Thanks all I think I'm sorted. Have the distance of 11" between #8 & #9. Hope Nick incorporates in his next book revision! Also think the penny has dropped with the sheers - if you don't bevel the sheers will contact on the inside edge leaving a gap on the outside.

: The distance between the forms should be measured from the sides of the forms
: furthest away from the midpoint of the strongback - that's the side that
: the strips will touch as the are bent toward the stems.

: If you measure the gap between forms, the distance will be 11.5" due to
: the thickness of the form - except between stations 8 & 9 - that will
: be 11" because you have to account for the thickness of both forms.

: It seems to me that the easiest way to do it is to mark the strongback every
: 12" and then go back and carefully indicate which side of the line
: the form is positioned on (it should be on the side furthest from the
: stem, with the alignment marks facing the stem).

: Sheesh - that almost sounds like I know what I'm talking about. If that's the
: case - how come I just aligned a perfect spiral twist into the bow end of
: my Guillemot L? I got so depressed when I realized that I had done this
: that I went back to working on the Laundry room for 3 days.

: EdP