Building a Pirate Ship - Part 2

Part 2:

Building the Stern, and quarterdeck.

In the first part, I showed you how to begin your pirate ship project, with basic art supplies, tools, and materials needed. In addition I went on to explain how to cut the patterns for the hull and gunwales.

In this installment, I will step you through the process of adding the stern and preparing the quarter deck. One step at a time, and you will be able to create you own pirate ship.

Tooling the ship:
Select a tool that meets your needs. In this case, I have selected a flat tool with a rounded end. I find that even though I have dozens of tool, I tend to use on a selected few for most projects. Pick out a few that you like, and keep these aside from the rest. This will save time and it will help you become proficient as you learn to use each of these selected tools. As you learn to effectively use each specialised tool, your crafting skills will improve.

Using the flat, rounded end, I will run the tool at an angle along the bottom edge. As you guide the tool, small shavings of clay will be removed. Be carful not to dig into the seam and remove too much. Most of the tooling will be smoothing the clay over.

Continue to work the edge on both sides, taking care at the bow as you shape the smooth curves of your ship. The purpose of this step is to form a seamless bond along the base of the sides, and removing any excess clay that would form lumps on the sides of the ship.

=> Use your center line while working the edge to keep the shape of the hull symmetrical.

Smooth the bottom:
Carefully flip the ship over. If the clay has bonded to your working surface, use a flat putty blade, or very thin (dull) knife to gently remove the clay. Be careful not to cut into the bottom.

With the same flat rounded tool used above, gently smooth the bottom seam. I like to use a brush stroke like movement, blending at a 45-degree angle to the seam. Make sure you smooth the entire edge, then return the ship upright.

Add clay as needed:
I find that certain areas require a dab of clay to reinforce the ship. By adding a small ball of clay into the bow for example, I help strengthen the bond formed at the prow of the ship.

Work the clay into the seam, and smooth the edges until you form a nice even surface in the bow of the ship.
This area will later be covered by the forecastle deck, however the extra clay will help hold the model together.

Cutting pieces for the Stern:
Flatten the clay with your rolling pin, this time keeping the clay about 5/8" inch thick. The two pieces shown to the left are the stern, and a small piece of the quarter deck that will be used to bond the stern to the quarterdeck.

=> This small portion of the quarterdeck is later used to mount the ships wheel.

• The quarter deck itself is going to be a removeable piece, so it will be built independantly in a later installment.

Assemble the Stern:

The pattern for the stern was also folded in half to help form a center line on the clay piece. This center line is then used to match up the main deck with the stern piece.

As you match up the stern, gently pinch the two pieces together. Take care not to pinch too hard, you do not want to damage the shape of the gunwale or the stern pieces.

=> Use a heavy card stock for your patterns, it helps ensure they will last for more than one ship. Notice the center line on the hull, formed by pressing the center fold in the card stock pattern into the clay.

Smooth out the Stern:

From the inside, you will then bond the two peices together using a flat tool. In this case, I have blended the clay starting from the gunwale and blending the clay onto the stern piece. This will be the first step in forming a seamless bond, which will hold the two pieces together.

=> This is an area that I would suggest you add some clay to help strengthen the bond.

Adding a bead of clay:
Roll up a bead of clay that will be used to along the seam formed between the main deck, the two gunwales and the stern.

With your fingers first then with your tools, work this bead into the seam.

You will want to blend the bead onto the main deck, the two gunwales and onto the stern piece to form a smooth bond.

It is critical to thouroughly work these seams together, this bonds the clay, stregthening the overall model.

=> Add a second bead as needed.

Shape the Stern:

With a flat tool, from the stern to make it appear that it was built with two separate pieces. You will note that I have pushed the bottom of the stern, squaring it off in the aft section.

In addition, I have pinched the bottom edge and the two edges that bond the gunwale/side together to form a "squared" stern.

Later you will add the rudder enclosure, and detail the stern section. For now just make sure it is rounded on top, and squared off on the bottom section of the stern.

Preparing the Quarterdeck:

Add the small 1/2 rounded piece of the quarterdeck. You will notice in the background the pattern for this 1/2 rounded quarterdeck section, in addition to the quarterdeck pattern, and bulkhead pattern.

Smooth the 1/2 rounded piece into the rounded section of the stern, and blend the seam into the two gunwale/sides.

Also use your tools to bond the underside of the this 1/2 rounded section. Since it will be hidden from view, I suggest you add a bead of clay and work it into the seam underneath the quarterdeck section.

Concluding part 2:

Your ship is now prepared to add the removable quarterdeck, which will be outlined in the next installment.

You will notice how the stern has a nice rounded shape, and the small section of the quarterdeck is squared off.

As you form the quarterdeck section, you will custom build the pieces to match this shape.

For now this concludes part TWO of the Pirate Ship build.

In the next installment I will illustrate how to build the removable Quarterdeck section.

John T Cusack

http://www.battlefieldhobbies.org/