a dragon's tail, on front just a stick to put the head on. The side-shields are all most ready. I found a way to put them on the sides, but I'll have to see if it's good. The oars are on the drawing board. I have to see how I'm gonna attach them on top of the sides and how big they have to be...

[Leo_3344]

It looked well enough how I wanted the shields attached. Found the right distance for the oars and how to hold them in place, but I have to use some metal parts...

[Leo_3344]

I didn't like the metal screws. I started thinking and came up with something else. This solution is more my feeling. The oars will be 8 mm in diameter, so I drilled a hole of 9 mm. It gives them enough freedom to move.There will be only six or eight of the oars in total.

[crowie]

I didn't like the metal screws. I started thinking and came up with something else. This solution is more my feeling. The oars will be 8 mm in diameter, so I drilled a hole of 9 mm. It gives them enough freedom to move.There will be only six or eight of the oars in total.

Yes Leo, the timber rollick looks heaps better....well done. Cheers crowie

[Leo_3344]

Made the first oar and the attachments for the shield. At this point it looks rather well...