Quote from: VC on April 12, 2012, 09:04:57 PM
In that case, I probably have been very lucky to have acquired a very different genus of Semul. It is not flaky at all and sands rather well into a white finish. The feel is very similar to balsa but is about 2.5 times heavier.

I have used simul wood to make all parts including the bulk heads for boats and sheeted them with plastic sheets (for my Antares / Naughty Cal Cruiser build).

However, with its weight factor it may not be suitable for serious aeromodelling. I have crafted fuselages for small chuck / catapult gliders out of it and they flew satisfactorily.

That could be the variety/trunk portion wood that is much denser and used in making Match Sticks.
As you have already testified, Semul is not apt for Aeromodeling where Weight so Critical. Boats/Trains/Static modeling is are much more forgiving.

There is another wood used by cheaper Kits in India called 'Japanica' or 'Punjab Pine' which was exactly same problems and are much brittle.

Advent of EPO/Depron has been such a bliss for the Hobby!!

Quote from: roopeshkrishna on April 13, 2012, 12:57:47 PM
collect big trunks from it, and dried it well.. after that we never looked back for.. still many balsa sheets are lying around me, but still using this simple wood..

Could be a boon for local Kit manufacturers!! So When can we expect Kits/ARF made by this wonder Wood ?

"There is another wood used by cheaper Kits in India called 'Japanica' or 'Punjab Pine' which was exactly same problems and are much brittle."

Absolutely correct!

Japanica / Japonica wood can be boiled and then used. Makes it more malleable. 30 years ago, no self respecting modeller would touch a kit made out of this wood.

There is also some confusion between Palash (Flame of the Forest) and Simul  (Indian Silk Cotton) Trees. They are not the same. While Palash wood is primarily used for making matchsticks, Simul is used for making country boats.

P.s. Sorry that I didn't use the "Quote" function 

But the wood looks like resin trapped inside the cells and weight/dencity is higher than BALSA or even Simul from the colour.
That is why it looks reddish like teak.