Contact Paper and Model Ship Decks .

Okay :

     Did I say something weird ? Naw , Just was thinking about these self adhesive deck kits . Why put a material on the deck that is as thick as some of the parts ?

     Years ago I had three ships , One was mine and two belonged to a very busy friend , he wanted me to build them .

      I tried to get the decks looking right with pre and post shading etc . to no avail . Those decks still didn't look like wood .

      My Missus suggested Contact Paper by  3 - M . She even bought the first small roll . It was exactly the same color as Humbrol's Deck Bleached Teak ( Unavailable now ) .

      She said , and I quote , " You're a designer and engineer , surely you can draw planks on there ". Well , I took a piece and fastened it to the drafting table at home . I laid out the planks just for the main middle plank runs .

     Then she comes along and says , " Hey , did you know you can use Craft Clear Flat to protect the surface when you're done ? " I did now !

      Result , very nice looking decks with payed lines between the planks done with a technical pen . Protected against smudges and looking just like wood . Didn't have to modify any structure to allow for the thickness either !

   They still make the stuff and there are colors out there and grains that can be used on any size model .

       You still have to draw the payed seams on there in a plank pattern , But it also allows you to create the other weird planks associated with sail vessels and any other types .

The weird planks have specific names but , sorry I can't remember their names except they run around edges and so on . Try Contact Paper Before you spend all that money for wood stick - on's that are actually too thick !         Tanker - Builder