Gun Deck - H.M.S. Flyhmsfly.com/pdf/Gun Deck Planking.pdf · Once the gun deck had been marked for...

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Gun Deck

PLEASE READ GUIDANCE NOTES PRIOR TO FITTING THE GUN DECK

This author will incorporate a bowsprit ‘heel and step’ in the forecastle, and will use the

design in H.M.S. Victory as a guide, Figure F1. A galley stove will also be added later.

Figure F1 – Cut away section of H.M.S Victory (Portsmouth Historic Dockyard)

Please check the Addendum; it describes how the keel should have been prepared prior to assembly in 05 - Hull Modifications - Stern Section, page 13.

Even thought the hull was assembled, part of the keel as shown in Figure F2, was removed with the use of a fret saw; ensure that 1mm was left proud to be level with the gun deck.

The remaining part shown by pencil lines also had to be removed, but the small section on top of the bowsprit hole was left remaining. To achieve this, a junior hacksaw was used with a new blade, Figure F3; it was sawn very gently then removal is relatively simple, but this was not rushed.

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Figure F2 – Part of the keel had been removed with a hand fret saw

Figure F3 – A junior hacksaw being used to remove a part of the keel

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Using a chisel blade in a craft knife, carefully cut the ply so the section of keel can be removed, as shown in Figure F4, and then with the same craft knife and needle files remove the part of the keel so the bowsprit can be inserted, Figures F5 and F6.

Figure F4 – Section of the keel being removed

Figure F5 – Section of keel carefully cutaway and filed so bowsprit can be inserted

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Figure F6 – Bowsprit inserted to ensure fit is correct

Gun deck part no. 28 came in two halves; on each half, the outside edge bulkhead slots

were filed so each side fitted easily on the hull assembly. Note: Do not make any

adjustment along the centre joint. The two halves of the gun deck were carefully lined up,

and masking tape was used to keep them together, Figure F7. To enable the masking

tape to be removed after fitting, turn up the ends of the tape, making this operation

easier. The gun deck is fitted onto the hull assembly, ensuring each half is on the correct

side; further adjustments may be required. The gun deck can be removed as many times

as required, and the masking tape will keep them aligned.

Guide lines are drawn for the planking on the gun deck, Figure F8; go to ‘Tutorials’ and

check ‘HMS Fly Detailed Deck Planking Techniques’. The length of the planks will be

80mm and a ‘3 butt’ system of planking will be adopted. Figure F8 illustrate the 80mm

plank length with the ‘Blue’ arrow; this length is then divided in 4 equal divisions, the

‘Red’ arrow.

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Figure F7 – Two halves of the gun deck are held together with masking tape

Figure F8 – Marking up the gun deck ready for planking

Once the gun deck had been marked for planking, the surface is primed with a slightly

diluted PVA adhesive. It was found that through experimentation that when PVA is used

to glue the planks to the ply, there was good contact adhesion between the plank and

the gun deck, when they were applied. The down side to this is that the gun deck slightly

buckles when the PVA had dried; it was placed on a flat surface, and books put on top, to

make it flat again, Figure F9.

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Figure F9 – Gun deck place on flat surface and books placed on top

PVA adhesive is run along the centre edge of the gun deck, Figure F10, and a small

amount is also placed on the top edge of the keel in the hull assembly, Figure F11.

Figure F10 - PVA adhesive is run along the centre edge of the gun deck

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Figure F11 – Small bead of PVA adhesive ran along the top edge of the keel

The gun deck is placed on the hull assembly, and masking tape placed along the centre

joint to ensure the two edges are perfectly flat. The gun deck is then fixed in position with

clear tape and spring clips, ensuring that there is full contact along the top edge of all the

bulkheads. The reason that adhesive is only placed along the centre edge of the gun

deck and keel top, is that this will allow plenty of time to fit the gun deck, Figure F12.

Figure F12 – Gun deck positioned onto hull assembly prior to finally gluing into position

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Figure F13 illustrates how the gun deck is in full contact with the top of each bulkhead.

