There comes a time in the process of building any model boat when you need a stand. Very few hulls are designed to sit solidly and level on a flat surface so no matter how long you put it off, you always want to sort this out for working on the superstructure. Either that or spend time wishing you'd made the think to stop the hull wobbling about !
The kit comes with a couple of nice bits of basswood and some drawing on the main plan. All the modeler has to do is transfer these to the wood and cut around the edges. I traced the outline on some plain paper, cut this out and drew around it on the wood. That's accurate enough for this job if not perfect.
The initial cuts are straight and a modelling saw is adequate. for the curved bits (not essential but pretty) a lot of cuts with the scalpel followed by some carving and sanding (lovely wood to work basswood, I could almost get into woodcarving) do the job. I made the slots for the keel bigger than the plan showed as I didn't want to it to be tight in this area.
The holes for the dowels were drilled on a pillar drill - but this only takes 4.5mm bits and I needed 6.5mm so the remainder were done with a power drill and the hope the pilot holes would guide the bit. A little glue and some twisting to get it to lay flay and it's done.
Perhaps this stand isn't as solid as I'd like but it does the job OK and allows me to get on with the upperworks. At least provision is made - so many kits ignore the stand and leave the modeler adrift.
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