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I’m have 1m long x 320mm beam fibreglass hull and s fibreglass deck 310mm at its widest. When dry fitted there is a gap about 8mm wide each side rearward of the bow. The deck measurements are symetrical side to side. Should I force the hull sides to fit as tight as possible or leave the gap and fill it or something in the middle? Any help would be appreciated, thank you.
Have you tried pulling the sides of the hull in to fit? If so, does it do so happily? If not, but it fits well at the edges, shapewise then yes, cut it down the middle, join with a butt strap underneath for strength and carry on as if it were the original moulding.
Fits but leaves gaps suggest to me that it only really fits where it touches, as my Dad used to say. Which suggests a wavy deck edge. Not worth the hassle. If it'll fit once cut, cut it, back it up and fill. I would imagine you could bond in some 2mm styrene or plywood then fill over that with a car body filler, to smooth the joint. I am assuming the deck is meant to fit that hull? You never know!
IF that deck WAS intended for that hull I would have started by measuring the deck beam at several strategic points and glued (epoxy) cross beams, or even full or half bulkheads where necessary to keep the hull fall right, into the hull at corresponding positions. Holding the lot together with wood cramps until good an' hard. If you get the measurements and cutting right the deck should fit like a glove. That's what we do to get things to fit right in 'Plastic Magic' kit conversions. That's also the method recommended by Deans Marine for the 1/96 53" HMS Manxman kit I bought from them. Download the build instructions from their site and you'll see exactly what I mean. Most (if not all) FG hulls will tend to sag outwards a bit after curing and release. My Fleetscale 1/72 destroyer hull was just the same. Good luck whatever you try. I can't believe that it is necessary to cut a deck down the middle. 😲 It helps if you warm the hull in hot water (not boiling or too hot for the hands!😡) to make it more flexible and amenable 😉 while fitting the beams and bulkheads. Good luck, post some pics of your progress 👍 BTW: What's the model of?? Cheers, Doug😎
Young at heart - slightly older in other places 😉 Cheers Doug
Know the feeling! Living in Munich, with a German keyboard, I have to switch between English and German, BUT I switched off the automatic spelling correction so I can check what it's offering for alternatives 😉 I see you are in Eastbourne, do you sail in Princes Park? Until recently my Mum (93) lived in Royal Parade just round the corner from the park. Sometimes if I drove over from Munich I would take my 1/72 H class destroyer with me and sail it in Princes Park. Last time there was a guy there with a Trident sub with full diving system. I played cat and mouse with him, trying to 'be there' when he surfaced, good fun😊 Cheers, Doug 😎
Young at heart - slightly older in other places 😉 Cheers Doug
I don’t currently have an operational boat so not at the moment. Back in the ‘60s I built a Sea Commander and used to sail that regularly at Princes Park. Eastbourne Model Power Boat Club use the lake but I haven’t seen them there for a long time, not sure when they sail, there are often EMYC events there though when I’ve been to the park, it’s a good lake.
26th Jun 2018 16:23
