Scored Deck planking

[Roger Pellett]

I am thinking of using scored deck planking for wooden hatch covers on my present project.  Planks would be 6in wide or 1/16in at scale.  I have found some Model Shipways scored basswood with 3/32in planks that might work.  My question:  how thick is this decking? 

 

Roger

[rwiederrich]

On 8/26/2023 at 5:43 PM, Roger Pellett said:

I am thinking of using scored deck planking for wooden hatch covers on my present project.  Planks would be 6in wide or 1/16in at scale.  I have found some Model Shipways scored basswood with 3/32in planks that might work.  My question:  how thick is this decking? 

 

Roger

My experience is roughly 1 to 1.5mm.  You'll want to back it if you plan on using it for full decking.  I use it often on my builds.  Saves loads of time.

 

Rob

[Snug Harbor Johnny]

  I've been looking for a source of scored planking for a while ... now I know to look for it at Model Shipways.   THANKS !

[Roger Pellett]

Thanks!

I was thinking of using it for the wooden hatch covers for my Benjamin Noble Lake Freighter Model.  The builders drawings specify 2in x 6in white pine planking for each hatch cover and there were 12 hatch covers per hatch.  At 1:96 scale each plank would scale 1/16in wide by about .025 in thick.  I could probably sneak by at 1/32in.  I have since decided on another approach.

 

Roger

[rwiederrich]

18 hours ago, Snug Harbor Johnny said:

  I've been looking for a source of scored planking for a while ... now I know to look for it at Model Shipways.   THANKS !

I had won a model competition years ago and the grand price was a large selection of model wood products from Model Shipways.  I got sheets upon sheets of the scored decking....its fantastic stuff for all kinds of modeling.

 

Rob

[Nirvana]

I think R/R shops has what your looking for. I remember when living in Spokane one the shops had such for scratch build buildings. Don't remember the manufacturer.

[Capt. Kelso]

Odd Model Shipways doesn't list the thickness. Bluejacket scribed deck sheets are 3 1/2 inches x 24 inches, 1/32 inches thick, various size plank widths. I have used them, good quality.

[BETAQDAVE]

 

    Well Roger, for some more authentic-looking (because the grain varies from plank to plank) wooden model ship decking or board-by-board siding go to Micro-Mark.  Black glue is used to bond individual planks of basswood together side-by-side in sheets 3 inches wide x 22 inches long x 0.050 inch thick, perfectly simulating the look of board-by-board construction without the tedious, time-consuming hassle of doing it yourself.
    Planks widths are available in 1/16 inch, 3/32 inch, 1/8 inch, or 3/16 inch.  The price is around $25 per sheet.  Have a look here.

[Roger Pellett]

Thanks, Dave.  That’s the look that I need before weathering.  I’m looking forward to making these wooden hatch boards after several years of fabricating metal parts.  

 

Roger

[Snug Harbor Johnny]

  The store's location looks drivable from the Philly suburbs - maybe 2 1/2 hours.  If I accumulate a shopping list it may be worth while to go there.  The black-glued ship decking is likely done by 'sandwiching' sheets of basswood with a thin layer of dark bonding material between the layers - then pressing the stack while the glue cures.  The resulting slab (3" thick) is turned on its side and the decking sheets planed off (0.50" thick) like flitch-cut veneers.

 

  There may be places here and there where there is a little glue penetration into the wood (depending on the peculiarities of how the grain ran in the component sheets), but the look at a distance seems great.  I'd want to go there and see the sheets first-hand before laying out $25 per sheet.

[Cathead]

Roger, also check out Northeastern Scale Lumber. They produce a wide variety of scale lumber and scored sheets that simulate various planking and siding styles. Lots of people in model railroading use products like this.

[Canute]

Another option is Mt Albert Scale Lumber on the Fast Tracks webite, here at: https://handlaidtrack.com/shop/?v=7516fd43adaa&wpf_filter_cat_list_0=2902

 

[OllieS]

I wonder if for the scale you are using thick paper or card would be so much easier. Both are made of wood.

[Jaager]

10 minutes ago, OllieS said:

I wonder if for the scale you are using thick paper or card would be so much easier.

It has been t least a decade since I messed with it, but a 3D graphics render of a wood texture.   A flat rectangle would have a perfect map - no distortion from wrapping around a tube or sphere.  There should be excellent free textures or take your own photo of wood.   Print out the render - glue it to veneer or card stock - touch up with paint.   This as an alternative if you do not think that you can do your own de novo  wood texture just using artists oil pigments.

 

[Roger Pellett]

Thanks everyone.  This has got me thinking about several different ideas.  Bottom line-  I have worked out an approach using equipment available in my shop.  I hope to post results soon on my Benjamin Noble build log.  She requires 72 hatch boards.

 

Roger

[NoelSmith]

There is a company in the UK named Slaters who make scored plastic sheets for model railway buildings and scenery that might be worth a look at.