I am finished with constructing the major portion of the ribs and frames and other components. Please read this statement below as according to the manual, the hull planking should commence. According to my study, this should not be the case.
CASE 1:
PLEASE REVIEW MY POST #141 AS I MISCALCULATED THE PLACEMENT OF SOME SPACERS NEAR THE BOW. THE LOWER SPACERS ARE SITTING TOO LOW. WHEN THE FEW STRIPS OF PLANKING ARE LAID ON THE LOWER HULL, THESE SPACERS WILL BE SEEN AND THAT IS NOT GOOD. SO, THEREFORE, PLEASE READ MY STATEMENT AT POST #141. I APOLOGIZE FOR THIS ERROR AND I HOPE THAT THOSE FOLLOWING AND BUILDING THIS MODEL WILL NOT FALL INTO THE SAME SITUATION.
CASE 2:
THE INSTRUCTIONS CALL FOR ALL THE HULL PLANKING TO BE DONE (HOWEVER, THE LOWER 1/2 OF THE RIBS ARE VISIBLE - NO, THE ENTIRE LOWER HULL IS NOT PLANKED. HOWEVER, ANY PART OF THE HULL SHOULD NOT BE PLANKED AT THIS TIME. THE REASON IS THAT IF YOU DO, THEN THE REFERENCE MARKS FOR THE LOWER FLOOR AND UPPER FLOOR BEAMS WILL BE CONCEALED AND YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SEE THE REFERENCE MARKS. THIS IS ANOTHER PROBLEM I SEE.
THEREFORE, MY IDEA IS TO INSTALL THE LOWER FLOOR BEAMS AND THEN PLANK THE LOWER MOST HULL, THEN WORK MY WAY UP.
To me, I must confess that this model is very difficult. What makes this model difficult? The model according to the manual goes against what I think is normal protocol for building a model. Next, the China to English translation is very poor. There are NO Chinese words in their language to express basic ship terms even the word "plank" or "hull" in its proper terms. Now let me say this. The QUALITY of the model and wood is superb !!!! The finished product will be outstanding that is if I can master the barriers I am faced with.