Where to buy wood sheets?

[Tsm209]

Hey everyone, I just got plans for a scratch-build model I am about to start. The ship’s profile which the frames will be on is 9 ft long and 1 ft tall but I will split it in half for easier handling. The frames themselves need about 6.5 x 5 ft space of wood. The wood needs to be 1/8” or 3mm. Does anyone know where I can get such amount of wood? Anywhere I try to buy the wood is in small sheets like 12 x 24 inches. If anyone could help I would greatly appreciate it.

[mtaylor]

Are those measurements you gave "actual" or "scale"?  Seems a 9 foot long keel will be huge if that is actual size.   As for large quantities it depends on where you are and what local species are available and also a local mill or wood shop to do the cutting.

 

You might also inquire our sponsors that do custom woods and see if they take special orders.

[Tsm209]

The measurements are the actual size, the ship’s keel is 8.83 ft long at 1/100 scale.
I have found a place selling large sheets, but I want to know is hardboard a good material for the keel/frames?

Edited December 23, 2022 by Tsm209

[mtaylor]

Yes.  hardwood is an excellent choice for them.

[Ian_Grant]

I wouldn't use hardboard, it's little more than compressed cardboard. Not suitable for a 9 ft model in my opinion.

 

My choice would be 1/4" plywood. Maybe even 3/8" for the keel.

 

Is this for display or on the water?

[Tsm209]

This is a static model, won’t be touching water. Thanks for your recommendation, I’ll go with the 1/4” plywood

Edited December 23, 2022 by Tsm209

[Bob Cleek]

Keep in mind that there's plywood and there's plywood. For modeling work, I'd seriously consider using "MDO" (Medium Density Overlay) type plywood. This is the stuff highway departments use for road signs. It's seven-ply, as I recall, and is laminated without voids. It is covered on both faces with some sort of epoxy paper which can be finish painted without the need for any face sanding or sealing.

 

That said, if there is any shape to the keel you are contemplating, and there is to most all keels, plywood is a less than optimum choice because it doesn't shape well at all. Rounded edges and tapered shapes will expose the laminate edges. The face veneers of plywood are easy to "sand through," exposing the lower laminates. In less than premium grades, splitting and cracking of the face surfaces can occur. And... of course, in narrow sizes, it lacks the strength of grown wood.

 

Plywood has its place (decks and bulkheads,) but for structural and planking wood the way God made it is the best bet.

[Ian_Grant]

Bob is right - don't just grab some fir plywood from Home Depot. Baltic birch plywood has many all-birch plies, no voids, and full thickness outer plies, as opposed to face veneers, which are not so easily sanded through. I've just been gang-routering edges in 1/4" birch ply to form ribs for my current build. Edges are clean. This plywood is heavy and strong. I can barely break a 3/8" wide strip with full hand strength.

 

[Tsm209]

Yes but the ship model I am building is different, it will have to be done like this:

The frames will be filled with the wood planking then will be sanded and will be filled to give a smooth finish.

Afterwards the hull plating will need to be done.

Edited December 24, 2022 by Tsm209