Bulkhead planking

Alan56

Alan56

Joined
Sep 11, 2023
Messages
229
Points
143

Location
Fond du Lac,WI.
Hi everyone, I'm new to ship building & have been researching various ships mainly from Occre & Model Shipways. Reading the descriptions of ships I see some say plank on bulkhead construction while other say double POB. If the description say "plank on bulkhead" does that mean it's single planking only? Is double planking preferred over single? I'm guessing not necessarily? While I'm at, if using pins on single planking do you sand the pin heads down or remove them? I've seen methods where the planks are glued down & clamped instead of pinned. I like this method. Thanks...........Al.
 
Hi Alan, welcome to SOS.
Planking is one of the dark arts of shipbuilding. There is no one correct way, and it depends on the model you are building and the effects you want to achieve.
Single layer planking is more challenging as this layer will be on view in the completed form. Double layer allows the modeler to complete a base to get the shape of the hull correct. Then the second layer, with usually thinner strips of wood can be applied without nails, to the first layer.
The real challenge comes from the fact that most ships have a broader midship than stem or stern. This means the planks need to be tapered or have different widths along its length, and also bent or formed into differing curves in 3D along the length.
There are many good articles and videos on planking, which you can Google.
Search for Chuck Passaro too he has much good advice to offer.
Planking is a skill that takes time to develop.
 
Chestcutter said:
Hi Alan, welcome to SOS.
Planking is one of the dark arts of shipbuilding. There is no one correct way, and it depends on the model you are building and the effects you want to achieve.
Single layer planking is more challenging as this layer will be on view in the completed form. Double layer allows the modeler to complete a base to get the shape of the hull correct. Then the second layer, with usually thinner strips of wood can be applied without nails, to the first layer.
The real challenge comes from the fact that most ships have a broader midship than stem or stern. This means the planks need to be tapered or have different widths along its length, and also bent or formed into differing curves in 3D along the length.
There are many good articles and videos on planking, which you can Google.
Search for Chuck Passaro too he has much good advice to offer.
Planking is a skill that takes time to develop.
Click to expand...
Thank you for your explanation on planking & I will check out Chucks videos.
 
Alan56 said:
Hi everyone, I'm new to ship building & have been researching various ships mainly from Occre & Model Shipways. Reading the descriptions of ships I see some say plank on bulkhead construction while other say double POB. If the description say "plank on bulkhead" does that mean it's single planking only? Is double planking preferred over single? I'm guessing not necessarily? While I'm at, if using pins on single planking do you sand the pin heads down or remove them? I've seen methods where the planks are glued down & clamped instead of pinned. I like this method. Thanks...........Al.
Click to expand...
To clarify for the beginners out there, the use of the term POB (plank on bulkhead) could mean one layer of planks, or two layers of planks. POB is used to distinguish a model hull from POF (plank on frame) method, in which actual ship frames are modelled and planked over. If you are building a POB model, using two layers of planks is far easier that one layer. The first layer can be adjusted changed to get he correct hull shape using filler, and the planks don't have to be exactly in the same pattern as that on the original ship. You can make repairs, and even change the hull shape using shaped blocks of balsa. As long as the hull shape comes out the way you want it, you're good.

The second layer (made of thin veneer planks) does, since this is the final layer. The pattern of the final layer should match the style and layout of the planks on the real ship, and this is the layer that gets the staining and finish work, plus all the details like trenails and such.
 
Alan56 said:
Thanks. So in the Terror example if there was no photo of the parts I would think I was getting a plank on frame kit:oops:.
Click to expand...
Yes Alan. The manufacturer or retailer is causing confusion by mis-naming the style of the kit.
As Zoly says, most kits are POB, bulkheads, not frames.
If you are a beginner then POB is better as it allows you to develop your planking skills and make mistakes in the first layer which can be covered and adjusted, before the second final planking.
Keep asking question, planning is essential.
Measure twice cut once, dry fit everything and never stop asking why or how to do things better.
Happy modeling
 
Alan56 said:
So I don't mean to labor the subject of POB vs POF but looking at the Occre HMS Terror they describe the Hull type as plank on frame but the photo of the parts looks like plank on bulkhead. This is on Premier Ship Models website. https://premiershipmodels.us/product/hms-terror-ship-model-kit-occre-12004/
Sorry if I'm wrong about this..........Al.
Click to expand...
Sure looks like bulkheads to me. No frames that I can see so may be a typo. However if your thinking of buying that model it certainly has a good price on it. Be prepared to build it either way though. Better yet look up the manufacturer's name and send him an email about this. See what he has to say. Pete
 
Hi, Having completed this model recently. HMS Terror from OCCRE, purchased from Premier, I can confirm it is a plank on bulkhead design with two layers of planking. As mentioned earlier by more experienced modellers. You learn a lot on technique on the first layer and make a pretty decent job aesthetically on the thinner second layer.

Hope my input helps…….seagull shipwright
 
Just a general comment about planking…no matter what a kit suggests, any model can be done either as a single plank layer or with double plank layers. In reality your choice. If a kit is set up as single layer planking you would need to purchase some thin planking strips for a second layer planking. If you are not confident yet in completing a smooth single layer planking, no matter what the kit says, you can choose to do two layers of planking.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top