Should I get a ligthbank?

I've been considering the Bowens SL455 lightbank.

I've a couple of hotel boudoir / glamour sessions and I'm hoping to use and emulate natural light.

Thing is we all know unless there's an awful lot of it I will have to shoot wide open and lose some of the detail (Which I don't want to do).

Am I wise to aim for 5500K colour temperature and if this is the right step to take are there any alternatives....Bowens stuff tends to have a weeks waiting list (for the less commonly used stuff) and I need it for next Thursday.

That doesn't look nearly big enough to emulate natural window light.
Calument, and others make large diffusion panels that would do a better job. And you can use them with strobes or whatever since they are just the frame and fabric.

Is there a reason you dont want to use strobes ?

No, I'm happy to use strobes, just worry that I'm going to fall over with the positioning of them and would rather have an 'as I see it' continuous light.

I worry the modelling lights will blend into the natural light too much and throw me off.

Well if you want a continues lightsource strobes wont help you much.

However it can surely be done with strobes with success, you have until thursday to try it out.

I would use a scrim or a large softbox.

Assuming that the room is big enough - I'd setup a background stand like they use for background paper, hang a big white bedsheet across it and shoot a strobe through it. I'd back the strobe up enough so that the output will light up the entire sheet. Then I'd position the model close to it - as close as possible without getting the sheet in the picture. That setup will give you a beautiful natural light look.

White bedsheets are very inexpensive...and chance are - they'll be one on the bed in the hotel room that you'll be using

I'd opt for flash because I'd prefer to not have to shoot wide open or use a high ISO and/or possibly have to use a tripod. I like shooting handheld and with flash, you'll freeze the action.

Well, that's my opinion for what it's worth

DeanCapture i like that idea, i'll have to remember it when i'm caught without enough gear