Help with preparing planks for planking

[Torbogdan]

I will soon start with my first ship with plank on bulkhead. 

 

I´ve bought Duseks Pinta as my first model. It is a singel plank hull. I´m asking a little about preparing the planks. I´m thinking about first using a wash on them to stain them a bit darker and then spraying them with satin varnish and then "sand/rub" them with steel wool to make them a bit smoother before I start the planking process.

 

If I stain after gluing them to the hull even the smallest gluestain with ruin the color staining. The varnish spray and steel wool rubbing is to raise the wood a bit and then smoothen them with the steel wool.

 

Is this a good process or should I do something different?

[davec]

I haven't tried finishing planks before attaching for a couple reasons:

 

1) I worry if the planks are finished, the glue might not grip as well, and I might not get as good a glue joint to the frames

2) a lot of the planks will require soaking and heat to bend them.  Not sure what that would do to your finish.

 

I haven't had a problem with wood glues (white or tite-bond) affecting finish as long as I sanded first.  Would definitely avoid superglue as it will affect clear finishes (the areas end up whitish).

 

Someone who has tried this might have a different perspective