Hmmm;
Had a good suggestion for Rocketman. But as I told him.This is for the modeler who is thinking," There's gotta be More". So I found out from my absolute fave LHS that yes,indeed, Evergreen does make sheet product in.050.Besdies clear that is. Do you think plastic sheet thin enough to trace through on a light box would work. This stuff does Work!!
Now as I mentioned before, You have to have the subject fixed in your mind. Whether it floats( My Favorite) or whatever. There are line drawings available for most stuff I think. I say I think, because being involved with ships most of my life, and having two years of naval Architecture under my belt that I was able to apply on mods to existing vessels I was ahead of the average ship/boat modeler.
There are (Paper Panzers) To use those terms, for many essels, Planes, Armor and Softskins that the sky could be the limit I did an Ontos using plastic sheet and Insulin Syringe barrels years ago. It was based on the picture on the Ideal Models Kit!. Used treads from a toy bulldozer. Looked alright though. .
If I still had it, the thing would be forty years or so old. I recommend, Like regular contest level stuff. A whole bunch of information and photo references. The biggest trick is deciding on your scale. Question here, What's your favorite scale to work in and how does it relate to the subhect? The reason I bring this up is there are many things available to back say 1/35, 1/24, 1/25 and 1/72. My ships are usually in the common ship scales of 1/200, 1/250 down to 1/700. Most are n the 1/250 and therabouts because of the scale of the papermodel I am basing it on. Some ,if they are smaller vessels are in the weird( For Ships) scale of 1/48!,If I get real fussy they may fall into the weird train scales of 1/87, or 1/160.
Why? All the aftermarket stairs and rails that are not metal and are available in this scale. Benches on a 1/87 Ferry? They are out there! and so on. Now all that said, What do you want to Scratch-Build? Space? There's a lot of Star Wars and and Star Trek out there. lotsa of Resin too ( but, that's expensive on a budget) Remember what I said some years ago and keep mentioning you wish? Plus, This is important now. Let? Yup, Found Materials. The Aforementioned Ontos was found parts and scratchbuilding supplies. Go there if you get the imagination and supplies built up, Wait---Part three is coming soon!