Chuck Seiler

While definitely NOT an expert in planking (I struggle on a regular basis) I see some areas that might be helpful. I believe your garboard strake does not go far enough forward and bends down. I always have problems with the garbord, but getting it right is one key to proper planking. Continuing it as indicated gives a better angle for the next plank and sets up a better distance for follow-on planks. This allows the follow-on planks to be tapered to fit the hull, whether spiled or edge-bent.

Good luck Dick. I will drop in from time to time and take a look see. You and Louis da Fly keep drawing me back here.

Dave, A lesson in and of itself. You will find many discussions here regarding glues. IMHO superglue has its place but wood glue is best. Others disagree. Not sure ANYBODY likes foaming gorilla glue.

Hi Dave! Welcome aboard. Before getting philosophical, a suggestion. You mentioned "Careful cutting with an exacto blade separated the three keel pieces. ". If the parts were glued with wood glue these can easily be separated by soaking the joints in rubbing alcohol (cotton balls or Q tips work for me) for a bit, then separating with the exacto. Drinking from a firehose, indeed. A big newbie problem is coming aboard wanting to build a scratch built, fully framed HMS VICTORY or USS CONSTITUTION. They are quickly overwhelmed. It looks like you have chosen the more reasonable path of starting small and learning the 'trade'. I have found that even experienced wood workers learn new things when dealing with bendy-curvey hulls and compound curved planking. Read build logs of ships you are working on and ones you may work on...and ones that interest you. I have found valuable info from logs having nothing to do with the model I am working on. Use the archives and ask questions. That 'stupid question' you might be afraid to ask...we probably all asked it at some point. You don't learn if you don't ask. Don't be afraid to pull apart things that are not right. Errors compound. Wood is forgiving and easy to come by. Have fun!! There will be times of frustration when things don't work out (at least for me there were) but think it through and it will work out (usually). And remember, you can never have too many clamps.

I love the 'picnic tables' but I am not sure how useful they would be on a ship in heavy seas. Been there. Done that with bolted down tables. I guess those pirates are a hardier breed than I. Keep up the great work.

Chuck, What is the estimated size of this beastie?

Dr. Crisman gave the presentation but the dissertation was by Eric Emery. It is unpublished and you have to go thru TAMU to get it. The dissertation appears to have been completed in 2003 but I want to say Dr. Crisman's presentation at the SMA conference in Long Beach was 2002. I asked about ARROW and ALLEN, he rattled off several areas of difference...but I am very certain one was based on the other. Good luck with the flag.

1. A good source for images of almost any flag you would want. https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/ 2. My understanding is the model ARROW was based loosely on the gunboat ALLEN. It was the subject of a doctoral paper by (forgot the name) at Texas A&M University. Maritime archeologist Kevin Cristman from that organization gave a presentation on that ship/boat at the SMA conference in the 90s. CHuck

Thanks for the offer. I already have the aspen and maple in hand...just deciding which looks best.

I have always liked holly for my decks, however it is becoming harder to come by. For my next project I am looking at maple or aspen. Not asked, but answered...I use #2 pencil on 1 plank edge to simulate caulking. Yellow wood glue.

SPHYNX without the waterline is a different look. I like it! Well done BE.

Congratulations Mike, and well done. Break out the dinner rolls!!

I erroneously mentioned painting the keelson. I was thinking false keel. Keelson would not be painted. If you are going to stain or natural finish, I would keep the keel wood the same as stem. I still recommend cherry for frames. Alaskan Yellow Cedar for hull planking would work out very well. I have used it for planking and it looks really nice with either a Wipe on Poly or Tung Oil finish. (be careful of the splinters) 😜

Brian, I am very jealous of your weather. 100 degrees for over a week here in Santee. It is a little cooler where you used to live. Part of the answer to your question depends on whether you will paint the keel/keelson or not. If the area in question will be painted, I don't see where it makes a difference if it is the same wood as the exposed part. If unpainted, it should be the same wood (IMO). However, I do think you ar making a mistake by using AYC for the keel and frames. In my opinion, too soft. I would recommend cherry for the frames and (if painted) the keel. Modeler's Sawmill has good cherry.

Found it.

Toni, Somewhere I have a rood picture of one of the swivels on SD Maritime Museum's SURPRISE. I cannot find it right now but will search for it tonight. As I recall, the gun was/is at chest level.

Ulises Victoria's paper on deck planking was a link in one of the posts. 👍

Mark, Many thanks. Per Ulises' paper, sequential (1-2-3-4-1-2-3-4) and staggered (1-3-5-2-4-1-3-5-2-4) appear equally acceptable.

Allan, In the past I have used a 5 plank shift on hull and deck as indicated below, but looking at some logs I am now questioning that strategy.

I tried to find the Butt Shift Plan and decking calculator discussed in post #5, but was unable to. Were many of the articles removed or am I looking in the wrong place?

Radioactive contamination? What did I miss?

Steve, Greetings from Santee. For more face to face interaction, I will refer you to the San Diego Ship Modelers Guild. We are an NRG charter club whose info can be found on the main NRG site. We meet on the ferry BERKELEY (Maritime Museum of San Diego) the second Tuesday of each month (today). If interested, please IM me. I regularly direct SDSMG members to MSW. I rarely get the chance to send folks in the other direction.

The frayed end in PIC 1 of post #8 doesn't look too bad. Remember, this is a crappy @$$ed fishing boat, not a naval launch. I'm not sure how much time they are going to spend whipping the ends of lines. "Tie the knot and let's get back out on the water."

Obviously whoever made that Jacob's Ladder never had to climb up it. Oh, to be young and nimble.