USS Constitution by Modeler12 - Cross-Section - Bow Area

[Modeler12]

Time to plank the rest of the port side. 

But before I started that, I connected the wiring for the LED. The picture below shows the location between the frames.

  

It also shows two strips of stiff paper at each end. I will use those to measure and mark the planking widths. Unlike cross sections taken midship, the hull here curves and the planking need to be tapered. Here is how I did the measuring and marking.

 

I measured the length of the two strips of paper and divided the longer one by the width of my planks (0.125 inches). I need 40 planks tapered to 0.121 inch at one end and 0.100 inch at the narrow or forward end. Then I divided the strips into segments of 10 planks each. That will be my guide. After I put on ten tapered planks I will repeat this and recalculate if my planks are going on as planned.

 

What I need to do now is rethink how I am going to taper forty planks. 

[lambsbk]

Jay I can feel your pain here. Just out of curiosity, how did the old shipwrights plank this area?

 

Dave

[Modeler12]

Dave, I don't know but keep a couple things in mind.

I am working only with pieces that are six inch long (or 38 feet full scale). Obviously there were a lot of joints that I don't worry about.

The width of 9.5 inch is not too bad.

And then there is the way I am now approaching my planking. I taper each plank to about the size shown above and then group three of those and edge bond them. Before the edge glue is completely set, I bond them to the frames. I find this work well and gives me better control. I simply clamp the ends and use some tapered nails to force them against the last set of planks. When necessary I use heavy weights in the center to force them against the frames.

 

Hence the drawing of ten planks should now read nine planks (thirteen groups of three plus a single plank to close the final gap).

Edited October 18, 2016 by Modeler12