I would suggest a white PVA glue, which gives you some time to align before drying.
One other suggestion is to print a paper copy of the transom and lay out your columns and then use painters tape in narrow strip across the line, to pick them up and transfer to final location. You can use the tape to turn over the parts and use toothpick or small applicator to add a drop of glue to each one, before placing in position on the ship.
This should allow for easier alignment and adjustment, and when glue has dried, you simply pull tape up and off.
I use this similar process when laying down wooden ties on my model railroad track, to help align and maintain even spacing between a row of wood ties.
