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This is going to seem pretty retarded to some of you, but I need a large amount of basswood strip to lay the deck of my Great Eastern model, which is over seven feet long.  I've never been terribly good with anything involving numbers. so I need advice on what size to purchase.  The deck planks of the prototype were seven inches wide, so I assume I'll be needing some obscure (to me) metric size.  At 1/8 inch per foot scale. this comes out to a tinch over 1/16 inch.  What metric size would this be equivalent to; those .20 type numbers mean nothing to me.  Also, what would be a good source for such a large lot of lumber?  Many thanks to anyone who could help me.

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One can go crazy trying to mentally 'translate' a duodecimal measurement into metric. It is much simpler to use a scale ruler of the appropriate scale and continue to think in (full size) feet and inches than decimalize a scale measurement  and express it in full size.

 

So, say at 1:48 scale, 8 inches is always 8" on the scale rule, not .666 recurring of a scale foot, or 0.01388 recurring of a full-sized foot at scale size, or..... (I expect your eyes have already glazed over and your attention wandered.)

Be sure to sign up for an epic Nelson/Trafalgar project if you would like to see it made into a TV series  http://trafalgar.tv

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Since you live in the US, why bother to change to metric. At 1:96 scale, 1/8in represents 1ft.  6in is half of a ft or 1/16 in at scale.  1/16 in basswood sheet stock should be readily available at most hobby outlets to be ripped into planks.

 

What about the extra inch? Planking is 7in, not 6in.  1in at scale is 1/96in, about the thickness of a sheet of paper.  I personally would not worry about this small difference in order to be able to use readily available commercially available sheet stock.

 

For general measuring, I agree with druxey, buy an inexpensive architect’s scale.  The triangular type available at office supply stores will include a 1/8 inch (1:96) scale.

 

Roger

 

 

Edited by Roger Pellett
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First we define the terms and scales.

 

1:96  or 1/8" = 1'  is a semi miniature scale  often used in ship modeling

although it is 1/2 museum scale (1:48) in any one dimension - the final subject - being a 3D construct is 1/8th the volume

of a museum scale model.  It is difficult at best to try to be precise with scantlings in miniature scale- how it looks to the eye

is more important.  Under rather than over works better.

 

HO scale is 1:87   It is about 10% larger than 1:96 

 

You have not stated your actual scale for your model.

With your 7" value - I was thinking thickness, but a contemporary liner would be 4" thick on the main gun deck  -

so width it is.  the outside limit would be 10" - 

1/16th inch  is 5.4" in scale .

 

At 1:96 that is going to look "busy" for plank width.

Get the 1/16" - but use that for the thickness.  Use a steel straight edge and VERY sharp knife blade the slice off the plank width from

that.  Given the small scale involved, the most I would recommend as far as caulking rep is to add a slight walnut dye to the glue at the

plank edges.

NRG member 45 years

 

Current:  

HMS Centurion 1732 - 60-gun 4th rate - Navall Timber framing

HMS Beagle 1831 refiit  10-gun brig with a small mizzen - Navall (ish) Timber framing

The U.S. Ex. Ex. 1838-1842
Flying Fish 1838  pilot schooner -  framed - ready for stern timbers
Porpose II  1836  brigantine/brig - framed - ready for hawse and stern timbers
Vincennes  1825  Sloop-of-War  -  timbers assembled, need shaping
Peacock  1828  Sloop-of -War  -  timbers ready for assembly
Sea Gull  1838  pilot schooner -  timbers ready for assembly
Relief  1835  ship - timbers ready for assembly

Other

Portsmouth  1843  Sloop-of-War  -  timbers ready for assembly
Le Commerce de Marseilles  1788   118 cannons - framed

La Renommee 1744 Frigate - framed - ready for hawse and stern timbers

 

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