To wood the deck or not to wood the deck?

My $.02

It is personal preference I suppose. I think wooden decks look interesting but not particularly realistic, especially in small scales. The grain is too big and most kits use a type of wood that has the grain running the entire length of the deck bow to stern, as if a shipbuilder took special care to match different plank shades and line them up in zebra stripes for hundeds of (scale) feet down the deck. The Bismarck shows them especially bad as the main deck is fairly big and open.

For 1/350 I think they look better painted.

I think it depends on the brand of deck.  I have seen ones with coarse grain, but the one I used on my Dreadnought (Pontos) was very fine grain- I suspect basswood- and looks great.

I'm with Don. (The plastic, molded on deck planks on most ship models are usually way overscale as well) Grain is not a huge factor with the better brands of wooden decks.

Here's a set I used on a Nagato...(16 pieces)

Some closeups that indicate grain is not really a huge issue with most decks anymore

Most folks who try them never paint another deck again. I sure won't! :) 

I don't much care for them. The end joints are way too prominent, the grain shouldn't even be noticeable, and most wood ship decks aren't wood colored anyways. Also, I have to ask...

Firedeck, that looks like a demonstration model of the product to me.

Here is another possible option for you.

Scaledecks.com makes veneer decking that is made from real wood and is only .008" thick. You can get it in maple or teak w/ various "shadings" to choose from. I don't see the 1/350 Bismarck as one of their "ready to go" items w/ all the cut outs, but you can get "uncut" sheets ($38.99 for a 10 x 16 sheet w/ the planking in the scale that you designate) that you then would have to make a template out of card stock or such to set up your cut outs on the veneer. If you email John, he will be more than glad to work w/ you on what you want. I am using their decking on my 1/96 Connie and absolutely love it. Worth a look see.

I don't know what the detail of the deck looks like on this model, but I have seen several ships at shows where model deck was painted and detailed and they look really good if not better than some of the wood decks you can buy.

I have not seen any that can compare to Rod Millard's painted or stained plastic appearing wood.

"Also, I have to ask...

Firedeck, that looks like a demonstration model of the product to me."

Hi GMorrison. No, I did that Nagato:

(http://cs.finescale.com/fsm/modeling_subjects/f/7/t/144671.aspx) 

and I'm very glad I had the wood decks...saved a ton of time trying to paint plastic to look like wood (which I am not very good at anyway, lacking the artist's (Rod Millard) touch of blending paints on plastic to convincingly simulate wood. It is a skill I have yet to master...along with 99% of us I would suspect. ;)

Wood decks also negate the necessity of extensive masking when painting decks....this alone, as anybody who has attempted complicated deck masking knows, helps makes them worth the price in my opinion.

If the end joints/scale on these wood decks look way too prominent to you, you should see the plastic decking on most of my ship models!...talk about out of scale! The quality wood decks are MUCH better about scale than most plastic, molded-on ones, in my opinion.

I think wood decks are a great addition to just about any ship model. Your mileage may vary of course. :)