scratch building materials

[Navarone]

I have only scratch built one ship the USS Zellars DD-777 Sumner class circa 1960; scale 1/192. I used a plywood keel and basswood for nearlly all other facets of the ship, hull sections, super structure and such, only because those were the materials availble to me at the time. I am planing a build of the USS Independence CV-62 Forrestal class circa 1960. I have not settled on a scale as yet but I am leaning toward 1/350th. I have heard a lot about styrene but have never used it and wanted to get some input from more experienced modelers as to wether this is a good materail for the hull or is it more for super structures? Are there any books or other literature that covers working with styrene?

Bow view starboard

Here is the starboard view of the Zellars I completed last September. It was about 15 months in the making.

[ingura]

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[ingura]

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[commodore4]

HI, since you mentioned 1/350 I would say "go for it" Styrene is very easy to work with and if you go to EVERGREEN PLASTICS they not only sell the material in more types than you can imagine , but , they also have a book you can buy that will give you the basics.On my MODERN shipmodel commissions I use styrene exclusively. It works well and there isn,t a shape you cannot duplicate. It takes practice , but, I have successfully formed sheet styrene into very complex shapes with an old used opticians salt box (they used to use fine salts(chemical) to heat the plastic eyeglass frames.They now use glass beads and , boy does it work great!!! The fact is you can cut with an E-XACTO , form with the edge of a table top, and,paint it with WAL-MART or other brands of paint in a spray can. I use automotive primer exclusively so you see , the sky and your ability are the only limits.DON,T BE AFRAID to ask questions. I don,t know a modeler that wouldn,t be glad to help. I will. commodore4

[Laurent]

Hi Navarone,

never thought to use paper & card? I use it instead of styrene, except for some rounded or square profiles. Glueing is easy, can be done with white PVA glue or with CA glue.

everything here under has been made out of paper & cardboard:




it asks for some skills, but you may give it a try, it's cheap ans more healthy for the lungs when working paper with white glue.

Regards,

Laurent