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[Ardnave]

Hi folks,
I have been thinking ahead to a future project, a 1:48 Clyde paddler, fibreglass hull with scale draught, so have to keep things as light as I can above water. Luckily there is not much structure on the promenade deck, two small deckhouses & one funnel.
Thinking about trying 3mm foamboard for decking, with thin planking on top.
Have searched on here, and there are some references to foamboard but none I can see about using it for decks.
Just wondering if anyone has used it, pros/cons? I'm assuming foamboard will be lighter than a ply deck, hence the interest in it.
I noticed 4D modelshop has it in various sizes and its cheap enough to experiment with, but thought I'd ask anyway!

cheers
Clark

[Tug-Kenny RIP]

I've never really considered foam board but your choice of 3mm seems thick to me.  You might as well use plywood as you plan to stick planking on top any way.  It would be stronger this way.

ken

[Ardnave]

Hi Ken,
Thanks for your reply.
I was thinking that 3mm would be quite strong and light, also as the model will be about 60" long I was hoping for some weight saving, however small. Another thing sometimes the ply warps a bit so I was hoping the foamboard wouldn't do this.
On my last model I had a ply deck and I just drew/painted the planking on, so maybe I could do the same with foamboard.

Clark

[Tug-Kenny RIP]

I have no experience of it so let us know how it performs.

Ken

[barriew]

Are you talking about board with paper or pvc over the foam? 3mm will be strong enough, but is no lighter than 2 mm liteply, which could be scored to represent the planking.


Barrie

[Ardnave]

Hi Barrie,
yes I was thinking about the paper covered board, - I will get some when I'm starting to gather materials together for this build, I do have ply in already, but as the foamboard is quite cheap I will do some comparison/experiments, just to see how it works out.

Clark

[ballastanksian]

My experiences with the material is that if you use any sort of adhesive that shrinks, the board will readily warp. I suggest you use one of the adhesives that Klunk is considering in the Depron thread as the foam is very similar to Depron ad will give you the same headaches if you use the wrong one.

Obviosuly there are may proponents of using card on models, and they have ways of waterproofing it, but some of these also react with the foam, so again tread carefully, bone up on your adhesives and be prepared to obtain the ones required and least likely to shrink or eat foam I am no less prone to reach for whatever glue I have because it is a Sunday afternoon (shops have shut:O) and I want to build my ship regardless of common sense now!

[Stan]

Hi  Guys my Minesweeper see post under warships and military used a white foam deck. I used Evo stick nail and seal to glue the deck down with no problems. You could also try Everbuild Sticks All. Both evo stick and everbuild have technical departments you can contact to ask for information many glues used in the construction industry now meet the need of model boat builders. Further to deck planking on my minesweeper I used timber strips glued down using Delux RC modellers glue again see details above. The above is for information only and it will be down to the boat builder to use what glue they think is the best.

Stan.

[Ardnave]

Hi guys
Thanks for the advice re adhesives, I hadn't given that any thought and I will do the research starting with the depron thread and your minesweeper Stan.

Clark