Ray

Second Planking 
I started planking from the top of the wale, this position was marked out as per the instructions measuring down from the main deck gun ports. I like to lay the second planks semi-wet to damp and fix with cyno gel; I find the cyno grabs damp timber much better than dry timber. One thing I will comment on is the quality of the planking the 1x4mm being the worst, it is nowhere as good as the planking supplied in the two Victory kits I have built, the edges are rough and splintery, and also show saw marks, four out of ten would be my best mark I could give the 1x5mm a little better, So before soaking I had to sand all the planking edges a bit of a pain. I went downwards with the 1x5mm for five rows,( the instruction say plank right down to the keel and plank upward last), I then went upwards with the 1x4mm only because I thought it was only a matter of time while working on the bottom I would break or damage the fore or quarter deck sides, this way their thickness would be doubled and be a lot less fragile. The planking as gone ok so far.
 
Jason
        At the end I have posted two pics with Diana along side Pegasus hope this gives you the size compassion.
 
Rough planking
 

 

 
First few planks on

 
Working upwards


 
 
Planked upwards to the top

 
Planking well under way
 


 
Diana and Pegasus
 


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Second Planking 
I started planking from the top of the wale, this position was marked out as per the instructions measuring down from the main deck gun ports. I like to lay the second planks semi-wet to damp and fix with cyno gel; I find the cyno grabs damp timber much better than dry timber. One thing I will comment on is the quality of the planking the 1x4mm being the worst, it is nowhere as good as the planking supplied in the two Victory kits I have built, the edges are rough and splintery, and also show saw marks, four out of ten would be my best mark I could give the 1x5mm a little better, So before soaking I had to sand all the planking edges a bit of a pain. I went downwards with the 1x5mm for five rows,( the instruction say plank right down to the keel and plank upward last), I then went upwards with the 1x4mm only because I thought it was only a matter of time while working on the bottom I would break or damage the fore or quarter deck sides, this way their thickness would be doubled and be a lot less fragile. The planking as gone ok so far.
 
Jason
        At the end I have posted two pics with Diana along side Pegasus hope this gives you the size compassion.
 
Rough planking
 

 

 
First few planks on

 
Working upwards


 
 
Planked upwards to the top

 
Planking well under way
 


 
Diana and Pegasus
 


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Second Planking 
I started planking from the top of the wale, this position was marked out as per the instructions measuring down from the main deck gun ports. I like to lay the second planks semi-wet to damp and fix with cyno gel; I find the cyno grabs damp timber much better than dry timber. One thing I will comment on is the quality of the planking the 1x4mm being the worst, it is nowhere as good as the planking supplied in the two Victory kits I have built, the edges are rough and splintery, and also show saw marks, four out of ten would be my best mark I could give the 1x5mm a little better, So before soaking I had to sand all the planking edges a bit of a pain. I went downwards with the 1x5mm for five rows,( the instruction say plank right down to the keel and plank upward last), I then went upwards with the 1x4mm only because I thought it was only a matter of time while working on the bottom I would break or damage the fore or quarter deck sides, this way their thickness would be doubled and be a lot less fragile. The planking as gone ok so far.
 
Jason
        At the end I have posted two pics with Diana along side Pegasus hope this gives you the size compassion.
 
Rough planking
 

 

 
First few planks on

 
Working upwards


 
 
Planked upwards to the top

 
Planking well under way
 


 
Diana and Pegasus
 


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

One half of the gun deck has now been planked top & butt, then 13 rows of 3mm planks and lastly two rows of 5mm up to the edge, where the gratings come to, the part left in the centre of the deck reverts to 3mm planks, I will fill that in after the other main half has been done, so far I a pleased with the effect and the maple. The other photos show my planking station just some pined down glass paper and spare 1.5 x 5 mm planking pined to allow the ends to be sanded square.

 
This might be the last update for a while as tomorrow the 6th I am going into hospital to have replacement knee surgery not looking forward to it very much, hopefully after the first few weeks I might have a lot of time to put into the build.
 
