Santa Maria by JohnWW - Artesania Latina - 1:65 First "Real" Model

[JohnWW]

Well kids, the journey has started. This my first "real" ship. My first was just a small boat to get a feel for things. 

I learned that near enough is not good enough, it has to be exactly right, and if it's exactly right, then that's near enough.

The first thing I noticed when opening the box was a distinct lack of instructions. I suppose they can't include precise instructions because of the many different way of doing things. I'm sure I'll be relying heavily on the very knowledgeable members of this forum.

Firstly, I dry fitted the bulkheads to the keel. There were a few that were too low so I had to build them up a bit. There were a couple that were too high and needed to be sanded back a poofteenth, but it has to be right.

Today I glued in the first bulkhead, squared it up with aluminium angles. Looks good so far.

I have a question regarding strengthening the bulkheads. I read here that a member had trouble when he put blocks in to strengthen everything he pulled the keel out of alignment. Another member had a problem with the blocks when he was planking. Presumably the blocks got in the way of the planking clamps.

Is it necessary to strengthen the bulkheads? They are only 3mm thick.

Thanks everyone, I'm really looking forward to this.

[Knocklouder]

Good luck on your journey, 

Bob  M.

[JohnWW]

Thanks Bob, looking forward to it.

John

[vossiewulf]

John, if you put no blocks or other connectors between the bulkheads, those bulkheads will  be free to vibrate independently when you're trying to fair them with sanding blocks/files and that process will not go easily. Even small blocks that lock the bulkheads together will help you fair the hull more cleanly.

[JohnWW]

Thanks vossiewulf. That's something I hadn't thought of.