GUIDE FOR THE BEGINNER WOOD MODEL SHIPWRIGHT
By Al Bisasky
PART II: SELECTING YOUR FIRST KIT
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Author in this Article. You will also find links to other related articles.
In Part I of this series, I discussed the basic tools recommended for the
beginning model shipwright. It was pretty easy to write that piece as it was
based on first hand experience with the tools mentioned in the article. However,
recommending a “first kit” for the neophyte shipwright is a difficult thing to
do. There are just too many variables in the equation: level of skills and
abilities, tenacity to finish a project that will require a relatively long
period of time, and most of all, patience. I’ll tell you right up front that if
you cannot follow plans and instructions, are easily frustrated or you need
instant gratification, this is not the hobby for you.
If you consider the amount of work that it will take to complete even a
beginner’s level kit, it may seem quite overwhelming. But if you look at the
project as a series of smaller projects, it becomes easier to digest. As you
complete each step and each phase of the construction, you will gain a real
sense of pride and accomplishment. You will learn and improve as you go and
things will become easier for you. Complete one mast and the rest of them will
become easier to build.
Always keep in mind that you will make mistakes. You must be ready, willing and
able to see your mistake and correct it. You will learn from your mistakes. If
you are not completely satisfied with a certain piece of work; determine exactly
what it is that you don’t like or where things went wrong and then simply do it
over. It took me four tries before I finally was able to get the push boat for
my Model Shipways WILLIE L. BENNETT to look the way it was supposed to and I was
satisfied with my work. On the same kit, the mast must be tapered and then
planed to an octagonal shape at the bottom. Three tries and three pieces of
dowel later, it’s almost perfect. As my Old Uncle Seamus once said, “Didja ever
want somethin’ real bad and when ya’ finally go it, all ya’ could do was stand
there and grin at?”
If you just plain don’t want to take a shot at a plank-on-bulkhead model for a
first effort, there are still many kits with solid wood hulls available like
Model Shipways’ SULTANA. Blue Jacket Ship Crafters another highly regarded maker
of model ships also offers solid hull as well as plank-on-bulkhead models.
What To Look For In Your First Kit
I cannot tell you what ship model to start with; I can only make a few
recommendations. Ultimately, the decision is yours and yours alone. Do your
research carefully and then select a kit that you are interested in. There’s a
pretty good selection to choose from. Don’t get too hung up on the labels
“Beginner” or “Entry” and “Intermediate” levels. Some intermediate kits are
quite suitable for first-timers while some beginner kits can be just as
challenging. It depends on the individual model and the manufacturer
Here are some of the factors that will have the greatest impact on you decision
• Instructions: are they extensive or are they lacking? Are they understandable
to you?
• Hull: does the hull have relatively easy contours or are there tight radius
and compound curves to the planking?
• Materials: Are the wood and other components such as castings, blocks,
deadeyes, etc., of good quality?
• Sub-assemblies: are the more difficult to build equipment made from pre-cut
wood or will you have to fabricate them (i.e., scratch build)?
• Plans: are the blue prints (yeah, I know that they are all black on white, but
they are still generally referred to as blue prints or simply prints) drawn to
scale for easy transfer of measurements? Are the drawings, sketches and
illustrations easy to read and understand?
I realize that it is impossible to look inside the box if you are going to order
your kit on-line. However, if you order a Model Shipways kit from Model Expo,
you can return it in original condition within 30 days of purchase if you are
not completely satisfied with their product. In addition, if you lose or break a
part, they will replace it free of charge. As Old Uncle Seamus would say, “Ya’
can’t beat a deal like that with a futtock stave.”
You can also peruse the kit review articles and practicums on this website that
will, at the very least, give you a back-of-the-envelope sketch. SEAWAYS SHIPS
IN SCALE bi-monthly magazine offers both reviews and full blown, multi-part
articles on the building of many, many kits. It just so happens that as of this
writing, SIS is starting a series of articles on the building of Model Shipways
ARMED VIRGINIA SLOOP in their current issue. The ARMED VIRGINIA SLOOP is
considered to be an entry level kit.
If you can find a beginner or entry level kit that suits your fancy and you
think that you can handle one with a bit more work involved, then consider an
intermediate kit that has good instructions and prints. Just don’t be too bold
for your first effort.
A Word About Scale
Don’t get too hung up on scale or the mind set that the larger the scale, the
easier the kit. While things become larger as the scale increases; the greater
the detail there is to the model. Small errors on a large scale ship are oft
times easier to spot than on a smaller scale model. The most common scale is
1:64; that is 3/16 real inches = 1 scale foot. Other common scales for model
ships run from 1:100 up to 1:16.
Entry Level Kits for Beginners
The following kits are recommended by their manufacturers as appropriate for
beginners with little or no experience. Each of these kits uses plank-on-frame
hull construction. I have included the manufacturers stated dimensions of the
completed model: length x height and scale. In each case, these models have very
good to excellent plans and instruction manuals.
Model Shipways ARMED VIRGINIA SLOOP (31”x22”, 1:48)
Amati BLUENOSE (19” X 17”, 1:100)
Amati HMS LADY NELSON (21” X 19”, 1:64)
Corel US REVENUE CUTTER RANGER (18” x 15”, 1:50
Corel SCOTLAND (17” X 16”, 1:64)
OcCre PALAMOS FISHING VESSEL (16” x11”, 1:48)
Model Shipways SULTANA – solid hull
Blue Jacket Ship Crafters – several plank-on-frame and solid hull models
suitable for the beginner and intermediate modeler.
KITS FOR THE MORE EXPERIENCED MODELER
If you have previous modeling experience and have been successful with building
wood kits of other types of models such as model aircraft or model railroading
equipment, you should be able to move right up to certain Intermediate level
kits. If this is the case, take a look at the kits from Amati, Artesania Latina,
Model Shipways, Corel, Euro models, and Caldercraft. Caldercraft kits of Great
Britain are not easy to come by in the US. The only two distributors that I have
found are Aero Marine Models of Seaford, Delaware and on-line from
Northernstarmall. Caldercraft models have been called, “the most model builder
friendly ship kits on the market today.” Their plans, instructions, materials
and pre-cut parts are arguably superior to any other manufacturer. Expensive,
but like anything else, you get what you pay for.
Expect in many cases to pay over $200 for an Intermediate level kit, although
some, like Model Shipways BLUENOSE, BENJAMIN LATHAM, PRIDE OF BALTIMORE II, and
RATTLESNAKE all come in under the $200.00 mark.
The most important thing is to start with a ship that you like and you feel that
you can handle. Every model ship kit, regardless of its level, will have at
least a few quirks, hidden secrets, surprises, and little things that will drive
you nuts until you apply your gray matter to figure it them out.
As my dear Old Uncle Seamus used to say, “Boy-oh, it’s as easy to build a
ship-in-a-bottle as it is to drink the whiskey to empty it. ‘It’s the crawlin’
in and out of the bloody thing that’s the hard part.”
See you next time in Part III when I’ll discuss painting and staining.
Cheers, Al
Links to brand names:
1 - Amati
2 - Corel
3 - Caldercraft
4 - Artesania Latina
5 - Model Shipways
6 - OcCre
Commercial web sites:
Model Expo
Northern Star Mall
Tall Ships, Inc.
Blue Jacket Ship Crafters
Related Articles and Resources:
Scaler Tool
Scale Charts
Shop Notes / Tips
Modeling Links and Resources
Modeling Book Resources
Part One | Top