3mm planks ready to lay

 
Sanding station

 
Sanding edge

 
3mm planking being layed

 
3mm planking done

 
One side finished

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 

Gun ports
Next job mark out the main gun deck gun ports, on the face of it a simple task, the top of the second plank down is marked and is the top of the gun ports, start 65mm in from the stern and mark along that line with the template supplied stern to bow. WRONG this gave me a big problem the last two gun ports at the bow line up with two frames, these would need to be cut away to open up the port, which in turn means you would have to remove the deck beam supports, (see photo) this is a very poor design fault, I moved the gun ports to just miss the frames this puts the ports in the position shown on the overhead deck plan!! I then remarked the ports going back to the stern with a 32mm space between ports not the 30mm space on the template. I can only think what a good job I noticed this before I started cutting out the ports!!!!
The ports were then all cut out small holes drilled and then cut out and trimmed square with a file, note I covered the deck with masking tape to protect it when filing out the ports, the ports without lids were then trimmed out with1x6 timber the inner bulwarks and the framed ports painted.
I did not check first but after warning from Christian I checked the channels, when fitted they will be ok and the spaces that need to clear over the gun ports will be.
 
AS marked out with supplied template

 
Ports as remarked


 
Cutting out the ports

 
Ports all cut out

 
Ports cut out and lined

 
All ports without lids done

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Thanks for the comments guys just a bit more to do on the first planking as detailed below
 
With the first planking completed and sanded down I filled a few slight dips, and low planks and sanded again. I then made a template for the quarterdeck bulwark, for as built configuration of 1794 all 9 pounders cannon and a rail, when happy with the look I glued together two of the lime planks and made the two bulwarks and after cutting the tops off the frames glued them on, then a second filler and sanding was then done.
 
The card template and the timber quaterdeck sides

 
Quaterdeck sides fitted and filled

 
The quaterdeck sides finshed



 
Main deck gun ports next
 
 
 
 
 
 

Thanks for the comments guys just a bit more to do on the first planking as detailed below
 
With the first planking completed and sanded down I filled a few slight dips, and low planks and sanded again. I then made a template for the quarterdeck bulwark, for as built configuration of 1794 all 9 pounders cannon and a rail, when happy with the look I glued together two of the lime planks and made the two bulwarks and after cutting the tops off the frames glued them on, then a second filler and sanding was then done.
 
The card template and the timber quaterdeck sides

 
Quaterdeck sides fitted and filled

 
The quaterdeck sides finshed



 
Main deck gun ports next
 
 
 
 
 
 

First planking has been completed and sanded down. Next will add the quarterdeck planking for which I will make a template first as I am building her as lunched with an open rail and only 9 pounders on the quarterdeck
 
Last few planks to fit

 
last planks on

 
First planking completed

 

 
Sanded down

 

 
 
 
 
 
 

First planking has been completed and sanded down. Next will add the quarterdeck planking for which I will make a template first as I am building her as lunched with an open rail and only 9 pounders on the quarterdeck
 
Last few planks to fit

 
last planks on

 
First planking completed

 

 
Sanded down

 

 
 
 
 
 
 

First planking has been completed and sanded down. Next will add the quarterdeck planking for which I will make a template first as I am building her as lunched with an open rail and only 9 pounders on the quarterdeck
 
Last few planks to fit

 
last planks on

 
First planking completed

 

 
Sanded down

 

 
 
 
 
 
 

First planking has been completed and sanded down. Next will add the quarterdeck planking for which I will make a template first as I am building her as lunched with an open rail and only 9 pounders on the quarterdeck
 
Last few planks to fit

 
last planks on

 
First planking completed

 

 
Sanded down

 

 
 
 
 
 
 

Planking update just over two thirds done now, photos show a stealer being added
 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

First planking continued
An update on the first planking no problems so far I am laying the planks damp to very damp, I soak the planks in an blanked off length of pvc pipe, and then bend and cut them damp, I fix with pins using PVA speed bond and after fixing the first two rows full width, I am tapering the rest at the bows I do it by eye and feel.
 
First few rows on

 
A few more rows on

 
A few more rows on shows balsa filler helping with pinning planks


 
Stern planking


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

First planking continued
An update on the first planking no problems so far I am laying the planks damp to very damp, I soak the planks in an blanked off length of pvc pipe, and then bend and cut them damp, I fix with pins using PVA speed bond and after fixing the first two rows full width, I am tapering the rest at the bows I do it by eye and feel.
 
