Wood choices for floors and futtocks on a POF ship model: my conversation with ChatGPT

[Alan Cabrera]

I am building a plank on frame navy board model ship made of wood. I am considering what mix of wood would best contrast the various levels of frames. What are the prevailing schools of thought?

ChatGPT said:

In plank-on-frame model shipbuilding, choosing wood types to create appealing contrasts is key to highlighting structural elements and capturing the ship’s historical character. Here are a few popular approaches:

1. Classic Contrasting Woods

• Dark/Light Contrast: Use a dark hardwood like walnut or mahogany for the frames and a lighter wood like boxwood or maple for planking. This creates a visually distinct outline of the frame structure.
• Natural vs. Stained Wood: Many builders use a lighter wood for the frames and apply a light stain to specific planking or detailing to create contrast while keeping a unified natural wood look.

2. Historically Accurate Combinations

• Period-Appropriate Woods: Replicating woods commonly used in real ships, such as oak for framing and pine or fir for planking, can add authenticity. Oak and pine have a subtle contrast, which is appealing for scale models meant to look historically accurate.
• Age and Wear Contrast: Some builders artificially age certain wood sections to represent seasoned timber and newer planks, adding a subtle tonal variety that reflects real shipbuilding practices.

3. Artistic Choice

• Polished vs. Matte Finishes: Mixing gloss levels (polished frame timbers vs. matte planking) can provide contrast without introducing another wood. This technique highlights construction details while maintaining a cohesive look.
• Exotic Wood Details: Occasionally, rare woods like ebony or rosewood are used sparingly for accent details like the keel or specific deck features. This adds a touch of luxury and a unique appearance without overshadowing the main wood choices.

These approaches depend on whether you’re aiming for historical accuracy, artistic expression, or structural clarity. Each choice affects the visual depth and realism of the model. Would you like advice on specific woods that fit these ideas?

You said:

I am considering Swiss pear, Castello boxwood, Alaskan cedar, and cherry. Which woods would be goof for the floors, primary, secondary, tertiary futtocks?

ChatGPT said:

For a multi-level contrast in framing a plank-on-frame ship, your wood choices are excellent. Here’s a recommendation for using these woods for different frame components:

1. Floors (lowest part of the frame touching the keel):

   • Alaskan Cedar: It’s naturally resistant to decay and has a fine grain with a light color. This will give the floor sections a distinct, pale base that contrasts with darker woods above, helping to define the structure near the keel.

2. Primary Futtocks (first level of framing above the floors):

   • Swiss Pear: Pear has a warm, reddish-brown tone that contrasts beautifully with Alaskan cedar while being stable and easy to carve. It would provide a pleasing, soft but noticeable contrast without overwhelming the structure.

3. Secondary Futtocks (mid-level framing):

   • Cherry: Cherry wood has a slightly deeper color than pear and will darken with time, giving the secondary futtocks a subtle color progression. It’s also stable and workable, perfect for a mid-frame level that’s prominent but not overwhelming.

4. Tertiary Futtocks (upper levels of the framing):

   • Castello Boxwood: Known for its hardness and fine texture, boxwood is ideal for the upper futtocks, where detail work is more noticeable. Its creamy yellow tone provides a nice final contrast that’s lighter than the other woods, making it stand out against the darker woods below.

This approach creates a balanced, graduated color scheme that enhances each level of the framing. The result will look cohesive yet richly layered, showcasing the ship’s structural complexity beautifully. Let me know if you'd like more detail on working with any of these woods.

You said:

Would it be more aesthetically pleasing of the choice of woods were reversed since then the darker wood would be at the bottom and graduate to the lighter woods at the top?

ChatGPT said:

Yes, reversing the wood choices so that darker woods are used for the floors and lighter woods toward the top could indeed create a striking and aesthetically pleasing effect. This approach often gives a sense of stability and weight at the base, with a visually lighter, more delicate look as the structure rises. Here’s how the reversed arrangement might look with your woods:

1. Floors (lowest part of the frame touching the keel):

   • Cherry: Cherry’s darker, warm tones would give the base a solid, grounded appearance. Since it darkens further over time, it would enhance the sense of depth and stability at the base.

2. Primary Futtocks (first level above the floors):

   • Swiss Pear: Pear wood’s medium, reddish tone contrasts gently with the darker cherry. This creates a smooth transition as the frame moves upward while still preserving a richness in color.

3. Secondary Futtocks (mid-level framing):

   • Castello Boxwood: With its creamy yellow tone, boxwood here would start lightening the structure noticeably. Its fine texture and workability are well-suited to mid-level futtocks, where detail is important but doesn’t draw the eye as strongly as the topmost levels.

4. Tertiary Futtocks (upper levels of the framing):

   • Alaskan Cedar: Alaskan cedar’s pale, almost white hue would cap off the frame structure beautifully, creating a natural lightening effect as the frame rises. This pale tone would emphasize the delicate upper futtocks and add an airy feel to the topmost sections.

This approach can lend a visual elegance and balance, with the darker wood anchoring the model and lighter tones adding a sense of openness at the top. It can also make each framing layer more visually distinct. If you favor a gradual lightening effect, this could indeed be the more pleasing option.

Edited November 12 by Alan Cabrera
Accidentally submitted before cleaning up formatting

[Alan Cabrera]

Thoughts?

[wefalck]

I think ChatGTP is trying to humour you 😉

 

Joking aside, it is good to see that ChatGTP begins to be trained now also on niche subjects like ours. When I tried it a few months or so ago (I use it professionally from time to time ...), return on maritime history subjects were trivial and very generic.

[mtaylor]

Interesting response, IMO.   Though I believe that the most part, the choice is up the builder on scratch builds and kit bashes.  I have very mixed feelings about the use of mahogany and walnut though as to my eye, the grain is too much.  

 

And I totally agree with what Wevalck said.