Is there a need for scale lumber?

[Anonymous]

Hi,

As a new guy to the hobby, I wonder if anyone has an opinion about the need for scale lumber? Like 2x4s and such used in construction, only scaled down to N, HO, S etc? I am thinking folks could use it in custom kit building and such.

I ask because I have a laser and could produce the stuff in quantity.

Also, any thoughts on what the correct thickness of the wood should be per scale?

Thanks,

Gary
Laser Image Works
[e-mail]
www.laserimageworks.com

[leighant]

I used scale lumber, have gotten it in N and other scales from various mftrs. I have built TWO ONLY structures board-by-board with full 2x4 framing, joists, roof trusses, double-hung windows, individual wood shingles etc.

One was a generic freelanced one-room false-front store type building with a sign identifying it as the Nit Pickers Union Hall and the logo of the United Farm Workers. I tried to include everything that a nit picker could ask for in a structure. Left the lid off the commode tank so you could see the ball and float in the tank.

Another N scale structure followed a specific prototype: Lat Lattimore's barn outside Fort Worth as it appeared during an NMRA Lone Star Region convention in the late 1970s, with figures painted as train club members with club vests in the loft of the barn running the train layout. I cheated and built an N scale model of a Lionel layout rather than the HO layout Lattimore actually had.

By the way, I saw some kindergarten kids playing with blocks cut from old 2x4s and making a play train and it struck me that a piece of 2x4 cut about 8 inches long is almost the same bulk size as a Lionel O guage boxcar. Therefore, one can cut 2x4 scale lumber for whatever scale you use as make a scale impression of a Lionel train. Of course, the locos will be a little harder.

So see how useful scale lumber can be?!?!?

[Anonymous]

Leighant,

Sounds like you have done some good things with it. Thanks for the feedback.

Gary

[sparkingbolt]

LaserMan

Just some thoughts:
What kind of wood are you cutting the scale lumber from?
There are already mfgrs of scale lumber, they use basswood cuz it has a very clean straight grain. Regilar pine or fir would probably be problematic due to its coarse grain and the differences in how hard and soft it is within it's grains. You could try it anyway just to see, i suppose.

I have projects that could call for a TON of scale 1X12s but the price of the scale lumber would be quite prohibitive. they would be about .0015x.0140".

The question then would be what would your prices be like? And the quality of your product?

Another thing that would be cool is rows of appropriately textured paper with cuts to resemble shingles. Just a couple thoughts, Dan

[Anonymous]

Gary:

There is a full range of scale lumber available. The usual woods are balsa and basswood (a kind of linden). Also modelers scale 'wood' is available in plastic textured to resemble wood. Additionally most other construction 'materials' are available...ceramic tile, spani***ile, tar paper, wood shingles, metal siding...what have you.

Prices charged by the manufacturers, of which there are many, are relatively moderate, at least in my estimation. For example I recently scratch built a 120 foot HO Harriman standard flush deck tressle for about $20 dollars materials cost with lots of scale wood left over. I'd estimate the cost of wood used at about $11. A prepackaged kit to build the same structure might cost $40 to $50.

Randy