I do hope everyone has had a lovely Christmas or other denominational or non-denominational period of celebration and is approaching this year so far with a sense of optimism and happiness. Recent natural disasters aside, I'm hoping for a good year.
I have been a bit distracted from this blog (and the building) for a while over the holiday period, which for me includes all of January as well - not that I would ever gloat about a thing like that. I spent some time with my Mother and her partner in Nelson,on the south-west Vic coast, going for a short trip on his TS16 under motor as the wind didn't cooperate. Lets just summarise and say this got me very enthusiastic to get stuck into my little shed-baby. Unfortunately, my little wallet baby was a needy needy nuisance. Just before the holidays I managed to purchase a mast, boom, centreplate, sails and a whole bunch of deck fittings off a wrecked TS16 salvage. This set me back about a grand I didn't have, but saved me a whole lot in the long run. A stitch in time, they say. I have to admit I agree!
Anyway, shortly thereafter, on meagre funds, I finished off the majority of the frames and then a pay cycle later, the building stock. Giving me roughly this:
A rather messy garage and some rather useless frames. They did come together very well and I'm sorry I've skipped a bunch of stuff that I did, particularly the building of the strongback. It wasn't hard as such, but for someone with the same level of knowledge regarding building or construction in timber as a snail does of jet transportation, I learned a lot doing it.
Since then, I've been working fairly consistently on the project where funds, SWMBO, time and energy allow. I'm just going to give you a wall of pictures much more interesting than my ranting to look at, sound good? Awesome.
I'm an art teacher - If I can do it in pictures instead of words.. GOD WILL I!
What a lovely nose.
You can really start to see the shape once it's up on the strongback. Makes it feel somewhat possible to a rank amateur like myself.
This is a special block for the stem to fit into that lets it rest into frame 1 at the right angle for the keelson to lay into frame 2. It is detailed in the plans, but I've rarely seen an image of it in any building blog, probably as once you glue the stem into frame 1, it's no longer needed. That said, I have heard a number of people mention how damn hard it was to align their stem. This thing = EASY PEASY!
Exhibit A. Less than 1 minute of fiddling. Just because I wanted to.
To get the stern frame to sit at the right angle - it's angled inward at the top end by about 12 degrees - I used a simple batten that got the lean going, then used the frame to bevel the cleat on the stocks.
Like so!
I also properly organised the shed, installed shelves for my power tools and hooks and stuff for my other things as a) I am a slob when allowed, and b) if things have a place I'm usually compelled to put things in it. If you look at the first picture, MASSIVE IMPROVEMENT.
I look almost organised.
And this, is the moaning chair. It is where I sit, cradle my head, and wonder whatever I was thinking when I started the whole thing. Also, where I sit contented about my work.
And that's the news!
Till next time,
Happy whatever-ing.
Till next time,
Happy whatever-ing.
