Login
or
Register
Subscriber & Member Login
Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!
Login
Register
Home
»
Model Railroader
»
Forums
»
Layouts and layout building
»
Is there a need for scale lumber?
Is there a need for scale lumber?
2193 views
4 replies
Order Ascending
Order Descending
Anonymous
Member since
April 2003
305,205 posts
Is there a need for scale lumber?
Posted by
Anonymous
on Saturday, November 29, 2003 9:14 PM
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
technical@laserimageworks.com
www.laserimageworks.com
Reply
Edit
leighant
Member since
August 2002
From: Corpus Christi, Texas
2,377 posts
Posted by
leighant
on Saturday, November 29, 2003 11:34 PM
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?!?!?
Reply
Anonymous
Member since
April 2003
305,205 posts
Posted by
Anonymous
on Saturday, November 29, 2003 11:51 PM
Leighant,
Sounds like you have done some good things with it. Thanks for the feedback.
Gary
Reply
Edit
sparkingbolt
Member since
September 2003
From: Central Or
318 posts
Posted by
sparkingbolt
on Sunday, November 30, 2003 2:06 AM
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
Reply
Anonymous
Member since
April 2003
305,205 posts
Posted by
Anonymous
on Sunday, November 30, 2003 7:02 AM
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
Reply
Edit
Subscriber & Member Login
Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!
Login
Register
Users Online
There are no community member online
Search the Community
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter
See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter
and get model railroad news in your inbox!
Sign up