deck planking, help!

We need to know a bit more before we can offer any suggestions.  Just what vessel is this?  Of what date?  What's the scale of the model?  How much information do you have about how the deck of the prototype (i.e., the real ship) was built?  (Plans?  Photos?  Paintings?  Written descriptions?)

There are lots of ways to approach the problem of putting a deck on a ship model, but what approach is appropriate really depends on the model.

 One thing I can be pretty sure of, if you're doing a vintage yacht, the decks will most likely have a gloss varnish finish. I would almost expect deck planks starting from outboard, and working in, in curving lines, nibbed to a centerline strake. The Jan/Feb issue of "WoodenBoat" page 63 shows this style of deck planking, in a 100 year old sloop.

There are tweo styles of planking, both equally acceptable.  the 'curved' method, with a kingplank in the center of the bow for the planks to join is one method, and is particularly common in smaller-sized yachts (under 80').  The other method is straight planks, cut  to size for fitting against the curving bulwarks and watercourse along the sides.  In either case, the planks should NOT be varnished, but oiled, or left natural.  A varnished deck is probably the most dangerous thing at sea on any boat, as there is NO traction whatsoever if it is at all wet!  I almost broke my leg stepping between two boats, one of which had a varnished foredeck with just a light coating of dew..I was wearing deck shoes, but no matter, that leg went straight out from under me and I went down between the two boats!  If that could happen in a harbor with just a bit of dew, can you imagine what it might be like to go forward at sea in the spray and rain?  Might as well be on a skating rink!

Maybe not even oiled! See my post, "The Color of Teak":

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=671706

Also see the Robbe instructions for nibbling/joggling plank ends, applicable to a large scale model with simulated caulking strips between the planks.

 

Pat M