Two months ago, when I got well into stage 17 and began to plank the hull, I realised that I could no longer use the assembly jig to hold the model securely. This was a problem, because the jig functioned as a cradle to hold the model securely at all times, especially when carrying it from place to place (up & down stairs, out to the shed &c). As a short-term remedy I decided to keep the bow end brackets in place, so that I could continue to use the keel support (parts C 1 & 2). For the rest, I decided to turn the other brackets round, and shift some of them, to make a kind of framework, and line it with bubble wrap; but this was unsatisfactory, because it wouldn’t hold the model in place. Recently I thought of a simple solution. I purchased 2 m of dressmaking elastic, and cut it into 2 pieces. I threaded the first piece through 2 brackets near the bow, tied the ends in a knot, and then made a simple hook out of stiff wire and hooked the elastic into a bracket on the other side. I used the 2nd piece of elastic to make a similar loop, threading it through two brackets nearer the stern. Because the pieces of elastic are knotted, I can adjust until the tension is right. I find that the elastic holds the model securely whether it is upright, or upside down, or even on its side. A great improvement: I wonder what other people have done. (I notice Mt T has improvised a sort of simple cradle.)

cec

PS
The elastic also holds down planks while the cement is setting.

Dear Stu,
Just finding out about Photobucket. Let's hope it works!


First pic (144) shows one of the elastic loops threaded through two brackets near the stern. The other pic (143), shows the other loop hooked through a bracket near the bows. I made the hook from a large paperclip snipped in half. Absurdly simple!
Best wishes,
C

Dear Stu,
Thanks for the comments. That's a good suggestion about keeping the elastic close to the frames. I've got a slight dip anyway at frame 15, the consequence of a mistake I made a long time ago, so I can do without more. Frame 13 had the slot cut a little too deep by the manufacturer - or maybe it was the corresponding slot in the false keel - and consequently the frame ended up protruding about 0.5 mm below the keel. I didn't identify the problem, let alone discover the cause, until the garboard plank went on. I'll just have to live with it for now and try to correct it with Ronseal later.
Best wishes,
C