I’ve now completed a rough layout of the keel. The keel is approximately 5.6mm thick at 1:32 scale and to simplify construction somewhat I’ve used ply sheeting. One sheet of 4mm ply makes up the core of the keel, sandwiched with two sheets of 0.8mm.
Creating it this way allows for my lack of woodworking tools as it allows the steps for the planking to be incorporated. It also, I think, adds to the strength of the keel which was originally a 7 inch by 14 inch section of oak.
As with the original, the keel is constructed in 3 sections, the keel itself in the centre and the the bow and stern sections at each end.
Now the keel is roughed out I can start experimenting with the methods for shaping and adding the planks. The lower planks, in particular, will need to be mocked up in cardboard to try and get the planks to form the curves of the hull as they are added.