After some time off this project, I am back at it again!
I made the "deck sandwich" by gluing the PE deck to the styrene underdeck platform (using long-curing epoxy), then I carefully filled the gap edges with more epoxy... to give more surface adhesion when I glue the deck to the hull. I carefully sanded all edges of the deck sandwich to ensure good fitment in the hull.
To ensure the PE deck fits flush at the top of the hull, I adjust the "sill" height by scraping with a sharp Micro Chisel (Mission Models).
Before the deck goes onto the hull, I am adding all the running gear onto the hull: propeller shafts, rudders, dive planes.
The stock molded propeller shafts are being replace with 1/16" brass tubing.