If these pictures go threw , this is a British Steam pickett.

Looks like I figured this new computer out.
This is a 1/12th scale Steam pickett 45" long and 11-1/2" beam.
Ordered plans from Models by design.
Plywood from Home depot 5.2mm 4'x8' sheet for 11 dollars, I cut out the frames from this.

This steam launches were carried on large british ships in the late 1800s and early 1900s, they were lifted over the side by cranes, they had a machine gun or 3 pounder.

This is looking really nice. Please keep posting your building progress for this boat.

Bob

For now thats all the pics. This boat draws a lot of water and is supposed to weight about 45-50 pounds to get down to water line.
At one time I asked to buy plans for another boat from and a private party ( I have sence bought them from the correct and legal place,) And did not even think about the ethics, until it was brought to my attenion, so anyone, please don't ask for copies of plans. I bought a 2 dollar calling card from a gas station, it gave me about 120 minutes of which 10 I used to order the plans from the United Kindom. They were about 25-28 dollars with shipping and took about 3 weeks to arrive.

Very nice, are you going to use steam power?

i Think i have plans to something that in one of the books i have. I collect boating books for later use or project's.

No steam, I dont think it would have enough power, it will weight 40-50 pounds when finished. I was thinking about a Graupner 720 torque.

The hull is now complete except, for the nose blocks, that need to be installed, then trimmed.

The cruves are all good on the hull, there is an optical illusion on one of the pictures due to the lines.

You're looking good, nice planking job. Had much time to work lately? BTW, I was curious if the plywood you used for the frames from Home Depot was "Luane"? I think that's the right thickness and price, also a very stable plywood used for underlayment.

Bob

The tag on the wood said 5.2mm, ext glue.
I am in the time consuming task of putting 6 oz cloth and epoxy resin in each of the 32 chambers, from 1 to three at a time. I cover the entire chamber with resin, then let it set on its side for about 4 hours, then I pour some more resin in the same chamber and let it set right side up and let it puddle on the bottom.

I'll have to make a trip to Home Depot. It's a little out of the way for me but I'll get there one day when I'm in the area.

No easy or quick task filling the inside of the hull, but it has to be done so you can work on the outside.

Bob

The nose blocks, and stuffing box turned out pretty good, one thing I was not ready for was the amount of wood to cut from the ribs due to the stuffing box being parallel with the keel, I will also have to set the motor close to the hull bottom.

A few more pictures, if they go threw.

Cool build.

I think the project is nice, but not much of a response, the ideal of building from two sheets or drawings, with no written instructions, is what I call scratch build, anyway my next step is to use epoxy with cloth on the outside.

Man, you've done some nice work there! It looks great. Will you fiberglass the hull or seal it some other way? What did you plank it with? Are the blocks at the bow carved down blocks of solid balsa?

From what I can see from the phoitos, your hull looks pretty smooth. I was wondering if you were going to use the 3/4 oz. fiberglass cloth or something heavier? According to an article by "Pat Tritle" it is the best weight to use as it forms around compound curves much easier. He has an article at http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=329811, if you haven't already read it. It includes sources.

Bob in Danville

I am going to use fiberglass cloth and epoxy resin, I have 2 oz cloth already and the hull is not to curvie, I would use 3/4 oz if I had it. I will use 3/4 oz if the 2oz does not pre fit well, the nose has two carved balsa blocks, most of the hull is 1/8 x 1/2 balsa, the inside is done with 6oz cloth and epoxy resin, some of the flat sides ara sheet balsa and some of the 1/8 x 1/2 strips were cut down to make it easier to bend, I used about 15 frames, and when i had them right it made the planking easier.

[font="Tahoma"]When using the heavier FG cloth I've seen (not done myself) cutting the cloth into sections to make it lay better, tacking the corners with CA to temporarily hold them in place until the resin can be applied. From what I've read the different blocks are not overlapped, just butted up against each other. The CA keeps the cloth from moving around too much during the resin application.

Which ever way you go you will have a fiberglass sandwich with a balsa/ply filler, VERY strong.

Bob in Danville[/font]

This is the way it has gone so far, first of all, I am no Pat Tritle. I cut 2oz cloth into four pices and the last pice was to large and did not conform, so when I put it on I had problems, I pulled it all off and gave the hull 4 coats of epoxy resin about 3 hours apart, sanded this later on, and decided I would try again. I went to the hobbie store for more 2oz cloth and found 3/4oz, but this seemed too light, I want a strong boat, Our lake has some bad drivers, I got some more 2oz, and this time cut it into 9 pices. The weather was a little cold, so I could not work for a few days and I had some 5oz, yes five ounce cloth. Because when I cut the 2oz into many pices it layed much, much, better I gave the 5oz a chance and it worked, Note the hull is large and does not have many tricky turns, I will take pictures later.

I think there's an old saying "if it works, don't fix it". Well, to modify that a little, if the 5 oz. cloth works . . . On re-reading the fiber glassing article, Pat also talks about the 'weave' of the fiberglass cloth having a lot to do with how well it lays. Obviously your 5 oz. cloth had a 'good' weave that laid right. I wish I understood the weave aspect better as I would prefer heaver cloth vs multiple layers of 3/4 oz. cloth. I'll be looking forward to the pictures.

Bob in Danville

Keep in mind the hull will be sanded, primed and then painted, so the result needed will be more forgiving the the chris craft boats.

The top is navy blue, the bottom satin white. Work is going slow. I painted it three times to get what i thought looked ok.