First few rows on

 
A few more rows on

 
A few more rows on shows balsa filler helping with pinning planks


 
Stern planking


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

First planking 
I have started the first planking, and the first plank to be laid lines up with the top, of the top deck, as mentioned before at frame 13 the cross beam is to high so I allowed for this also at the bow the balsa fillers had pushed up the ply deck about the width of the ply so I also allowed for this by setting the first plank that width low. One other problem is that on some of the frames dip in one side, so a filler strip needed to be glued to the frame to counter this, it is not a frame misalignment problem as no reduction of the frames were needed on the other side, and visa versa, I tacked a plank on both sides before gluing up to check I had a nice even curve the same both sides with no dips or humps, two planks a side have now been attached the rest to do, I also removed the top deck.  
 
First plank on shows high deck beam frame 13

 
 
 
 
shows same curve both sides with frame 16 reduced and 15 packed out
 

 
 
 
First two rows of planking on

First planking 
I have started the first planking, and the first plank to be laid lines up with the top, of the top deck, as mentioned before at frame 13 the cross beam is to high so I allowed for this also at the bow the balsa fillers had pushed up the ply deck about the width of the ply so I also allowed for this by setting the first plank that width low. One other problem is that on some of the frames dip in one side, so a filler strip needed to be glued to the frame to counter this, it is not a frame misalignment problem as no reduction of the frames were needed on the other side, and visa versa, I tacked a plank on both sides before gluing up to check I had a nice even curve the same both sides with no dips or humps, two planks a side have now been attached the rest to do, I also removed the top deck.  
 
First plank on shows high deck beam frame 13

 
 
 
 
shows same curve both sides with frame 16 reduced and 15 packed out
 

 
 
 
First two rows of planking on

Thanks for the comments guysMort
 
I hope one of these photos show the stem planking you would like to see.
 
The inner wall of the gun deck has now been fitted, I painted the first three planks just to help keep a nice line to where it joins the waterway, later I will sand down and repaint the whole inner wall.
I have also started to dry fit the top ply deck this needed some of the slots adjusting and at the moment it is just clamped and taped down, as the next job is to fit the transom parts and I think having the deck in place will help to align the parts. You can also now see how little of the gun deck can actually been seen.
 
Inner gun deck wall started

 
Planking



 
inner gun deck walls done

 
top deck dry fitted

 
 
gun deck through top deck

 
 
 

Deck planking
As I am going to top & but the gun deck planking I thought my normal method of laying black thread between the planks would not be very practical. I had seen on the old site some black brush pen, which it was, reckoned do not bleed so I ordered two pens to give this method a try on the lower deck of which a bit will be seen through the gratings, I also used the supplied planking to do this.
 
 
The method just run the pen over the edge of the plank lay it and run a pencil along the deck and repeat, the result surprised me how good it looked and how fast.
 
The pen

 
Blackening the edge

 
lower deck planking

I have started the second side of the gun deck planking and have now laid the waterway and the top & butt planks, bit of a job to concentrate due to the pain relief so I only did a small bit at a time, I have also cut sanded blackened the edges of quite a few lengths of 3mm planking.
 
 
Top & butt plank template

 
 
Water way and planking


 
 
Top & but planking all done


 
Ready for 3mm planks

 
Pile of 3mm planks ready to lay

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Thanks Mark for you kind comments. From the look of your Wasa and Sloop of War, it could be "been there, done that." But we do have fun, don't we?
Joe, I picked up ideas from Ed Tosti's remarkable scratch built Victory and the Victory Gallery on the old site.  It's great that someone is watching the build logs and we can continue to pass on ideas.
Popeye, Your thoughtful remarks are greatly appreciated.  I think all of us who enjoyed the O'Brien series, imagine ourselves as captain of the ships (models) we build. The reality, however, is that without family wealth, I'd have likely been a tar, living "before the mast" and climbing the rat lines. So....I want the rigging to be safe.
Grant, You'll soon pass me by.  I'm spending much more time working on the real boat now.
Kevin, I think you will find the stuns'l booms in place in the last two photos.  Rigging lines for them is in question.  Sometimes, I think we can add so much detail that the beauty and order of the rigging can be lost, rather like background noise in a recording. Perhaps I'll make that decision when I get a bit further along.  Looking forward to "visiting" your work station in April/May.  Cheers, Gil

Hi Guys thanks for the comments and best wishes. My knee surgery went ok, only in hospital for four days, but it is extremely painful so I have not yet done any more work on Diana, Sharpe knifes and alike mixed with a fair bit of morphine are not the best mix.
 