Figure F13 – Gun deck in full contact with top edge of all bulkheads

Adhesive is applied around all the edges of the gun deck and bulkheads, Figure F14

Figure F14 – Glue is run around the gun deck and all bulkheads.

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Allow at least 24 hours to ensure that the gun deck is fully fixed in place; then make sure

it is level at both the bow and the stern, where the modifications have taken place. In this

authors model, thin card and ply was used, Figure F15 & F16.

Figure F15 – Card is used to ensure the gun deck is level with modified stern section

Figure F16 – Forward end of the gun deck is made level for planking

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The completed gun deck with its slight transverse camber and slight longitudinal

downward curve is illustrated in Figure F17.

Figure F17 – Gun deck fixed to hull assembly

As stated previously, this is the first time this author has built a period ship, and the

planking of the gun deck presented its own challenges for this novice builder. The

sequences of steps now described are not intended for the experienced builder, but for

the novice to gain experience prior to planking the actual gun deck.

Two A4 sheets of paper are fixed with clear sticky tape; then the outline of the gun deck

is drawn, Figure F18. The plank positions are marked on the paper as shown in Figure

F8, and longitudinal 3mm width lines are drawn on one half of the paper to represent the

plank widths, Figure F18.

This author has chosen to start planking the port side (left), following the ‘3 butt’ system

of planking. As each plank is drawn, they will be shaded on the paper using an 8B pencil;

the plank butt ends are drawn in with a black pen.

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When doing this one must be very methodical completing each plank run before starting

the next. The ‘3 butt’ system incorporates 4 plank runs, and each set of these have been

marked on the paper, Figure F18

Figure F18 – Illustrates the planking on the port side of the gun deck.

Starting from where the first plank is marked in Figure F18, the port side of the gun deck

is relatively easy to plank, following ‘Tutorials’ - HMS Fly Detailed Deck Planking

Techniques.

The starboard (right) side is a little more difficult to ensure that the plank butts remain in

the same sequence as the port side, and care must be taken that the correct point is

taken to lay the first plank on this side.

Figure F19 illustrates the starting point which this author took to start planking on the

starboard side, which will ensure that the pattern of three planks will be between each

two butts. It does not matter where the first plank is laid providing that it will result in

three planks being between the two butts.

Figure F19 also illustrates the plank laying sequence for each set of 4 plank runs to

complete the ‘3 butt’ system of planking.

This author found that it was much easier to understand this system of planking by fully

drawing out how it will look. Mistakes first made are easily rectified with a rubber, but if

they made when actually planking the gun deck, they will be extremely difficult to correct.

It must be emphasised that it is only this authors approach to learning planking, and

there are many ways to approach this topic.

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Figure F19 – Planking of the starboard side of the gun deck

Figure F20 – Aft section of the gun deck

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The aft end of the gun deck, Figure F20, again illustrates the ‘3 butt’ system of planking.

This hand drawn plan of the planking will now be used as a guide to plank the actual gun

deck.

Referring to Figure F19, the following sequence of planking is followed on the gun deck:-

(a) Start at 1 on the Centre Line and plank the entire length. This plank starts in

the centre of the hatch, so the other end of the plank is 80 mm forward.

(b) On the PORT side the next run starts at 2

(c) On the STARBOARD side the run will start at 2

(d) On the PORT side the run starts at 3

(e) On the STARBOARD side the run will start at 3

(f) On the PORT side the run will start at 4

(g) On the STARBOARD side the run will start at 4

The planking sequence for ‘3 butt’ system will have been completed once on the PORT

side and once on the STARBOARD side, and the centre plank is common to both

sequences.

AUTHORS NOTE:

Do not mix different plank strips in a run; for example a plank strip is 1,000 mm in

length, and the Fly is approximately 440 mm in length, so the plank strip is sufficient for

two complete plank runs. Do not use the remaining 120 mm in the next plank run. The

width of plank strips can vary, and this will reduce uneven gaps between the planks.

