The J Class yacht half hull models turned out rather well and were well accepted as presents which left me without one for myself hence the start of the classic fishing schooner "Bluenose".
I have admired this yacht for many years and was often tempted by the excellent Billings kit which a friend has built but seeing it made me realise that my lack of dexterity, lack of patience and no longer having A1 eyesight decided me on the half hull.
I purchased the smaller of the two Amati plans and commenced cutting the frames and the bulkheads, I then glued these all up and fastened to backboard all cut in half of course. As with the J class I had a good stock of planking so was soon into the world of planking. The process was different from the J class due to their hull shapes but continued with no particular problems.
I decided to deck the ship by planking it, this is done at two levels as there is a step up half way back from the bow, I started the decking from the centre and worked out towards the gunwale, this done I sanded and finished the deck as there is a wide gunwale on the craft which is used to secure the stays and rigging.
Next job was to rub down and finish the hull prior to primer and finish coats of paint. I must admit to using a small amount of P38 to ensure as near to a perfect finish as is possible. I decided that although the model would not have a rig I would fit a bowsprit and this was made fitted and varnished along with the deck.
I used Humbrol paints again for this model, the hull gloss black, below the waterline copper, deck varnished and the gunwale white. These colours represented the original Bluenose although the Amati plan shows beneath the waterline in red. The model was completed with a self adhesive white water line.
Photo of the model on the hardwood board with the brass
identification plaque to follow.