Realism, accuracy, planking

[wthilgen]

Maybe it's me, maybe I'm wrong but generally don't we hobbyist only drive nails through hull planks and into the available bull heads. If the framing is accurate as shown in the picture of the Naiad Framing Package. I need to add more nail, Right?

[RiverRat]

Yes, if you want to be realistic, more treenails (or representations of)  than just at the bulkheads of a POB build. Here's an example from Dan Vadas' HMS Vulture:

 

http://modelshipworld.com/index.php?/topic/230-hms-vulture-by-dan-vadas-1776-148-scale-16-gun-swan-class-sloop-from-tffm-plans/?p=5318

 

Brian

 

[JerseyCity Frankie]

Common practice on actual ships with laid wooden decks, at least on the ones I have seen,  is to cover the heads of the bolts with bungs- wooden plugs that cover the hardware and keep the weather off of them. From a short distance away you can't make out the bungs at all.

[BareHook]

I believe for the majority of builders, it comes down to aesthetics. I like to have some representation of treenails shown, but have only done imitation using putty fillers on the bulkheads. With a completely treenailed deck or hull, you may get the (what was referred to in a post on the old site) "measles" look, where it just gets too busy and sort of overwealms the visual senses at the scale it is modeled, it looks good on most larger models but trying to on a smaller scale may de difficult.

 

Ken

Edited April 3, 2013 by BareHook

[wthilgen]

I've noticed that some modelers will use one piece of planking versus several shorter ones. Don't know where he learned it but grandfather taught me to divide the hull by five from stem to stern thus making the pieces shorter and easier to work with. He would on occasion only use three pieces but rarely. Works well on larger builds not short ones. Your opinion please.