Prior to cutting the planks, one side is marked with a continuous pencil line to ensure a

continuity of grain and colour in two or more plank runs, Figure F21. This is the side the

adhesive is applied.

Figure F21 – A line is drawn on the underside of each plank, and ‘butts’ clearly noted

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When a plank is cut, this will form a common butt for two planks; this author used the

notation AA, BB, CC etc. to ensure that the planks were always kept paired, Figure F21.

When applying the adhesive to the underside of the plank, use a minimum amount only;

a small continuous bead of approximately 0.5 mm the full length of the plank was found

to be sufficient producing very little excess adhesive (Figure F19, ‘Tutorials’ - HMS Fly

Detailed Deck Planking Techniques). Should there be any additional adhesive remove

immediately with a craft knife, Figure F22.

Figure F22 – Excess adhesive is removed from plank before it hardens

(This is a test example only)

When laying a plank, make sure one end is firmly pushed into a butt, and then lay the full

length, Figure F23. Press firmly down along its entire length ensuring that the plank is

flush with the adjoining one, but not too hard otherwise the gun deck ply may break,

especially in the centre area.

Figure F23 – Laying a plank ‘butt’ first (This is a test sample only)

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Methodically follow the gun deck plan drawn in pencil; as each plank run was completed,

this author drew a yellow pencil line on the plan indicating its completion, Figure F24.

Figure F24 – Each completed plank run is marked on gun deck plan

It is useful to have something to ensure the planks are pressed firmly against each

other. This author used 80 mm brass right angle bar 7mm x 7mm, Figure F25.

Figure F25 – Planks are firmly pushed against each other when first laid

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As each run is completed, trim any excess planking away from openings in the deck, e.g.

mast holes, hatches openings etc. Figure F26.

Figure F26 – Planks are trimmed around deck openings

For this operation use a new craft knife to ensure that minimal pressure is being exerted

on the planks.

The ‘3 butt’ sequence will start to appear, Figure F27; as the planking is continued, refer

to the hand drawn gun deck plan constantly, and always check that there are 3 planks

between each pair of butts.

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Figure F27 – Three planks start appearing between two ‘butts’

When the area around the bulkheads are planked, special care will be required to ensure

a good fit. For example, Figure F28 illustrates a stern area which is particularly difficult to

plank.

Figure F28 – An area that requires special attention when planking

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With the use of a new craft knife and a flat needle file individual planks are shaped

around the bulkheads, Figure F29.

Figure F29 – Planks are cut to fit around bulkhead areas

Figure F30 – Plank is fitted around bulkhead area

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Along the edge of the gun deck the plank holding tool cannot be used, and in these

circumstances use a pair of self-closing tweezers to place the plank into the correct

position, Figure F31.

Figure F31 – Self-closing tweezers are used to position planks

The areas around bulkheads nos. 5, 6 & 7 are not planked, as the part of the bulkhead

above the gun deck will be removed once the gun port patterns have been fitted, Figure

F32 (starboard side)

Figure F32 – Areas around bulkheads 5, 6 & 7 are not planked (starboard side)

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For this author the planks arranged themselves conveniently around bulkheads 5, 6 & 7

on the starboard side however, the planks on the port side were a little more awkward.

On the port side around bulkhead no. 8, a plank but is just behind the bulkhead,

meaning that the very outer plank could be difficult to fit when the gun port pattern is in

position, Figure F33, so this plank is fitted.

Figure F33 – Plank behind bulkhead no. 8 is fitted

Figure F34 – Plank shaped but not fitted

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The other plank behind bulkhead no. 8 is cut to shape but not fitted, Figure F34. To

ensure that this plank is not lost or damaged, it has been fixed to a lollipop stick, Figure

F34.

The planked gun deck is shown in Figures F35 & F36.

Figure F35 – Forward end of the gun deck

Figure F36 – Aft end of the gun deck

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The excess planks are carefully cut away from the gun deck, Figure F37.

Figure F37 – Planked gun deck

Lloyd Matthews – April 2013 ©

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