I'm the Crazy Guy they keep in the attic :: View Single Post

I started building Civil war ships out of Balsa when I was 10. You'd probably say they were crude, but I was doing the best I could with the packing balsa my Dad brought home from work, and a few sheets of the stuff I bought with birthday money. My plans were pictures in books. My tools were a Boy Scout knife, a hand drill, and sand paper. I later got an old file. Never could touch Dad's tools till after he was dead.

There was a book in the library about solid models but mine rarely got above the water line.

There was a lot of plastic in there right through college so I learned what they have to teach about rigging.

I also tried a few ancient ships in college, bending balsa around frames but never getting below the water line. I was still working with diagrams and pictures from books. I never dreamed that people drew plans or thought to slot bulk heads and keel pieces. I suppose that stuff was pretty crude too.

I stumbled across Model Shipways maybe eight years ago. B
In a fit of enthusiasm I bought books,some models, was either intimidated or disappointed in turn. Model Shipways two part keels? The really warped keel on the Ranger by Corel (what the books suggested never fixed that).

Have some decent carving tools, small files, but most of the power tools around here are full sized. The scroll saw from Sears is from the 70s and there are no more blades for it. Had a Jewlers Saw until I dropped it on the carpet. The cheap steel shank broke, the steel was full of air bubbles! Now its just the coping saw.

I have a plank bender, an Amati Keel Klamper, and a Fair a Frame that I broke all to peices when I stepped on it during assembly.

I still like Balsa but have worked with basswood. That plywood they use in the kits has bad centers much of the time. I can laninate better out of balsa and bass.

I guess you'd call me a beginner.