Building board

[Tim Tim]

Third question of the day - must be getting in the swing of things! By the way, thanks to Duncan for the other replies.

I don't know how I have managed over the years - I just have a small piece of pine shelving that I use as a building board. I really must do something about that.

Not that it's not big enough for the stuff I have built (wingspan no more than 24", at a guess). No, it's just too hard to get some pins in, and I also complete one part and have to jig the plan around to do the other bits etc etc. It's a nusiance.

Years ago (notice how often I'm using that phrase? Yes, I'm worried about it now!) I heard of some special building board, but of course I could never find anything suitable in my local model shop. If I ever went looking for anything and couldn't find it I seemed to end up buying yet another 1/72 Spitfire/Hurricane/ME109/etc., just to make it look like it was a successful shopping trip........

Long-winded post to ask for advice on a building board. Number one: what material? Also: what size/weight etc.

While I'm on, I have these quite nice map pins for pinning down work, and I have found baking paper to be effective at keeping glue of plans. Any other basic requirements?

Cheers,

Tim

 

[wonwinglo]

Third question of the day - must be getting in the swing of things! By the way, thanks to Duncan for the other replies.I don't know how I have managed over the years - I just have a small piece of pine shelving that I use as a building board. I really must do something about that.

Not that it's not big enough for the stuff I have built (wingspan no more than 24", at a guess). No, it's just too hard to get some pins in, and I also complete one part and have to jig the plan around to do the other bits etc etc. It's a nusiance.

Years ago (notice how often I'm using that phrase? Yes, I'm worried about it now!) I heard of some special building board, but of course I could never find anything suitable in my local model shop. If I ever went looking for anything and couldn't find it I seemed to end up buying yet another 1/72 Spitfire/Hurricane/ME109/etc., just to make it look like it was a successful shopping trip........

Long-winded post to ask for advice on a building board. Number one: what material? Also: what size/weight etc.

While I'm on, I have these quite nice map pins for pinning down work, and I have found baking paper to be effective at keeping glue of plans. Any other basic requirements?

Cheers,

Tim

*** Tim for the best building board copy the Guillows one that is sold in the States,it is made from balsa which is the best material to use for small models as pins push easily into it,it will cost a few bob to produce but once made will last for years and many good models,follow these instructions and get down to your local balsa supplier to find the best balsa for the job,here goes-

1/ First you will need three sheets of 36 inch long,by 4 inches wide half inch balsa planks,pick the hardest ( not difficult these days) and straightest that you can find,next pop along to your local DIY store and get them to cut a panel of MDF offcut to the size 12 inches by 36 inches by half inch,while you are there buy a tin of 'Thixofix' adhesive which is a contact glue which has a slideability built into it,this is ideal for our purpose.

2/ Take this lot home and place the MDF onto a flat surface,coat the board with the contact adhesive,and then one side of the balsa,leave for about 15 minutws to gel off and place the first balsa panel at the edge of the MDF,press it firmly along the edge and make sure that it is well stuck down,now run a bead of PVA glue along the very edge of the balsa plane and then mate up this to the existing board,once again press firmly into position,then follow with the last piece of balsa.

Allow this to dry overnight and the next day add two cross pieces underneath the MDF panel at the ends,any straight timber will do about 1 inch square perhaps,if that lot warps then I will be most surprised as the whole lot should be solid.

You will now have a building board that will allow you to build the most flimsy of structures without any warps,and it will last you a lifetime.

These boards are a pleasure to use.

 

[Tim Tim]

Yes, I saw the Guillows board and thought it looked nice. Thanks for the reply.

Tim

 

[Malcolm Fisher]

I use what was the baseboard from under the key board of an old piano.

I mounted this on the legs of an old ironing board and it does for most of what I build and can be folded away when not in use.

It has been known to be folded and put to one side while the glue on a wing panel is drying out!

The other choice is a flush door. These can often be found in a skip with perhaps a corner damaged on one side. I used one of these to build the wing for my Vulcan slope soarer.

Malcolm

 

[Greyhead]

For my building board I’ve used 2 laminations of Melamine covered chip board screwed and glued together, mine are 15"x48" but use whatever size is appropriate for your models and available space. Topped with “K” class pin board stuck on with contact adhesive, “K” class board is a bit more solid than standard, it takes pins easily and holds things very firmly whilst the glue dries.

A board like this will last a life time and never warp.

Grahame

 

[Kiwi]

While you are sorting out your building board call into your local office supply/stationary shop and pick up one of their self healing cutting mats. That'll stop you cutting your plans or building board and your blades will last a lot longer too. I only started using one a couple of years ago and I don't know how I managed without it.

 

[Tim Tim]

Funny you say that, because I have just taken delivery of an A3 self-healing cutting mat!

Great minds.........