14
Planking the
Plank- on- Bulkhead Hull
Before starting, it’s a good idea to know
some shipbuilding terms used in the
planking process.
Plank
: Single length of wood used to
plank a hull or deck. A
strake
is a contin-
uous line of planks from wherever it
begins to where it ends.
Garboard
: Planking strake adjacent to
the keel.
Sheer strake
: Upper line of planking on
a hull.
Wale
: Heavy layer of strakes below the
sheer strake.
Niagara
has no wale.
Belts
: Group of planks along the hull.
Belts are laid out using
battens
(tempo-
rary strips of flexible wood). A
ribband
is
also a batten. It holds frames in position
during planking. Ribbands are removed
as planking progresses.
Spiling
: Process for marking and cutting
a plank to a given shape.
Edge-bending
or
springing
: To bend a
plank edgewise.
Fair
: Refers to smooth, gradual curves
when planking.
Nib or nibbing
: Running one plank into a
notch in another to eliminate a feathered
edge. Nibbing generally applies to decks, but
sometimes hull planks are nibbed.
Stealer
: Plank inserted into another plank
or between two adjacent planks to reduce
their width. Or, when two planks taper
toward a narrow end, both may have to
be cut off and a wider plank substituted
to leave enough wood for fastening.
Counter:
Underside of the overhanging
portion of a ship's stern.
1. Getting Started
Most modelers find planking tedious.
Work slowly and think of each plank as
a project unto itself. Since hull sides are
identical, simultaneously cut one pair of
port and starboard planks to shape. Fit
the plank on one side, then the other.
Don't rush. Speed results in frustration
and a poor job.
Before starting, secure the hull upside
down in a vise or cradle. Something
portable that rotates is ideal. Model
Expo sells a planking vise for this pur-
pose.
2. Planking Battens and Belts
Hulls are easier to plank when divided
into belts. Each is designed to lay the
planks against the bulkheads without
excessive edge bending. They gently
sweep up at the ends like the deck
sheer. Planks within a belt are usually
evenly spaced, tapered, and fitted. Belts
prevent errors from accumulating.
When selecting a belt width and the
number of planks it contains, consider
how the planks taper and lay against
the bulkheads. Taper too much and not
enough stock is left for fastening. Then
a larger plank must be substituted for
two planks to increase the width. Planks
too wide won't lay flat. In some areas,
the distance between planks widens
rather than tapers. If it becomes too
wide, a stealer must be added. While
these alterations are acceptable and
employed on many ships, the best run
of planking limits their number. (Figure
2-1 illustrates some inserts.)
Sheet 2 shows the planking layout. Fore
and aft views plus a profile view pro-
vide a complete picture.
STAGE 2
Fig 2-1 Planking Shown Using Stealer Inserts
Stealer
Single plank
insert
A. Planks getting too wide
B. Planks getting too narrow
STERN VIEW
