Jump to content

Kit supplied filler blocks.


Recommended Posts

Can someone please help me find the answer to this. With your normal PoB style hull, Modelers install filler blocks. These can be very important when planking, So why don't manufactures include them in the kit? Instead of being forced to buy separate wood and then shape them. Just something that struck me the other day and got me thinking. Thanks

Regards, Scott

 

Current build: 1:75 Friesland, Mamoli

 

Completed builds:

1:64 Rattlesnake, Mamoli  -  1:64 HMS Bounty, Mamoli  -  1:54 Adventure, Amati  -  1:80 King of the Mississippi, AL

1:64 Blue Shadow, Mamoli  -  1:64 Leida Dutch pleasure boat, Corel  -  1:60 HMS President Mantra, Sergal

 

Awaiting construction:

1:89 Hermione La Fayette AL  -  1:48 Perserverance, Modelers shipyard

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think some kits do, I think I remember some bluff bow kits back in the day with blocks, and there are still some (Victory models and Caldercraft I think) that provide a shaping bulkhead (a ply piece) that the planks terminate in to. I would say it's a question of cost and necessity, lots of different ways to skin that cat so the manufacturers leave it up to the builder, kind of like adding a rabbit or bearding line

 

Lou

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It just seams an important part of the hull structure. Not only is it better to fix planks to but also makes the hull more sound. I guess your right guys the cost.

Thanks.:)

Regards, Scott

 

Current build: 1:75 Friesland, Mamoli

 

Completed builds:

1:64 Rattlesnake, Mamoli  -  1:64 HMS Bounty, Mamoli  -  1:54 Adventure, Amati  -  1:80 King of the Mississippi, AL

1:64 Blue Shadow, Mamoli  -  1:64 Leida Dutch pleasure boat, Corel  -  1:60 HMS President Mantra, Sergal

 

Awaiting construction:

1:89 Hermione La Fayette AL  -  1:48 Perserverance, Modelers shipyard

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The Model Shipways AVS comes with the basswood for the filler blocks at the bow and the stern.  

 

The Carmen from Constructo had no real filler blocks for the bow, instead having a couple of boards to build up the keel for better rigidity and larger landing place for the planking.  It did include some wood for the stern shaping at the top.

 

If you choose to use filler blocks between the other frames for rigidity or backing your planking, then that's on the builder.

 

So it varies by manufacturer, and by kit.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

There were filler blocks in my MS Charles Morgan and I believe in my Euromodel kits.  My Caldercraft Badger and Amati Pegasus kits didn't include blocks (I don't think the Corel Unicorn has any either).

 

I think it certainly depends on the manufacturer.  It also depends on how far apart the bulkheads are spaced at the bow and stem.  On my Pegasus kit, for exactly, the bulkhead spacing at the bow and stem was quite small, leading to less need for filler blocks.

 

Either way, it's pretty easy and cheap to source filler block material if you need it.

Mike

 

Current Wooden builds:  Amati/Victory Pegasus  MS Charles W. Morgan  Euromodel La Renommèe  

 

Plastic builds:    SB2U-1 Vindicator 1/48  Five Star Yaeyama 1/700  Pit Road Asashio and Akashi 1/700 diorama  Walrus 1/48 and Albatross 1/700  Special Hobby Buffalo 1/32  Eduard Sikorsky JRS-1 1/72  IJN Notoro 1/700  Akitsu Maru 1/700

 

Completed builds :  Caldercraft Brig Badger   Amati Hannah - Ship in Bottle  Pit Road Hatsuzakura 1/700   Hasegawa Shimakaze 1:350

F4B-4 and P-6E 1/72  Accurate Miniatures F3F-1/F3F-2 1/48  Tamiya F4F-4 Wildcat built as FM-1 1/48  Special Hobby Buffalo 1/48

Citroen 2CV 1/24 - Airfix and Tamiya  Entex Morgan 3-wheeler 1/16

 

Terminated build:  HMS Lyme (based on Corel Unicorn)  

 

On the shelf:  Euromodel Friedrich Wilhelm zu Pferde; Caldercraft Victory; too many plastic ship, plane and car kits

 

Future potential scratch builds:  HMS Lyme (from NMM plans); Le Gros Ventre (from Ancre monographs), Dutch ship from Ab Hoving book, HMS Sussex from McCardle book, Philadelphia gunboat (Smithsonian plans)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks guys. I wonder in the future manufactures will produce PoB kits with extremely wide bulkheads to do basically the same. I'm jus having one of those inventive moods. :)

Regards, Scott

 

Current build: 1:75 Friesland, Mamoli

 

Completed builds:

1:64 Rattlesnake, Mamoli  -  1:64 HMS Bounty, Mamoli  -  1:54 Adventure, Amati  -  1:80 King of the Mississippi, AL

1:64 Blue Shadow, Mamoli  -  1:64 Leida Dutch pleasure boat, Corel  -  1:60 HMS President Mantra, Sergal

 

Awaiting construction:

1:89 Hermione La Fayette AL  -  1:48 Perserverance, Modelers shipyard

Link to comment
Share on other sites

A short time ago I bought a 1" x 6" x 4' basswwod board for $20.00 the equivalent in balsa was close to $100.00. If you are using it just for filler blocks any dry stable wood will work. Using a softer wood such as basswood aids in the shaping and sanding but you certainly are not limited to just it or balsa. Balsa has the advantage of not only being very soft but also comes in blocks whereas most other lumber is usually limited to the standard dimensions and you may have to laminate to get the proper size required. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Recently I bought a stick of balsa 1/2"X1/2" X24" and Hobby Lobby for $1.99.

They also had a balsa package. I don't remember the dimension but there was a lot of wood in different sizes for $9.99. That would probably last me a lifetime for filler blocks if needed.

 

They also have a lot of other stuff useful for a ship modeler with a little imagination. Granted they aren't a "one stop shop" for all of my modeling needs. 

"Peace is not something you wish for; It's something you make, Something you do, Something you are, And something you give away" by Robert Fulghum

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...