Quick question about upcoming build.

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I am getting ready to start my first build. A MS Longboat, its supposed to be a good starter kit albeit a bit challenging.

I was wandering around the web and found a replacement wood kit for it. Is the wood supplied in the kit that lacking?

I have extensive experience building and competing with large RC scale projects and tend to be a bit of a perfectionist so I want this build to be as precise and true to scale and appearance as I can make it.

Please let me know your opinion, I would value input from all of you experienced builders.
 
Hi Hurman,
I'm not all that experienced but from what I can gather, the kit's parts are all made from basswood. The masts are beech and blocks are walnut. I don't know what upgrades you are looking at but I would take a guess at better quality blocks, maybe pear for planking etc. Basswood to me is suitable for almost anything and is inexpensive and readily available almost anywhere. The better quality woods are just that.. they look better, finish better, perhaps shape and bend easier. Do you have a link to the upgrade? This site is a vast treasure trove of info and good people. You will find a whack of stuff on different woods but the most extensive was put together by 'Didit'. Check this out :) https://www.shipsofscale.com/sosfor...aracteristics-and-use-in-model-building.2047/

Ron
 
Its long been that Basswood is used for the MS kits the positive is it can be stained to look like other woods the Neg if you call it that is its basswood which isn't that bad all in all, but if your wanting to build with the natural beauty of the wood Basswood will just look plain unless you stain it. I prefer Natural wood and usually will only use Basswood for whittling, for ships I prefer a darker toned wood. The Basswood in the MS kits had kept me from building those kits I will look over the site you posted and see if they have an alternate package for some of the builds Id like to do in the MS kits. I built a few when I was first getting started and found the instructions to be very good for the MS builds. cant wait to see what you do with the Longboat so please post a build log if you can.
 
I checked the link for the replacement wood and that is really expensive even if shipping was included. You can get that replacement package for almost 1/2 the cost.

I was wandering around the web and found a replacement wood kit for it. Is the wood supplied in the kit that lacking?

as modeling wood it is not lacking at all, and with some stain you can get any appearance you want from a polished look to a natural weathered look the package is Swiss pear or fake boxwood there is nothing so special about either of these woods just the hype.

bit of a perfectionist so I want this build to be as precise and true to scale and appearance as I can make it.

if this be the case there is nothing special about an expensive wood package it comes down to your skills as a model builder to make it look good. and actually you can do that with the wood supplied with the kit.

I have extensive experience building and competing with large RC scale projects

if you have the tools just buy a pieces of Swiss Pear and cut it yourself that is the least expensive way to go
 
here is my personal view if I were a judge in a model contest using expensive replacement wood or judging the skills of the modeler.

you are spending money on the original kit then another $75.00 on a replacement package of wood that would not impress me as much as the skill it took to do these models.
material used is second to skill I said it before in another topic don't fall for the hype of having to use expensive materials

Basswood supplied in the kit is just fine what you can do with it well that is skill.

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Agree I'm more of a natural wood type of person as I hate to stain or paint wood. Sometimes you do what you have to, but for some builds I'd like to do, Stains for me just wont satisfy what I want. most times with kits I will build then in the woods natural colors because most kits give good contrast in wood color they supply with the kits. I really wish MS would do that they have fantastic kits and some great Instructions.
 
Thanks for all the great input. It seems you have saved me $75.00 on something I didn't need.
I will be logging this build in hopes of helping other new people get into the hobby. So shortly after the holiday's start looking for the build.
Epicdoom, its great to see you are in Baltimore, I spend a lot of time at the UMB Biopark for my job.
Talk soon.
 
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