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I have seen this tool several times and I was wondering if it is wise to buy one! But I didn't know how it is used: do you simply push the nail in the wood with this tool? Or do you have to predrill a (smaller) hole? And what do you do to get the nail head flush with the planks? Or do you sand/file the head away afterwards? I have seen also a lot other ways to do the planking, without the nails and with several sorts of clamps or rubber bands... What are the advantages and disadvantages of using nails? In the meantime, the kit is delivered and I have started placing the first supports on the false keel.

Tnx, I have some fast drying glue from Bison, so I will try that one. Good advice about the sanding sticks!

I have PVA glue, a fast drying one (4 minutes), but there is also a variant which takes a lot more time. Is it advisable to use the fast drying glue for the planking? Or is it better to pick the slower drying one and give it more time to dry?

Now I am waiting for the kit to arrive (will take up to a week), I am inventorizing which tools I have to buy. I don't think I will buy all the necessary tools right at the start. I want to begin with the tools I need for building the frame and planking the hull, and I will acquire the rest when I need them during the build. What I already have: Steel ruler Several knives (Hobby blade, snap-off knife) Cutting mat Several pliers and cutters Marine Triangle Try Square Headband Magnifier What I would like to buy to start with: Needle files Sandpaper (which grits?) Sanding block, sanding bars, any advice? Pin vise to hold the drills with several size drills Glue, any advice? Small glue clamps, other clamps, paper clamps, any advice? Other? Or did I miss a sticky post with needed and adviced tools? Are you guys interested if I start a build log, even though there will be quite some time between the updates/posts, because I expect to take my time?

Well, I have just ordered the Bluenose II from Artesania Latina! I have found and read some more nice and very detailed build logs, some of them from people where this kit was also their first wooden ship project. I surely will meet difficulties and challenges, but I will take enough time (no deadlines), will check the existing build logs and will ask for help on this forum, if I didn't find an answer somewhere. I think, with this, and a lot of patience, I will manage to build the ship and most of all, I will also learn a lot! Now, waiting for the kit to arrive and order the first missing necessary tools. And of course, the right glue....

Even before buying a kit, I was drinking a hot soup in a glass with a wooden stirring rod and suddenly, as I was looking closely to this rod...... I noticed I was practicing in bending planks unconsciously, without even realizing it 😁

Thank you all for your warm welcome! I understand it is difficult to advise someone when you don't know hers or his skills. And for me it is a bit difficult to estimate which ship will be doable because I have to build my first ship yet.... But all advice is helpful and the existing build logs are great. And yes, when starting to build it may be wise to start my own build log. Because the building will take some time, it can also take a while for new episodes in my build log, but on the other hand, I am probably not the only wo may take it easy and will take a lot of time, so I can learn and get the nicest result as possible. But a building log will hopefully results in help from others and good advice. As others say: better ask questions first before gluing! I will take a look at the Vanguard models if there is a model I like and if they are sold overhere.

Thank you! Thinking about it, centuries ago, we met new friends whole over the world by sailing the big oceans with nicely crafted ships, nowadays we make new contacts worldwide by contributing to a forum about building models from those same ships!

Haha, tnx! On another forum they were only discussing that almost no young people do this kind of work/hobby, but with my age I cannot change that!

Hi you all, greetings from The Netherlands! I am thinking of entering this beuatiful hobby of wooden ship building. I am 52, but from childhood always busy with all sorts of craftwork, drawing, and so on. Plastic model kits, RC planes, electronics, etc. At home, I also do most of the maintenance and work myself. I work as an Industrial Product Designer and regularly make prototypes of my new designs. So I am used to all kinds of materials, tools and different work. But I am new in wooden Ship modelling and I am aware that I will have to learn a whole lot and will make mistakes when building my first ship (end second, and third....) But I think I will manage to learn this great hobby! I also like to do small and precise work and my (first) project does not need to be finished within a few weeks, so I will not set deadlines! Just enjoy, learn and be amazed by the designs of great ships, build during the history! I know, If I ask what the best beginners ship will be, several different opinions can lead to several different ships. The last weeks I have read a lot of Forum threads, here and on other forums. I already learned a lot of that and I am sure, I'm sure I will use a lot of those threads and build logs, when starting to build on my own. I know it is important to start building a kit, which is doable, but I find it also important to build a ship which I like by design. Because that is one of the motivations to build it. At the moment, I am looking for 2 or 3 kits: - Mantua Arm 82 - Artesania Latina Bluenose II - Artesania Latina Harvey The Arm 82 is a nice piece of Dutch ship history. I have read several times, that this is a great kit to start with. The hull does not need to be planked. That will be a bit easier, but actualy I would like to learn planking also..... Even if the Arm 82 is a great ship, I really like the design of ships like the Pen Duick and the Bluenose II more (I know, both are not exactly the same). So I am also interested in the AL Bluenose II. It is not mentioned as a beginnersship, but I have read several build logs where this kit was the builders first one to build. It has a double layer planking. So I can practice planking twice with this ship! And am I right that a double layer is a bit easier for the final finish because the final layer has a better surface (of course if you put enough effort in the first layer). How do you feel about this? Other alternatives with about the same design as the Bluenose, same kind of ship?