Hi Folks. I used to fly R/C planes many years ago, and been looking after various full size yachts since then. I've just caught the boat modelling bug, so I thought I should sign up to a forum.

So – hello folks!

I've built the ubiquitous Chinese '1:100 Navy Ship' kit that my partner got me. Frustrating, fiddly, and no instructions or drawings! Strangely satisfying in the end though, with the help of some good scratch build books. Who knew there was a science to planking?

Now I'm trying the 'Ace Sloop Racer' kit which I'm going to convert to R/C.

One thing has struck me in both kits – the wood is soooo fragile. OK – fair enough in the cheap Chinese kit, but I expected much better in the recent kit. OK – it is a bit better, but there is no resilience in much of the wood to bending, even with a good dose of steam. The wood just seems to snap like a biscuit. It doesn't seem to work the same as balsa I remember from 3 decades ago.

I don't think I'm being unduly clumsy – is there anything to be done other than be prepared to swap out bits of balsa that seem brittle?

I wondered about soaking it, or oiling it. Not sure if those are good ideas or not.

Thanks!!

Jeff