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- Jul 15, 2021
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Hi Duncan,
This may be of use to you when you build the hull of Bluebird. When building my RMS Titanic hull, i researched how to plank a traditional wooden carvel hull. I have uploaded the diagrams i made as a result of my research as they will be clearer than attempting to describe the process in words.
As you'll be aware, the problem of the planking the hull surface, without gaps, as it swells from the bow to midships and then contracts again to the stern is often solved with 'stealer planks'. Well, this would never be permitted on the real thing! When the hull surface demands that the planks taper to < width/2 they would use a technique called 'spilling'. A plank of less than half it's normal width will have a reduced surface to fasten to the frames which will weaken the joint and increase the chances of it springing in a lumpy sea. Also, with Titanic at any rate, the planks have to flare significantly as they go into what the shipwrights of Nelson's Navy would term 'the deadwood', zone of the hull. This may be less of an issue with Bluebird, she being a transomed stern hull. Anyway, you can have a look at the diagrams and if you decide that you'd like to go authentic to the original they'll serve as a start point.
Salaam!
John
This may be of use to you when you build the hull of Bluebird. When building my RMS Titanic hull, i researched how to plank a traditional wooden carvel hull. I have uploaded the diagrams i made as a result of my research as they will be clearer than attempting to describe the process in words.
As you'll be aware, the problem of the planking the hull surface, without gaps, as it swells from the bow to midships and then contracts again to the stern is often solved with 'stealer planks'. Well, this would never be permitted on the real thing! When the hull surface demands that the planks taper to < width/2 they would use a technique called 'spilling'. A plank of less than half it's normal width will have a reduced surface to fasten to the frames which will weaken the joint and increase the chances of it springing in a lumpy sea. Also, with Titanic at any rate, the planks have to flare significantly as they go into what the shipwrights of Nelson's Navy would term 'the deadwood', zone of the hull. This may be less of an issue with Bluebird, she being a transomed stern hull. Anyway, you can have a look at the diagrams and if you decide that you'd like to go authentic to the original they'll serve as a start point.
Salaam!
John