Page 29: “Sovereign Of The Seas” Part IV – Carvings, Beakhead Details, Rails And Gun Carriages
Drill two 1/16-in. holes, one on the center line and the other 3/8 in. to port, both 2 1/2 in. from the forward end of the grating, and glue the lower round ends of the knightheads in place. Also, glue the ladder to the grating and the underside of the forecastle-door sill. The bowsprit and figurehead will be described in a later article.
Three different sizes of rails are required for the principal decks. Their respective sizes and locations are given in Fig. 46. The heavy lower molding, which joins all the upright stanchions, is the same in all cases and should be sawed, chiseled and sandpapered to the shape illustrated. For more uniform results, make up each of these rails in long single pieces, from which the best sections can be cut to the length required. The rail stanchions cary in length for respective decks, but all are 3/32-in. square. They also can be sawed first in long pieces and cut off later. They rail parts are of hard maple. Alternate stanchions are 1/8 in. longer than those on either side, this excess length being cut to round section, to glue into 1/8-in. holes, 1 in. between centers, drilled into the decks to receive them. The holes should be drilled 1/8 in. inboard from the ship’s sides. Now, set up and glue the doweled stanchions in the holes. When dry, glue the horizontal moldings to the outboard sides, using spring clothespins to fasten the former in place. Lastly, glue the alternate stanchions centrally between those already located, with the bottom ends fitted flush to the deck. See Figs. 42 and 46.