 
Hi Mihai
                I did use the brush/pen on all the decking laid so far and I am very pleased with the result, and its having the benefit of it being faster as well over my normal method of laying black cotton thread between each plank not very practical on the top & butt planking.
 
 
Hi Mort
               I did not use a jig for the top and butt planks I just cut and measured each one from 80mm length of 5mm maple (as in the photo)

 
I cut a few at this standard size and laid the ones that just fit together nice and trimmed as necessary others, or cut one to give a snug fit and carried on to the bow and stern cutting each one as required, tapering them to give the straight line were the 3mm planking starts.

One half of the gun deck has now been planked top & butt, then 13 rows of 3mm planks and lastly two rows of 5mm up to the edge, where the gratings come to, the part left in the centre of the deck reverts to 3mm planks, I will fill that in after the other main half has been done, so far I a pleased with the effect and the maple. The other photos show my planking station just some pined down glass paper and spare 1.5 x 5 mm planking pined to allow the ends to be sanded square.

 
This might be the last update for a while as tomorrow the 6th I am going into hospital to have replacement knee surgery not looking forward to it very much, hopefully after the first few weeks I might have a lot of time to put into the build.
 
3mm planks ready to lay

 
Sanding station

 
Sanding edge

 
3mm planking being layed

 
3mm planking done

 
One side finished

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 

One half of the gun deck has now been planked top & butt, then 13 rows of 3mm planks and lastly two rows of 5mm up to the edge, where the gratings come to, the part left in the centre of the deck reverts to 3mm planks, I will fill that in after the other main half has been done, so far I a pleased with the effect and the maple. The other photos show my planking station just some pined down glass paper and spare 1.5 x 5 mm planking pined to allow the ends to be sanded square.

 
This might be the last update for a while as tomorrow the 6th I am going into hospital to have replacement knee surgery not looking forward to it very much, hopefully after the first few weeks I might have a lot of time to put into the build.
 
3mm planks ready to lay

 
Sanding station

 
Sanding edge

 
3mm planking being layed

 
3mm planking done

 
One side finished

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 

Deck planking
As I am going to top & but the gun deck planking I thought my normal method of laying black thread between the planks would not be very practical. I had seen on the old site some black brush pen, which it was, reckoned do not bleed so I ordered two pens to give this method a try on the lower deck of which a bit will be seen through the gratings, I also used the supplied planking to do this.
 
 
The method just run the pen over the edge of the plank lay it and run a pencil along the deck and repeat, the result surprised me how good it looked and how fast.
 
The pen

 
Blackening the edge

 
lower deck planking

PLEASE NOTE

ORIGINAL BUILD WAS FROM JAN 2009 & COMPLETED IN JAN 2010


 
Lady Nelson Build Log
 
Hi all this will be my first model ship build for over 20 years so I am a sort of beginner, I decided to build a model as I find its to cold to go carp fishing in the winter and can only play golf weather and arthritis permitting, so I sold a few watercolours of Thames Sailing Barges (another hobby) on Embay to pay for the project, the Lady Nelson looked to be just the model to build.
 
I sent off for the kit plus some tools a plank bender, plastic vice, pin pusher, pin vice and some quick set PVA back in the old days I used cascamite a powder glue you mixed with water from watery thin to porridge thick, no super glue in them days how things have moved on, plus a roto electric multi tool. While waiting for these to come I set up the workstation, the end of the lounge table, (I also paint there my wife thinks its more sociable), a sheet of mdf and a cutting mat. Then read all the build logs and tutorials.
 
The kit arrived 25th Jan and the contents checked all seemed to be good quality, another read of the tutorial. I cut out the frames/bulkheads and dry fitted to the keel, found they were a sloppy fit so packed the out with card, glued the frames to the keel making sure they were square, and the same height at both sides, plus the outside length the same from the centre line on the keel. Fist problem the second frame from the bow had the deck level higher one side hard to measure just looked wrong I find if it looks right it usually is.
That’s it for now I will add some pics