Balsa wood for a master

Lonnie Sweet · Post by **Lonnie Sweet** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 9:02 pm

I'm working on a part for a super secret 1/24 conversion. Normally I would use kit parts and styrene, but the size prohibits this. I want to use a balsa wood cut to shape and plate with styrene. When I cast it will the styrene stay in place? Alternately, I was gonna use a huge glob of sculpey to form it, but I'm not sure.

Which would work better, or are there any alternate ideas?

The piece will be about 2X4" and about 2" thick.

Andrew Gorman · Post by **Andrew Gorman** » Tue Jan 13, 2009 9:28 pm

You could make your pattern out of Balsa, and then vacuform a styrene shell over it. Leave the Balsa inside for strength, and glue away!

3d-builder · Post by **3d-builder** » Fri Feb 27, 2009 6:39 pm

Balsa loves to stick to styrene and vise versa....try to pull the styene away if you can....... and you will pull the wood with it.So casting with this combo will be fine!

Kylwell · Post by **Kylwell** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 3:15 pm

My few experiences using balsa as a master taught me the need for finer grained wood like bass or Jelutong. It's fine if you're going to lay a heavy layer of Aves or some such over it just don't press too hard.

3d-builder · Post by **3d-builder** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 6:20 pm

I agree balsa needs to be protected with a covering of some sort, I think he said he was going to laminate it with plastic so he should be fine.

Regards,
Michael

chiver · Post by **chiver** » Mon Mar 05, 2012 10:51 am

what about coating it with paint and a gloss seal?

Chacal · Post by **Chacal** » Mon Mar 05, 2012 2:47 pm

I have had wonderful results by coating balsa with resin. Just apply thin resin over the wood and it'll wick it up. Wait, reapply. Wait repeat for as long as you need (basically when the resin does not penetrate anymore). Sand. Reapply resin. Sand with finer grit. Prime. Once it is done, it is just like a resin piece, but lighter.

davehal9000 · Post by **davehal9000** » Mon Mar 05, 2012 8:22 pm

I've soaked balsa in Super Glue, then cleaned up wherever needed. Normally though I just use either a spray primer or brush-on Mr Surfacer to seal it, sand as needed and make a mold

ajmadison · Post by **ajmadison** » Mon Mar 05, 2012 8:40 pm

This is almost a completely different line of discussion, but I would echo the need to vac-form the styrene over a balsa master. For those that know me, I love skinning sheet plastic frameworks. I tried once to skin a carved balsa wood shape (nay, fuselage) and it didn't go well. I own a small vac-former, so I would go that route if I was to try starting with a carved balsa master again.