Deck planking material of a consistent color/shade.

[Toleolu]

I'm working on my first kit, the Modelers Shipyard Colonial Schooner.

I messed up the deck planking to the point where I ripped out the planking and ordered replacements. While waiting on the replacement material to arrive, I spent some time practicing with the silver ash I had left in the kit, plus some basswood strips I had on hand.

The attached pic is basswood strips and while my photography skills are down around my modeling skills, I hope you can make out the different shades of the wood. Some of the planks are a bit darker than others. The difference is even more pronounced with the silver ash.

So my question is basically is there a material suitable for deck planking that's doesn't vary so widely in the shades of the wood, or, and this may be more to the point, am I just overthinking things again.

FWIW, I'm thinking about going with the basswood instead of the silver ash since the difference with the basswood isn't as stark as the silver ash. The differences with the silver ash does make for an interesting visual effect, but it's not what I'm looking for on this model. I'm trying to go with a more "weathered' look on this rather than a museum piece as "weathered" makes it easier to hide my mistakes.

Thanks in advance. Hope all are doing well.

Charles

 

[Dave Stevens (Lumberyard)]

So my question is basically is there a material suitable for deck planking that's doesn't vary so widely in the shades of the wood, or, and this may be more to the point, am I just overthinking things again.

there are several types of wood that do not very in figure or color and some place on the forum there are topics covering the subject of decking, wood and finish but i could not find them to add a link.

 

[Toleolu]

Thanks Dave;

I ordered more basswood strips from Micro Mark the other day. When they get here, I'll sort through them and see if I can come up with enough timbers close in color to do the deck.

If there's not enough to do that, then I'll just make do with what I've got.

I suspect by the time I'm done with this, mixed shades of deck planking is going to be the least of my problems.

Charles

 

[Bob Ellis]

I'm working on my first kit, the Modelers Shipyard Colonial Schooner.

I messed up the deck planking to the point where I ripped out the planking and ordered replacements. While waiting on the replacement material to arrive, I spent some time practicing with the silver ash I had left in the kit, plus some basswood strips I had on hand.

The attached pic is basswood strips and while my photography skills are down around my modeling skills, I hope you can make out the different shades of the wood. Some of the planks are a bit darker than others. The difference is even more pronounced with the silver ash.

So my question is basically is there a material suitable for deck planking that's doesn't vary so widely in the shades of the wood, or, and this may be more to the point, am I just overthinking things again.

FWIW, I'm thinking about going with the basswood instead of the silver ash since the difference with the basswood isn't as stark as the silver ash. The differences with the silver ash does make for an interesting visual effect, but it's not what I'm looking for on this model. I'm trying to go with a more "weathered' look on this rather than a museum piece as "weathered" makes it easier to hide my mistakes.

Thanks in advance. Hope all are doing well.

Charles

View attachment 271571

I use maple, it's usually uniformly pale, very useful for white decks/scrubbed wood (RN) A good hardwood on which you can get a very fine polished finish with a rub of fine steel wool after sanding. It takes a stain well.

 

[Jimsky]

So my question is basically is there a material suitable for deck planking that's doesn't vary so widely in the shades of the wood, or, and this may be more to the point, am I just overthinking things again.

I am quite surprised you didn't have so many answers. Personally, I would instantly think about Pearwood (natural) and boxwood, but maple and holy could be a good alternative. Lately, I played with hornbeam as timber for the deck and was very satisfied with how it came out under oil.

Here is an example of Hornbeam



here is pear



here is Holy

 

[Toleolu]

Thanks Bob and Jimsky;

I've got some maple veneer sitting around, I'll rip a few strips out of that and see how it works.

Charles

 

[Stuart Little]

I'm now kicking myself for burning so many hornbeam logs over the years - hindsight! IF IF IF. It was model railroads then before reverting back to ships.

 

[Bob Ellis]

I am quite surprised you didn't have so many answers. Personally, I would instantly think about Pearwood (natural) and boxwood, but maple and holy could be a good alternative. Lately, I played with hornbeam as timber for the deck and was very satisfied with how it came out under oil.

Here is an example of Hornbeam

View attachment 271799

here is pear

View attachment 271800

here is Holy

View attachment 271801


View attachment 271802

Hi Jim. Coming from the UK boxwood and pear don't just grow on trees!!! You have to follow unicorns with a dustpan and brush! Hence the maple. I did manage to get some boxwood in rough waste which I need to mill but we're talking limited application to each build. From handrail to wale and maple or cherry for the rest of the hull (single planking. Pear veneer I can get but I don't double plank) Maple is also good due to the colour to simulate RN scrubbed white decks. US decks often had a deeper coloured timber so pear would be my personal choice for, say, a Baltimore clipper.

 

[Bob Ellis]

I'm now kicking myself for burning so many hornbeam logs over the years - hindsight! IF IF IF. It was model railroads then before reverting back to ships.

Same with apple wood and all those barbecues. Waste of a superb modelers timber.

 

[Jimsky]

I'm now kicking myself for burning so many hornbeam logs over the years - hindsight! IF IF IF. It was model railroads then before reverting back to ships.

history does not tolerate the subjunctive mood

 

[Dave Stevens (Lumberyard)]

go here to read about decks

Wood it's characteristics and use in model building

I think you are right about that, but a very high end collector will ask because I see models in galleries that state the wood used and these are $20,000.00 models I am glad we agree upon! This is exactly my point, a collectible model will be made out of finest wood possible\available because...

shipsofscale.com

 

[danielsje]

I have used boxwood for a consistent deck color and pattern successfully. Bass wood also works. Pear also works but I find it too bright in tone and nearly always stain it darker…which begs the question of why use it. But I also tend to lightly stain decks with MinWax Light Oak and depending on the model I have painted decks with a very light grey wash. I have also found that applying a coat or two of MinWax water based clear matte polyurethane tends to “smooth“ the deck coloration consistency a bit…especially over the stain or paint.