Although this model was inspired by Jolie Brise, I don't think the model is intended to be a model of that vessel. Ever since the plans first appeared and we were told about the adoption of a fin keel and the hard chine hull, it was obvious that this was a model of a formidable looking boat with a traditional powerful gaff cutter rig that would give a good account of herself on the lake

Looking at the photos of the framework, I see very careful and precise handiwork well thought out and well executed. This is a model to look forward to seeing the completion and the sailing.

Cheers, Nerys

Hi Red,

There seems to be quite a bit of variation in the full sized Cutter designs I have found on-line, with the modern 'copies' being more like yachts, but none of the ones I've found have a hard chine hull like my model has. I'm hoping on the water, it won't be too obvious, and the fin, keel and rudder won't be visible. The rudder on the model is quite different to typical Cutter rudder.

Graham93

Jolie Brise, was built in Le Havre in 1912 and never actually worked as a pilot cutter. I believe she was used for tunny fishing for a few years and eventually passed into English hands when bought by E.G.Martin who made her into a yacht. In the early days of ocean racing, she won the Fastnet race three times , competed successfully in Transatlantic races. She has been owned by the Dauntsey schoool in Witshire for over forty years and has crossed the Atlantic at least six times. Not a bad record.

Cheers, Nerys

You have to remember she is a French Pilot Cutter Graham - very different to the English ones like the modern versions being built in UK. The book on her is somewhere in this jam packed house. Believe she is still owned by a school in UK .
Artesania Latina make a kit of her - be bit small for RC though

Hi Clive,

That’s a really nice looking hull. Puts my plywood skinned version to shame. The stern looks very realistic.

Without the plans I bought I wouldn’t know where to start building a model like this. With the plans, someone else has worked out all the difficult bits like sheet controls. The downside is that the hull is not an accurate representation of the full sized Cutters. Hopefully I can make up for that with additional scale details above the waterline.

Looking forward to seeing more of your progress.

Graham93

.Hello Graham,
I'm interested that you are building a Jolie Brise model. I've got a model (very) slowly taking shape - a winter project that I started many years ago. One objective was to learn how to build a planked hull. I found the counter stern the most difficult to build. She is to be an RC working model; like you under water won't stick to original - there will be a deep ballasted lift-able fin keel to improve stability.
Currently I'm working on steering - taking ages to get rudder moving easily. Then intend to start on RC which I've never done before.
The pictures you posted of Tallulah will be a big help to me for deck layout.
I plan initially have just main & a self-tacking foresail sharing one winch. Will be nice to add bowsprit & jib but can't envisage sheet control!
I got the plans from the Jolie Brise book which I photo copied for 1/20 scale.

Rgds.....Clive

JB,

Hadn’t thought about sea shanties, I’m too focussed on the details of the hull constructing and rigging at the moment. But you never know....😉

There is an interesting opportunity for some servo winch mixing to control all the sails which I’m trying to figure out.🤔

Graham93

Will it have sailors singing sea shanties as well Graham?😁 That'll keep you busy for a while! You'll be struggling to hold yourself back on the electrical side, only being allowed servos😂, ( unless of course you pretend it's just been rebuilt and has had modern gear installed, - for safety reasons only- of course😁)

JB

Michael,

Ha, ha, or should it be Ho, Ho, Ho.😆 Nice try but it is going to be mostly ply construction.

I’m looking forward to building lots of external detail but I won’t be doing any scale internals as the hull will be filled with sail servos and rigging sheets.

Graham93

Hi Graham Glad to see you are going to go for a wooden hull much more interesting to build than a plastic or GRP and I'm sure you have the skill to carry it off. I look forward to seeing your offering, can we hope for a specification as follows ;-
CONSTRUCTION
- European larch (below waterline) and oak (above) carvel planking
- Opepe keel, stem, sternpost and deadwood
- Oak frames
- Opepe deck beams and deck
🤓
Finally just look at all that internal detail to get your teeth into😜

Hi Graham,
I agree with Your choice of Tallulah, she looks nice boat and well within the pilot boat tradition. Think she will make a model that you will be proud of. Happy building.

All the best, Nerys

Hi Graham,
Tallulah is a nice looking boat.
Plenty of detail there to keep you busy if she is the one you decide to build.

Martin555.

Nerys,

I’ve found lots of pictures of pilot cutters on the Web. It’s been interesting researching them. Although a modern replica, the attached link has lots of great photos showing details of the rigging and deck fittings.

Graham93

Hi Graham,

That sounds good, a wooden pilot cutter, no particular boat . Just look at lots of pictures and let a good sea kindly gaff cutter emerge. A boat that's capable of sailing down to Lundy Island in heavy weather, waiting to put the pilot aboard an incoming ship,perhaps take a pilot off an outbound, then sailing back to base in Barry or Cardiff.

Cheers, Nerys

Good to see that you are going ahead with a pilot cutter or similar. I'm sure you are more than capable of building a boat like this. There are plenty of pictures of traditional gaff cutter rigged working boats around. I personally have a thing for the Colchester oyster smacks, they are a bit finer lined than most pilot boats.

Cheers, Nerys

Graham,
Mum's the word LOL!!

Martin555.

Martin,

I have a plan.... all will be revealed. 🤔 As I hinted at in my last post, below the waterline will not be a scale representation of a real Pilot Cutter.

Graham93

Graham,
It will be very interesting following this log.

Probably to early to ask a question but.

Will it have to have a clip on keel or will the hull have the weight built in ?


Martin555.

Hi Nerys,

I’m going to build a wooden hull. It isn’t going to be a scale model of Jolie Brise, but I’m hoping it will look Like a typical Pilot Cutter, at least above the waterline.

I haven’t started it yet. Just collecting ideas and materials.

Graham93

I admit that I do not know who built a model of a Pilot Cutter, Ken may know as there is one that sails occasionally on our lake. I also came across one that was owned by a member of the Cardiff Model Boat Club. There are a number of hulls available, beware if ordering by name off a website, because some of the Bristol Channel boats had transom sterns and I don't think they are as attractive as the counter stern boats like Jolie Brise. I'm not sure, but I think I have seen a hull for Jolie Brise offered on one website.

Cheers , Nerys

Thanks for the links Martin - magnificent looking boat !👍😋

Hi Graham,
I look forward to your Cutter build log.
I must admit they do look really good in full sail.

Martin555.

'And now for something completely different!' - No, NOT the Larch again😁
Go for it Graham👍 Will watch with interest.
I believe one of our Welsh members built a Bristol Channel sail Pilot Cutter a while back.
Nerys will surely know who that was. Ken perhaps?
Cheers, Doug 😎

Martin,

I’ve been watching videos of Pilot Cutters on YouTube over the past few weeks. They look fantastic under sail. I’ve decided I’m going to have a go at building one as my next model 👍

Graham93

Thank you Martin, two excellent videos of a wonderful yacht. I've known her for years of course and seen her several times. Almost makes me wish I'd been to the Dauntseys school and had a chance to sail in her.

Cheers, Nerys