Bakster the decking looks fantastic!

That's really nice. I'm going to have to try it on mine.

Nice that’s going to look sharp when it’s in place .

Deck Division reports deck ready for inspection, sir!

as modelcrazy said , some real nice work steve . would love to see it for real to get the full effect , maybe some day mate 

modelcrazy

Amazing Bakster, you really put some time and effort into that and it shows.

 

Amazing Bakster, you really put some time and effort into that and it shows.

The deed is done, Ink is applied. A few things to note:

1. In my initial test I had applied two coats of Ink; with the final piece I applied 1. It is slightly less gray.

2. I applied the ink one section at time so that the ink didn't have time to dry. I saturated the piece and then quickly removed the excess using cotton swabs.

3. I experimented with dry brushing and I found that you can reduce the overall depth. For my veneer, and my taste, I didn't go that way.

4. For grins I applied the Ink to a piece of actual wood stock. The wood absorbed the Ink as well as the stain test. I then tried sanding it and yes, you can alter the look as GM mentioned. When it comes to this veneer--things don't seem to behave in a logical manor. I DO believe this manufacturer has applied a sealer, and that changes all the rules. With that said, this Ink could behave differently for you than it did for me, depending on your source for the veneer.

5. Unfortunately, the images below are a poor representation of reality. In my opinion, the piece turned out fantastic. I am really happy with how the Ink knocked down the rather toyish appearance. Now, it looks like real wood. 

Thanks for the advice along the way...

Following KCs advice I checked out some YouTube videos on veneer decking. In so doing, I came across an excellent video about PE. Most of you guys have no need for this, but for PE greenhorns like me, it is an excellent basics tutorial. This video filled in some knowledge gaps that I had.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=V6C7LGDTlwo

modelcrazy

Bakster, I've always just put it on. You need to make sure the deck is absolutely clean, no dust, no finger oils. I usually do this with alcohol and a cotton swab. You my want to spray some acrylic gloss in the deck after to help the adhesive adhere but again, make sure the deck is clean  before applying the veneer. You'll have one shot at it. If you mess up it can be lifted and reapplied but you run the risk of tearing the wood and/or making the glue less tacky. Use a turret barbet or some other large object to yes as a reference and aline it. If an edge gets stuck down while your doing this don't worry, use an Xacto blade or something to lift it back up. This is why some use a mist of water first . Once down, use a wood dowel or some such to press the veneer down, especially around the deck details. 

BTW, I forgot to mention, remove all the little details on the sheet before removing the deck. This will helpvline it up and keep you from frustration when the deck is applied. 

Someone may have a better way but that what I've learned through the years. 

 

I have all of the details removed and it is ready for inking, probably this weekend. I will do an update when that is done. Once done with that, I will set that aside because I am nowhere near ready to install them. Next I will move towards fabricating the guns. That should be fun, and I am looking forward to it. 

PS: Just for grins, I might do a little more experimenting with the ink, maybe see how well dry brushing works. Who knows--maybe I'll prefer it.

Bakster, I've always just put it on. You need to make sure the deck is absolutely clean, no dust, no finger oils. I usually do this with alcohol and a cotton swab. You my want to spray some acrylic gloss in the deck after to help the adhesive adhere but again, make sure the deck is clean  before applying the veneer. You'll have one shot at it. If you mess up it can be lifted and reapplied but you run the risk of tearing the wood and/or making the glue less tacky. Use a turret barbet or some other large object to yes as a reference and aline it. If an edge gets stuck down while your doing this don't worry, use an Xacto blade or something to lift it back up. This is why some use a mist of water first . Once down, use a wood dowel or some such to press the veneer down, especially around the deck details. 

BTW, I forgot to mention, remove all the little details on the sheet before removing the deck. This will helpvline it up and keep you from frustration when the deck is applied. 

Someone may have a better way but that what I've learned through the years. 

Drifter, yes it's mine. Thank you. 

Don't worry about when you start, you have all the time in the world. It's good to have you along for now.

Hello everyone,

Steve...I am sorry on the delay of starting my build. I am currently involved in a very large project at work, and it keeps me away from home for weeks at a time. I will get started as soon as I get more home time.

Gentlemen...everyone's work thus far looks amazing! A lot of great looking builds going on in this GB. I am sorry for being absent, and not being involved thus far.

modelcrazy

I agree GM, especially with some PE you can make a 1/700 look good. I just still really like 350 but have a ton of 700 as well. You're right about the space though.

