Nautical Research Journal Shop notes
A development of the Harold Hahn building method By John Garnish
Harold Hahn fi rst described his method for building plank-on-frame ship models in Model Shipwright 1974 (issues 2 and 3), and more fully in the NRG’s Ship Modeler’s Shop Notes I. (Figure 1) Since then, it has been adopted by many modellers because it provides a way of holding all the components rigidly up to and even beyond the planking stage. However, it occurred to me that, by taking a bit more trouble at the preparation stage, this approach could deliver even more in terms of accuracy and ease of operation.
Having plotted the outline of where the frame extensions will meet Hahn’s reference plane (the surface of the baseboard), the fi rst step is to select a suitable board, allowing about 3 inches all round outside the plotted outline.
(Figure 2A) Hahn
mentions using 1/4-inch hardboard Masonite or plywood, and notes that it may be stiff ened by fi xing battens underneath. I regard this thickness as an
Mark a centerline, exactly parallel to the long edges of the board and midway between them. Transfer the outline to the board, ensuring that the centerlines
2. Building board with outline marked; B. Frame locations cut out; C. Rectangular stiff ener applied; D. End plates fi tted.
absolute minimum; if the baseboard warps or twists, the entire hull will be distorted. I consider a 1/4-inch thickness to be a minimum, with 3/8-inch material or more for a larger model. I used to use blockboard, but that seems to have become unobtainable, so I now use plywood or medium density fi breboard (MDF). T e criteria are that it must be stable, can be cut without diffi culty and takes a good edge. T e last point is important because the fi rst refi nement that I adopted was to ensure the sides of the board are accurately straight and parallel. T e reason for this will become obvious.
275
1. T e basis of Harold Hahn’s building method, from Ship Modeler’s Shop Notes I.
3. Setting the fi rst frames (in this case, the keelson is used for alignment, rather than the keel, but the result is the same). Note also the addition of a block to maintain alignment of the stem.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100
