Should I be embarrassed?

[socalveteran]

My current challenge in ship building was resolved when I gave up on pine and used balsa to create bulkheads for the bow of the USS Constitution (aka "Old Ironsides"). The good news is that I didn't slice off any fingers in my frustration at trying to create a curved piece 1 1/2"x1 1/8"x3". Twice.
But did I cheat to use balsa? The whole thing will be covered with planking anyway.

 

[Ignatius27]

What scale is your U.S.S. Constitution? If it were me, I wouldn't fret about using balsa wood to make bow bulkheads. They won't show in the final model when planked over and you were able to carve a piece that fits and provides the support you need. But I'm not a purist or stickler for historic building methods.

 

[Pepite 1/60]

Oh, yes! Oulalahhhhhh!!!!!!!! What terrrrrrrrrrrible sacrileeeeeeeeeeeege!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Corsair]

My current challenge in ship building was resolved when I gave up on pine and used balsa to create bulkheads for the bow of the USS Constitution (aka "Old Ironsides"). The good news is that I didn't slice off any fingers in my frustration at trying to create a curved piece 1 1/2"x1 1/8"x3". Twice.
But did I cheat to use balsa? The whole thing will be covered with planking anyway.

The only person that needs to be happy with your model is you. if you are happy with it, that is all that matters. Not what other people think.
If it worked, I think that is great.

 

[Kurt Konrath]

Lots of folks use balsa as filler between bulkheads to give more material to glue to, and as you said, nobody sees it, so who cares if you don't.