Don't You Dare Laugh!

The problem I see is that you have not very much control over the beam, if you are shooting for a specific scale.  If the beam of the ship you are modeling is not represented by the width of the carton, how do you change it? 

Also, many of the egg cartons I see have some flare to the hull- the beam is wider at the deck level than at the bilge. I suppose you could add some formers to draw it in at deck level, but that seems to be as much work as sawing a wood block or set of laminations.  Maybe a little cheaper, but I find the cost of wood for a wood hull is not much of an expediture compared to a kit.

Really, making a decent laker hull is about as hard as finding a nice straight 2x4.

I'm with you on being creative about materials and it's a good way to keep costs down and be green.

GMorrison

a nice straight 2x4.

Doesn't exist.  

T e d

Whattya mean?

   I ain't never in me life seen a straighht 2x4! Really a modeler can make any adjustments to beam and bow flare as well as the stern. If you want to model there is material available without going to Joe Money's Expensive Hobby Shop We just have to look Right?

Even if I use nicer wood I find the cost is minimal.  I use the bread and butter (lamination) method for hulls.  My local Menards carries nice poplar s4s.  Even the cost for my biggest laker, a 1:196 700 footer was minimal compared to even large plastic kits let alone the European wood kits.  I spend more on PE and plastic detail than the cost of the wood.

Don, Hi;

   Call it a Fixation if you will. I usually Don't like Bread and Butter builds. I don't know , but I remember a bad experience with a Bluenose that engendered the dislike I believe.

   I will build Plank on Frame and Bulkhead till I cannot see the wood I guess. I went to the plastics because of the requirements of R.C. and No Titanic action was allowed!

Tanker - Builder

Whattya mean?

   I ain't never in me life seen a straighht 2x4! Really a modeler can make any adjustments to beam and bow flare as well as the stern. If you want to model there is material available without going to Joe Money's Expensive Hobby Shop We just have to look Right?