Suggestions for RC?

[KAT]

Hey guys, i literally just came back from a 3 year break and im kinda lost about where to start when talking about wood, the models I'm planning on making are for RC and i dont know what type of wood would be best for the kneel and ribs, also the planking? where do you guys get your supplies? i was thinking of balsa wood for the planking? let me know your thoughts guys it would be really helpful

[KeithAug]

Kat

 

The attached is a good quick guide to wood choice. http://modelshipworldforum.com/ship-model-materials-and-tools.php

 

 

Or alternatively try. http://modelshipbuilder.com/page.php?49

 

 

[Jaager]

What is your country/state of residence?

What full size tools do you have?

 

If you are not building something that flies,  Balsa is a very poor choice.

 

In a built up ship/boat model,  the weight of the wood is of little or no consequence.

To get it to float and not roll over, ballast will be required.

 

Although any species of Oak is an inappropriate choice, a TV show re: Mary Deare  (?)

showed that a characteristic of Red Oak makes it a specially poor choice:  it is very porous.

Air can be blown thru it.

[KAT]

Thanks guys, im from Mexico, this hobbie is almost no existent in my country so its a bit hard for me lol, but i dont give up easily, im really gald i got to read balsa wood is a poor choice along with Oak, and speaking of full size tools i assume you are talking about saws, so  i only have an electric jigsaw and a coping saw. 

[Jaager]

Since you are in a more tropical region, your choice of local hardwood

will probably be different from what we in the temperate zone have available.

If you have a local hardwood merchant with milling services you may be

able to obtain timber stock at a lower cost than mail order import.

 

Acer sp. (Maple), Pyrus sp. (Pear),  Citrus sp.  (most trees are too small to interest

commercial interests, but you may get lucky.  Malus sp. (Apple) is ideal but you may be

too far South.

 

Ideally, you want : hard, tight grain, closed pore, straight grain with little or no contrast.

The more boring, better it scales down.  A dealer should be able to help.

Check with local woodworkers for resaw and thickness planning help.

[captainbob]

I use poplar wood for RC boats.  It is not too hard and easy to use.  But whatever wood you use, as it gets wet and dries, or gets hot and cold the wood will swell and shrink leaving gaps between the planks for water to get in.  I always painted both inside and outside with fiberglass epoxy. (It also strengthens the wood.)  I put the fiberglass inside where it would not show and on the outside I would paint it with just the epoxy resin mixed two parts resin with one part alcohol to thin it out like paint.  The alcohol evaporates and leaves a hard waterproof finish.

 

Bob

[davyboy]

Hello KAT,

 

Ulises Victoria a Mexican member lives in Monterey. Perhaps if you contact him by PM he could help you with information on suitable wood available in Mexico. He has a build log of the Royal Louis on page 7 of the Kit Build section of the forum.

 

Kind regards,

 

Dave 

[KAT]

Thank you for your answers guys, i will put to practice your suggestions, ill let you know what worked out for me the best as soon as i have it solved XD 

[GuntherMT]

On 3/27/2017 at 2:59 AM, Jaager said:

Since you are in a more tropical region, your choice of local hardwood

will probably be different from what we in the temperate zone have available.

If you have a local hardwood merchant with milling services you may be

able to obtain timber stock at a lower cost than mail order import.

 

 

Depends on where in Mexico.  Mexicali & Tijuana are going to be completely different than Mexico City!

[KAT]

Im from Mexico city :/ 

[Ulises Victoria]

Hello Kat.

I have the advantage of living in Monterrey, just a couple of hours from Texas.

I have a company who provides me with an address in Texas to order my stuff there and then brings them to Monterrey for a reasonable 16% of invoice value. Not sure if there are such companies in CDMX but it is worth to investigate.

Most of my purchases I make through Amazon, and woods and ship/hobby related things I order from the sponsors at the right of this forum's main page.

 

Member Karleop is from Guaymas, and I think we are the only Mexicans really active in this forum.

 

Hope this helps!!!

Ulises