Polacca by Slowhand - Scale 1:32 - 18th century ship of Venetian Fleet

[Slowhand]

State of play , planking below the wales, planking one the  most satisfying tasks for me.  Split the lower hull into 4 zones and tapering bow end of planks. Just about finished 1st zone, quite a sharp bow so not too difficult.

[Louie da fly]

Nice clean work, Slowhand. Looking good.

[SkerryAmp]

Scratchbuild - just the thought intimidates me to no end.

You have an awesome run going  - looks great!

[Slowhand]

Thanks Louie/ skerryAmp for the likes, scratch building certainly has its challenges bit of an understatement from my point of view.  Just plodding on with the first layer of planking allowing me to think ahead. 

 

 Looking for advice, a ship of this size ~ 50 ft, would the bulwarks be left open showing the top of the futtocks or would they be planked on the inside. If the former,  might have to add some frames and consider removing the ply bulkheads just as Backer did in his Pelican. If they were boxed in life would be easier.

[Slowhand]

Latest update, decided to add some pear wood ribs to aid planking and to ultimately  remove plywood bulkheads so it will look better I hope in the future! Really wanted to check this change of tack will work so put lower hull planking on hold.
 

Using the plywood sides, if I plank them with 1mm thick strips will be flush with 2mm thick planks already in place.  
 

All plywood bulkheads on stern half of ship replaced with pear.

 

[Slowhand]

Probably my last posting for a month as back to planking  the hull. Finish port side below wales all of starboard below wales then stern area both sides above wales. Just first planking layer as well! This will be a long build but pleased that everything seems do-able, will meet the challenge of the stern carvings much later.

Edited November 3, 2020 by Slowhand
Extra photo

[Slowhand]

More photos of planking, 1st layer, and first bit of main deck.
 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 8, 2021 by Slowhand
Changing photo

[Slowhand]

Quick post - must read all the replies to my question about which machinery to buy and thank / reply to all the Members who took the time to give me advice. All planking below wales done.

 

Edited January 22, 2021 by Slowhand
Text

[Slowhand]

Finished 1st planking layer apart from upsweep at the bows. Got there somehow, replaced all tops of plywood bulkheads with cherry, and planked onto these. 
 

Next on the list cut out gun ports, then decks before planking. Read an interesting novel based on fact, the Floating Brothel, English ladies convicted of  crimes, mainly petty, transported to Botany Bay in the 19th century. Interestingly mentioned the height between some decks, only 4.5 ft. 

[Slowhand]

Cutting the gun ports was where it could all go wrong and have a lot of remedial work and relegated to that other model ship forum. 
 

Made some sanding sticks to  shape them after drilling 4 holes into the hull , then belated remembered I had a square metal file which was far  better at getting sharp corners. Better in the flesh than on film so happy, mind it was hard to get the ports as I wanted them.

Pinned on some flexible beech as temporary wales to give reference points on what’s quite a large hull.

 

 

Edited February 3, 2021 by Slowhand
Change photo

[Slowhand]

Finished port side of hull, first planking layer. Bow planks have sharp corners, not sure if this is realistic, mind there is some sort of a precedent. The Hamble Star my first dinghy at an old club, sailed like a brick, second down.    Portsmouth yardstick of about 15000.
 

Edited February 26, 2021 by Slowhand
Grammar

[Slowhand]

Took a while to get the false decks cut to fit and then lots of deliberations on the width of deck planking. Finally settled on 6mm which at 1/32 is 7 “ plus. Looks about right, needed to cut down the 8mm maple to 6mm wide by hand.

 

 

Edited May 8, 2021 by Slowhand
Correction

[Slowhand]

The OCD in me noticed a plank right in the middle was not quite right. None will be visible when the grating is in place but it was dead centre.

 

A trick I learned earlier was it’s easy to remove a plank by slicing down the middle with a scapel and levering off the rest without damaging neighbours and putting in new plank.  Might be of interest for newbies.

 

Getting the 3 plank butt shift pattern so easy using the NRG guide.

 

 

Edited May 8, 2021 by Slowhand
Extra photo

[Slowhand]

Well that’s the main deck planked apart from the edges waiting for a power? saw to do the curved pieces. Not sure why a couple of planks appear darker after applying Danish oil, never mind it’ll be covered by the quarter deck if  another coat of oil doesn’t reduce contrast.
 

Next up two additional gun ports towards the bow and holes for the oars

Edited January 2, 2022 by Slowhand
Photo

[Louie da fly]

Beautiful work, Slowhand!

 

Steven

[Slowhand]

Thanks Steven, I’ll just keep on going, trying my best. 

[Slowhand]

Well it’s been a time since my last post, bit of problem getting sheet pear or cherry wood which I need to do final layer of planking at the bow and mid ships, hopefully edge bending will remove need to spile. Intended supplier no longer has any in stock. The bow almost like a Viking longship. Decided to put project to one side, but before doing so would plank the stern as neatly as possible to encourage me to pick it up again some stage in future. Planking in mahogany best compromise as uncertain supply in pear may do below below waterline in lime and cover with whitestuff as in orig model.

 

Just received a Dumas Tiger Moth so that’s next. 

 

 

Edited March 19, 2022 by Slowhand
Modified txt

[Slowhand]

Well this took longer than expected but caught up with the port hull side planking. Cold weather slowing down drying of the wood glue and the length of the hull has meant progress much slower than hoped for. For the first time in a while happy where builds going.

 

Eedge bended planks at bow that removed need to spile so thanks Chuck 

 

Edited March 19, 2022 by Slowhand
More text

[Slowhand]

Living up to my name, Slowhand, that’s just about the end to the upper hull planking on both sides. Below that is below water-line and will be covered in ‘white stuff’ so I can use Lime.

 

Rather than adding separate post for more planks just added photo update. 

 

Edited October 12, 2022 by Slowhand
Picture edit