capt jake Posted February 10, 2003 Posted February 10, 2003 OK, I lied! I still have 2 pieces to cut out and finish, the trail boards. I have them shaped per plans but the angles are wanky. I know they won't match perfect at each end but I am having a hard time visualizing how they are attached and at what angles. Any photos out there to help me out?? Or advice? Or just forget about 'em? :D Quote
Johannah Posted February 10, 2003 Posted February 10, 2003 Well the queen of disorganization (that would be me) saved a closeup shot of someones's trailboards only long enough to print them out to send to our buddy who is working on trailboards for Penelope. Arrrggghhhh! I will try to include a photo of another boat with trailboards here, but it's not as close up. We looked through books for pictures of many kinds of boat to see how the boards were fastened and more than one looked as though it was at least partly in thin air. They are fastened at the ends but just sort of float out there? [attachment over 4 years old deleted by admin] Quote
capt jake Posted February 10, 2003 Author Posted February 10, 2003 Yes they seem to float, don't they?? New trailboards?? Interesting.. something very fancy??? Mom is starting on my eagle figure head very soon, if her hands can handle it. Trick with that will be the attachment also! Quote
Johannah Posted February 11, 2003 Posted February 11, 2003 jake, we don't have a closeup of Penelope's eagle but there is a pretty good shot of it among the builder's pics on the Stevenson website, page 6 I think. What is your mum using as a model? Quote
capt jake Posted February 11, 2003 Author Posted February 11, 2003 She is using that picture and a sculpter of an eagle for that project. Now for the trailboards... I have them rounded out, but I am at a loss for a decorative effect. Simple is good at this point, but I want it to look good as well. Quote
Johannah Posted February 11, 2003 Posted February 11, 2003 The friend who is helping us is a sign maker. He says lay on the gold leaf to make the trailboards very traditional. Carved (incised) stars are common. Quote
Bill Posted February 11, 2003 Posted February 11, 2003 Maybe some of these folks could give ya some ideas...looks like Phil probably did what you want to do... http://www.pragdata.com/philboat/ConTrailBoard.html http://www.messing-about.com/weekender/callisto.htm http://www.maritimawoodcarving.co.uk/TrailBoards/TrailBoards.htm http://users2.ev1.net/~fshagan/finish.htm http://www.stevproj.com/MNorel.html Bill Quote
capt jake Posted February 11, 2003 Author Posted February 11, 2003 Ohhh Ahhhh!! Thanks!! I have seen most of those, except the very gourgous and curved carvings!!!! :shock: Low and behold, my wife is out in the shop sketching out a design!! This is a shock as she states that she will not go out on this 'toy' boat'! I am trying to make a router template for the carvings. I hope it works! Thanks!! Quote
Bill Posted February 11, 2003 Posted February 11, 2003 Jake, Here's an idea for you that Iv'e been playing with. The scan below is my first test piece I made in about 25-30 minutes. I have made others since and refined them a bit but this shows you how easy it is. Please understand I scanned this piece directly on my scanner, as I don't own a digital camera. Sorry for the crappy quality. I just grabbed an outline of a whale off the web. You won't need to play with any fancy artwork. I printed it out, then just used it for my outline to route. I just took a pencil to the back of the printed paper and "shaded". Poormans carbon paper...(also, it wont bleed ink into your wood) Then just trace your object onto the wood. You end up with a nice lightly penciled outline. I just did this on a small piece of 3/4" pine. Then throw a 1/8 or 1/4" straight bit into your router. Route around the outline only going about 3/8" into the wood. I then change over to a larger 1/2 or 3/4" straight bit and clean all the wood off the outer area past my first cut (at the same depth). If you have a "pointy" mouse sander or the equivalent you can now smooth the outer areas flat. For the actual whale (or whatever you have) I start with a light touch on the belt sander and give it some depth and rounding in any area that I feel will look good. I basically finish of with a "flapper" wheel sander in my drill. (the ones that are about 2" in diameter work great, ...I used a "fine" one) So far I have made small ones for testing, One large one 18 x 36" that now hangs in the living room. I have also done a few with