Wish there were a newbie forum for share-as-you-go tips, so I wouldn't have to bother all you experts out there who already know this and know it better than me.  (John - any chance of that?)

For those like me still learning the basics, I stumbled on a workable solution to the stray-threads-at-the-edge-of-the-cloth problem that leads to extra sanding, or at least digging threads out of the epoxy, which pulls out more threads, etc etc.  It is a take-off on the "put masking tape on the cloth where you want to cut; cut down the middle of the tape; when the epoxy sets, fold up the tape, cut the cloth with a knife, then scrape and sand the raw edge" solution I've seen on the blog.

Here goes:

1.  I put masking tape on the cloth, so that the untaped part is 1/2" bigger on each side than I want the piece of cloth, and I cut down the middle of the tape.

2. I lay the cloth where it should go, with the masking tape on the *under side* of the cloth.  I wet out the cloth up to the tape, then brush and squeegee to my heart's content.

3. Right away, while the epoxy is still wet, I carefully lift the masking tape and a bit of the cloth off the surface.  With sharp scissors, I cut the wet cloth on the cloth-side of the masking tape, where I want the edge to be.  The masking tape comes off completely with the part of the cloth that I cut off and throw away.  I found that cutting wet cloth with sharp scissors does not result in any stray threads, since the wet epoxy already holds the threads together. 

4. After cutting, I don't brush or squeegee the edge of the cloth any more, or else the threads come apart.  I just pat it down with the tip of a brush.  It is already wet out, and seats itself nicely on the epoxy that is already on the surface below.  The edge is very clean, and easy to feather after it cures. 

I suppose this could even be done without the tape, or with the tape on the under-surface rather than on the cloth.  That could make it faster and more versatile (e.g. for the main hull and deck cloth).  Haven't gotten that far yet, though.

I am pushing 60, but I feel like a kid again building the CLC kit.  Did anyone else make monster models as a kid?  My favorite was The Creature from the Black Lagoon (kind of appropriate for my Shearwater).

Best! 

Alec