Hi guys! I was a ship modeler for 25 years but since 2000 I have been building scratchbuild aircraft dioramas for the Canada Aviation Museum.This has really kept me busy and unfortunately I have lost touch with the shipmodeling world in recent years.I would still like to contribute something here in the tips and techniques forum as a lot of what I do could apply to ship models especially the miniature carpentry.

Hey John,

Thats sounds great! I have been contemplating how to make ladders or steps for my ship. I know I can buy photo etched parts but I would like to learn how to make them otherwise.:xsmile:

Hi John,

I look forward to your posts! Something a little different for a change.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/Jennyunpub464.jpg

This is a scratchbuilt washtub that I have recently been working on.I will give you a step-by-step of how I did it.It is 1/16th scale but the same general techniques would apply in any scale.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/Jennyunpub455.jpg

These are the parts and pieces that I started with,mostly from my modeling junk drawer.The feet are from an old woodstove kit and the wooden parts from the craft store.
I find a lot of my stuff in hobby stores in the RR or shipbuilding supplies,also hardware ,sewing,fish tackle and junk stores etc...
Never,ever throw anything out! :xrolleyes:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/Jennyunpub457.jpg

Here I took some coffee stir stiks and sheathed the outside of the tub ,cutting them to length and glueing them on with carpenters glue.I then lightly sanded the whole thing.

Ya just never know where you are going to come up with parts do you? I'm kind of a packrat myself. At least that's what the better half says! :-)