I've just bought some 0.5 and 1mm black twine just to see how it looks for the caulking I've used this method before as well as black card

Black or dark brown card works very well. I've also used black cotton between the planks to good effect. There are other people who have painted the edges of the planks with paint, marker pen, etc. I've never tried these myself, but the results I've seen look good.

Cheers
Mark

Chalking, when you lay the planks on the deck of yor model them eem to blend together, and after sanding it loks like you have one flat piece of wood.
Now look at any period ship (real) and you will see between the planks chalking, no bring that down to the size of your model, you want to repicate that.
By doing any ofhe above the deck will simulate are real period ship, showing the individual planks to scale.

Caulking is the process of waterproofing the join between planks, either in the hull, or in this case between the deck planking. On the real thing, hemp cord is forced into the gap between each plank using a caulking tool. The seam is then 'payed' which means covering it with tar.

(Hence the expressions 'and the devil to pay' or 'between the devil and the deep blue sea'. The devil was the longest seam running along the lowest deck and hence the most difficult to get at.)

This creates dark lines between the planks and that is what is being discussed on this post. Strictly speaking it is the lines of tar which we need to reproduce rather than the caulking inside the join.
I tried this on my Bounty model using a black thin fibre tipped pen and that was reasonably successful. I also made small dots to simulate the trenails(wooden pegs) holding the deck planking in place.

Mike T

Well here goes for caulking made easy...correct me if i get it wrong

1)..get several deck planks ...and lie them on top of each other..then paint the edges with black or dark brown paint...that way any overspill of paint can be hidden by reversing the plank..and it gives a nice clean edge..

2)..At the ends of the planks use a brass pin to make 2 holes (side by side)...then using a 0.1 art pen (black Permanent ink)...just touch the holes with the tip....this will look like driven in nails...and if you have to sand down when it's done...the work you have will remain...

Well thats the theory...putting it in to practise ....could be a bit of a beggar...

More furry fun with cotton???



Noooooooooo....

*runs away*

Actually seems/seams (sorry) like a good idea. No doubt adding a good bit of definition between the planks... now, what is the finest (without going to ridiculous extremes) twine one can get hold of (is there such a thing as Black nylon fishing line?).

Will the planks themselves be to scale? (I'm not too fussed, but a reasonably scaled effect would be nice) otherwise simply sanding everything smooth and doing the marquetry thing with a really finely tipped soldering iron might be an option.

Good point.

If you were to use a fine braided fishing line, it can be dyed.

Thanks for all the replies matelots,I just wanted to find out what people thought of doing it,and most importantly HOW. I have a solid method of doing it and it involves black thread,superglue(horror)and a lot of patience,If anyone wants to know more I will send pics a little nearer the time,it was very interesting the different methods used in attaining the finished look,why not use the stuff that they used but on a smaller scale,it is not rocket science easy to do and looks great. just needs a little care,and the method I use stops the problem of the thread coming adrift whilst sanding.thank you all, keep 'em coming.

My Uncle, whilst building Endeavour used a 2B pencil and used it to scribe down the deck planks when glued in position. Once sanded down it looked great

There is small problem with using threads and such....is the scale...it's only 1/84.....it could look like the gap in scale size is 6 inches....i would paint the edges then with a very small nail or a brass pin rin it lightly down the edges to give it "that worn edge look".....and then the ends of the planks with what i said earlier ....fine art pen...to look like driven in nails.....or go one better and use Karls ....cocktail stick idea...imho...