Considerations for Lofting L.D Dunton Plans

[Ralph from Gloucester]

I recently purchased plans for the L.A. Dunton and discovered that the plans indicate measurements outside of the planking. This detail makes perfect sense, as the plans were taken directly from the original vessel at the Mystic shipyard.

 

Given that the plans reflect the dimensions outside of the planking, I am uncertain whether I should attempt to compensate for this difference. Alternatively, it may be better to simply loft the plans as they are, without making any adjustments.

 

I would appreciate any guidance or recommendations regarding the best approach to take in this situation.

Ralph

[toms10]

I would you the plans as they are. At the scales we typically build at, the difference is minute. If the actual planks are 1” thick at 1:64 scale, that amounts to the model width being oversized by 1/32”.  Smaller scales even less.  I don’t think anyone is going to measure or notice it. 
Just my 2 cents. 🤪

Tom

[Ralph from Gloucester]

Thank you for the guidance, Tom. That was my inclination but thought I would check with folks that have far more ship modeling experience than me.

 

Thanks again.

[druxey]

It really depends on how much of a stickler you are for accuracy....

[tmj]

If you're going to loft the plans 'anyway'... doing a simple deduct for the thickness of the planking is nothing. I'd do the deduct myself. If you're concerned with the scale 'thickness' of the planking itself... I wouldn't worry about that. Either choose ready-made planking 'close' to scale, or mill your own as close to scale as you can. Nobody will ever know if you are a few thousandths of an inch off in scale plank thickness nor the scale beam of your model. 😉

[Ralph from Gloucester]

Thank you for all of your responses. I'll likely loft to the outside of the planking. As stated above, the difference in the end product will not be noticeable.