The stem, keel, and stern post have been attached and the second, final layer of hull planking has been started.
Month: December 2017
Virginia 1819 build log – Part 12
The bulwark pieces were soaked and allowed to dry with the proper curves. Then they were glued into place. I paid the greatest attention to the size of the opening at the bow, making sure it was sized to allow the bowsprit through. At the center of the ship, the edges of the bulwark did not match the top of the upper strake of hull planks, as you can see below. Wood filler was used to patch areas between the bulwarks and hull, then sanded smooth.
Virginia 1819 build log – Part 11
At last the hull planking was finished. Some good, some bad. The worst spot is at the bow, where it was difficult to hold the planks firmly in place, even when the planks were pre-bent.
Virginia 1819 build log – Part 10
More pieces for the deck. This time it’s the cargo hatch. Once again, there was some challenge getting the first parts to fit together at perfect 90 degree angles.
Virginia 1819 build log – Part 9
More pictures of planking progress. It’s not as bad as I feared, and not as good as I wanted. I hope things will look a lot better once this first planking layer is sanded down smooth. The hardest part has been finding ways to firmly hold the wet planks in place while they dry into shape.