Jabeque Cazador by mikiek - OcCre - 1:60

[mikiek]

I started planking the quarterdeck last nite. Given that this is a relearning/learning build I decided to experiment with the plank caulking simulation. I used to use a chisel tip Sharpie and outline all four edges of a plank. The long edges of the stick didn't look too bad but the short edges tend to absorb the ink and did not get a clean look. This is especially true of softer wood (read kit wood).

 

I started the planking on this build same as always, but towards the end of decking the foredeck I started only outlining one long edge and one short edge. This looked better but some of the short edges still absorbed some ink.

 

Before starting the quarterdeck, I fooled around with some different combinations of markings. I know a lot of people use pencil lead for darkening so I gave that a try. I didn't care for it on the long edge but it looked pretty good on the short edges.

 

So my new plan for decking and planking is pencil lead on the short edges and Sharpie on one long edge. I'll probably finish out this build like that. See what you think.

 

 

Top image is the Sharpie on all four sides. Bottom image is my new technique. If you look closely at the top image you can see some of the short edges that have absorbed ink.

 

Just a note - On my very first build I was doing the four sided Sharpie thing and didn't have the bleeding problem. The difference is I subbed out all the kit planking materials with boxwood which is a much harder wood.

 

C'ya next week....

 

 

 

 

 

[mikiek]

Hey - quarterdeck is now planked. Nothing too odd to report from that exercise. I went with a 4 plank pattern (same as foredeck) but I shortened the plank length from 120mm to 80mm. Why? Because I could 😀

 

I really like the result of my new faux caulking (see previous post). It shows what needs to be seen, but in a much more subdued way. At this scale (1:60) I'm not planning on trying to mark treenails. Too busy and distracting.

 

I have to say the kit sticks for the deck planking got worse towards the end. Maybe I just got lucky at first. The milling was really bad. The sticks are supposed to be 1mm  3mm. Measuring the same stick would show 4-5 different dimensions from one end to the other. This forced me to do a lot of edge sanding after a strake was laid so the next strake would lay clean with the previous. Also the long edges of the sticks were poorly manicured.

 

No point in complaining anymore, pretty typical of kit wood.

 

I think the next steps are to get the hull ready for planking. The instructions show some minor wood inserts at the bow and stern. I'm not real sure what they may accomplish. I have been considering picking up some balsa blocks to fill the bow and stern frames. Never had to do that before and I'm not sure it is really necessary for this build, but since this is my "learning build" I thought it would be a good time to try that out.

 

Onwards.......

 

 

 

 

 

Edited 11 hours ago by mikiek