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09-08-2008, 07:44 PM
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New Guy Here
I have been building models most of my life. Cars, figures, plastic boats ect. I am looking forward to trying my hand at one of these wooden beauties. My biggest problem is that I tend to attempt the more complicated kits right off. As long as I have decent instructions and photographs I believe I could give it a good effort. Any suggestions would be welcomed. Thanks for allowing me into your community.
lee |
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09-09-2008, 01:02 AM
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Re: New Guy Here
Lee: Welcome aboard
I would recommend the Phantom Pilot Boat By Model Shipways; It is a solid hull model with two masts and minimal rigging, designed for the beginning modeler. A large number of our members have started with it. There is a "practicum" that helps with the build, on Model Expo's website (they own MS). If you complete it within six months, and send in photos of it, you get the price of the kit back (towards the purchase of your next Model Shipways model), "free" is a pretty good price. Most hobby shops, with a "ship" section have it. Look forward to your future posts on the forum.
------------Members' Signature------------
"Tactum illegitimi non carborundum
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09-09-2008, 01:57 AM
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Re: New Guy Here
Lee
The Phantom is a good option, but not necessarily the only one (albeit the only one in the "free" category). You alone know your skill set. Have you worked with wood before, say model railroad craftsman kits or even cabinetry? Do you have experience with plastic tall ships? Years ago, I did the Revell Cutty Sark, Constitution and Alabama with what for a high school modeler were pretty good results. How good are your hand skills, how are you with small tools and do you like to carve? Have you been reading about, studying and fantasizing tall ships for years? Do you really get excited about scale, historic, detailed modeling? Do you have the patience to take on a project that will last months or even years? My first ship was the Model Shipways 1:64 scale Prince de Neufchatel. A fair tick up from the Phantom. Like many Model Shipways projects, there's a fair amount of do it yourself wood work. Not just planking but tapering masts, building the deck structures from basically sticks and then there's the rigging. It took me a couple years and required that I supplement the instructions that came with the kit with other research, but I think my results were fair enough. (they're posted in my album.) As I've said, you know your skills and experience. if you have the skills and patience, you may want to push yourself a bit. Whatever the case, keep us posted and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Regards Jim
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09-09-2008, 06:14 AM
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Re: New Guy Here
Glad to have you on board Lee.
If you have any questions or need any help, just post it here in the Scuttlebutt (open in a blank window) Gary
------------Members' Signature------------
"may there be no moaning at the bar
when I put out to sea"
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09-09-2008, 07:16 AM
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Re: New Guy Here
I have been a woodworker for about 25 years, I built furniture and kitchen cabinets in my spare time. While building figure models I built some fairly complicated dioramas where small scale wood objects were created by myself. I have built 2 large plastic boat models with all the rigging hand tied.
Is there a kit that I could purchase that gets you into the planked hulls and varieties of woods with some fairly detailed instructions, plans. Or is that the issue with the more complicated ships, they send you a box of wood with only the main picture of the ship and you have to wing it. While looking on the internet I saw a ship kit that must of had hundreds of pictures and several books of plans and even a jig to build the main structure, but of course the kit was over a thousand dollars but it really looked cool. Anyway, just trying to figure the best approach for me, I am really into using the varieties of wood with the detailed decks and if I am going to work on it for over a year I want it to be a good one. Thanks in advance for all the suggestions that have been given. Lee |
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09-09-2008, 06:35 PM
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Re: New Guy Here
Welcome aboard Lee. I'm a relatively new member myself. I have 3 model ships under my belt now- the first was the Artesania Latina U.S. Constellation, a fairly complicated kit (described as "intermediate level", but the ship has special meaning to me, that is why I chose it). The plans and pictures were pretty good but I had to do A LOT of figuring out (and some conjuring) on my own. I looked at many pictures of real ships and models online, and picked up a couple of books. I wish I had known about this forum then (if it existed). The most important thing was taking my time. I look at it now and see every mistake and blunder, but it turned out nice and I am very proud of it.
I'm sure whichever kit you start with you'll have fun, and be proud of it when you are finished. And you'll have the advantage of drawing on the expertise of the members of this forum, who have been very welcoming and helpful to me. Good luck and best wishes.
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09-09-2008, 09:41 PM
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Re: New Guy Here
Lee:
With your woodworking skills, and past experience with dioramas, I would say look at the "intermediate" kits. I prefer American made kits (no translation problems), especially Model Shipways (they have an excellent return policy). MS has good instructions and plans, and a "fair" selection of kits. Check the Model Expo website, and look at the various kits Mfg's, and their descriptions. Just enter "Model Expo" in the "Google" box at the bottom of this page.
------------Members' Signature------------
"Tactum illegitimi non carborundum
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09-10-2008, 12:18 AM
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Re: New Guy Here
Lee
As James has suggested, you might poke around the Model Expo / Shipways site. One handy thing, they publish many of the construction manuals for their products on line... allowing you to down load and read what the kit entails before purchasing... They have a nice line of American types although you seem to have to go either offshore or into really pricey kits to find the exotic European types. The same is pretty much true of exotic woods. With Shipways (to the best of my knowledge) you get basswood (boxwood?), some walnut and plywood. They build fine models but you don't get that polished pearwood. None of which keeps you from substituting if you have the where-with-all to cut your own. Once you've set your eye on one or two possibilities, try sounding us out. Most likely someone around has worked most common kits. Happy hunting! Jim
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