IVORY AYOUS-1X5X1000 MM.-10 PCS

Pale ayous strips 1 x 5 x 1000 mm

The pack holds ten strips with a section of 1 x 5 mm and a length of one meter. Ayous, also known as obeche, is an African wood with a pale surface, ivory-colored according to the name, and with a very even, unobtrusive grain. It is softer than sapele or manzonia, and all the better for cutting, bending and sanding — and the pale tone is exactly what the deck of a model needs.

Use on a model

• deck planks and laying them with the seams suggested
• a pale second layer of hull planking above the waterline
• facing superstructures, hatches and interior surfaces
• contrasting strips against dark woods such as manzonia or sapele
• a base under a stained or varnished surface where the tone is to be warm and pale

Working with the wood

Softer wood is forgiving when bent, but it does not take coarse sanding — once a mark from a coarse grit has been worked into a pale surface, it is hard to remove. Work from a medium grit to a fine one and always sand along the grain. Cut with a sharp scalpel in a drawing motion, in several light passes. On pale wood, deck seams are classically suggested with a soft pencil along the edge of a strip before gluing; the effect is finer than dark glue, which would seep into the pale grain. It is bonded with PVA wood glue; wipe any excess off at once, because a pale surface will not forgive a stain. Seal the surface with matte varnish or wax; oil will bring ayous out toward a warmer tone.

Who the strips are for

For builders of wooden ship models who are laying a deck or want a pale contrast to a dark hull, and for modelers who have run out of deck material from a kit.

The strips are supplied in their natural state, unworked and without any surface finish. Glue, abrasives and varnish are not included in the package.