Hello Model makers,

I've been happily building my HMS Victory model at a nice steady pace. I've had a few hiccups but generally it all seems to be coming along nicely. If anything these small mistakes I have made I like to regard them as just adding character and personality to my version of the build.

It's the first time I have made anything quite like this before, so I am relying just on the tools that came free with the box set and the tutorials and pictures provided.

I have just finished planking the top half off the ship and about to start on the bottom half with issue 32.

This is where I have hit a wall in my progression. I just don't quite understand what it is I am meant to be doing or looking out for.

I've glued and pinned the first plank in place between 18-25 as requested. Now the next plank that goes along the bow is the part I'm confused about.

Previously I have been bending these planks around the bow on the top half by cutting slits down the plank to make it bend easily. Doesn't tell me to do this, this time. So I'm guessing I don't do it.

"hold one end in line with the plank you have just laid and the other end flush with the planks at the bow, ensuring that it is in contact with the frames."

So does this mean I just try and bend it without doing anything special to it?

The curve of the hull means that there will be a small gap between the new plank and the existing ones, make a mark where the gap is widest, then draw a taper from the mark to the bow.

Well this is probably the bit that throws me off course the most. If I hold both ends of the plank into posisition, the plank does make a gap, but outwards not upwards. Is this what that is referring to? I can't see how tapering this will fix or solve this gap.

If I push this gap created back in towards the framework, then to be honest I'm pretty sure I can also push it down too and keep it there with nails and glue.

I'm not entirely sure if I'm making much sense here, but basically I'm just confused with the new system of planking that the lower half of this ship seems to have.

I understand that mine will be different to the pictures, but I really need some extra guidance on this one, as I'm clueless of how to go forward now.

Your help, any help, would be much appreciated.

hi rossy,is it at all possible for you to put up pics of your build so far?it is so much easier to answer your questions if we can see your progress,what I think those instuctions are saying is,that you need to taper that first plank as well as prebending it,I would taper it down to 2mm.on the bend,if you only have the tools supplied,you will encounter many problems,also it will help you a lot if you study some of the build all ready in progress,I suggest (son of bulwarks build,and zeptraders build)although I hav'nt completly answered your question,you will need to put up some pics in order to progress.