DocBlake

I'm with Tom and Jonathan:  There is more than one way accomplish a lot of tasks.  I deviated from the practicum a lot in my MS AVS and AL Swift builds, and for my current Patrick Henry I've almost stopped using the practicum completely!  Don't worry!  You're doing great!  Trust your instincts, but do look ahead a bit.

Sounds good, Bill!

I installed the stern blocks and faired the bulkheads and blocks..  I need to finish the deck and cover the exposed part of the bulkheads before the first hull planking.

Very, very nice, Don.  This is a very interesting model and judging by your progress so far, will be a real beauty.  Keep it up!

Glad you could stop in, Bill.  It looks as though you are a full-scale carpenter/woodworker as well as a model shipwright.  Am I right?  Woodworking in full scale is also a lifelong interest of mine.  I live in Pewaukee, about 55 miles from Madison.  Maybe we can get a few other Badger ship builders together and start a club in south central/south eastern Wisconsin!  There isn't one as far as I know.

I agree with Brian.  The problem with extending the planking beyond the filler blocks is that the fashion piece will "float", glued only to the end grain of the transom planks, and the upper hull planking above the wale will end as a butt joint against the fashion pieces, with a "space" behind.  Not the best situation.

Great progress, John!  She is really coming together nicely.  Keep posting.

We're just back from a road trip to Arizona, so the shipyard is open again!

I added the bow blocks and faired them smooth.  The bluff bow made me a little nervous, so I added the blocking, made of balsa wood.  The kit doesn't call for any blocking at all.  I'm also adding some at the stern, below the counter where the wing transom would sit.

She's coming along nicely!

Great progress!  You planking looks very nice.

Great progress, John.  I'm really enjoying this build log!

Great job on the outboard planking.  You've got the curve of the shear perfect!  The waterways look great also.  You are well on your way to an outstanding model.  Keep it up!

That looks great!

I never doubted it would work, John. Good job!

The rigging and block sizes in the kit are listed under the "documents" tab at the MS screen for the AVS. Unfortunately they are inaccurate. Here is a revised rigging schedule:

http://modelshipbuilder.com/page.php?188

I've actually finished planking the main deck, including the margin planks. I added filler blocks (balsa) to the first two inter-bulkhead spaces. With the bluff bow I wanted all the help I could get in fairing the bow. None of that is included in the instructions, BTW! I'll post as soon as I'm back from Arizona.

Very nice job so far. This is a fun build. Enjoy!

Waiting patiently for more, John!

We're in Phoenix, Arizona on a southwestern road trip so my shipyard is closed down for another week.

Outstanding job on the copper bottom, David!

I do have a Byrnes saw.  I think the idea of cutting rabbets for the mullions/muntins on the Byrnes saw is a good one. Thanks

Greg:  I think you did a great job on the stern framing.  The placement of the lights is spot on!

Thanks, guys.

My POF Armed Virginia sloop came with plastic lights for the stern.  I want to remake them in 1/32 scale out of holly.  Is anyone aware of a good practicum to help do this, or a good build log that explains a good technique.  Any help appreciated.

Your stern is awesome, Ken!

Mike:  Actually the portrait is of someone from a little earlier: Capt. William Kidd, the pirate/privateer!

Very nice, John.  Enjoy Montana.