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Definitely a light coat of a fixative spray, I did two light coats of Winsor & Newton Fixative. I got it on Amazon Here It is neither matte or satin, still looks like the paper when it’s dry.

Main Deck The center belt of main deck planking is a process requiring precision and patience. Making those first cuts around the coamings is very enjoyable, its when I’m making the same ones over again for the third, or more, times it gets a bit less so. Did I mention patience. The first step was spending a good deal of time making sure of the center plank alignment. Filling the remaining six rows between the coamings and partners was straightforward enough, a process made easier by my new cutter. With its sharp thin blade and with its ability to make precise angled and length cuts I was able to quickly make consistent angles (one arbitrarily chosen to visually match plans….sorta). With the old cutter making set lengths and the new cutter set for the angles filling between deck furnishings all went smoothly completing the first seven rows. I made three of the angled planks for each space, two for the deck and one for the next step. After a good deal of fumbling about to match up the the tabs between the seventh and eighth rows I kind of tripled down on a process. I started with a card template cut to match, made adjustments to it after making a practice cut on a scrap plank, used those two plus the third piece I’d made earlier to check and make the final cuts on the plank, one tab at a time, slowly. Did I mention patience. I got there, obtaining three good matches on a single plank, both sides, a triumph in the end. It’s not just the cuts, there is a taper to account for at both the stern and bow that proved equally fun. This gave me ample opportunity to cut and carve planks, long after I didn’t want to cut and carve planks. In the end I have a result I like and made ready for the next belt by lining the deck and marking the butt shift pattern with blue X’s. I’ll wait to line the outer belt once I’m near complete with the inner, as I’ve frequently discovered I am not perfect in all things, planking included. My 1:48 scaled mini-me gives a nice perspective to the size of the actual Winchelsea (though why he went into the hold in one photo I don’t know). He also invited his Winchelsea color coordinated friend to also stop by for a look. Thanks for looking in, your likes and comments are always appreciated. On to more planking.

Nice to see you back in action. I’ve always admired this kit, I’ll enjoy watching your build. I’m sure there are no others in your home matching the designed color scheme and subsequently no reason to change it for our entertainment.

We’ll done, very nice looking work!

Great looking work on the guns. Those hooks were a nice find.

I had the same reaction to my cabin walls…wow, they fit…cool… Nice work!

As Chris notes, these posts already exist in the form of James' build logs for each model.

Enjoy the Antarctic. I’ll be close by in Patagonia in a couple of weeks on my paid for in 2020 photo trip. The rigging and the model look fantastic. I’d venture to say you are a master of rigging. I had to get out my nautical dictionary to understand what you said🤣😂

Such nice looking work as always. So much detail, I’m sure it is enjoyable to be at this point of the project.

My go to reference for rigging ship models is Derek😊

There is another moulding at the bottom of the counter where the frieze meets the planking you could add.

So much fine detail, those curves…. Well done.

Too late now but cutouts of profile drawings of the stern and quarter gallery framing on the plans were helpful for many of us to get the proper alignment and structures in place. Something not in the instructions is likely made clear on the plans. My biggest struggle was making an acceptable transition of planking from the counter to the sternpost. The filler piece Chuck mentioned is essential to make that curve. I’m sure many will appreciate the level of detail you’ve provided, thanks for taking the time to share it. Chuck is great in answering questions and all of us in the project learn from each other. Be sure to take advantage of those that have gone before. I think as I described the quarter gallery framing would have been helpful for example. I studied other logs in addition to Chuck’s monograph regarding the stern fillers as another.

I may make some more cannon to avoid the tabbed plank on the center deck planking belt for a while 🤣

Welcome to the project, I’m only on chapter 4, you may be late but there is still a party. I agree with others the plywood may be a challenge. The design includes plenty of bulkheads for strength whatever the material on one hand and on the other careful and thorough fairing is crucial to your success later in the build. At any rate I look forward to following your progress, as noted and as I frequently do myself there are excellent build logs to help you along in addition to the monograph.

Amazing work, just simply amazing.

The gratings look nice, do your coatings account for the height of the deck planks? They are well made for sure.

Thanks. It’s all fun, one way or another 😊

But they did correct it 😊

Thank you. I drive myself crazy sometimes, obsessing over 1mm variances. 🤪

Thanks, I have them all glued in place now. I feel like l’m back in the doldrums of planking though I’m sure the deck won’t take as long as the hull. So many angles…

Nice progress, it’s great when you find things will fit like they’re supposed to. Definitely worth it to get the false deck in good and right. Well done.

Main Deck I had a great holiday season with my family, I hope all of you did as well. So after a lot of “time off” from the workshop I guess its back to work - at least until I head off to Patagonia next month for the 2020 photography trip that, paid for then, can finally happen. Time to make the coamings and gratings. The coamings are laser cut and a lot quicker and easier than making them scratch as I did on Cheerful. I got this RPToolz cutter after seeing it on James’ Indy build page. I’ve had my Chopper for years, this cutter though makes much more precise cuts, they don’t require a post cut visit to the sander. They’ll both have a home in my workshop, can’t ever have too many ways to cut stuff. Here they are assembled and loosely positioned. The char removal wasn’t as essential beyond shaping and removing the crust since I’m painting the black. I’m using my favorite Admiralty Paints Ironworks Black, which as I’ve noted in earlier posts works nicely in providing a matte look to wood. I only used three coats with 600 grit sanding between coats as it covers well. The gratings are easy to initially assemble using Chuck’s kit and jig but that’s just the beginning - I did a good deal of sanding to get the two crossed layers much thinner. The left is as assembled, the middle is sanded and coated with WOP, I then lightly sanded it once more for the finished look shown on the right. Next up was the partners. Once assembled including #2 pencil to simulate caulking off to the mill to drill bolt holes. Not a fast process but an accurate one, as long as I didn’t loose track of the turns of the axis wheels, 1mm, 2mm, 3mm……… While I had the main mast partner on the mill I included the holes for eight eyelets that will come later. It pays to look ahead in the monolog (and at all the wonderful build logs so much further along than I am). After I’m done building models I really need to consider deep sea fishing. Per Chuck’s recommendation I have black monofilament fishing line in multiple weights, it’s something you can’t buy just a little of. Here I used 20 weight for the capstan partners and 15 for the fore and main partners. It really does work perfectly, easy to install with PVA and a nice crisp look once flush cut (no shiny silver or crushed look that might happen with wire). So with the first phase of the main deck complete and loosely dry-fitted here I’m ready to plank the deck beginning with the center pieces. It won’t take as long as the hull, but it will take a long while. Thanks for looking in, your likes and comments are always appreciated. So many good Winchelsea builds to see and enjoy.

Glad i was helpful. The trial fit of the friezes really helps visualize it all. Nice work, you’re on your way.

Excellent work, well done!