tmj
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tmj's post in Removing Char from bulkheads was marked as the answer
When the bulkheads are 'fared', prior to planking the model, that faring operation should effectively remove all of that char. You 'can' sand away that char, prior to gluing the bulkheads in place, but take care. You must be very careful and sand with fine paper using a very light touch. If you sand too hard it will leave low spots in the areas of those bulkheads that were sanded harder than in other areas. This will make your planks wavey, in and out, and just plain bad looking in the long run, requiring filler, sanding and laying down a 'second 'decorative layer of planking to hide all of the filler, unless you plan to fill, sand and paint the hull without any planking details showing through to the surface after painting. It's your choice, but no real reason to sand that char prior to faring.
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tmj's post in Sapele wood color on second layer planking was marked as the answer
Sapele is indeed a rather 'rich' looking color of wood. If you are not happy with that color/tint there is little that you can do about it, unless you want it darker, then you can simply stain it. Your best bet, should you be seeking a 'lighter' shade would be to purchase, or cut your own planking strips using a lighter-colored species of wood... and then experiment with stains, finishes, etc. until you achieve the shade/color that you truly desire. If you are talking about those really, really 'thin' strips that come with some kits, to be placed over 'thicker 'first' planks... you might need to shop eBay for thin veneers and cut the strips yourself using a hobby knife and a metal straight edge. You'll find a lot of nice looking and thin veneers on eBay.
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tmj's post in Straightening plastic masts was marked as the answer
I agree with GrandaPhil. Remaking the mast out of wood would be a good approach for a long-lasting solution. Wood has a longitudinal grain that will tend to hold its shape much better/longer than a granular material with no lengthy grain at all. That being said, if the bend is not too isolated and sharp, nor in a really bad place... proper rigging techniques and good quality ropes will pull/straighten the mast out and hold it proper without the need for repair...
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