Stern filled, one side as good as done

Hans Groenenberg gave a tip for the filler blocks: next time glue them roughly onto the keel first and only then file and sand them fully to shape. I followed that advice for the stern: glued the blocks in and only then filed and sanded. That works a lot more easily than fitting loose blocks. Also a photo of the bow, to show that the balsa runs on nicely there and that there is only a small gap between the balsa and the bulkhead.

Then a question to the forum about the bow line: does it curve enough? What I actually meant was the underside, the line where the bow meets the keel (which presumably isn’t called the bow line). I have no idea how this is going to turn out when planking. Piet was honest: you can’t tell from a photo, you have to check that yourself with a batten. In the photo it looked fine to him, and if it were completely off it would surely show. He was glad I was taking trouble over this, because the better the planks will lie against it later. So I’m keeping this line and will try to mirror it on the other side.

I rather like this balsa, so I’m carrying on with it for a while. On Sunday one side was as good as done. Now for the other side.