Too much ship for a 12-year-old?

I chose a Spanish Man O'War when I was in third grade. I didn't paint models. The only reason it got paint was that my sister wanted to paint it. I built it up just short of rigging. And we displayed the ship for 6 years. In my freshman year in high school the sails and rigging finally got done. Now I build all sorts of things people think are "out of charactor".  Let your daughter choose her challenges, and enjoy the time you get to spend with her.

On my 11th Birthday (many moons ago) a friend of mine had given me a Revell "Cutty Sark" still sealed. It was my first experience with the sailing ships. There were no instructions in the box!! (OOps) I was determined to build it regardless. I too thought it was "outta my skill level" I went to the library & found all available references I could find on it & of her class. I was hooked on models after that. I like the idea of you're asking the LHs to open the box for your daughter & I'd like to suggest that you show her the references on that ship, point out what all there is to do on the rigging, the fine details,etc.
Good luck! don't be surprised if she's dead set on building it.

Thanks, guys. I think what I'm going to do is ask the local hobby shop lady to open the kit up and let her SEE all of the little parts, then point to the cars and snap fit airplanes, and note the wide variety of very bright colors of spray paint in the auto parts section ...

The actual kit will be as easy as the Titanic.  Aside from the yards, it has fewer parts but the parts are typical Revell in that they are made of soft plastic and have flash and pinholes in them.

Since she is twelve, let her go with it and build as much as she wants.  The rigging doesn't have to be that of a completed ship and the sails can be glued on.  Then again, the rigging might be what she may enjoy the most. 

A good kit to start on before this one would be either the Santa Maria or the Bounty.  Both ships are about the same size and quality, but have a lot less yards, spars, and masts to rig and are good to practice on.  However, I know how she feels, when I was about 9 or 10, I had to build the Constitution, no other model would substitute, and even though it was way past my skill level and looked like it went through a hurricane when I was finished, I loved building it and it got me hooked forever on sailing ships.

Scott

Speaking as a Dad with a 10yr old son that i have got into modelling, i would say it may be a bit much too chew as the titanic is a simpler model than a sailing ship, your daughter may, by the sounds of it do very well with the hull and deck etc but as you mentioned, i would be concerned that she may get overwhelmed and loose her momentum.  this is something i am concerned about with my son so i carefully steer him on to the projects i think he will enjoy and also will finish as i want him to keep going with the modelling untill he is truly hooked and will have a hobby for life that he enjoys and gets a lots of satisfaction from. however i do agree with qmeister that it would be a good idea to buy the Alexander because as sure as the sun comes up if you wait it wont be avaliable when you want it. just my thoughts, have a good one!

I would probably get the kit but before it gets built I would buy a couple of simpler sailing ships to gain experience with. After all, there is some difference between the Titantic and rigging a sailing ship.  The reason for buying the origional ship is sure as the sun rises in the east, when you feel you're ready to tackle it, you won't be able to find one.