Instruction manual

4
BEFORE YOU BEGIN
HOW TO WORK WITH THE PLANS & PARTS
The Phantom is an interesting model for
beginner and exper
t alike. This kit con-
tains a solid hull which has been
machined carved from select, medium-
hard, fine-grained basswood. This style
hull provides a quick and easy lesson in
the basic shapes and proportions of hull
design and helps to develop woodworking
skills. Although the exterior of the
Phantom hull has been carved close to
the hull lines as shown on the plans, fur-
ther carving and sanding is necessary for
reasons of accuracy. Shaping and finish-
ing the hull to its final shape are dis-
cussed in the instructions.
Constructing the Phantom model also
will provide you with the opportunity to
develop some scratch-building techniques.
During construction, you may want to
substitute some of the kit fittings with
your own creations. By all means try
them, especially if you think you can
improve the model.
If you are a beginner, take your time.
This model is fairly simple to build but it
still has a fair amount of detail and small
par
ts. Make sur
e you complete one stage
before moving to the next. When some-
thing goes awry, consider doing it over.
Completing this model will pr
epar
e you
for a more complicated model such as
the Sultana or Fair American. The
Sultana is another solid hull model, but
has more rigging and deck detail. Fair
American is outfitted with a plank-on-
bulkhead hull that will take you to anoth-
er level of dif
ficulty. In the meantime,
happy modeling!
Befor
e starting model construction, exam-
ine the kit and study the plans car
efully.
Familiarizing yourself with the kit will
serve two purposes. First, it will let you
determine that all parts have been sup-
plied as listed. And second, you’ll be sur-
prised at just how quickly handling the
parts allows you to better understand the
kit requirements. Try to visualize how
every part will look on the completed
model.
Also, determine ahead of time
what must be done first. The instr
uctions
will help you in this regard, but a thor-
ough knowledge of the plans at the outset
is essential.
It is suggested that all small fittings and
hardware be sorted into labeled boxes or
compartments to avoid loss during the
building pr
ocess.
1. The Plans
Three Plan Sheets and a Template Sheet
are provided:
1. Arrangement & Lines - Sheet 1 of 3
2. Rigging Plan - Sheet 2 of 3
3. Suggested Simplification of Rigging
Details - Sheet 3 of 3
4. Hull Templates on heavy paper stock
for hull carving
The Phantom kit is manufactured to a
scale of 1/8” = 1’ 0”. Plan sheets 1 and 2
are drawn to the exact scale that the
model is to be built, except where some
details have been enlarged for clarity.
Most dimensions can be lifted directly off
the plans by using a set of draftsman
dividers or by using a “tick” strip, which
is simply a piece of paper used to “pick
up” the dimensions (a roll of calculator
tape works very well). Lay your paper
strip over the plan and mark the lengths
of items car
efully with a sharp pencil.
Then use the strip to transfer the marks to
the wood or item to be made to scale.
2. Making Allowances
Along the Way
Try to be exact when following the plans,
but use common sense along the way. You
may need to make adjustments or allow
for small differences in how your model is
shaping up; perhaps your mast has too
much rake (the angle at which it sits).
When lines go to belaying points they
should not drape over parts or conflict
with other lines. If necessary, move a
belaying point or a fairlead. In other
words, put yourself on the ship and use
your judgement.
3. Understanding Hull Lines
Beginners may not be familiar with hull
lines. Buttock lines are vertical longitudi-
nal planes cut through the hull.Water-
lines ar
e horizontal planes, and sections
ar
e transverse vertical planes. All of these
lines define the hull shape and ar
e used
by the draftsman to fair the hull form
(create regular even curves). A complete
set of hull lines is shown on the plans.
4. Kit Lumber
Your kit may contain European lime-
wood, as a substitute for the basswood
most of us are familiar with. Both woods
are similar in grain and workability. In
fact, limewood has superior bending qual-
ities. This will be helpful, since a few of
Phantom’s rails must be bent to the prop-
er curve. Following are three different
methods of bending and shaping wood.
Steam bending
- This is done by holding
the wood piece you wish to bend over a
kettle of steaming water and then bending
it. Hold the wood in position until it
cools. It should remain nearly in that posi-
tion, but may spring back slightly.
Soaking
- Another method is to soak the
piece in warm water for several hours.
Try adding a little household ammonia to
the water. You can also use pure ammo-
nia. This speeds up the soaking process
and makes the wood fibers slippery so the
wood can be easily bent. After soaking the
wood, shape it to the desired
position,using a form. Let it remain there
until it has dried completely.
Hot ir
on - You may also bend wood
quickly over a soldering iron, but don’t let
it get too hot. Lar
ge soldering ir
ons with a
tubular end is ideal. The tube near the
handle will not be as hot as the very end.
It is also possible to purchase model
plank-bending irons commercially. They
are designed for controlled heat.
5. Cast-Metal Fittings
The kit is supplied with Britannia metal
castings. The Britannia metal is a great
improvement over the white metal that
was used in some older kits. Unlike white
metal and pewter, Britannia does not con-
tain lead, so there are no possible corro-
sion problems. Many of these fittings,
however, will require final finishing
before they are suitable for installing on
the model.
Before painting the cast-metal fittings,
clean them up by r
emoving all the mold-
joint flash. To do this, use a No. 11 hobby
blade to cut the flash, then file or sand it