Armed Virginia Sloop by JoeHolden - Model Shipways - 1:48

[JoeHolden]

I purchased the Model Shipways' Armed Virginia Sloop kit in 2006.  Since this is my first build and I have no experience with boats, ships, or shipbuilding and terminology, I also purchased the Lauck Street Shipyard practicum for this kit.  Actually, I stumbled upon Bob Hunt's website while googling "Wooden Model Ships", and upon discovering the concept of practicums being available to me, a rank beginner, I instantly gained the boost of confidence I needed.
I had worked through the first 2 1/2 chapters of the practicum when life got in the way, and I packed everything away for "another day".
Well, a worldwide pandemic and a retirement date moved up by a few years, "another day" has arrived.
I  wish I'd have taken more build photos back then, I'll post what I have. 
Chapter 1 of the practicum covered assembling the keel, attaching bulkheads and sub decks, stern and transom fillers and fairing the hull.
Chapter 2 was devoted to planking the hull; finishing prep work, knightheads & timberheads, mast mortise and the first planking.
And finally, I worked through Chapter 3 as far as completing the wales, spirketing plank, inner bulwarks planking and I had just begun installing the black strake when the project was put on mothballs.
This first post will include photos of completed work from 14 years ago with one pic of where I picked up the project on 1-January-2021.  Since that time, I've made it a point to snap a few pics every time I'm working on the AVS with more focus on technique this time around.  I have spent considerable time studying other AVS build logs, (especially GuntherMT's excellent build) looking for everything from build tips and tricks to color schemes and even tiny details on how one builder vs. another solves different challenges.  I hope this log will help answer a question or two for future builders.

[JoeHolden]

This is the state of the AVS when I resurrected the project on 1-January-2021.

[JoeHolden]

After reacclimating myself with the practicum and the kit materials, I picked up where I left off 14 years earlier and glued the rest of the black strake in place.  I had the planks cut to length and the scuppers had been shaped, so all that was left was 2 coats of black paint and glue the pieces in place.
I've found on other construction and woodworking projects, that a coat or two of paint before assembly usually eliminates the need to cut a painting line too close to the next color.  I'm not worried about the major field, but only about keeping the edges crisp between colors.
The upper exterior walnut planking was pretty straight forward as was the blue painted sheer strake.  One more note on painting beforehand.  Notice the gunports were painted red with the paint spreading over onto the outside of the hull.  When the exterior walnut was added, it immediately created the crisp line I was looking for.
It took a total of 3 days spare time activity to pick up where I had left off years ago, wrap up the upper hull exterior, and prep everything (mostly my psyche) for the lower hull second planking.
Oh, I almost forgot... At some point in the 14 year hiatus, the hull had been dropped and the top of the transom and port side fashion piece were broken off and hastily glued back in place.  I began repairs in this area as well.

 

Edited February 13, 2021 by JoeHolden

[JoeHolden]

The second planking was pretty straightforward.  Following Bob Hunt's practicum, I bought some 1/4" striping tape from the local auto parts store and used the tape as battens to define each planking zone.  The tape was moved as each area was planked.
I tried to stagger joints and was successful in that attempt, but I lost control of plank shapes as I turned the bilge and had to 'cheat' a bit to keep strakes running reasonably fair.
 

[JoeHolden]

Second planking continued...