QUERIES AND COMMENTS

Basically what swanrail is on about is the side extension of the planks so that it covers the sides of the deck. As if you follow the Hachette instructions the deck just sits on the top of the planking and if ur R/cing ur model thats not very watertight.

So as you have just begun your planking what swanrail is suggesting is take a 20mm x 1.5mm piece of lime plank and attach it above where you have planked at the moment so that it pokes up above the top of your ribs. Then you must sand down your decking so that it slots down between this raised planking, thus making a better water seal.

For those of us who have completed or got the top planks fitted as per instructions we had to take a different course and stick an extra length of plank ontop of the existing planking.

If you want clarification look at my build log and find the pics with the drawing pins or look at swanrails modifications thread for the plank extension thread.

ahh ok, got it now. Thanks afkmatrix and eric.

Now to find some 20mm by 1.5mm lime wood.

Wonder if I could make it a single peice the full length of the hull.

Thanks Eric/Afkmatrix for clarifying my post. Thought that I had explained it enough, but obviously not!!!
The Model Dockyard do 20mm wide planks in lime, but 2mm thick which might be a bit too much.
An alternative might be is to glue side by side two 10mm planks before fixing to the hull, at least the joints would be in the right place!!!!

Hi Don,
got the 2 side pieces on above the per instruction planking for the side mod. Question? My deck now needs t be sanded back to fit in right? Any tricks for this, or is it just sand and fit, sand and fit, etc.? As I'm stciking with the screws supplied and have not gone the magnetic route. Any suggestions!
Robert

As Poulw says, its a queston of sanding carefully a bit at at a time to ensure a tight fit. I actually took the orginal deck, made sure it fitted exactly over the hull as per the Hachette original, then drew a line around it (sides only of course!!) 1mm in from the edge. This allowed me to heavy sand down almost to the line, then gently finish off with finer sandpaper to fit tightly. My rough sanding took place using a drum on my Minicraft drill, much easier to control and to remove waste quickly.
Ref fixing down: I do not like using screws, OK for then static model as they will be covered over by the deck veneer.
I use magnets as they are totally enclosed so no trouble with the veneer. In retrospect, my deck is now planked and with the heavy superstructure I think that it will hold in place quite well with no fastenings at all!!!! However, you MUST make sure that the deck beds down properly on its supports. ie if you push down on the deck when completed, the deck should not move or rock.
If you choose not to fit fastenings as I have suggested, and later think it might be best to do something, then fit the magnets, as they can go on quite easily under the deck with minimum fuss.
Note that screws will eventually ream out the wood making them lose grip, hence bad idea for decks often removed.
(my British Chancellor, pictures of which in my model thread, has two sets of removable superstructures, one midships, the other one aft, both just sit in situ with gravity, no fixings at all. Never had any trouble at all, and necver shipped water although she sits low in the water, as tankers do!!!!!).

Know the feeling, its been a scorcher here today as well.
Good for our local railway, just had a diesel weekend with about 6 different diesel units, plus a beer tent in our village with 53 real ales on tap - we have donewell this weekend!!!

Another quick question for Markus if he's about today when doing the coats of Glatfix, still have some from first layer of planking, when to you apply it? ie. once all smooth, prior to any filler or in between?