Help, Mary Rose, how to assemble the lower deck

[trance]

Has anyone built the Mary Rose? I've got to the stage where the bulkheads are on, and now I've got to plank the lower deck. The problem I have is how to put the lower deck on, the instructions say to plank the two halves, not the middle, as that is after the first hull planking, then glue the two halves in place. The only way I can see is to cut it into three sections; otherwise, it will just snap if I try to force it, but the instructions don't specifically say to do this, am i missing something? Any help is welcome.

 

[rtwpsom2]

I'd cut it in half lengthwise down the centerline. I'd also add some backers to the bottom so the two halves stay together midships.

 

[trance]

I'd cut it in half lengthwise down the centerline. I'd also add some backers to the bottom so the two halves stay together midships.

Thanks, didn't think of that, my original idea to cut it into 3 sections wouldn't have worked out, as to get the deck into place, I would have to bend it, which would ruin the planking. I did consider planking it on the ship, but not ideal. It's a good quality kit, but a ridiculous way of planking the deck, your idea is working, thank you.

 

[Graham]

Hi. I have built The Mary Rose - my build log is on here. Regards.

 

[trance]

Hi. I have built The Mary Rose - my build log is on here. Regards.

Thanks; that's a great help. The instructions say to plank the two halves, but they didn't specifically say to cut the deck in half like you have. That is the bit that was confusing me: how to get the planked deck on. What did you use to stain the deck? It looks nice.

 

[trance]

Hi. I have built The Mary Rose - my build log is on here. Regards.

,Sorry another question, what were the two lengths of plak you used to plak the deck

 

[Graham]

Stain was Rustin's light teak (I always use oil based stains), then sprayed with a satin enamel lacquer (rattle can).
I used the book 'Your Noblest Shippe' as a reference for my build. This comes with a set or archaeological drawings which show that the planks were not fixed lengths, so the main deck is not all neat and tidy as you will see on later ships like the Victory. Hence, as I say in my post #14, I just sort of 'planked casual'.
I hope you will open a build log which we all enjoy. I won't interfere (nothing worse than someone telling you how they did it), but am happy to help in any way I can if you PM me. Cheers and good luck.

 

[Dicktracy]

Has anyone built the Mary Rose? I've got to the stage where the bulkheads are on, and now I've got to plank the lower deck. The problem I have is how to put the lower deck on, the instructions say to plank the two halves, not the middle, as that is after the first hull planking, then glue the two halves in place. The only way I can see is to cut it into three sections; otherwise, it will just snap if I try to force it, but the instructions don't specifically say to do this, am i missing something? Any help is welcome.

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A very interesting problem you have (had). Assuming the deck material is less than 1/8th thick, I would have soaked the enter deck unit in one piece until it became very pliable. Then squezzing the entire deck between the bulkheads after placing the starboard in position. Once the deck had dried, I would then have cut the deck holes in position. What I do not understand from the limited info, is are you planking the deck with individual planks once the two halves are in place? I'm interested in how you proceed, cheers Richard

 

[trance]

A very interesting problem you have (had). Assuming the deck material is less than 1/8th thick, I would have soaked the enter deck unit in one piece until it became very pliable. Then squezzing the entire deck between the bulkheads after placing the starboard in position. Once the deck had dried, I would then have cut the deck holes in position. What I do not understand from the limited info, is are you planking the deck with individual planks once the two halves are in place? I'm interested in how you proceed, cheers Richard

Hi,
Basically, the instructions were asking to plank the stern and the bow of the lower deck, and not to plank the midsection until the first planking of the hull had been done, for some reason. They then said to fix the two halves of the decking with no specific instructions to cut the decking into sections; it was some strange wording. In the end, I followed Graham's advice and cut the decking down the centre line. I had already started to cut it into sections; I should have just cut down the centre line longways. Now I can just add half a section at a time, problem solved.