June Tip of the Month - Simulating Tar on Deck Planking

There are many different ways to simulate tar while planking a model ship. It’s really in the eye of the beholder which method is the most pleasing.

Use a square ruler and a pencil, draw plank lines on the deck. Use a soft lead so that the marks will be vissible under the stain and don’t forget the nail dots.
After varnishing the edges of planking boards, use a black marker on the edges of the planks. Varnishing will avoid bleeding from the marker. Once the planks are in place, sand, stain and varnish then apply the nail dots.
Using a spacer, like a thin piece of wire, plank the deck. after sanding, staining and varnishing, lay a piece of black cotton thread in between the planks. Either apply nail dots or using a nailing tool, instal brass headed nails.
Stain the false deck and the edges of the planking boards. Use a spacer and apply the planks. Don’t use thread to fill the spaces. This gives a three dimensional look to the deck. Once again, sand, stain and varnish the deck and apply nails.

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