: It looks useful to me, but would a shoulder plane in the 1" or so width
: do what you want, or do you require the width of the block plane?

Hi Scott, damned if I know I just like the way it looks This one probably can be used in more applications. My shoulder plane has made some pretty bad gouges when I've tried to use it on wide surfaces; the edges dig-in very easily. I don't know if that's a problem on this model.

: I bought the 289

I have the Record fillister. A skew blade would be better. I haven't used it much yet but it digs-in too if you're not careful.

: Aren't planes fun!

I'm making a skew-blade panel raiser (in my spare time). I'm copying a wooden skew jack plane I have. I'll be using a replacement iron I have for it. I chopped the mortice for it the other night - it's wacky... great way to postpone sanding my hull.