Something New in Model Boat Building - How to Make Out-of-the Ordinary Model Boats with Simple Tools and Materials

CHAPTER I

TOOLS AND MATERIALS

MAKING and sailing boats of all kinds is ever a favourite hobby with both young and old, for with the sea all around us, we are naturally interested in everything to do with water craft.

All the models given in this book may be made with ordinary tools and materials. These tools include hammer, pliers, screwdriver, knife, handsaw, scissors, padsaw, fretsaw, a couple of files (medium and rough), tin shears (or an old pair of scissors will answer quite well), gimlet, small plane and a spokeshave. Also a vice is very useful, and a fine-toothed hacksaw is certainly a welcome addition. Some sandpaper—grades o, 1 1/2 and 2. Some of the models call for a small hand-drill, but even an Archimedean drill with bits will serve the purpose. However, a small soldering set is necessary if the construction of the electric, thermostatic and steam turbine models in particular are to be undertaken.

All the above may be purchased at modest cost from second-hand stores dealing in tools. Ex-Government disposal stores are the better places to try.

A variety of wire nails will be required (1 in. long, both oval and round); tacks, both gimp and tin-tacks; pin-nails, or panel-pins as they are usually termed; and 1/2-in. small oval and round nails. A variety of small screws, both brass and iron, are useful, being about 1/2 in. to 1 in. long.

It is a good plan to keep different nails, tacks and screws in empty glass jars or pots, such as fish-paste pots, jam-jars and the like. The contents can then be seen at a glance.

Some muslin, light calico or similar cloth for sails, and twine, or Strutt’s Macrame, will be required. Also a compass, foot-rule and pencil, some elastic or rubber strands, cardboard, plywood, pieces of 1/2 in. thick deal or similar wood, and some lengths of dowels, 1/4 and 1/2 in. diameter, a gluepot, and brushes, as well as varnish, including copal varnish; some stout wire and a lump of putty.

Plywood, dowels for masts, and in fact all the wood necessary, may be obtained at woodworkers’ stores, and also may be seen advertised for sale in trade papers.

CHAPTER II

HULLS

USUALLY the hull of any boat is that part which requires first attention. There are several forms of construction suitable for the various craft described in this book, but most of the hulls are of the flattie type.

One method employs stout cardboard for the sides with wood bottom, the cardboard being treated, as will be shown, to make it durable and waterproof.

Commence by obtaining a sheet of cardboard of the brown flexible kind, as it is pliable and bends easily without cracking. It should be fairly stout, although the exact thickness is immaterial. If you can obtain some Essex Board, this will answer even better, being very stout cardboard.

Cut out two pieces to correspond with the length your boat is to be, and with the height in proportion, and tack to one end of these an angular bow-piece sawn from a piece of wood, as shown in the diagram. The other end of each of these sidepieces is tacked to the transom or sternpiece. You now have the sides of your hull shaped and secured. All that is needed is to place it on a piece of 1/2-inch deal or suitable wood and mark round inside with a pencil. Cut this out, place the sides over it, and tack around the