Ok, thanks both for the tip about the expanding foam, I'll do that. I was wondering about sealing the interior with resin as you suggest. From my aeromodelling days, I still have an unopened pint tin of cellulose dope. Assuming it hasn't all dried up when I open it, could that be used as an internal waterproof sealer?

Ian

Thanks for the suggestions.

Well, a bit more progress to report. I used the T pins I already had, they easily pushed through the plywood skin, but I used a big pair of pliers to push them further in to hold. Most of them were badly bent, but held whilst the Titebond 3 dried. Once I'd trimmed the plywood skins to fit, bending them wasn't as much of a problem as I'd expected.

Looking at the model now, I see that right at the front (the bow) , once I've fitted the top decking, there is going to be effectively a sealed compartment. So if it does leak slightly at the front, presumably that section fills with water and bad things happen??!! is it best to allow all parts to be easily drained, or try and seal it up as best as I can?

Ian

Mark and Peter,
Thanks very much for your suggestions. I bought the kit from a shop down in Poole, Dorset. Just came as a bag of lazer cut ply with some strips of balsa, a plan, plus some stapled together sheets of instructions. Maybe it was a poor choice for a first model, because I'm finding the instructions a bit tricky. it's probably just me being a bit thick.

I'll have a go at trying to push some pins through a ply offcut. I have some of the 'T' shaped pins left from my aeromodelling days of many moons ago, but I suspect they won't be 'man enough' for the job. Not come across a pin-pusher before, but I can see how a tool to guide the pins would be a good thing.

The shop recommended I glue the thing together with a product called Titebond 3, I've used it exclusively so far, but not sure its going to be suitable for the hull skins? On the side of the container it says -- not to be used below the waterline -- so don't know about that.

regards
Ian

Hello,
I'm new to the hobby, I chose the sea scout kit as my first project. Working through the Instruction sheet, the next task Is to fit the 1.5mm sheet ply hull skins, but I don't know where to start. The Instructions suggest soaking the ply In water for an hour to Improve Its flexibility, but the thing still has a mind of Its own! -- and If the ply Is wet, how do I glue It In place? Am I supposed to try and clamp It In place dry or somehow fix It with small panel pins?

Any advice appreciated, I'm stumped!
regards
Ian