This model is a radio-control sailing model of a custom 23' day sailer.  The model was built to an overall length of 18.8" to match the scale of a model of the client's other boat.  This model is as close a match to the original boat as I can produce with a minimum of changes for R/C sailing.  Those changes are mostly be in the area of the jib and main sheet fairleads.   The model was built from the original lines provided by the client.  The boat was built with the same keel as a Star, based on keel drawings from the International Star Boat Association.

Sept. 3, 07 - This weekend I started building the hull.  The real boat was built by the strip plank method from western red cedar strips.  So, I bought a piece of western red cedar, resawed it into 1/16" thick planks and then cut and milled those planks into 0.165" wide strips.  The picture above shows the first five planks on the building frame.  When the hull is fully planked, I will cover it with a layer of fiberglass set in epoxy.

Sept. 25, 07 - I have now finished planking the hull, building the transom and have removed the hull from the building frame.  This picture shows the western red cedar after two coats of epoxy.  The epoxy strengthens and seals the hull.

Sept. 25, 07  (cont)- This picture shows the inside of the hull with the frames removed.  After taking this picture I reinfiorced the area where the keel attaches (black line mid-ships) with an additional layer of 1/16" cedar planks.  After that I set a layer of fiberglass cloth in epoxy on the inside the hull to further strengthen and waterproof the hull.  The next step is to fill and fair the hull in preparation for painting.  I will also be installing deck and cockpit framing and the radio control electronics.

Oct. 1, 07 - I have now finished filling, fairing and primer painting the model.  I will be setting this model aside for a while because I have other models ahead of it on my schedule.

Dec. 5, 07 - I finally got caught up on my backlog of models and started working on this model again last week.  Over the last week I scaled the Star class keel drawings, built a plug for the keel from balsa, made a mold out of plaster of paris and cast the keel in lead.  I under estimated the amount of lead for the keel on my first attempt at casting it, so I melted the first casting down, added some extra lead and recast the keel.  You can see the rough keel casting sitting under the hull.  I will fair and true the keel before I mount it to the hull.  The rough keel casting weighs about 17.5 ounces.  I have also built the spar blank.  The spar on the actual boat is aluminum.  However, it isn't possible to get an tapered aluminum extrusion the right size.  Consequently I made up a hollow box spar with the correct taper from 1/16" thick balsa.  I reinforced the balsa spar with linear carbon fibers set in epoxt on all faces.  Although you can's see it here, I built the slot for the sail's bolt rope into the aft face of the mast.  The mast will now be faired and painted with aluminum paint.  At present the spar weighs 0.58 ounces.  I expect the painted spar blank to weigh about 0.8 ounces.

Dec. 8, 07 - I have now finished fairing the keel blank.  I also mounted the keel and made up the rudder.  The jagged looking lines are artefacts of my image rotation software.  I am now working on installing the radio control hardware.

Dec. 15, 07 - Since my last update I have been working on building the cockpit and installing the radio control hardware.  I have also done a bit of reshaping of the keel as you can see by the exposed lead.  The next picture shows the cockpit and RC hardware better.

Dec. 15, 07 (cont.) - This view shows the initial work on the installation of the RC harware.  Forward you can see the receiver, which I have not yet mounted.  Just aft of that is the sail control servo.  Next aft is what I have spent most of the time on this week, the teak planked cockpit sole and seats.  The battery for the RC hardware is located under the aft center section of the cockpit seat.  Aft of the cockpit is the rudder post and the support for the rudder servo.  The rudder servo I bought turned out to be too high, so I have ordered a new smaller one.  When it arrives I will permanently mount it and its support and connect it to the rudder post.  Once all the RC hardware is mounted I will build the deck.

Dec 24, 07 - The replacement servo for the rudder came Friday.  I installed it and then built the deck  After I took this picture I fiberglassed the deck.  The picture above shows where the deck hatches will be located (the rectangles with "X" on them.  You can also see the main and jib sheets.  Tomorrow I will trim the fiberglass and then begin fairing the deck.  When that it done I will install the mahogany cockpit coaming.

Dec 24, 07 (cont.) - This side view of the model shows the deck as well as the rudder.  The green line on the aft deck is the main sheet.

Jan 12, 08 - Since my last update I have fiberglassed, filled and faired the deck.  I have also put 4 coats of paint on the deck and three on the topsides.  I expect to finish painting the model by the end of this coming week.  When the paint work is done I will install the mahogany cockpit coaming and start detailing the model.  I have already made a number of the detail components and am working on the various parts of the rig.

Jan 27, 08 - This model is now #1 on my priority list.  I have finished installing the RC hardware.  I have also installed the steam bent mahogany cockpit coaming and put the first coat of varnish on it.  As you can see, I have also build the rig.  After I took this picture I removed the mast and built the gooseneck so that I can attach the boom.  I am now working on the vang.  I will repaint the deck when I finish varnishing the cockpit coaming.

Jan 31, 08 - I am still working on varnishing the cockpit coaming.  While I have been waiting for varnish to dry, I have painted the bottom of the boat and finished building the rig.  It looks like I have 3-4 more coats of varnish to go on the cockpit coaming.  When that is done I will repaint the deck and then add the on-deck detailing.  As you can see in this picture, I built the display stand today.  I have also painted the bottom and put the boot stripes on.  Over the next few days I will start building the sails.

Feb. 11, 08 - I finally finished varnishing the cockpit coaming and repainting the deck.  This weekend I built the jib furler, sails and deck hatches.  For the next week or so I will be building detail components and putting them on the boat.  I am hoping to have this model finished next week.

Feb. 20, 08 - I am now nearly finished with this model.  Since my last update I have finished varnnishing the on-deck wood and installed it.  That wood included the teak toe rail and several trim pieces under the traveller and around the rudder post.  I have also built and installed the tiller.  I have also installed the traveller track and the genoa tracks as well as several details in the cockpit as well as the name and hail port on the transom that you can't see in this picture.  In addition, I have finished varnishing the display stand.

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