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FAIR AMERICAN 14 GUN Privateer by Model Shipways 1:48 SCALE

Gosh, I'm afraid to offer any advice without seeing the model itself. If you align the 'deck' with the top of the keel and sight down the sides of the ship does it look like you could sand it fair? Or does it look like it would be easier to sand it fair if you fully seat the notches and then later modify the deck level? I would say getting fair lines on the hull is what would guide my decision-making.
 
Now... step two is to ask you knowledgeable builders what you think is right.

Should I trust the plans of the bulkheads to be correct? And the laser. cut bulkheads to be incorrect?


laser cut bulkheads IF the cutting files were done correctly. The cutting files and the kit drawings are two different drawings. the laser cut bulkheads should have been drawn with a centerline and one side of the bulkhead drawn and mirrored so both sides are exactly the same. I would use the plans as just a general reference



So... I'm back to the point of do I continue with this kit that I don't really care for as I've had so many problems. or just abandon it completely and move on to another kit??

moving on to another kit your still in the kit arena and all kits are in some way or another have problems. If you start from scratch you have total control from start to finish.


One thing I know I will do is to lengthen the bulkhead tips so they extend to the bearding line evenly on each side.

good idea i would do the same

What do you think about the sides of the bulkheads? Should I glue on strips to get them to match the drawings? And to make them match when I flip the bulkhead over. Some are off quite a bit when I flip them.

use the bulkheas as they are and i would not try to match them to the drawings. Trace a bulkhead the flip the bulkhead on the tracing to see if both sides are the same. This way you will know if the laser cutting file is wrong or the kit drawings are wrong

I'm thinking about getting the bulwark stantions to match the drawings too. This just seems the right thing to do. What do you think.
i would assemble the hull bulkhead structure and built off that rather than trying to match the plans hard to say which one is wrong. But in either case following one or the other will still produce a model. Building the Sir Edward Hawke in the school i drew the plans, made the laser cutting files and built the model in the end the model does not match the drawings so you will never match exactly the model to the drawings.
as far as the gardboard and planking see

planking the Matthew

LINING OFF THE HULL It is very common for kits to provide planking material unsuitable for the purpose, thus causing a number of problems for the model builder. Every commercial wood has its properties some are suitable for bending while others are not. Some common problems are, providing...
shipsofscale.com

Colonial Schooner Sultana

I also agree with the idea of creating a channel as opposed to cutting a rabbet. This is clever and will result in easier planking. You have thought this one out well, Dave!
shipsofscale.com

Royal James sloop

Great progress, Dave! Keep going!
shipsofscale.com



Any suggestions about what is the best way forward in correccting the bulkheads is appreciated.

fitst step see if the bulkheads are the same on both sides of venter
 
Good idea Doc. Thank you. I'll level the deck/keel and run a strip along the bulkhead edges. Then push the bulkheads all the way into the slots and run the strip over the bulkheads again.

Dave. Thank you so much too. That's a lot of good information.

I'll work on these before anything is glued together.
 
Glad to have you back Rob.

I wouldn't waste your time trying to determine who's wrong, plans or parts. I think that I would be more concerned about the bulkhead relationship between each other and the deck line and not so much as what the plans say. Getting a fair run of planking is the goal and it is noticeable if it isn't fair.

You would notice the deck if there were more planks on one side than the other. You would notice the hull planking if it waved in and out. Maybe you end up cutting a new and different bulkhead or two? It just takes a jewelers saw and a few minutes time. Don't be afraid to throw away parts that are not up to your standards.

Take a look also that the cannon are centered in the gunports. I've noticed some models have a problem here, mine for example!

Just my 2 cents worth. It's challenging isn't it? Keep at it!

Bruce
 
I drew outlines of all bulkheads. About 50% were right on. The remainder varied from just slightly off to about 2-2.5mm off center.

Here is an image of the worst bulkhead... What would be the recommended resolution fo fix this? Thank you for a response...
1.jpg
 
If the slot that fits into the center spine is off center than the top timbers are the least of your problem. The hull lines will be wrong too. The best solution would be to make a new bulkhead.

Roger
 
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