1:350 HMS Indefatigable,1911 (For Combrig 3531FH)

A 1:350 wooden deck for a model of the battlecruiser HMS Indefatigable by Artwox Model

This product is not a kit but an accessory for modelers who want to raise the quality of the deck surfaces of their model. The thin wood veneer with a pre-printed pattern of planks has an adhesive back and is glued straight onto the plastic deck. The piece is cut for one specific kit, the Combrig 3531FH; please check the match before you buy.

The knife decides the result

The cut outline of a veneer never fits a hundred percent: there are always a few places where an overhang has to be trimmed around the superstructure, a hatch or a mounting foot. And that is exactly where you can tell whether the modeler has a sharp blade. A blunt knife does not cut wood but tears it: the fibers pull out, the edge frays and a repair is no longer possible. It therefore pays to have a pack of spare blades to hand and to change them freely after every few cuts. Always cut along the edge of the plastic part, which acts as a ruler, make short strokes and do not press: the veneer goes through on the second or third light stroke. At inside corners, first sink the tip exactly into the corner and only then run the cut outward, otherwise you will overrun the corner.

Before cutting and after it

The base has to be flat and degreased, otherwise the edges will start to lift once they are trimmed. Pull the protective film off in sections and press the veneer down with a soft cloth. Once it is trimmed, go over the edges with very fine abrasive paper to remove any pulled-out fibers. Tone the finished surface with wood stain to taste and seal it with matte varnish.

Who the set is for

• The builder of a model of the British battlecruiser HMS Indefatigable in 1:350 scale.
• The modeler who has mastered working with a modeling knife.
• Those interested in large ships from the beginning of the twentieth century.
• Anyone who wants to swap engraved plastic for real wood.

This is an accessory for a plastic kit, not a standalone model. The kit, paints, tools and glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.