Kurt Johnson Posted March 31, 2020 Share #1 Posted March 31, 2020 If you are trying to create the look of varnished wood or bright work, what gives the best scale appearance if the wood used is cherry? Regular cherry stain on cherry wood doesn’t have much of an effect. It doesn’t have the richness needed and looks washed out. Mahogany stain doesn’t work well either. Neither does Mahogany for the actual wood. Any ideas? Kurt Quote Member: Ship Model Society of New Jersey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtaylor Posted April 1, 2020 Share #2 Posted April 1, 2020 If it's cherry, why not just varnish it? Cherry does darken with age. I've done that on two models and looks great to my eye. But then, I might be prejudiced. Bob Cleek and Gregory 2 Quote Mark "The shipwright is slow, but the wood is patient." - me Current Build: Past Builds: La Belle Poule 1765 - French Frigate from ANCRE plans - ON HOLD Triton Cross-Section NRG Hallf Hull Planking Kit HMS Sphinx 1775 - Vanguard Models - 1:64 Non-Ship Model: On hold, maybe forever: CH-53 Sikorsky - 1:48 - Revell - Completed Licorne - 1755 from Hahn Plans (Scratch) Version 2.0 (Abandoned) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kurt Johnson Posted April 1, 2020 Author Share #3 Posted April 1, 2020 That’s true. If I set the wood in the sun for a day before I even use it, it would darken a bit too. Kurt mtaylor 1 Quote Member: Ship Model Society of New Jersey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaager Posted April 1, 2020 Share #4 Posted April 1, 2020 A stain product is actually a semi transparent paint. Cherry stain would be used on something like Yellow Poplar, Using a dye on Cherry is gilding a Lilly. Using a stain is turning a star into something mundane. If you want a finish with a reverse gear, consider shellac. Orange shellac will darken it now without obscuring it. But, as Marks writes, Black Cherry darkens over time and in few years may be darker than you intended. Super blonde will not darken it much. There is a clearer version that is about twice as expensive. The more layers, the more depth. If it is too shiny a light buffing with very very fine steel wool with make it satin. Just do not get it wet. I am of a mind to use a final layer of Renaissance Wax Polish- but that is just a theory now. mtaylor, Gregory and Bob Cleek 3 Quote NRG member 50 years Current: NMS HMS Ajax 1767 - 74-gun 3rd rate - 1:192 POF exploration - works but too intense -no margin for error HMS Centurion 1732 - 60-gun 4th rate - POF Navall Timber framing HMS Beagle 1831 refiit 10-gun brig with a small mizzen - POF Navall (ish) Timber framing The U.S. Ex. Ex. 1838-1842 Flying Fish 1838 pilot schooner - POF framed - ready for stern timbers Porpose II 1836 brigantine/brig - POF framed - ready for hawse and stern timbers Vincennes 1825 Sloop-of-War - POF timbers assembled, need shaping Peacock 1828 Sloop-of -War - POF timbers ready for assembly Sea Gull 1838 pilot schooner - POF timbers ready for assembly Relief 1835 packet hull USN ship - POF timbers ready for assembly Other Portsmouth 1843 Sloop-of-War - POF timbers ready for assembly Le Commerce de Marseilles 1788 118 cannons - POF framed La Renommee 1744 Frigate - POF framed - ready for hawse and stern timbers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Cleek Posted April 6, 2020 Share #5 Posted April 6, 2020 What Jaager said. Shellac works fine. You can add coats to develop the level of gloss required and if the gloss is too great, it can be toned down using a Scotch-brite pad or steel wool, or simply wiping with a fine cloth dampened with alcohol. Remember that gloss must be toned down on a model to properly depict brightwork to scale. mtaylor 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allanyed Posted April 7, 2020 Share #6 Posted April 7, 2020 Kurt, For the next time, Swiss/steamed pear is fantastic to work with, has a beautiful reddish color, is very close grained, carves beautifully, and takes all types of finish coatings well. No stain needed!!! Allan mtaylor 1 Quote PLEASE take 30 SECONDS and sign up for the epic Nelson/Trafalgar project if you would like to see it made into a TV series. Click on http://trafalgar.tv There is no cost other than the 30 seconds of your time. THANK YOU Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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