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| Building the hull | Sanding & Painting | Masts & Rigging |
Building the Hull |
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| Position the frames at right angles to the keel. Next mount the
deck and bulkhead. When dry, sand the frames to taper. This ensures
both a larger surface and a better positioning of the planking strips. Planking the hull can be done in a number of ways. Here we have chosen to start by applying the first strip so that it follows the upper edge of the deck. Apply glue to each frame and the upper edge of the strip, and hold the strip in place with pins until dry. Proceed planking the hull downwards, shifting from side to side in order to avoid any misalignments as the strips are applied. Each strip should be cut or sanded conically to fit the shape of the hull when gently placed on the frame. Do not force the strip into position. |
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Sanding & Painting |
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| The appearance of the hull is of great importance for the appearance
of the final model. Time spent carefully sanding and painting will
be rewarded with a hull, which is completely smooth, with no dents
or cracks. Prime the hull with ground color. Sand, and fill out with putty. Sand again, and continue this process until all irregularities or cracks no longer can be seen. Paint the model with oil paint, and fill out with putty again. Sand once again and then paint the model. When the paint is completely dry mark off the waterline around the entire hull, as can be seen on the main drawing. Set tape along the line, which will allow you to paint the bottom part of the hull with no risk of mixing the two colors. Do not remove the tape until the paint is completely dry. Models of older ships with a wooden hull are usually stained instead of painted. Sand carefully; do not use putty. |
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Masts & Rigging |
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| If the masts are to be painted or stained, it is a good idea to do this before assembly. After assembling the masts, mount the various fittings. Follow the same procedure with the yards. If the model has sails, sew these, then affix blocks and rigging thread. Attach the sails to the yards. Next, mount the masts in the hull and affix shrouds and stays. Attach the sails and yards to the mast. An attractive appearance can be achieved by rubbing the rigging threads with wax. | |