What wood is best for model making?

What wood is best for model making?

The ARTnews Recommends Editors All model-building fans know that balsa wood is an essential material for their craft. Sourced from the eponymous tree, this wood is lightweight, showcases minimal grain, and is favored for its softness—this is the easiest wood to carve and shape.

What is ship planking?

Carvel built or carvel planking is a method of boat building in which hull planks are laid edge to edge and fastened to a robust frame, thereby forming a smooth surface. Traditionally the planks are neither attached to, nor slotted into, each other, having only a caulking sealant between the planks to keep water out.

What is a plank on frame model ship?

In this construction method, artisans uses heat to bend narrow planks and nail/glue them one by one onto a frame to form the accurate, unique curves of each ship’s hull. Real ships are built like that; so are ship models in world-famous museums.

Why is balsa wood used for model making?

Because it is so light and easily cut with a craft knife, it is perfect for making model aircraft or for whittling. Because this wood has a lower density than cork it is put to use in other applications where its low density is useful – for example as the core in many surfboards, or in the blades of wind-turbines.

What is Obeche wood?

Obeche, also known as African maple and Abachi, is the wood of the obeche tree (Triplochiton scleroxylon). This hardwood species is native to west-central Africa, especially Gabon, Ghana, Equatorial Guinea and the Republic of Congo. Within its native range, the obeche tree is widespread and relatively common.

What is a ship body plan?

Definition of body plan : an end elevation in shipbuilding showing the contour of the sides or the transverse vertical cross sections of a ship at certain points of her length.

What is Carvel boat planking?

Is there a program to loft a Lapstrake hull?

There is no “Fancy program” or otherwise software to loft lapstrake hulls. In Rhino I would (I have) create a fair single hull surface and then lay curves on this surface (with planking reduction). Wiggle your curves around till they suit, then build your developable plank surfaces between the curves.

How is the lower hull of a wale planked?

In the photograph(below left)the main wale was planked first, defining the upper limit of the lower hull planking. Here the lower hull has been divided off into four bands. Each band will consist (in this case) of five strakes of planking. I divide the girth off into four equal bands by means of paper tick strips.

How are clinker planks attached to a boat?

Lapstrake or Clinker Planking. Clinker or Lapstrake is a method of attaching planks to a boat where the plank edges overlap each other. Plywood on Frame. Overlapping planks are then fastened to each other and then to the frames. This age old method of planking, sometimes referred to as clinker planking, has been in use for hundreds of years.

Why are there gaps in my lapstrake boat?

One of the problems inherent to the maintenance of lapstrake is caused by ridges and gaps which collect moisture and dirt. With stitch and glue lapstrake most of these gaps will be filled with thickened epoxy. This makes for not only a stronger boat but a relatively maintenance free one as well.