1:350 USS Montana Wooden Deck, Masking Sheet (For Very fire VF350913)

Wooden deck with masks for USS Montana 1:350 (Artwox Model)

This item is not a ship kit. It is a set in which you get a veneer deck with pre-printed plank laying and a self-adhesive backing, plus a masking sheet. The veneer goes onto the plastic deck of the kit and takes over from the engraved plastic relief with real wood. The set is cut for one particular kit, Very Fire VF350913; check the match before buying.

Why veneer looks better than engraved plastic

The difference is not only that veneer really is wood. Engraved plastic has the planks marked by a groove of the same width and depth over the whole area, so light reflects off the deck monotonously. Veneer has a grain of its own, individual planks differ slightly in tone and the surface shifts shade a little with the angle of view. That irregular, quiet difference is exactly what the eye reads on a model as genuine material. The pre-printed plank laying also respects the real layout of the deck, including the length of the individual planks and how they follow on.

Patina between the planks

The strongest effect comes from darkening the seams between the planks slightly. Use a heavily thinned dark brown or gray paint and let it run into the seams by capillary action. Wipe the excess off with a cloth drawn along the planks, never across them. Work in small areas so that the paint does not dry on the face of the planks. Always test the effect on an offcut of veneer left over after trimming. Seal the finished deck with a thin coat of matte varnish, which protects the surface and prevents fingerprints during the rest of the build.

Who the set is for

• Modelers whom an engraved plastic deck has never satisfied.
• Those building a model for display or for a competition.
• Builders who appreciate masks enclosed with the deck.
• Modelers with experience of fitting and fine trimming.

The package contains a veneer deck and a masking sheet. The kit, paints and varnish are not part of the delivery, unless stated otherwise.