Arthur Wayne

I'm building this model as well and ran into the same issue, and came to the same solution.

Looking at your photos, the first photo it looks to me like your garboard is falling where it should, roughly up to bulkhead F. Your second photo looks to me like you have the issue I also had when I first starting clamping down the plank, I started in the middle and worked my way back and when I got to the stem I ended up with a wedge shape between it, and strake #2. As dumb as this may sound, starting at the stern post and clamping that little bit down so it lies against the rabbit and strake #2 first, and then working forward made all the difference in the world. Looks like you are using yellow glue, you might want to try CA instead. I'm using Loctite Liquid Super Glue (the bottle is kind of shaped like a nail polish bottle). A drop or 2 on just the bulkheads, 2 or 3 at a time works great. You will only need a few extra drops where the planks lay flat on the rabbit near the stem. I only need to hold the plank for 5-10 seconds and it's set then I move on to the next couple. I agree, we shouldn't need to buy sheet wood for a complete kit. I did it out of laziness and expediency. I just ripped out the front 2 strakes (not the garboard) and I'm going to try soaking and edge bending the planks just to see if I it can be done. To be honest, spiling planks from sheet takes a lot more time to do than it should and edge bending these would save time in the long run. Good luck, I'm watching your build and it's been helpful seeing someone else struggle along with the same project.

I'm working on the same model and I'm at the same spot. I tried forming the planks using just heat and got the back half of the garboard and first strake in pretty well but I broke several strakes trying to form the aft half of 3rd strake. Last night I gave in to soaking a plank in very hot water for about 15 minutes. The wood was then very pliable and I was able to clamp it onto the model with smooth flowing lines, butted to the adjoining plank and tight against the bulkheads. This morning I unclamped it and it held the shape perfectly. I then proceeded to do the same for the other side before leaving for work and when I got home it too held it's shape perfectly. I only soaked about 8 inches of the plank, standing it up in a drinking glass full of hot water because the planks that span bulkheads 1, 0 and A are straight (assuming your garboard is straight with the keel). The forward half of the second and third strake I used sheet basswood and spiled the planks instead of trying to form them with heat. I already knew where the butt joints were going to be so it's easier to work on planking half of one side at a time. You can get sheet basswood at Hobby Lobby, it's not any worse quality than what's in the kit. I was not happy with my first strake and ripped it off so I understand how you aren't excited about doing that again. Alternatively I'm glad I did and corrected my first shoddy attempt because things would have gone from bad to worse. After seeing Chucks masterful plank jobs on the Cheerful and Longboat I was determined to follow his expertise and only use heat for forming. Ultimately I don't believe it can be done with 1/16" thick basswood, maybe if it was 1/32 thick it would work, but at 1/16" thick it's way to stiff to not soak the planks. Hope that helps, don't be afraid to soak those planks you'll, be happily surprised by how easy they are to form that way. It does take patience letting them dry for 8 hours but it's well worth it in my opinion.