For those that are wondering how to get started, get on line or go to a local hobby store. There are many models available. I built the first American Cup ship model that was like building a real ship. Planked hull and decking. All other pieces hand made. The most gratifying model I’ve made. All necessary wood was included.
No, a lighter will not work. Using a lighter will not heat the plank up, but will most likely set the wood on fire. This is not what you need. You just need to warm up the wood and try not to damage its structure. Therefore, if you don’t have a soldering iron, it’s better to take a regular electric iron. For example, there are small travel irons.
I am considering this for the near future. The issue is that there are many ways to build a model: you can start completely from scratch by creating your own models and blueprints, use pre-made drawings and a list of details, or purchase a kit that includes everything you need. Additionally, these kits can vary greatly in terms of complexity, offering a wide range of choices. The availability of materials also differs from country to country. For example, I obtain wood from a private dealer, but in other countries, there might be specialized stores or different methods of acquisition. There are many other processes steps and details which may significantly differ from model to model. Therefore, I need to think carefully about how to create a video that is both informative and engaging.😉
Well, the easiest way to purchase a kit. Kits have ready to use parts and wooden planks. There are different kits available- by complexity, size/scale, materials etc. Having a kit, you shouldn’t worry about where to get wood. If I build model from scratch (meaning not from kit), I purchase wooden bars from my local dealer and then make planks and other parts by myself.
You can even use a regular iron, but an electric soldering iron or an electric wood burner to me looks most convenient. Some model manufacturers (for example, Amati) make special devices or soldering iron attachments. But the question is: is it worth paying extra money for a similar result? ;)
there are two options: one - to purchase a shipmodel kit containing good quality planks; another - to get (or to get an access to) a good and precise table saw and make those planks by yourself. the planks I use in this model are from Amati kit, final planks are 0,5 mm thick, but I can make the same planks with my table saw.
In fact you can use any soldering iron. E.g. I found my old one. But there are special devices of this kind available on a market. Check Amati for example.
