Build Log - HMS Surprise 1:75th Scale Mamoli

[Awkward]

Well, after a long time away from the shipyard I've made quite a bit of progress with the build. Having fitted the stem, keel and sternpost I decided to carry on with the first planking without cutting a rabbet and have fared the garboard into the keel as per the instructions. I've nearly completed the first planking and learned that I should have tapered the planks toward the prow as well as the stern (the instructions only mention the stern). In consequence the planking is not as smooth as it should be toward the prow and looks wrong. I should able to smooth when I get to grips with sanding it all down and will not make the same mistake with the second planking. I'm not convinced that the hull shaping toward the prow is correct for the period and may try and fill it to be more bluff bowed.
Fitting the gun ports was a real pain! The instructions refer to pegging the gunport to holes provided in the gun deck. There are no holes and no pegs provided in the kit so I fashioned my own plinths and firmly glues these to the deck and the bulwark. Another problem was deciding the positioning of the gun ports. As has been mentioned by others, the plans are not quite the same size as the model so I had to adjust the measurements accordingly. I measured the upper deck on the plan at 525mm and on the model at 500mm. The model is therefore 95.24% of the plan. By reducing the plan measurements accordingly I seem to have got the placement right i.e. evenly spaced, avoiding all the bulkheads and looking correct relative to the masts etc on the plan.
As has also been mentioned, I shouldn't have fitted the upper deck so early in the build. Doing so made fitting the gun ports, gun carriages and supports for the final planking between the gun ports very difficult. I spent ages performing keyhole surgery with two pairs of tweezers!
Now to finish the first planking between the ports and fore and aft bulwarks.

 

[Wolf59]

Well, I don't see any of the more experienced builders chiming in, so I will risk some advice...

When it says "0,5 x 4" -- for example -- European style is to often use a comma where North Americans and others would use a decimal point. So, this means wood strips 0.5mm thick x 4mm wide. I am on my first kit, but a simpler one maybe. The various planks were labelled, but also I could deduce what was what by their thickness. You often have to use a bit of detective work. I see tanganyika mentioned often on these threads, someone here can advise, or you can sort and label them by process of elimination. As to how much to use, once you know which strips are which, you use what you need, being economical as possible. Generally there is an allowance for cutting, trimming and errors.

On this first hull planking of mine I was sure I would run out because I was scrapping a few strips at first, but I settled down, someone talked me off the ledge, and I ended up with a few leftover. And you become comfortable with the notion that, if it so happens that you need to order more strips, so you order more strips. They are not costly and you can get them in many sizes to match what you have.

I assume this is double planked? And are you painting the outer layer? I painted mine below the waterline. If you run out and have to use a different colour wood below the waterline, it will be painted, but even if not, if you do one strip on one side and one on the other, as recommended, and keep them symmetrical with matching colour on each side, it will look fine.

Have you got a good book like "Ship Modeling Simplified" by Frank Mastini to guide you? It will help with planking. There are many different approaches to planking, bending, nailing and gluing. Pick an easier, more achievable method and follow it. Also, don't forget, your first layer on your first hull is your apprenticeship. You can sand, patch and fill. And put the lessons learned to good use on the second layer that shows. You still need a nice, smooth base layer to plank over, but it is more forgiving in how you get there.

How will you bend the planks?

just chiming in here that book you mentioned: (Ship Modeling Simplified" by Frank Mastini) will help me with my build as well thank you!