Topic: Building Board - help/advice please

I am about to embark on my first 'kit'. All my previous models have been ARTF's so have only required a 'flat/true' surface to assemble over.

Can anyone recommend what to use as a building board that will enable pinning down during construction and be tough enough to be moved around the workshop as space is required for other activities.

Thanks in advance

3/4 inch Block board at about 4 foot x 2 foot should be enough but it depends on how big your models will be. Block board doesnt warp or flex much so as long as mount it on summat flat you should be OK. You may cover it in cork floor tiles so as to have a softer surface to pin down on but I dont bother.
It would be best if you can clear a space to build yourself a bench.

What are you going to build?

I use a narrow interior door faced with cork tiles. Using a door allows you to build some pretty large span wings without having a large part hanging off the end of the board. I store it vertically to try and avoid warping.

You store it vertically, what on hinges in a doorway
Sounds like a good idea.

AB
As you appreciate - the first priority is a board which is flat and true. Think about the support upon which it will be placed. If it is itself flat and true - fine. If it isn't you will need a board with some flexibility in which can be shimmed to be true (use a decent spirit level in all possible directions). A hollow cored door is usually a good choice if it can be supported on trestles or something similar - but check that it is true before parting with cash. If your board has to go on an existing table or the like a good choice is 3/4 or even 1/2 inch fibre board - MDF - not the soft and soggy stuff. Two disadvantages - it is heavey, hence the thinness - and you can't push pins into. Overcome the second drawback by facing it with cork tiles - I use 1/8" but a tad thicker would be better if you can find them.
A board this thin will flex - you turn this into an advantage by shimming underneath it with scrap ply, metal, whatever you have which is suitable.

Hope this helps

Mike

my board is, and always has been 5/8 blockboard, selected for straightness, and framed underneath diagonally ,and recatangularly with 2"x1" softwood,  this also serves as a workbench, but, if space is the premium, than a bench need to be no bigger than your biggest component,  mines 8 footx3 foot,  and is more cluttered than clear,
a smaller seperate board would defo have its advantages

All,

Thanks for the advice. I think I'll go down the Bloackboard/MDF faced with cork route. Maybe even go for 2 smaller boards (but large enough for biggest component) so that I can work on more than one piece at a time and still have ability to move on and off workbench as necessary.

Project is an AirSail Chipmonk. I'm not totally new to kit builds its just over 30 years since I last had a balsa glue fix and accuracy didn't matter as much in those days !