: Regarding the use of inner/outer stems for attaching strip ends, Can any body
: see a problem with utilising the ply bow/stern forms?

The ply is not as strong or as stiff as a solid wood part. Securing the ends of the strips to the ply will not give as good a bond as with solid wood.

If you temporarily (try a few dots of hot glue) attach a piece of solid wood to the working edge of the plywood material you are using for forms, cut your bow and stern forms from these so that you have a useable inner stem piece which is solid wood. The rest of the plywood is just to help you mount the thing to the strongback. Once the stripping goes far enough to support the stem form you can whack it with a hammer to break the hot-melt glue joints, and separate the inner stem from the rest of the form.

If you have a bandsaw or a sabresaw you can easily glue a straight-edged piece of solid wood to a straight-cut edge on the plywood you are using for the stem forms, then layout the cutting line for the shape of your stem so it fits on the solid wood. and cut on that line. Reattach the cut off piece with hotmelt glue and away ou go.

Hope this helps.

PGJ