Hi all! Sorry for being awol for such a long time. Much has progressed since my last post and the model is fully planked, keeled, gunported and I'm just starting the master cabin. So onward. Planking the hull is not easily described. Its a case of best fit, one or two planks at a time, and always, always follow the chine of the hull whilst planking level with the keel. An electric plank bender is indispensable for this particular task as the Sapele is quite hard and brittle. However, wood is very forgiving once assembled and can be sanded and shaped as required. At the very last it can be removed and started afresh, so if you make a mistake, don't panic because its always recoverable. On a final note I cannot stress too highly the importance of contouring the frames to allow the planks to follow a smooth, curving form along the hull. If this step is overlooked your finished hull will have a rather ugly, angled appearance at each frame step. I hope the photos are of some assistance. Any questions, please ask!

[size=7g] good looking bit of planking there, she is quite a size isn't she.

Well done

Mo 👍. ⚓[/size]