Monday, July 6, 2009

Ship Modeling from Stem to Stern


The foundation of your kit model is the plywood frames and keel. Some of the pieces, which are cut by powerful hydraulic cutting blades, are warped, or unequal. The longest piece, the keel, might be bent as a result of changes in humidity. If this "hogging" is evident by sighting along the part, you might be able to save it.
Wrap the part in kitchen plastic wrap with a small piece of cotton placed out of the way. Moisten it with water. Be careful because all you want is some moisture to fill the air spaces within the wrapping. You do not want saturation. Place the part under a weight on a flat surface. Leave it overnight. Remove the wrapping and air-dry completely under the same weight. Make certain that the part remains flat. This method should loosen the binding glues and reshape the part. If you can't cure the warp, remake the piece. Aircraft plywood is available at most hobby shops.