Chesapeake Bay Flattie – Midwest {part 5}

9-6-2016

After devoting some time to another build,  I got back to this one.   With the stern post slotted to attach the rudder {and being a bit off in the process},  it was time to make it right.   I would have to correct the location slots,  and fill in the gap to close them up to the proper size.

Once they both were filled in,  a pair of caps were made from brass sheet to imitate the gungeon half of the hinge assembly.    The holes were drilled again to enable the pins to have an anchor on both sides of the slot.   The rudder was pinned in place and cemented.

The pins were cut flush and filed to flatten out the slight nub that was left behind.  There was some sanding left to do on the rudder….it was done to finish rounding the edges.   I did a little more sanding on the entire hull with some fine sandpaper…..you can see how ‘hairy’ basswood can be.   It is a hard wood to work with in this respect……unless you seal the wood before the final sanding,  you’ll never get a good smooth finish.   With that done finally,  the hull was masked,  and the bottom paint was added.   Gunship Gray.

When dry,  it was masked again,  and Cobalt Blue was added to the upper hull and the bulkhead parts ,  that will make up the cabin.   The cabin sides were painted as well.

The Blue is part of my Billing’s paint stash……..which is beginning to go bad.  I had better hurry and try to use all this paint up,  before it all goes south!   I was a bit off on the stern masking…….I’ll have to redefine the bottom paint.

The tiller was cut from some scrap material I had in the garage…….it will need plenty of refinement,  before it can be added to the rudder assembly.  The two posts affixed to the rudder will be refined as well.   It’s a work in progress.

AHOY!!!