This is clearly the place to go for info! LeeG I am building a Guillemot. Rob you covered it well. Rank amature?! I believe I am on the right track. I will leave the sanding until I stick the top and bottom together. That made a lot of sense and I have a feeling that you may have tried some other options before reaching that conclusion. If so thanks for the heads up. You know somehow it's never quite as easy as you think its going to be.