Bulkheads don't match up right, all help appreciated - moved by moderator

[SpencerC]

As you can see from te pictures bulkhead 4 is higher up than bulkhead 3. As they run 1-13 from front to back shouldn't number 3 be higher than number 4? It's a kit so I know I didn't cut it wrong. Brand new out of the laser cut wood, nothing has been chipped and both sides look the same. Please any help would be great. The one on the right is bulkhead four.

[SpencerC]

Oh and everything is sitting flush. I can not push either down any more.

[Adrieke]

2 options i can think off : you deepend the slot in either keel or bulkhead 4 till the bottom sits at the sam height as number 3 then add some strips on top of the bulkhead to get it leve again.

 

or add some strips on the edges of the bulkhead at the bottom

[SpencerC]

I have tapped everything down everything is completely flush. I pushed bulkhead 3 up a little cause I noticed when I put the deck on that it was a little low not touching the bottom of the deck board. So I brought it up a little and it looks like it is now higher than bulkhead 4 but I am worried that now it is not in the right position for planking. I glued every bulkhead except 3 and four just incase anyone here had a better idea.

[JPett]

Ahoy Spencer

 

I had this similar problem with my kit. I am a beginner too so please allow others to respond before following my directions

 

This is what I got out of my experience

 

 First and foremost check your work, right bulkhead, right slot. You also should have transcribed a reference line on both the bulkhead and the keel section (usually the water line) this will tell you right away that a bulkhead is seated correctly or not

 

 Second, if it is possible you should check to make sure the bulkhead has been correctly cut. Some kits include with the plans, templates of the bulkheads. Use these and compare them with what was shipped. This was one problem I had. Corrections are easily made by either the addition or subtraction of some wood.

 

Lastly. If none of the above will work use the deck as your guide and align the bulkheads there. Then pin battens (thin strips)  to the hull like temporary planks which will show any high or low spots caused by bulkheads being off. Again, add or subtract wood as needed to. See my Rattlesnake log for pics

 

http://modelshipworld.com/index.php?/topic/45-rattlesnake-by-jpett-model-shipways-ms2028-scale-164th/?p=281

 

Proceed with patience, check and double check, in the end you will find there is always a fix.  

 

PS: welcome to model ship building

Edited September 26, 2013 by JPett

[mtaylor]

Spencer,

 

JPett is correct on all his points. Which ship is this?  Have you checked for other build logs to see if they had a similar issue?  It's possible it's a design flaw or a manufacturing flaw. 

[SpencerC]

Well no one else has a build log up of this exact ship. It's a Latina cutty sark 1/84

[SpencerC]

Oh and thank you jpett that's is great advice.

[BareHook]

You should also mark the bearding line on the keel, that will help determine whether one is too high or the other too low, also look at the level on top where the deck will be, that should have a smooth transition (but not necessarily level, decks are curved for water runoff to the sides).

 

Are there plans 1:1 scale that you can overlay each bulkhead to verify its size?

 

Either way, they're pretty easy to shim/trim to adjust for a correct fit once you determine it.

 

Remember the extra time spent on this will greatly benefit the rest of the build, I've read many time where framing and faring the frames can take a lot of time to finally get right and shouldn't be rushed.

[SpencerC]

Well unfortunately this kit doesn't come with the damn sheer plan! I couldn't believe it. I was like OMG this is why I scratch build... >.> .. Not only that but it doesn't have a body plan nor a half breadth. Ugh.

[twintrow]

You should have a rabbet in the false keel.  it will probably run true to the bottom of each bulkhead. Check the plans and see where the rabbet is placed.  It isn't that they aren't seated deep enough, there should be some room at the bottom for the rabbet.   That is assuming I understand the question correctly.

Tom

[SpencerC]

theres no rabbet and the plans dont show the bearding line. theres no sheer plan

[rfolsom]

Spencer;  I always copy my plans, and reflect them onto the bulkheads.  there are always imperfections in kits.  And there are always imperfections in kits' instructions.  That is why you need to look outside the box (Very literally) and determine what you need.  No rabbet line?  Make one.  No bearding line? Make one.  No sheer plan?  If you need it, Find one.  Don't know how to do this?   Do the research.  For every 10 minutes I spend working on a build, I spend 1 hour looking over plans, learning, learning, learning; and researching..

 

This is what it's all about..

 

good luck and happy modeling..

 

Bob

[Q A's Revenge]

Try fixing temporary battens between bulkheads 2 and 5 on both sides then bring bulkhead 3 up to them and see how it looks, also check BH 4. It sounds like the slot in BH 3 may have been cut too deep. If this is the case then you can add a small filler piece to bring it up to the right height. The cutting error may be due to the large cut out in the false keel but hard to see from the picture?

[ajromano]

 

Spencer;  I always copy my plans, and reflect them onto the bulkheads.  there are always imperfections in kits.  And there are always imperfections in kits' instructions.  That is why you need to look outside the box (Very literally) and determine what you need.  No rabbet line?  Make one.  No bearding line? Make one.  No sheer plan?  If you need it, Find one.  Don't know how to do this?   Do the research.  For every 10 minutes I spend working on a build, I spend 1 hour looking over plans, learning, learning, learning; and researching..

 

This is what it's all about..

 

good luck and happy modeling..

 

Bob

I forget to actually build things I read so much, look for info here and study the plans so much! I must have 15 books on ship building, all this at least gives me clue of how to actually build. Now I am flushing out tools and work area, jigs and templates are also on my mind.

[bogeygolpher]

Based on my experience it is much more important that the bulkhead fit correctly at the deck (upper) level.

 

The outside edges of the bulkheads will either be reduced or have materiel added in order to true the hull prior to planking.

[NenadM]

Just as bogeygolpher said

[Jean-Pierre]

I may have missed something, but it is not clear to me whether bulkhead 3 sits too low or bulkhead 4 sits too high.  How does bulkhead 5 align with nr4?  My first impression is that nr 3 sits too low.  As no deck rests on it, it should not be a problem to pad up its slot to have its lower side lign up with the other bulkheads...