Help First time ship builder

dljohnst,

Go to this link and read what the expert wood ship fellows say about colors and details of the very kit you have. It has been asked there before.

When you get to the site, click on "PAINTING" on the left of screen, from there click on "What colors are appropriate for 16th-17th century ships? "
http://home.att.net/~ShipModelFAQ/

P.S.- the box shows its hull copper below the waterline. You can do it either way as many ships of the era were white and later coppered (around 1770's or so) for better corrosion resistance, worms etc...

Dljohnst,
The "White" as shown onthe kit plans is in real life tallow impregnated with ground glass!! This was to discourage little marine monsters from eating the ship. If you are going to follow this suggestion then use an off white/light cream in a slightly uneaven coat. This represents the uneaven application and the partial removal of the tallow from the action of waves and the passage of the ship through the water.
Dai

On the tallow color, you can mix Floquil Antique white with Floquil Reefer White at a 50/50 mix and it gives you a perfect off white shade for your ship.

Jake

I went with a wood look since I feel that the white distracts from the rest of the ship.
(http://images.fotopic.net/?id=2898703&outx=600&oq=0
She represents a French frigate of around 1790 that is in the British service. She is a ship from an Alexander Kent novel "Command a Kings Ship".
I did the painting all by hand using Floquil wood stains and Grambaucher artist acrylics. For a sailing ship, painting by hand is nice because you want variation and distortion to show texture. Also, go for and antique look, but be careful not to overdo it.
This is a fun kit .
Scott

I just got back from Hobby Lobby with this kit. I had always thought the area below waterline in the box picture was coppered. It is wood.

Sorry.

I bought it to build an HMS Suprise as best I can to represent the ship in Master and Commander the movie. Its not a bad looking kit.

Lon

i used model masters wood sprayed over flat black lightly sanded after