Wood Model Ship Plans and Tutorial Series - Video #5 - Deck Planking

(The plans and tutorials are also available on the Patreon site)

(View my playlist for all of the videos in this series. They are unlisted, otherwise)

How to build a wood model from scratch!

General Summary: This video walks a hobbyist through the steps of creating a wood ship model step by step. It is designed for those who have never built a wood model ship before

As a modeler views these videos, they will note several versions of the ship being built. This is a very easy model ship to build, and can be configured/modified in a myriad of ways to suit the modelers taste. It is possible to end up with very different looking models based upon the woods/colors/ornamentation chosen throughout the build.

Other videos currently on channel:

Fragment Summary:
Only leave enough paper on the grid so it can be securely glued to the model without using too much “wood space”. You will now glue your planks straight down the lines.

This is why it is always important to test your stain/varnish/mastic on mini “test” decks of about 5 or so pre glued/caulked planks before applying it to your model.

If this happens on your model, glue planks right along the tops of each deck bulkhead in order to raise the entire deck substructure for your later deck planking to sit upon.

When you look at the model from the side, you should be able to tell that the planking lines up inside and out by looking at the inner planking through the entry ways, and comparing the lines to the lines on the outer planking.

Proceed to apply a watered down acrylic paint (known as a “wash”) to the entire model where stain has been applied (except the quarterdeck, of course). W

However…if you intend to build other models in the future, give the harder method a try.

The easy way consists of sanding/shaping the margin plank on its inside edge so it is the same number of “squares” away from the center line of the model on each side all the way down the deck.

If you wish, you can even forget about the margin planks, and just start gluing down planking as you see fit starting from the center of the model, as long as you end up with a nice smooth deck for the deck structures to sit upon.

There really aren’t any perfect models, but there are many models which APPEAR to be perfect.

Remove the graph paper from the inside of your model and place it onto a section of 1/8” basswood sheet. With a pencil, gently draw a line around the graph paper.

This practicum will detail how to modify the margin plank to accept deck planking since this is a skill most modelers will need to learn at some point anyway

Do not try to copy the pattern shown in these photos; each model will be surprisingly different in its pattern.

Now place your real margin planks inside your model, and lay the graph paper inside; Make sure that your graph paper is perfectly centered on top of the planks, and well as in relation to the center line of the model. Small pieces of tape can help secure the graph paper to the margin planks and to the fore and aft sections of the model.

Once your margin planks have been cut/filed, place them back into the model.

When alignment has been achieved, go ahead and glue the margin planks to the model.

When getting ready to start laying down planks, remember to color their edges to simulate caulking with the same method you used on the quarterdeck planking in order to have a uniform look to the model.

The model pictured for instance, will required one half-plank on each side to begin.

The model pictured has had two planks installed directly down the center in order to ensure a perfect center line

[vonholdinghausen]

Great vid, great channel :) Looking forward to more :)

[immunosuppressor]

It's been a little while since my last update, so this will be a "two for one"; a bit longer video. As always, please let me know if anything appears to be unclear, or needs to be modified. Happy Modeling! - Alan

[dugan]

To be accurate, if not pedantic, the first deck plank, the king plank, should run in a line midships, not laid to the side of a centre line.