Thank's for the encouragement gents, much appreciated.....
I think I spend more time thinking than building, but then again 'sometimes I just sits'.
John, looking at your pic's I think there's a lot more 'Surprises' in store for me..I find every bend is a little traumatic, can't figure out but some planks bend easier than others and it doesn't seem to be associated with the grain or colour..or maybe it's just me being a little hasty..
The planks seem to be getting a little easier as I proceed, maybe getting used to it but probably because the radius of the bends get a little less.

Barry

They were probably the hardest planks I had to bend. Get them nice and wet and they eventually go. I think I snapped a few just on the bend but once dry and sanded it was not visible.
Just a quicky when you start adding more planks at the bow start tapering them to no less than half the plank width. You will need to add a few stealers in but looks great when done.
Keep up your great work Barry.
Chris

Either way will work. It will depend on the look your going for. In my case I have copper plating so everything under the waterline is not visible and above is painted, so again not visible. In that case, you just want to do the right amount of sanding to be accurate looking. Keep in mind, on the real ships the planking is not that smooth. Look online and you'll see what I mean.

On the other hand, if you are keeping all the wood natural where the planks are very visible, in what I call a "furniture build" then the accuracy is more important as you can see the planks, as is a smoother finish which is all part of the expected look.

I thought you're coppering though, so you'd be fine.

Got to one of those stages where "I sits and thinks" where to lay the next plank??
The natural lay on the keel side has been steadily moving from laying easily to the previous plank to a really complex compound curve....think I might go with the natural lay and then fill in the gap with tapered pieces..yep, gonna do that.
Been resisting the temptation to start any sanding..should be able to hang on for a while longer and make one big pile of sapele dust.

Barry

Coming along a treat Barry keep up the good work

Rgd Martyn

Looks great. That should do nicely.

If you're going for the black painted hull, I would recommend looking at not only the movie version but some other Period Ships on the internet. You will find that they are a bit rough and not smooth at all. So if you're going for realism, keep it real and not too smooth!..... Above the waterline.

Thank's gentlemen...haven't had much time over the past week to spend on the Surprise but hopefully that will change, meantime here's a few pics of what I did manage...things started to get really cramped at the stern!!!!

The keel and other stuff should be arriving this week...once I finish the planking and see how the keel fits I can start some sanding, exiting times...

Barry

Looking good Barry the hull is looking fab well done m8

Rgd Martyn

You're doing a great job of this one, she's looking great....

Regards

Alan

Very nice work Barry