I was watching one of the You Tube model builders and he was saying that the pictures of the ship he was building, Montanes, looked like the masts were made of walnut. He showed the pieces that came with the kit, and they look like basswood, very light colored. I think I heard him say Balsa, not sure. I am able to find strip lumber in many varieties of wood, but not dowel for masts and yards. Do you know if you can get dowels in other varieties and colors from the USA?