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Planning and Demonstration

Students review historic designs in preparation for laying out a preliminary design on their own wooden model. Instructor Tony Dias demonstrates layout of hull shape on a wood block prior to the first cut. Instructor Reuben Smith shows the class a model profile sawn from a wood block. Reuben examines a model shape after planing. Reuben discusses different model shapes with the class. Reuben studies the shear line. Reuben planes a rough shape. Reuben demonstrates another planing technique. More planing technique. Instructors Chris Dewart and Reuben Smith set up the band saw.

Building the Models

A student cuts a design profile from a wood block. A student plots a curve on his hull model. Another student lays out a shear curve on his hull model. A student prepares to make his initial profile cut. Another student makes his initial profile cut. A student prepares to make his initial profile cut. Students at various stages of carving process. A student cuts a shear line. Note the profile drawn in pencil on the side. Cutting away. Students at work at various stages. Reuben and a student look at traditional boat designs together. A student refines her hull model's shape with a plane. Reuben discusses a model's shape with a student. A student fairs a model. A student sands his hull shape smooth. A student uses the band saw. A student contemplates hull shaping progress. More contemplation. Students work at various stages of progress. More work at different carving stages. Reuben discusses hull model progress with a student. Rough shaping with a chisel. A student sites the underwater shape of her hull model. More chisel work. Reuben and a student discuss hull model shape. A student prepares to mount his model. More model shaping. Reuben discusses sail design with students. Reuben references historical design. A student adjusts a spokeshave. Student sites student siting model. Fine shaping with a cabinet scraper. Other key tools: chisel (foreground), spokeshave (left), and medium plane (right). Carving away. Reuben and a student discuss the implications of hull shape. More discussion. A student in the foreground uses a spokeshave in a tight curve near the bow of her model. Student fairs model with sandpaper. A student in the foreground planes his model. A student discusses his model with Tony A student uses the spokeshave. A student uses a rasp in a tight curve. More work with a rasp. Final shaping of a model.

Drawing up Plans for the Completed Models

Reuben and a student begin to lay out a lines plan for the model to the right. Tony discusses the process of developing lines plans. More lines plan demonstration. A student lays out grid lines for his lines plan. A completed basic lines plan. Top: body plan; middle: profile view; bottom: half breadth. (The model itself can be seen at the left.)

Exploring the MIT Museum's Stored Nautical Collections

Tony discusses the variety of hull shapes displayed in the Museum's collection of historical half hull models. The class examines more historical models. Hart curator Kurt Hasselbalch discusses the design relationship between historic plans and a builder's model. Kurt disassembles lifts from a builder's model. Lifts from a builder's model separated on the table.

Final Projects

The instructors and class with all of their completed half-hull models. All the finished half-hull models laid out. Another view of the models.