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Santisima Trinidad
Build Log |
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IX. PLANKING UPPER HULL
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March 12, 2009 |
Not too much as far as pics to add. What I am working on now
is realizing that some of the Gun Ports are not in alignment from fore and aft. I realized this even more when I started
adding the planking to the Hull. Some that have more experience than I would probably know in advance that this is going
to be the case on some models (depending). In my case, I had to come to a halt and study the situation. There were about
6 Gun Ports that needed the height adjusted (either port needed to be raised or lowered) so that overall planking would
look nice and fit with the Gun Ports. This is probably overkill, but I was seeing in advance how it was going to affect the
appearance of the planking in relationship to the Gun Port openings. You probably can not see it in this image, but the adjustments
are small, but they will add up and become accumulative as I progress with more planking. As I studied the lower Gun Ports,
I see that they are not too great and will need some alignment as well.
Oh well !
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Planking
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March 15, 2009 |
The instructions call for you to plank from top to bottom, however, some
do it the other way and start at the lower end of the Bulwarks and go to the top. I just decided to start at top and work down.
I have done a lot of measurements. The Port Holes are slightly off and some needed to be readjusted in height. After taking some dividers,
I found the overall Port Holes to be ok now. The pencil lines indicate this. The last planking strip that you see is being cut out as I go.
I have found two methods and neither are good or bad. One method I choose earlier is to cut each plank to the width between Port Holes.
I found this very time consuming, so I opted this time to lay the whole plank down and then cut out the Port Holes. This is a little harder
to do, but faster. In some ways it gives even better appearance.
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Planking
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Planking
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Planking
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March 21, 2009 |
I am still in the process of laying the planking on the Bulwarks. The main
problem that I am faced with is making sure that the Gun Port openings are the same and the Gun Port (metal) pieces fit properly. I will
prepare an image soon of my work maybe tonight. (March 21, 2009 07:30pm Central Standard Time USA)
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Planking
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Planking
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Planking
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March 22, 2009 |
This evening, I glued one planking strip as shown with the clamps. The
Clamps were bought at www.modelexpo-online.com. They have if I remember two sizes. The image (Planking 10) shows the extreme amount of
Plank Bending to achieve the best results for the bow. The excess will be cut off at midpoint of the stem. The Planking Strip was soaked in
hot water for about 15 minutes and then bend with hand very carefully. Then made same method again carefully until bent shape was desired.
It is very easy to break this wood so be careful.
Next I demonstrate the Gun Port openings. I found out by omission of not studying parts that the Gun ports a slightly smaller than the
laser cut Gun Ports. I have an image that demonstrates that the laser cut Gun Port openings are exactly 10mm x 10mm. The rear of Gun Ports
frames (metal) have a flange that is exactly 9mm x 9mm. You must take care when Planking to remove only the amount of wood for the Gun Ports
so not to remove too much. It is an easy oversight to cut out the Gun Port openings in the Plank to match the same size as than lazer cut
Gun Port Openings. This you need to be aware.
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Planking
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Planking
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Gun port Frame Front
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Gun port Frame Rear
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Gun Port Demo
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Gun Port Frame Mount
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Planking
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April 10, 2009 |
Still laying Planking on the Bulwarks. This step is very important, but also
this step is very time consuming and tedious. It must be done correctly so that everything will fit correctly. I have made a lot of
adjustments to the cannon port openings to make sure that they are all in alignment. I soak each piece of wood about 30 minutes and gently and
carefully bend by hand. I know that there are special tools that will help in this process. On these last few Planks, I have used
Cynoacrylate Glue becuase of the situation of needing a very quick dry time while I hold the Plank up against the Hull. I have sanded the Hull
while I have been putting the Planks on.
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Planking
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Planking
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April 12, 2009 |
I feel that it is very important to repeat the situation with the Gun ports.
The Gun Port cut—outs that are on the Bulwark pieces are exactly 10mm x 10mm. These openings are too big for the Gun Port frames to fit in
propery. The directions do not go into much detail about this. As mentioned in an earlier post, you will see that the back side or rear side of
the Gun Port frames, there is an edge that the frame sets in. It is 9mm x 9mm. It is this size that will be cut out on the planking. So I made
a JIG the same size as the Gun Port rear size to make sure it is going to fit tight. I did not obey this simple rule on the first row of Gun Port
openings and therefore had to do some small modifications to the first row to make sure Gun Port Frames are going to fit tight. You will see the
progression of laying planks and cutting around the planks to make the new opening to fit using my JIG.
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Planking
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Planking
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Planking
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April 19, 2009 |
I continue to lay down the last strip of planking for the upper part of the
hull. The Gun Ports will need to be cut out on the last row next. I will use my jig again to make the alignment to cut those Gun Ports out.
The bending of the plank at the stern was difficult to do without breaking the planking strip. I should have soaked this end piece and glued it
first before proceeding with the side and bow, but I forgot. It is very easy to get involved and then realize that you forget something.
I demonstrate some pictures here to show may latest progress since last night. I realize there is a small gap in the planking at the
bow, and I intend to correct this with some type of spilling process to make it look better. I will wait until both sides are planked before
I start to tidy or clean up the gaps.
Enjoy !
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Planking
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Planking
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Planking
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Planking
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May 20, 2009 |
Well, it has been a month since I posted anything. I apologize to all
my visitors that come regular to see the build. I have been busy with life situations. I finally have all the gunports cut out on the starboard side.
As you can see, I have dry fitted the gun port lids and drilled the small holes for the false cannons. I have to glue the gun port lids and cannons in
place once I am ready for that step. I have not planked the port side of the ship.
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Cannon
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May 29, 2009 |
This view is the port side of planking started. I have found a quicker method.
I plank as much as I can, then cut out the port holes. I still have a template that I use to measure the port hole openings. To make sure that I have
balance on both sides of hull, I took measurements from the starboard side and transfered them to the port side. I wanted to make sure that
the port holes where the same measurement from the top of bulwark down to top of port hole. The last image demonstrates the technique of measuring
all the port holes to make sure they are match for both sides.
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Planking
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Planking
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Planking
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cc
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cJune 28, 2009 |
It has been a while at least 2 to 3 months since I have posted any
results. I have been working on this ships upper planking. Up until now, there has not been too much to report. But, I have gotten to
the point that I have BOTH sides of the upper planking done and all the Gun Ports cut out. The pictures just show that the Guns
and Frames are temporarily set in place and are not glued in yet. This comes later in the build. However, the Guns and lids needed
to be fitted before I could move on. The next step is to start planking the lower hull.
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Planking
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Planking
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Planking
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