Welcome aboard David! Your post reminded me that I haven't
introduced myself even though I've been in the group for a year. My
name is Delbert Barnett, I'm a sculptor for Eastern Front Studios (we
make 30mm gaming figures). I build plastic sailing ships. My two
adventures in wooden kits (on the Phantom pilot boat by Model
Shipways,I ALMOST have the little-carving-required hull carved & on a
dinghy from Bluejacket I have never been able to keep the planks on
the frames without them straightening, even pulling the frames lose
in the process)have shown me that my skills lie in plastic. I'm
currently repairing some rigging on a small Santa Maria (from the
Lindberg 500th anniversary of Columbus 3-ship set) & working on
Airfix's St. Louis, which brings me to reply to your Airfix comment.
The plastic they used for the St. Louis is so brittle that it's
almost impossible to build without breaking parts. Their HMS Prince
isn't like that though.
Good luck on your pinnace David & fire away with those stooopid
questions!
Delbert