single/double planking :: View Single Post

I will double plank the MS Bluenose I am working on (progress delayed by the World Cup). Mike's posting bring out an important point about the length of the planks. This was mentioned in the instruction manual of the kit which says something to the effect that because of the spacing of the frames, the planks will not be of the correct scale length and it is not possible to have the correct joint pattern. Although it was not mentioned in the instruction, I suspect that similar problem will occur with the deck planking because the kit was not designed with a false deck.
We are model makers, not shipbuilders. Our aim is to create a model within our skill which has as near as possible the same outward appearance as the real object. To achieve this end, to follow the practice of building the full scale ship might not yield the best result. Last Chirstmas my son bought me the Charles Morgan, also by MS. I have a good look at it and was surprised to see that material for the second planking is an optional extra. This kit is billed as an advanced model. If MS is aware of the problem with Bluenose, which is rated intermediate, surely people building at advanced level will not be happy with the incorrect plank length and will do something about it; which is to pay for the optional extra. The conclusion I came to is that the single layer planking with some MS kits is to minimise cost, nothing to do with 'technique as in real ship building'. Another point about technique used in real ship building is how to spill a strake. The technique mentioned in the Bluenose instruction is to use a pair of campass to lift the shape of the plank to be spilled following the porfile of the strake adjacent to it. This might be the way in real ship building, but for model making, I think it is very much easier and more accurate to stick a piece of masking tape along the stake which one want to lift the shape then rub pencil over the edge of the strake to get the correct curve.

Just some thoughts on my mind

best regards

Apprentice