22
16. Rudder and Tiller
Shape the laser-cut rudder per the
plans. Fashion pintles and gudgeons
from brass or paper strips (Figure 5-12).
Attach the preventer chain to the rud-
der, then install it. Now secure the pre-
venter chain to eyebolts in the counter.
Shape the laser-cut tiller and insert it
into the mortise in the rudder stock.
Note the supporting steel rod from the
stock to the tiller.
17. Boat Davits and Slides
Davits are laser cut. Make the slides for the
cutters from stripwood (Figure 5-13).
18. Ship's Boats
Niagara
carried two cutters and a yawl.
Instead of britannia castings or solid
blocks for these boats, Model Shipways
supplies laser-cut lifts for bread-and-but-
ter hull construction (Figure 5-14). When
hollowing, the challenge is to carve the
hulls as thin as possible without breaking
through the wood.
End tabs on each lift facilitate align-
ment. The wide tab is the stern, the nar-
row one the bow. Each lift from tab end
to tab end is the same length. When
assembling, keep the tabs in line. Use
only a thin coat of white or woodwork-
er's glue or cyano. Too thick a layer will
affect the hull's overall height.
Hollow the boat with chisels and sand-
paper. Carve or sand the inside corners
to the intersection of two lifts. When all
is smooth, the shape should be correct.
Next, cut off the tabs and carve or sand
the exterior hull to its correct profile. Be
careful; the hull is becoming thin. Make
templates from the body lines to fine
tune the hull's shape. Adding the keel
completes the basic hull.
Note: The rudder is part of the keel. To
be more realistic, cut through the joint
to separate the rudder or scribe a line at
the junction.
Carving a small boat hull is difficult.
One way to check its thickness is shown
in Figure 5-15. This is a homemade dou-
ble-ended caliper. Commercial metal
ones are also available.
Option:
Temporarily omitting the bot-
tom lift might make hollowing the hull
easier. Carve the inside close to what is
required, then glue on the bottom lift
and complete the carving.
Fig 5-12 Pintle and Gudgeon
Fig 5-10 Long Gun Carriage
Fig 5-11 Carronade Carriage
Support rod thru hole
in cheeks, or simplify
using wood strip
between cheeks
Block
Bed
Dowel
Laser-cut truck
Laser-cut cheeks
Transom
Real Ship
Front axel rear similar
Eyebolt & ring
Trunnion band
brass strip
Quoin under gun
make handle
using belaying pin
Eyebolt
Hole
Eyebolt on
rear axel
Glue to
upper bed
only
Eyebolts on
strap-could use
regular eyebolt &
paint strap on
Quoin
Laser-cut
Roller casting
Omitting the Pin
Solder
Brass strip (or paper option)
Gudgeon on sternpost
Pin, solder & cut off
Option- glue strap
Solder or
glue
Pintle on rudder
Pin
Eyebolt
Eyebolt
Eyebolt with ring
Pin on carronade
casting fits slot
Metal band can be faked
with black paint
Pin to fit in hole at
gunports in
planksheer
