I am currently bouncing between two builds, the Sultana and the USF Essex. I am currently working on the Essex, but I thought I would get a build log started and add some detail on my progress to date. I chose this ship because Model Shipways used to sell a solid hull model of this ship. Several months ago they advertised that they found a few in their warehouse and they were for sale. I wasn't quick enough, but I noticed that they sold a set of plans for the ship and bought those. I think the plans were meant for a carved hull, there are no specific drawings for the bulkheads or bulkhead former.

My intention when i started was to purchase only the blocks, deadeyes and maybe the anchor. I have since decided to also purchase the cleats and some hooks. I am hoping to make my own ropes also. My first task was figuring out how to create the bulkheads and bulkhead former from the drawings. After doing that I was able to trace them on to some 3/16 inch thick wood that I had.

I used an old Craftsman scroll saw that my father gave me to cut out the parts.

I had to shim quite a bit to get the shape right. At first it bothered me that I didn't get them cut out correctly, but in the end I think it was fine that I shimmed and in some cased shimmed some more to get the hull shape correct. I really took my time before I was satisfied.

The next step was adding the rabbet strip and cutting out the stem, sternpost and keel.

I then attached the bulkheads and supports between the bulkheads along with some balsa wood fillers at the bow and stern.

For some reason I didn't take an pictures of the planking in process. but here is the result after adding the wales.

After painting the inner bulwarks and the hull below the wales this is were I am currently at.

I am currently working on rigging the guns on the gun deck of my USF Essex and will probably install the other gun deck features before I get back to the Sultana. When I get back to the Sultana I will need to creat the margin planks and then complete the deck planking. Hopefully I am back to work on the Sultana in a few weeks.

If you have any more detailed questions about anything regarding this build so far, please do not hesitate to ask.

" I really took my time before I was satisfied. " That’s the best lesson to take away

I have started to plank the deck of my Sultana. The deck has four levels.  Unfortunately I did not place a bulkhead where the decks change height.  The plans I am using did not include templates for the bulkheads and bulkhead former so I placed the bulkheads based on the lines from the drawing that shows the stern on the left and bow on the right.  I am not sure if that drawing has a specific name.   These lines were not drawn with regard to the deck levels.  I believe the intention of the plans was that you would carve the hull and not build it up the way I did.  There are three places that I wish I had added another bulkhead or adjusted the placement of one.

I used some balsa wood to build up some ledges to support the decking. 

I am using basswood for the decking.  I am starting with the lowest level and will work my way to the higher levels.   The margin plank is ⅛ of an inch wide along with the king plank down the center line.  The other planks are 3/32 of an inch wide.  I have two of the four levels done.  

I created a cavity in one of the levels to accommodate a ladder to go below deck.  

The forecastle will require me to cut the margin plank plank out of a sheet of basswood.  This will be a challenge for me.  I am not sure if I want to use my scroll saw or cut it free hand with a scalpel.  

It has been a while since my last post, life got in the way the last few weeks.  I have completed the deck planking and added the cap rails to the model.  In order to know how to fit the forecastle decking I needed to bow sprite and fit the decking around it.  I am starting with a square piece of wood.  The section nearest the sheet will be an octagon and then transitioning to round.  I used my drill and some sandpaper to shape the round section after knocking the corners off with a small plane.  I used a disc sander to create the octagon shape on the non-round end.  

I was enjoying fabricating this so I also made the jib boom and the cap.  There are still some details that need to be added, but the bow sprite assembly is mostly done.  

I was enjoying fabricating this so I also made the jib boom and the cap.  There are still some details that need to be added, but the bow sprite assembly is mostly done.  

The final section that needed to be decked was at the stern.  

I used a supplier named Northeast Scale Lumber that specialized in lumber for doll houses. the sell some very small parts with detailed profiles. I used some 3/64 inch quarter round for the waterway. I know the curve should be concave instead of the convex quarter round, but at this size it is really hard to see.

I also used some 1/16 inch double beed strips for the trim along the line that the channels are on.

The final section that needed to be decked was at the stern.  

In Chuck’s practicum he made decorative scrolls out of Sculpey for the transitions between the various levels of the cap rail.  I attempted to make these and was not able to get the scrolls made that small.  After several tries I decided to just make a small circle of sculpey to create the impression of the scrolls.  

I will now be taking a break from the Sultana for a while while I get back to my Essex.