WOODEN DECKS

It's always a balance,of costs,abilities,and expectations for your model

My last two ship models (the Encore Olympia and the Dreadnought with the Pontos accessory set) have both had laser cut wooden decks. The most common comment from people for both models is how nice the wood deck looks.  They DO notice the decks!

Grain is out of scale in my opinion. Pretty but not accurate. Place a scale crewman on one and you can see how larger the wood striations are compared to correct scale.

Maybe if the wood came from a Bonsoi tree it would be accurate.

Not really, Bonsai is a full-size tree kept small; not a tree shrunk down to miniature size.

I'll give wooden decks a try eventually,but I love brush painting them.

"Grain is out of scale in my opinion."

Depends on the brand and wood used actually, some are grainy...but some are not. I enclose a couple of pics of the Hasegawa deck I used on my Nagato, including a couple of close-ups. Deck is unaltered, except for application of some varnish. I considered the money well-spent on the deck, but its certainly a judgement call.

I don't know how you do it,Firedeck,but your work is awesome!

WELL ! I do say old chap ! That is one fine looking model.Yours does reflect that well built,displayed in a museum look. This is what I basically saying though.If it can be made to look right for scale and realism it should be used,if it can.t ,no.      Beautiful Model that is.  TANKER-builder

DON,you have to remember.I live in TEXAS.Even though the state has a considerable coastline ,folks here ,really DON,T notice wooden decks on model ships.Where you are now,"The land of the VIKINGS " I would expect that.

Folks in your state appreciate things like that.My gran-ma-ma lived in BUFFALO , N.Y. And there were folks that loved anything to do with water on LAKE ERIE.Those folks would definitely appreciate wooden decks on a model ship ! And besides,you don,t build half baked attempts at the shipmodel hobby either !    TANKER-builder

While I like the wooden decks, one thing that does bother me about the current wooden deck offerings are their fresh, pristeen condition.  They look like the day they were applied.  Now, ships weather rapidly, because they are exposed to the elements constantly.  Most woods take on a grayish appearance after a few weeks. I haven't done it yet, but maybe my next wood deck project will be treated to look a little older. I am thinking of either a gray wash, or a thin airbrushing with a light gray color.

I suppose decks that were holystoned daily might retain the fresh wood look, but they don't do that with modern ships (or 20th century war ships), do they?

I have seen several wood decks on operational ships early in my US Navy career.  They were kept in pristine conditions and looked nearly white. Few, if any, had the appearance that most modelers strive for with multi-weathered decks, different shaded boards, etc. None had any gray on them at all.

Again, these were on operational ships back in the 1970's, when  the WWII cruisers and other ships were being decommissioned.  To my eye, the wooded decks currently being marketed look far more accurate than most painted decks, and I have received many comments about mine from family and friends. They are definately worth it to me.

Bill

Here's a deck I painted using Model Master enamels.

Don, I am thinking of starting my USS Independence and a blue wood deck is available. I have read so many cons about them being hard to apply. You used them on your ships. how did you do it. You do not seem to have any complains.

Here's my latest, using an aftermarket deck. It's the Bronco Ting Yuen battleship in 1/350. I think KA made the deck, but it's been so long that I no longer have the bag it came in.

All tha'ts left to do is the gilded decorations and the rigging.

I stained the deck with a diluted flat polyurethane stain that's a driftwood color. Like it myself.

Comments welcome

Any of you shipbuilders have an opinion on Artwox Wooden Decks,I was thinking about one for SMS Emden ?

I use Artwox; their are more affordable, they look good, and they are easy to use.

Bill

warshipguy

I use Artwox; their are more affordable, they look good, and they are easy to use.

Bill

Thank you,they do look easy to work with.

Nice photos!  I still think that most builders overdo the effect.

Bill

Posted by Don Stauffer: " I haven't done it yet, but maybe my next wood deck project will be treated to look a little older."

I am planning the same for my next one too Don. Nothing drastic, maybe some hints of darkening at the bottom of stairways for instance, and maybe at places where the wood deck transitions into steel decking, places like that... but only lightly. Much depends on the quality of the deck itself I think...I don't know who does Hasegawa's decks for them, they ARE expensive, but the quality is really quite good/noticeable. -Tim

I get what you mean. The blue decks look good because it has a faded look to it.

IJN BB deck shown above does not appear realistic. Appears too coarse compared to actual planking. But then the brass photo etch on that model is not painted either.

Tom Cervo

Here's a deck I painted using Model Master enamels.

That's a heck of a fine job on this model Tom, I like how you inserted the Life logo into your diorama- it all looks so real                  

Oh and the gunboats not bad eather

See YA

Tom Cervo

I tried to show the diff on the CA-38, may have overdone it.