Balsa Wood

[Bob Platz]

Hi...To make the superstructure(1/96 Cleveland CL) not so top heavy,I am thinking of using balsa wood blocks. I did this to a smaller degree on a previous model and covered it with mylar for waterproofing.
For this model..Too many bends,angles,ETC.
Any thoughts or ideas?

Thanks Bob

[Victorious]

Hi...To make the superstructure(1/96 Cleveland CL) not so top heavy,I am thinking of using balsa wood blocks. I did this to a smaller degree on a previous model and covered it with mylar for waterproofing.
For this model..Too many bends,angles,ETC.
Any thoughts or ideas?

Thanks Bob

That's what we use for our superstructure on Marlborough & Iron Duke, Have a look on Marlborough and Iron Duke threads. My last post on Marlborough, actually shows the first part of the supertstructure, using Balsa Wood. The finished sides of this will be covered with Litho Plate Aluminium, which is very thin and bends beautifully. See Iron Duke superstructure for the finshed superstructure photos.

[ddp]

can use balsa wood framing with sheet plastic skin or use plastic for framing & skin as i've done both ways for my 1/144 scale ships.

[kennylibben]

you could use styrene.

[Timmy C]

I think by plastic ddp meant styrene, since they're the same stuff, really.

[kennylibben]

yeah, but they may not know what kind of plastic....

[Bob Platz]

Thanks to all for the info!

Bob

[psships]

Hi all, I use "Evergreen strip" for frames amongst other things and sheet styrene from 0.5mm to 3mm for superstructures depending on the ship and application. Sometimes the use of a wooden frame is required for bigger ships superstructures. My oldest model built this way is comming on 18 years old and has sailed in all weather conditions, from red hot to freezing cold and I have never had a problem with this method worth worrying about. I hope I have been of some help?
Paul...