Description
J Perkins 1:8 x 4 x 36 Sheet Balsa, part number 5520023, is a rectangular balsa wood sheet for model making, prototyping and lightweight construction projects. The sheet is made from A-grade balsa wood and has a brown colour with a straight grain and uniform surface. Its listed size is 1:8 x 4 x 36, with the technical dimensions given as approximately 3mm thick, 102mm wide and 914mm long.
This balsa sheet can be shaped for a range of modelling and fabrication tasks. It can be carved, sanded, painted or steam-bent when creating surfaces, forms and miniature structures. In model construction, it can be used for areas such as wing skins, fuselage formers, internal ribbing, facades, floor plates and site contours. The lightweight material also suits film and television props, set miniatures, scenic pieces and industrial prototypes where a timber-like surface is required without the mass of heavier wood.
The 36-inch length provides a continuous sheet for larger model surfaces, while the rectangular profile can be cut or detailed by hand or with suitable workshop tools. Its pale brown balsa surface is suited to painted finishes and can be used to represent wood, stone or metal in scale models and prototypes. The sheet is supplied as an individual piece for model making and related creative construction work.
Specifications
- Material: A-grade balsa wood
- Profile: Rectangular sheet
- Thickness: 3mm
- Width: 102mm
- Length: 914mm (36 inches)
- Weight: 50g
- Colour: Brown
- Age recommendation: 14+
Secured by Stripe
Specifications
Balsa Wood Sheets
A-Grade Balsa Wood sheets are an essential substrate for high-precision model making, aeronautical design, and professional prototyping. Recognised for having the highest strength-to-weight ratio of any commercial timber, these sheets provide a lightweight yet structurally reliable surface. Each 915mm (36") sheet is precision-cut to ensure uniform thickness and a consistent, straight grain, meeting the exacting standards required for architectural and industrial mock-ups.
Applications:
- Architectural Model Making: The primary material for representing large surface areas such as facades, floor plates, and site contours. Its pale, neutral tone is ideal for clean, minimalist presentation models, while its uniform surface allows for precise laser cutting or hand-scribed detailing to represent brickwork, tiling, or cladding.
- Aeronautical & RC Engineering: A staple for constructing wing skins, fuselage formers, and internal ribbing. The material’s low mass is critical for flight-capable prototypes and high-performance scale aircraft, offering the necessary rigidity without compromising weight targets.
- Film & TV Prop Making: Extensively used for building lightweight "hero" props, set miniatures, and break-away scenic elements. Balsa’s unique grain structure allows it to be carved, sanded, and painted to realistically simulate heavier timbers, stone, or metallic surfaces.
- Industrial Prototyping: Ideal for rapid volumetric studies and look-and-feel prototypes. The material can be easily laminated or steam-bent to create complex organic curves, providing a fast and cost-effective way to test three-dimensional forms.
Technical Specifications:
- Material: A-Grade Balsa Wood
- Shape: Rectangular Sheet
- Width: See Options
- Thickness: See Options
- Length: 36in (Approx. 915mm)
J Perkins 1:8 X 4 X 36 Sheet Balsa Key Features:
- Industry-Leading Strength-to-Weight Ratio: Recognised as the premier lightweight timber for professional applications, these A-Grade sheets offer exceptional structural reliability without the mass of traditional hardwoods.
- Precision-Cut 915mm Lengths: Each 36-inch (915mm) sheet is machined to exacting tolerances, ensuring uniform thickness and a consistent, straight grain—critical for high-precision architectural and industrial mock-ups.
- Architectural Standard for Surface Design: The definitive material for representing facades, floor plates, and site contours. Its pale, neutral tone provides a clean aesthetic for minimalist models and serves as an ideal substrate for laser cutting and hand-scribed detailing.
- Aerospace & RC Engineering Staple: A fundamental component for constructing high-performance wing skins, fuselage formers, and internal ribbing where meeting strict weight targets is essential for flight capability.
- Dynamic Fabrication Potential: The unique grain structure allows the wood to be easily carved, sanded, or even steam-bent to achieve complex organic curves and high-detail volumetric studies.
- Professional Prop & Set Construction: Extensively utilised in the film and TV industry for creating lightweight "hero" props and realistic miniatures; it can be painted and weathered to perfectly simulate stone, metal, or heavier timbers.
- Rapid Prototyping Utility: Provides a fast, cost-effective solution for industrial designers to test "look-and-feel" prototypes and three-dimensional forms before moving to final production materials.
J Perkins 1:8 X 4 X 36 Sheet Balsa Tech Specs:
- Weight: 50g / 1.76oz
- Shipping Weight: 0.05kg / 0.11lbs
- Product Height: 3mm / 0.13in
- Product Width: 102mm / 4.00in
- Product Length: 914mm / 36in
- Age Recommendation: 14+
- Colour: Brown
- Material: Balsa
- Profile: Sheet
Key Info:
- Brand: J Perkins
- Part No: 5520023
- Barcode: 5051121029352
- Material: Wood
Delivery & Returns
Standard Shipping
£3.95 to most of the UK
Express Shipping
£6.95 to most of the UK
Worldwide Shipping
Available at checkout
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