Hey folks, I'm at it again.

I'm looking at different methods for which I can apply the decking for the wharf that I'll be constructing in a couple of weeks. The decking will be applied over top of a 1/4 ply sheeting ,which in the real world, would be the stringers underneath the decking.



So...the basic dimensions are 41" x 10" (sorry the drawing should say 41" not 40" ). The brown area is where the decking will be supported by 1/2 craft plywood and not piles, should save me a bit of work, modeling something that for the most part will be unseen, or in the shadows, so to speak. I'll also be spiking the rail directly on top of the decking as this is how I've seen it done in a number of old prototype photos.

I've been considering a couple of options and the quick and easy method of using board and batten basswood sheets had crossed my mind to cover the ply. I have some reservations about this method as I'm worried that the continuous wood grain of a single sheet will be highlighted once stained. The next idea was to apply individual pieces of strip wood across the width of the wharf. Doing some quick math this equates to roughly 8 pieces per inch, at 41 inches in length works out to 328 pieces, assuming I use 12" scale lumber, Holy Hanna! This would also cost me a small fortune in strip wood as well. Although to be quite honest...I'm leaning towards this later method... :? I could increase the width of the planks and go to say a 16" board which works out to roughly 5 boards per inch = 205 planks...a bit more manageable I think and actually saves me some cash.

Oddly enough, I've come across a couple of layout websites and this is how those builders have constructed their own wharf and pier designs...and they look really damn good.

That is of course, unless someone can save me from myself (again) and give me a better option.

I have had good luck with styrene as weathered wood:



I have not done anything that extensive but I have an article at:

http://www.pacificcoastairlinerr.com/aging_wood/

Thank you if you visit
Harold

Shane, did anyone ever tell you that model rairoading was fun ???????????????????

Did you consider cutting the stripwood from a larger sheet yourself to cut costs? You will have to cut down the stripwood to individual pieces anyway and that is what really takes some time.

cnw1961 Wrote:Shane, did anyone ever tell you that model railroading was fun ???????????????????

Did you consider cutting the stripwood from a larger sheet yourself to cut costs? You will have to cut down the stripwood to individual pieces anyway and that is what really takes some time.

I had. I believe I've asked this question before, but have you or anyone else attempted cutting strip wood using a full sized 10" table saw? I was thinking of using a 8" thin kerf blade and using a piece of Plexiglass to fabricate a zero clearance insert to keep the small strips from falling into the gaps. Has anyone else ever tried this?

Then there is the weather...it's pretty damned cold outside, and with no where else to work, I really don't feel like freezing my butt off out in the driveway to make a small pile of strip wood for my little wharf project. I'm crazy, but not that crazy. I'm a Nancy when it comes to cold weather. :oops: To order the strip wood, would cost me about $50. So its a toos up between, trying the cost saving method by attempting something that quite possibly no one else has done with the tools I have on hand, or ponying up the cash and sucking up the cost for the convenience of having it shipped to me.

hminky Wrote:I have had good luck with styrene as weathered wood:



I have not done anything that extensive but I have an article at:

http://www.pacificcoastairlinerr.com/aging_wood/

Thank you if you visit
Harold

Harold, thank you for option # 3. ...and a very viable one at that. Thanks!

I don't remember what scale you are working in, but you can buy a whole lot of thin wooden coffee stirrers for next to nothing, and they make great planks.

MountainMan Wrote:I don't remember what scale you are working in, but you can buy a whole lot of thin wooden coffee stirrers for next to nothing, and they make great planks.

HO scale. I had thought of that as an option as well. Thanks for sparking a reminder in my little head about that one.