Sometimes it is best to 'NOT' use moisture, only heat! You're not a fool but maybe the so-called 'Big Cheese' is! Thumbs up to Pepite 1/60. I wonder if your 'Big-Cheese' person has a hot water heater, or a stove at home? If so... that person could easily hurt themself too! @#$!
Are clothes irons allowed? I use a small 'travel style' clothes iron more than I use a plank bender. My plank bender is only used on really tight, short bends, on small scale models that my travel iron can't effectively handle. Your Beagle may not have any bends that short and tight. I'll glue the end of a plank to the bow, about 1/4-1/5 inches worth. After the glue cures, I pull the planks around the bulkheads as far as I feel I can safely go without breaking the plank, then iron it out to shape. I'll glue the plank, pull it some more, heat it, rinse/repeat until I'm done with the tight bends. If worse comes to worse... simply put you planks under your hot dinner tray when supper is served, but be careful. That tray might be hot! LOL