Question about beveling plank edges?

Your FAQ has been a wonderful help to me in planning and building my model. I have one question. I understand how to cut and spile the hull planks so that they match the ones above them. The final finishing is a bit perplexing though. Since the planks are set on a curved surface, there is going to be something of a gap between them unless the top edge is beveled correctly. So far, I have been pushing the planks together with a piece of garnet paper in between, and sanding them to shape that way. It seems like there should be a better way however. Do you have any suggestions?
{James Huffman}
Plank gaps used for caulking
The original builders had the same problem! They used the (tapered) gap to advantage by driving caulking into the gap, which greatly stiffened the hull!

You COULD simulate the caulking by using a filler to fill the gaps.

Reversing the gap for smooth surface
Unless you can SEE the inside of the planking, your only real constraint is to have the outside edges of the plank meet - not necessarily the entire plank edge. Thus, a severe bevel which leaves a gap inside is a reasonable solution.....
{John O. Kopf}

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