Raised grain / grain definition

[Rat-Fink-A-Booboo]

Hi there folks

Does any one know what kind of wood is best for the outer skin of planking if I want a slightly exaggerated (raised) surface grain. I intend painting my model (Lynx) black above the water but don't want it too smooth.  The Lynx was hiding in the Chesapeake waterways when she was captured and I doubt she was done up like a show boat.

Perhaps there might be ways of raising the grain a little after sanding???

 

Thanking you all in anticipation

Don

[John Garnish]

Don,

This is purely a guess, because I haven’t tried it, but it seems to me that one of the characteristics of a weathered hull is that the seams crack and the individual planks start to show.  It may be possible to simulate this, after painting the base colour on the hull, by using some slightly textured paint (paint with some dust in it?) and touching in each plank separately.  That may provide the necessary delineation and texture.

Any treatment of the planking prior to painting seems more likely to merge the planks rather than to delineate them.

[xken]

Try using wood stain conditioner; on certain woods it does a good job of evenly raising the grain.

[Rat-Fink-A-Booboo]

John and Ken,

Thanks I'll try a few tests

Best wishes

Don

[mischief]

You can distress planking with a brass brush, go light with the pressure

[Jaager]

This comes from instructions for wood dyes:

Dissolved in alcohol - the dye does not penetrate as deeply- but it has no effect on the wood surface.

Dissolved in water - the dye penetrates deeply - but raises the grain.

Pre-treatment with 10% PVA in water, dry then sand the surface - the next water exposure with the dye will not further raise the grain.

 

Based on this,  wet your surface with 10% PVA in water and let it dry.  If it raises the grain too much, try a light sanding with 320 or 400 grit.