 

Is this one of your builds? If so sir that is absolutely beautiful!! Everything looks amazing. Very well done sir.

Kentucky Colonel

Go to YouTube. There are several videos of people putting on the "wood decks" on the ships. That's where I learned, by watching others do it.

 

Go to YouTube. There are several videos of people putting on the "wood decks" on the ships. That's where I learned, by watching others do it.

Bakster

I will try a test sanding of it tonight.

What I ended up with is a gray splotch, detail was lost. For those interested, maybe a dry brushing approach would work, or to selectively apply the ink in areas that you want it. For me, I am moving on with what I came up with.

Last night I started removing sections that are scribed for removal. It is a fun process... it is something a little different from the norm. Like MC said, they pop out pretty easily. Here and there I did help things a little with a sharp knife. The one thing I wish that they'd do is make the cuts clear through the plastic carrier. That is not the case. Doing this would make it an easy process to dry fit the sections.

What do you guys do on this? How do you test fit the pieces without the deck getting stuck down?

Nice I did check the site out . Beautiful presentation of those ships . I will get one  eventually .

again many thanks for your comments working on the crew ,the boat some small stuff to do.

Yeah Crown;

      The "Fitz" and many of her sisters. It's a company that is named-LakeFreighterMinis . The color is good and the parts fit really well. I will get a photo going as soon as I figure my new camera out and get the pics to a host.

mach71

That ink looks like its the answer, looks real nice.

 

As does PT-109! 

 

Gamera

Bakster: Yeah, kinda hard to tell from a modern deck. Looking forward to the sanding, I wanna see how this is going to turn out. 

True. In my case though, the ship I am building is the modern version, not the WW2 version. This is why I am leaning towards the deck as shown in Ninos image. Most of the images I have found look like that. And actualy, my Ink test is letting through more yellow than what the images are showing. In Ninos image the tones are pretty much just shades of gray. 

I don't know enough about this, but to GMs point, a ships deck that is still in service might be handled differently than one docked for tourists. Heck, in its current state, they may have prettied it up even. Who knows, I certainly don't. My goal in all this was to find a way to knock down that brand new wood look. The decking as it is supplied isn't bad, but it needs help. With using the Ink I am content, but for the sake of others that would like to know if more yellow can come through, I will certainly try sanding it. Maybe I am wrong, but I think the real answer to doing this will be in how it's applied at the get go.

It will be an interesting experiment! I will try a test sanding of it tonight.

That ink looks like its the answer, looks real nice.

As does PT-109! 

modelcrazy

The new wood may not be showing through but I think you nailed the seams with your process. I'll have to give that a try, you may have come up with a new technique 

 

One thing I'd like to add. I applied the liquid fairly heavy by placing a drop with a paintbrush, then spreading it around. I followed up with a cotton swab to remove any excess. I'd think that if a person wants to get more yellow to show, you could try dry brushing this stuff on, or apply the ink in select areas. With a little experimenting, a person could tweak the process.

Bakster: Yeah, kinda hard to tell from a modern deck. Looking forward to the sanding, I wanna see how this is going to turn out. 

Mach71: Awww shucks, somehow everything I go on vacation somewhere stuff I what to see is down for maintenance. 

Mach, no I take Southwest, I like their free checked bag policy. Also I would rather land at Love Field than DFW.

I like AK better than the big names by far but they only have Bombardier 400's in Boise, at least that's all I've ever seen. Cool plane but loud and slow, and I have to go through Portland, Seattle or Spokane first.

American has the only nostop to Dallas once a day, but I don't like American.

The new wood may not be showing through but I think you nailed the seams with your process. I'll have to give that a try, you may have come up with a new technique 

Thanks Gam, GM, GH, MC, and Nino.

GM: I will test sanding a portion of it to see what happens. I am not sure how that is gonna look, but it doesn't hurt to test it and see.

Nino sent this image to me showing how the deck looks today. There is very little new wood showing through, if any.

modelcrazy

Gam, what an awesome souvenir. 

Mach, you do get around. I was thinking about you yesterday when I flew back to Dallas for my quarterly check and watched the pilots getting ready.

 

Yah, it's part of the job. Boise to Dallas? You might have been on my airline! Was there an Eskimo on the tail?

Gam, what an awesome souvenir. 

Mach, you do get around. I was thinking about you yesterday when I flew back to Dallas for my quarterly check and watched the pilots getting ready.

I didn't go. When we were landing I saw that she was under a lot of white tarps. I figured they were working on her

When Bakster said he had enough reference photos I decided to wait for another time.