After taking a break for 4 months or so, moved the model back into the dockyard. Spending a lot of time trying to understand how best to plank the hull by studying tutorials and other build logs. This model is a single plank on hull - not double plank on hull as the first model I built.

I've planked the bottom part of the stern castle (?) - not sure I'm going to use the pins going forward. Might redo or overplank this part. Time will tell.

It appears to me that the proposed hull planking geometries used in the manual of the HMS Surprise kit is not that authentic. I do not know that for certain - but this concluded from comments and methods proposed by so many others...

All I know is that I will not follow the instructions to the letter - I am planning to fit 'garboard plank' next to the keel and make use of stealers and drop planks to maintain the natural flow and curvature of the hull.

For the garboard plank I need a wider strip of wood than has been supplied with the kit. I have placed an order for some wider strips today to fit a 'garboard' plank at the keel. (maybe this is just a stalling tactic) :)

Deep breath... I can do this...:)