OPINION: SCRATCHBUILDING ARTICLES OR EVEN A BOOK?

Yes, you posted a question about this here,

http://www.finescale.com/fsm/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=2791&SearchTerms=books

Some of these books do exactly that.

And we do try to help.
http://groups.msn.com/ModelersAndHobbyForum/typicalshiphullconstruction.msnw

http://groups.msn.com/ModelersAndHobbyForum/japaneset103lstbuildup.msnw?albumlist=2

There's a very good book out called Scale Model Warships, Edited by John Bowen.

It was written back in 1978, and each chapter was written by an individual ship modeler.

Here's what it covers:

Chapter One: Sources of Information by Alan Raven (of Raven and Roberts fame)
Chapter Two: Hulls and Decks by Dave Sambrook (Sambrook Plans Services)
Chapter Three: Tinplate Contrsuction by HTN Batchelor (a ship modeling legend)
Chapter Four: Superstructures by Giancarlo Barbieri (another ship modeling legend)
Chapter Five: Guns and Mountings: by Peter Hodges (noted RN historian)
Chapter Six: Deck Fittings by Don Brown
Chapter Seven: Warships in Miniature by Larry Sowinkski (former Director of the USS Intrepid Museum)
Chapter Eight: Working Models by Colin Gross
Chapter Nine: Warships in Plastic by Roger Chesneau (famed naval draftsman)

Although much of the information is dated, it still provides the modeler with everything he needs to scratchbuild a ship in just about any scale.

Check used bookstores, Ebay, B&N, etc...It's long out of print, but definitely worth finding.

Another great book on the same subject and scope is Ship Modeling by P.C. Coker. Very pricey however, ranging from $150 for tattered and torn to $400 mint.

PS: I'm working on a similar book, but it's on the back burner while I get these other 2 finished.

Jeff Herne
Modelwarships.com

QUOTE: Originally posted by Jeff_Herne ... Another great book on the same subject and scope is Ship Modeling by P.C. Coker. Very pricey however, ranging from $150 for tattered and torn to $400 mint. ... Jeff Herne Modelwarships.com

Hey!, That's the book recommended in the last thread.
And here's a link to amazon listings

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/stores/detail/-/books/091443201X/102-4216652-7643308

For give the CRS disease (Can't Remember "Anything"). I just figured that since I have a subscription to FSM and not a big change purse that someone would submit that type of article to FSM. The books look like they would be very good but when one is on a penny budget one cannot order from Amazon. I thought I brought this idea up before but sometimes things get lost in the shuffle and I thought I would try to bring it up again. My apologies.

Well if you consider that some people will drop $60-$350 dollars on a model kit, you have to consider $80 dollars spent on the P.C. Coker book would be money well spent.

I haven't had to buy a model ship kit in years.

Of course one can only imagine what I have spent on building supplies.
Hmmm, was that last expense deductable?

Snoopy:
Another good book that should be more affordable is "Ship Modelling from Scratch" by Edwin Leaf. He talks to most of your subjects and walks you through a couple of projects.
There are also some good magazines dedicated to the subject, two I like are "Ships in Scale" by Seaways, and "Model Boats" (a UK publication) by Highbury. (Note to self; I haven't been able to find Ships in Scale in my hobby shop lately, I must remember to check the web for them ...)

I asked FSM if they wanted articles like you proposed as I go through my corvette scratch build, but they took a pass. (Not that I am a professional by any means, but I too think there is a modelling gap here that needs to be addressed.)

Regards,
Bruce

I saw the review and great photos of the 1/700 Sacremento at warships.c came up short on the price tag. In two build sessions I have a hull and bulkheads to the deck level laid down,using demensions given and 1/1 photos in the article.Cant match the etch brass etc but certain I will be real happy with the result, Im all for ship scratch building with styrene sheet, details where and however.