Hi Brex, looking good with the infills... Any depressions you have can be easily filled with wood filler and sanded back.... Lovely work, will be following....

Regards

Alan

Hi I have checked the starboard side near rib 3 to see if that depression is an illusion. [
It is.
Phew!

Brex.

Hey George, Issue 14 yeah! Collected mine about 6.30 your time and the mere sight of the thick sheets of ply knew we have measurable progress again. Brex.

Hi Jock, How good is that? One week ahead! Let's hope you get back on track next week as you will need today's pieces.

Brex.

Thanks Mathew. Good to see the Maroons getting a fair representation. Yes I agree planking must be just around the corner. I recently had a CD given to me re planking timber boats so I better start viewing it. My earlier attempts have turned out ok but could be better. In my other current project I have soaked the planks overnight and then used an iron to shape the planks around the bow and stern. There has been some shrinkage around the bow in particular leaving a gap. Whilst this will be covered by the second planks it also reminds me to take care when I start the overlay using a different method (if necessary) to achieve a better outcome.

That explains why I will watch this CD over the weekend.

Hi George. Yes I found the same problem and used an emery board to open the space up. I had dry fitted the decking and found the port side was a little bit out but both sides needed some attention. My alignment over the mast holes was also off and like you used a circular file which fixed that. I found the port side rear deck took a bit of manipulation to align to the cross bracing. I am trusting the gods at the moment as the deck seems to be pretty flimsy. I had considered putting some internal support but elected not to on the chance it would be visible. My deck isn't perfectly aligned either but close enough. I have just finished off blackening the section with photo's to follow tomorrow.

Thanks for the warning very helpful.

Brex

Hi George. I would feel more comfortable if I had used the underlying support; to ensure the deck was properly supported and all joins were flush. I didn't spot my astern deck being uneven until later when the chance to easily fix it was gone. I will not do anything with this until I see the next stages.

The other thing I am noticing more about this project is just how much the camera highlights the imperfections. Through the eyes of the camera I am finding all sorts of flaws that I am not seeing. Maybe and from now on I should do a trial run, photograph it and then put it on the monitor and find the faults that way. I can assure you my monitors are unforgiving.

Anyway here are 2 pics to show progress.

Also purchased a planking tool yesterday for the other project and this beats soaking and steaming the strakes. I did have one before but found I couldn't use it properly. Maybe I have got better at it because this time the strakes on in half the time for a lot less effort and matched perfectly.

Hi George

Yes it is the sames as the one you have on your post P.9 Post 147. Mine cost about the same as well i.e. $13.90 (or thereabouts).

I have yet to view the CD on planking but I am pretty confident we will all do well on that subject. So far the instructions have been pretty good and with the experienced guys watching us I reckon we will be ok!

Brex.

Hi George that would be good (and very timely) but I need to give you contact details. Do you know how to do that apart from putting it on this forum?

Also went to the newsagent to collect issue 15 today and was told there were no 15's supplied but they did get a fresh supply of issue 14. So it looks like I need to wait a week perhaps. Also those that got issue 15 last week, well let's hope they got 14 this week.

G'day Brex / George,

Sorry to jump in here, but I am also looking into the possibility of using alternate timber finishes. I've read various accounts on the quality of the supplied bamboo, so just awaiting for the first batch of bamboo to be supplied in the magazine and doing a test run before making a final decision.

I've currently been searching what is available at Brunel Hobbies as well as Frontline Hobbies. The search for Aussie suppliers on the www continues (need to keep the small guy in business).

Regards,

Adam