building form support

[grsjax]

I started work on a Midwest Peapod model and the first problem I ran into was the flimsy building form.  The instructions say to glue the formers to the "strong back" but that doesn't work very well.  The formers are 1/8" bass wood that has a tendency to split and warp.  In addition the formers tend to get out of alinement when you start planking.  To correct this I glued a strip of scrap along the bottom of each former and added a triangular support to each side.  Much stronger structure.  This issue does not seem to be just with Midwest kits.  Why don't the kit manufactures include instructions for strengthing the building form using the scrap from the kit.  Costs them nothing and makes the work easier.

[JesseLee]

I had this same problem with my current build. My build log shows how I added extra wood ribbing to my whole framework. I was really irritated at how the thin wood "flexed" from very little pressure.

[Q A's Revenge]

I started work on a Midwest Peapod model and the first problem I ran into was the flimsy building form.  The instructions say to glue the formers to the "strong back" but that doesn't work very well.  The formers are 1/8" bass wood that has a tendency to split and warp.  In addition the formers tend to get out of alinement when you start planking.  To correct this I glued a strip of scrap along the bottom of each former and added a triangular support to each side.  Much stronger structure.  This issue does not seem to be just with Midwest kits.  Why don't the kit manufactures include instructions for strengthing the building form using the scrap from the kit.  Costs them nothing and makes the work easier.

Any chance we can see a few pictures or maybe even a build log? Always liked the look of this model.

[grsjax]

I will take a few pictures and see how they turn out.

[grsjax]

Here is a pic of the peapod with the extra support.  Just scraps glued to the forms to stiffen them up some.

Edited January 5, 2014 by grsjax