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Advice on ship modeling

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  • Member since
    August 2009
Advice on ship modeling
Posted by muscogeemike on Tuesday, November 29, 2011 9:34 PM

I’ve been doing models for 40+ years, all I have ever done are airplane kits - I’m thinking of venturing into ships.

Should I start with a smaller kit - a PT boat or sub - or just jump in and do an Arizona or Bismarck?

  • Member since
    March 2010
  • From: New Zealand
Posted by Scorpiomikey on Tuesday, November 29, 2011 9:40 PM

Welcome to the forums.

My opinion? Buy an Airship Stick out tongue

My first (and only) foray into ship building was the Airfix HMS Victory. Turned me off ships altogether. Thats my 2 cents. Not sure if its much help to you thought.

"I am a leaf on the wind, watch how i soar"

Recite the litanies, fire up the Gellar field, a poo storm is coming Hmm 

My signature

Check out my blog here.

  • Member since
    August 2011
  • From: Variable
Posted by Lt. Smash on Tuesday, November 29, 2011 10:30 PM

I've just made the leap myself and decided to build my first ship.  I decided to build the boat my father-in-law served on in the 1950s (after being prompted by an article in an issue of FSM). 

I'd strongly recommend downloading Mike Ashey's book Building and Detailing Scale Model Ships.  This is a good primer on model ship construction. 

As for the size of the kit, this is largely up to you.  I'd consider the complexity of the aircraft you've built:  Are you a 1/72 guy or a 1/32 guy?  Do you build complex kits or kits that fall together?  I suspect that your answers will dictate whether to get a PT boat or the Arizona. 

Good luck.

Bob

On the bench:  Tasca M4A1 Sherman (Direct Vision Type)

Build Log: www.ltsmashsmodels.com

  • Member since
    July 2009
  • From: lafayette la
Posted by 40.mm on Friday, December 2, 2011 5:41 PM

Welcome to the forums, glad to have you with us,  So tag along..

 

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  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: Washington, DC
Posted by TomZ2 on Friday, December 2, 2011 8:20 PM

“Ninety years ago I was a freak. Today I’m an amateur.”
— David Warner as Jack the Ripper, Time after Time

Occasional factual, grammatical, or spelling variations are inherent to this thesis and should not be considered as defects, as they enhance the individuality and character of this document.

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: AandF in the Badger State
Posted by checkmateking02 on Friday, December 2, 2011 10:47 PM

Maybe pick a subject that you are greatly interested in; that would help you stay motivated.

Complexity might be an issue too.  Some of the new stuff has a lot of parts that can be kind of overwhelming.  I started with older kits that, while maybe not as accurate as recent offerings, are a little simpler.

Picking a scale is a consideration.  Things in 1/700 are pretty small and fiddly; but 1/350 can get pricey.

Hope you find something that really trips your trigger.

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    June 2010
  • From: Austin, TX
Posted by DoogsATX on Friday, December 2, 2011 10:56 PM

muscogeemike

Should I start with a smaller kit - a PT boat or sub - or just jump in and do an Arizona or Bismarck?

 

I built two ships when I was a teenager - Tamiya's 1/350 CVN-65 Enterprise and BB-62 New Jersey, but before and after it's been all aircraft and armor. Recently, though, I've decided to give ships a try for the first time in ~ 20 years.

My advice - go with the one you want to build. It's not like most skills aren't transferable. If you can build aircraft you can build armor or ships without too massive a leap, save of mindset.

My first ship is going to be Trumpeter's 1/350 BB-55 North Carolina...

On the Bench: 1/32 Trumpeter P-47 | 1/32 Hasegawa Bf 109G | 1/144 Eduard MiG-21MF x2

On Deck:  1/350 HMS Dreadnought

Blog/Completed Builds: doogsmodels.com

 

  • Member since
    October 2010
  • From: Arlington, VT
Posted by WallyM3 on Friday, December 2, 2011 11:16 PM

There are a few recently released 1/35 PT-type boats that might be of interest. I happen to like "clumsy" scale watercraft.

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