Choice of Materials

Modeling Subjects Scratchbuilding
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Hello There!

Today we’ll talk about a subject we all know well. Choice of materials for a project. How many of you prefer wood? How many Sheet Styrene? See, there is a consensus out there that if we use plastic it’s a toy. Why is this? Polystyrene sheets( Embossed or Not ) and Strip gives a lot of choices during the build. Same with wood. Wood now, requires a little bit more finess, but it was the standard Long before plastic was ever heard of!

Okay, how about found materials? This can be anything from a Cat’s whisker.( Don’t get from the source,Wait for one to drop ! )to an old film canister. What’s a film canister? Do you really have to ask? Anyway, found material ranges from the ridiculous to the sublime, Really ! I mean, Old panty Hose for vent covers ,to Wire from that old radio for specific tubing detail on a small part.

Now here’s one I love to work with. Sheet Acrylic in all thicknesses. Yes, You can get Rod and Tube too. What started me on the Acrylic was purely accidental. I was walking through an old house and they had a half wall between the kitchen and dining area. The house was scheduled for demo, so I asked if I could take anything I found another use for . On the half wall was square Acrylic Rod ( about 3/4") twisted for the length like a Twizzler. First thing I thought of. Rods for ship stands and Airplanes too!

Well, the workability of the stuff got me hooked. What I like most is I can drill and tap a hole for a bolt or screw and bolt and screw, as well glue, Acrylic together in high stress areas too. It takes All types of paint including " Hot " automotive paint !

Think about your choice of materials and how you came to choose them . Let’s hear from you on your choices and why. Tanker - Builder

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This might fit into here, it was written about 30yrs ago for a model clubs bi monthly news letter, it’s still viable even today.

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Suppose this should fit into here as well -----

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I’m a multi-media guy. I use whatever is best. I will say I do use a lot of wood. Glues nicely, easy to shape, and inexpensive. I learned a long time ago when I built a car for the Fisher Body contest. I used balsa wood- a big mistake and I had been warned. But lots of auto body primer and 60 coats of auto lacquer gave me a decent gloss.

I now use basswood, God’s gift to model builders and carvers. It fills so much easier! On large ship models like my Great Lakes freighters, I use aspen or poplar, a lot cheaper- almost as easy to carve and to fill as basswood which can be a bit expensive for large pieces.

I believe I help keep K&S metals in business. I have learned to keep a stock on hand of many sizes of their tubing and sheet stock. Brass solders so easily. I bought a roll of roof flashing aluminum several years ago- cheap way to buy aluminum!

And I am a big user of both styrene strips, rods, tubes and sheets from the hobby shop. I keep a stock of that stuff on hand too.

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Gee,Don;

I guess we both were brought up the same way. Sure seems like it !

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Beer cans. Tin foil. Cheap ball point pens. Wine bottle capsules.

About the only stuff I don’t use is anything edible, like rice, pasta or seeds. Too attractive to mice.