The Cux 87 "Krabbenkutter" {part 1}

     once I was finished looking over the plans and parts of the ship, I removed the stems and ribs from the sheets that contained them.  I noticed that they were not numbered, so I went about the task to match them up.  I also matched up the deck beams and readied them as well.

      upon measuring the keel length, the two pieces were cut and the bow and stern stems were cemented into place.  the rib dividers were the next pieces to produce and the rib installation started from stern to bow.  I also numbered them after they were matched them up as to their order.

     the next parts to install were the deck beams and the outer stern ribs.  then the upper stern rabbits and the bow rabbits were installed next.

     as I proceeded, I had a feeling that something was amiss with it.......something just didn't look right.  then I saw it.......the ribs were in the wrong order.  through comparison and deduction, I figured that ribs four, five and six were in the wrong order.  I compared notes.........

     the parts were not totally dry yet, so it was easy to correct.  it was the curvatures at the keel that tipped me off.  the order of the deck beams were changed, since they were in their correct positions and needed to be repositioned to put them back where they belonged.  the bow Joice was the next part to be cut and installed.
     this piece had to be adjusted and shaved where it met the bow stem at the first rib, there was an upwards slope and also required a bevel at it's tip.  next was the deck platforms.  these two halves are made of  1/8th plywood construction, very rigid, unlike the deck of the Nordkap.  to get these two pieces to conform to the layout was a troubling problem, considering the way I aligned the ribs and deck joices on the Nordkap, to space the ribs in their proper places.  seeing the rigidity of the deck, I felt that it didn't need the deck joices, but decided that I would put them in after the deck was laid down.  to fasten the deck platforms down, I decided to use brads, trying out that new insertion tool I had gotten from Tom.  the tool worked very well ......kudos to you, Tom!  it works like a charm!  later, after the deck has dried, I can pull the nails back out, so that it doesn't get in the way of the deck planking.  I also slid the deck joices in after this was completed.

     there was a small problem with the upper stern rabbits, the deck would not allow for the extra thickness, so I grooved them to allow the deck to fit into them.  note that I had to remove the outer stern ribs too.  they would not allow enough clearance for the deck to fit in.  I reinstalled them later when I did the deck joices. 
     the final parts to be installed were the lower stern rabbits.  now comes the part that I dreaded with the Nordkap.......all the sanding, conforming and readying the Cux for deck planking.  I liked how fast this part of the assembly came together.....all due to the fact that the parts were laser cut,  I only had to score the other side { I need to do a better job of it though.....it's a learning thing} in order to remove them without creating splintered edges.....I did on a couple pieces.  filler will have to come to the rescue, but it was nice, none the less.  I also noticed that there are no waterways for this kit either.....and I inadvertently destroyed what cast offs from the deck halves that i could have made them from.  it looks like I will be planking the entire deck surface....no matter.......I consider it a challenge!

 
....................ahoy!