Plank Tapering Guide For Scale Modeling

While working with the model boat kits, if you spend a few minutes with a piece of string or a tape measure and a ruler, you will soon see why it is essential to taper the planks to a narrower width at either one or both ends. When you measure the distance from the deck level to the bottom of the keel, around the outside of one of the midship frames, and then compare that measurement with the distance from the deck level to the bottom of the keel on a forward frame, there will be an obvious difference that can be noticed easily.

In simple theoretical terms, if the measurement at the third frame is 80mm and the fifth frame is 120mm then each plank needs to be narrowed down to 2/3 (80/120) of its full width at the third frame. By doing this the entire planks will arrive at the keel collectively. However, as per the experienced hobbyists, they always believe that the middle frames are the largest and it is at this part of the model that planks are at their full width. Towards the bow, they’ll require narrowing or tapering by an amount depending on the type of scale model you are working with.

In general terms, a bluff-bowed ship will need less tapering as compared to a sharp bowed vessel. It is possible that some sort of tapering will be needed as planks go towards the stern but it is even fairly possible that the distance, deck to the bottom of the keel, will be greater at the position of the last couple of frames than it is at midships. Where this is the scenario, the experts recommend putting in short triangular planks known as wedges or stealers.

When it comes to scale modeling, the 1^st plank is generally started in one of the following positions:

ü  With a ship that has a straight or flush upper deck then the 1^st plank is laid with its upper edge level with the deck surface. In some scenarios, it’ll have its top edge up to 5mm to 10mm under the deck level. Where this is performed, it is to make the construction of bulwarks easy at a later stage but in any case, it’ll be parallel to the line of the deck.

ü  In the case of models having the weather or upper deck in either 2 or 3 different sections, at differing levels, then the 1^st plank is commonly run along the line of the main or middle deck then follows its natural course both aft and fore. There are quite a few modes that simply fall into this category.

ü  A lot of model boat kits that feature below deck open gunports necessitate that the initial plank follow the line of the gunports and it’ll run right away below or above a row of gunports.

When you’ve recognized the position of the initial plank, join it into position using the PVA glue and without any tapering. Ensure that both planks follow the same line and are a mirror image of each one another.