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To start with old drawings stated the scale 1:50 (1/4" = 1:48), but even without measuring one could have said that something is wrong. Publisher simply printed the foils as they fit to the layout without taking care of adjusting plans’ descriptions. On the other hand what should I expect from drawings that must have been done some when in 60s.

So finally managed to enlarge and print hulls drafts:

Hull Construction

This is supposed to be my FIRST wooden hull! ever. I felt so scared and worried… will I be able to manage that(?) Had to try anyway… decided to build plank-on-bulkhead type of hull.

Using PC I have quite quickly "drew" mirror parts hull’s bulkheads taking care of future planks' thinness, printed them all out and glued to 4 mm thick plywood I have bought in BAUMAX relatively cheaply. So far that was an easy part... now how to cut almost everything out manually.

"Shipyard" - I got from somewhere few years and it was waiting for its day in the box. Its day came in August '05.

For planking - decided to cut out planks myself as I figured it would be cheaper. I bought something like 10 5x20mm and 2.5 m long pine floor planks and cut them into more or less 6x5mm. I am not sure if that was the best choice, I read that for planking pine is not really used, but for me it worked fine in the end. Plus I knew that all would be covered by paint anyway.

Finally fun started... planking. 1st few were easy but moving towards the keel was getting harder and harder. To bend planks I used to throw them into hot water in my bathtub, so no steam no heating etc. just water. I know, a pro will say that you do not need to clamp all them if they are pre-shaped correctly. Well, I am not a pro yet. To glue I used UHU Holz Express - very good stuff.

Obviously that activity takes weeks unless you do not work and can do modelling seven days a week which is not my case. So finally put the last plank; stem and stern, I filled them with small blocks of scrap wood and them cut them to proper shape. Then laborious sanding, then filling, then sanding, and again filling, and so on, and so on until you are happy with result. Unfortunately I do not have any pictures from that period (no access to camera). You can have a look at the point right after I attached the deck.

For filling I used model filler "Micro-Fill White" theoretically from Krick, but behind the label you can see original markings of Northeast Hobby Products. This filler is great, you can thin it with water and during sanding it behaves like balsa. This box costs around €5 in Vienna... in US twice cheaper...