Model Boat Mayhem

Technical, Techniques, Hints, and Tips => Wood Care: => Topic started by: howie55 on May 05, 2009, 01:51:01 pm

Title: planking a hull
Post by: howie55 on May 05, 2009, 01:51:01 pm
some ideas for planking, in the 1st photo,. here you see my schooner having its first few planks attached, to hold each plank whilst being shaped and bent I used clamps made from scrap dowel and offcuts held with elastic bands, these hold the planks in place when gluing and nailing, you can also see dead wood blocks glued in place ready for shaping the keel.

the 2nd photo shows the method I used for shaping and keeping a square edge to each plank, this was achieved by inverting a smoothing plane in the vice and moving the plank across the blade ( take care you dont shape your fingers as well).
 
To creat the bend in the plank I used a flat Iron, you can see it on the bench in the 3rd photo, each plank was marked where the curve takes place, and then soaked in water, placed on the base board clamped where the bend should start and pulled into the bend whilst ironing it with the iron on its hottest setting, this can be repeated until the desired shape is produced.
In this photo the deadwood keel has been shaped and the wooden ballast plug introduced ready to be withdrawn and cast in lead at a future date.
Title: Re: planking a hull
Post by: andygh on May 05, 2009, 08:14:43 pm
Nice work, the elastic band/clamp idea looks like a winner  O0