a couple of whales at various levels, sort of inter-twined. It's a pretty easy project and I think you will be suprised at the quick results...a little stain, varnish, some gold gilt and you're looking like a pro in no time. I think when I get the shop fixed up this week I'll buy a roll of film and make up a little tutorial from start to finish on a quick trail board using the idea so maybe other people can try it out. A router is a great tool and pretty easy to use, Trail boards can be a fun thing and not as scary as it seems... Hope maybe this spurs an idea... I am going to try and throw a couple of dolphins or whales onto the bowsprit this way. First routing, then rounding the edges per spec. It would be a cool look all in one piece of wood... cheers, Bill [attachment over 4 years old deleted by admin] Quote
capt jake Posted February 11, 2003 Author Posted February 11, 2003 I think when I get the shop fixed up this week I'll buy a roll of film and make up a little tutorial from start to finish on a quick trail board using the idea so maybe other people can try it out. OK, I am VERY impressed!! Iam waiting for the 'digital' film to be developed!! You do have a digitaal camera, right?? This is awesome!! I love what you have done with the whale!! More, we want more!!!! I think I speak for Johanna also, MORE!!! :) WE WANT MORE< WE WANT>>> ok kids, now be patient!!! SORRY! :D Quote
Johannah Posted February 11, 2003 Posted February 11, 2003 Yup, he speaks for me. MORE PLEASE BILL 8) Quote
Robert Cox Posted February 11, 2003 Posted February 11, 2003 That is so cool. Yes Sir, Thank you Sir, can I have more Sir? Please? Bob Quote
Bill Posted February 11, 2003 Posted February 11, 2003 I'll do what I can to have something done real soon. It will be a couple of days. At least by the weekend I presume. I'm still trying to make room for the new tablesaw. Then I have to get it all back togather. I would say by Sat or Sun I'll have pics and a method to get ya on track...Thanks for the input...off to bed! cheers, Bill Quote
Craig Posted February 11, 2003 Posted February 11, 2003 Excellent work.! More pictures please.... Quote
Capn Trey Posted February 11, 2003 Posted February 11, 2003 here's a shot of my boards installed on Nokoni cap'n trey [attachment over 4 years old deleted by admin] Quote
Stuart Benbow Posted February 11, 2003 Posted February 11, 2003 I've run out of small project wood, at least until the weekend, and I can't work on the boat outside yet as it's too cold so I've been getting high on varnish and paint fumes. Seeing this thread has given me something to do ... experiment with scraps! Thank you very much and keep the photos coming, Even with your appoligies over how you got the piece of wood on the web, it's still beautiful in the extreme! If you're throwing that kind of thought and creativity at your trailboards, I can't wait to see your boat! Quote
Phil Gowans Posted February 11, 2003 Posted February 11, 2003 I love Trailboards. They don't help your boat sail any better, but they are a great place for a builder to express himself. I love to see all the different personalities show up in the trailboards. Here's a couple shots of mine, you might not have seen. I took them to show the running lights. I hand carved mine before I built anything except the wheel. They allowed me to do some work before I got building in earnest. And yes, I went a little crazy and even gold leafed the design. They are attached with 3 screws like Capt. Treys. Quote
capt jake Posted February 13, 2003 Author Posted February 13, 2003 I appreciate all of the input and advice. It has helped me greatly. I need an opinion on this layout. is it too much, or gawdy? I will inset it in a recess that I will route into the surface of the Honduran. Thanks, john The bottom board, sorry. Quote
Bill Posted February 13, 2003 Posted February 13, 2003 Jake, Those look good like that...are you going to stain the wood? It might make the gold show up a little better from a distance...I wouldn't put any more on it... Bill Quote
capt jake Posted February 13, 2003 Author Posted February 13, 2003 wood will be varnished, it darkens a lot with varnish. Matter of fact, I was going to varnish over everything, once the scrambled aeggs are in place! LOL Added UV and moister protection. Keep those cards and letters coming!! I might have to postpone this for a week, as I just got word from 'Mr Painter dude'. Maybe paint mid next week. Exciting yet stressful. Quote
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