hartlyred wrote:
Wood decks are a totally new subject to me. Does Scaledecks include instructions and finishing recommendations? I would like to start setting up for the New Jersey and include the photo paper decks. Lately it seems like I'm becoming a MASTER in disaster recovery, but with out guidance, these decks would most likely wind up in the garbage. That would be a sad waste of money and effort!
As a beginner I'll not be doing any removal of molded deck detail. I do plan to order either a WEM or GMM etch set. Is photo paper the right choice for me?
TIA
These are great and appropriate questions for a beginner, so let me respond to each of them...
Each deck comes with a full set of instructions. We also include the full "frame" that goes around the cut deck, and this material is great for practicing with on scrap plastic. (Personally, I like to glue samples to the UNDERSIDE of the main deck just to see how well various glues stick, how it looks when attached, etc. It's a good secret tip that is also included in the instructions!) In terms of "finishing" I like to just leave the wood natural - it looks great. No finishing required.
The New Jersey is a great kit - I've built it myself. Personally, I would go with the Tinted Wood deck for that ship. It really looks great - and for me it looks more "woody" than paper - maybe because it IS real wood!
The good thing about our decks is that they are really easy to work with. They have cutouts for all the deck detail, and you just drop it right into place. It lines up with all the deck detail, and it is really, REALLY hard to screw up. In effect, what you are doing is just laying down a micro-thin sheet of wood were you would be laying down tan paint to make the plastic just LOOK like wood. Unfortunately, plastic painted tan looks like... "plastic painted tan." If you want your decks to look like real wood, I would recommend... "real wood." See how easy this is?
Seriously. It is really, really easy - and it will make you look like a super-fantastic model builder. The wood deck is way easier than painting, as you don't have to worry about masking or trying to get all the edges right or anything. The edges are pre-cut for you.
When you have laid down the wood deck on the plastic (if it helps, just think of it as a thin layer of "wood paint") then you assemble the kit as normal. If you have pieces that glue into holes on the deck, there are holes in the wood that line up with the holes in the plastic - again, just like you would glue pieces to a "painted deck." The paint wouldn't get in the way of assembly, and neither does the very thin wood layer. Same thing. And as you would attach the photo etch to the plastic kit, you do the same with the wood in place. Rails, typically, attach to the outer edges, and our decks are cut to fit the deck inserts and not extend over the edges. It all works out really well.
Our slogan is "For scale modelers, BY scale modelers." Welcome to the hobby! You're going to have fun, and we do our best to make sure you get excellent results.
-- John D. --
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Dang John ! You 
I think I just made it on the list.
