After a few sleepless nights of working right through (don't worry, I did this because I was enjoying myself), the first stage of hull planking is finished, the hull has been sanded down ready for the next layer, and I even managed to do some work on the cargo bays and plank the deck in between.
New pictures have been added before I start on the outer layer of hull planking, so feel free to have a gander and post any comments/criticisms you'd like.
Looking at my little boat so far, I'm quite proud of myself. Though there are a few mistakes here and there, I was expecting some to crop up anyway, and I think she's looking pretty good so far for a first attempt :realcool:

Looks great Brad,
I'm impressed that you started this hobby with a POB kit. I didn't have the confidence to start with a POB so my first two ships have been solid hull. I think my next ship will be a POB.
Dennis

Thanks Dennis, though don't be too impressed about my choice for a first kit...the reason I chose POB was because my grandfather left me one when he died and I needed to practice on something less expensive and (dare I say it) less important than his ship first, to avoid destroying the last ship he ever started.
I think he's created a monster though, i'm having more and more fun with every part I succesfully complete.

Brad:
Looks good; You'll find as you go along it gets easier with each task performed. If you are going to go with the second layer of planks ,instead of just one, that is where you will pay attention to detail to butts and tapers and such.
One tip I've read: After finishing the first layer of planks, coat with a dilute mixture of wood glue(makes the hull stronger and fills gaps to make a smooth surface for the second layer of planks). Your holds look good also.

Sorry I didn't catch you sooner Brad. I just checked the gallery tonight and saw your photos of your progress on the Swift. It's looking good and brings back memories. :build: If you haven't gotten much farther yet, allow me to suggest that you get some good wood filler and fill the seams, etc. in your first layer before you move on to the second. I use Elmer's wood filler. It is easy to work with and sands easily. Just smear it on liberally all over and then start to sand down your first layer. Done with some patience and a healthy dose of elbow grease, you will come up with a nice smooth foundation for your second layer of planking. This will make things a LOT easier when you approach the "pretty" layer. You'll be happy you did. You needn't worry about how it looks, cosmetic-wise, at this point (it's all going to be covered, after all!). What you are trying to achieve is a smooth and well-faired foundation for the second planking. I was following advice that I found in Mastini's "Ship Modeling Simplified" when I built mine and he suggested all sorts of "exotic" fillers and sealers like artist's modeling paste and gesso. I have found that the less exotic things like Elmer's work better though. I presume you can find that in your country...I don't think it is something that is exclusively a USA product.

AL has definitely made some changes to the kit since I built mine. Nothing dramatic, but different for sure. The most noticeable is the size of the cabins. On mine, there were holes in the sub-deck and floor areas about the size of a postage stamp and I see in your photos that they are considerably larger. Overall though, the ship looks very familiar.

Keep up the good work and have fun. You're doing great.