Wooden Ships

They can be very satisfying to build but take a concerted effort to stick at it and see it through to the end. Better to start with a small one to test the water and hone your technique. Something like a Billings Kit or Amati. One or two masts will teach you the basic requirements. It is a very different kind of modelling from 1/72 aircraft but the fiddly detail factor is the same. Your tool box will need expanding too. Hey,it's nearly Christmas,so start dropping hints in the right places. Have you found the PLZ yet??

They are certainly fascinating and in a league by themselves. If you are going to take one on I recommend allowing at least a year or 18 months minimum to completion. Not budgeting enough time will cause you frustration.
Frustration is something else that comes packed in these kits. Jim is right on when he recommends starting with something smaller with one or two masts. It is fine to build up a few cannons but when there are 74+ in the kit patience can wear thin. Also expect to rig upwards of 500 blocks, even without sails.
A lot of these kits are just like 1:72 aircraft in that they include fit problems, sometimes poor materials (example; lower deck cannon barrels that pin to the hull to represent the whole weapon) inappropriate fittings, out of scale parts (usually rigging thread blocks and sails) etc. The ones you see that look gorgeous were probably kit bashed somewhat.

Not to scare you off, but be prepared for what you will get into. Remember about 80% of these large ship kits never get completed because the buyers were not prepared for the time and patience commitment.

I started with a small sailing dory. I got to make a hull mold, build a lapstrake hull, scratch build metal fittings, rig a mast, make sails, in short everything you will do in a large ship with all of the rewards but without the frustration. If you get through a kit like that (there are many out there) and enjoy it, then by all means work up to the larger vessels.

Two good references that I have mentioned in this forum before are "Historic Ship Models" by Wolfram zu Mondfeld (available in English or German), and "Ship Modelling from Scratch" by Edwin Leaf. A lot of what is in these books can refer to kit builds.

Good luck, I hope I have not scared you too much, I intended a reality check only. Please let us know how you proceed from here.
Bruce

I agree and may I add that it may be a good Idea to steer clear of warships with lots of cannons and gun-ports to cut out!!!! They can really push you toward that bottle of Auzo in the fridge. Artesania Latina make some good priced kits of merchant ships like the Scottish Maid or Hannah which are a good introduction to the hobby and should be finished as per instructions in a reasonable time. You can cut your time down by not painting as wood kits can look just as good left as they are with just a coat of good varnish

I would agree with just about all of the above. One reservation would not to start with a Billings kit. I did and had it not been for a good friend i would never have finished it.
I would recomend the following books.
Scale Model Sailing Ships John Bowen Conway Maritime Press ISBN 0 85177 111 4
Plank on Frame Modeling Harold Underhill Brown, Son and Ferguson ISBN 085174 186 X
Plank on Frame is my Bible. Not cheap but well worth the money . Buy vol one then as things progress get vol two. I would also advise to get them from your local library first.
Dai.

cool guys..i will try a 40 dollars viking ship.....hope the price tag is right...
ps lolok i am going to have my PZL by XMAS...hehe.

By the way what kind of blades do i need? And other tools?
i dont like been treated like a sucker and loaded with useless stuff.....

thyamis:
You'll probably do fine with your good old #11 X-Acto for most of the wood work. A small hobby saw is good for cutting. Small blocks and fine paper for sanding, and I recommend a solid flat board to build on. This will help keep everything aligned and you can move your model around.
Lots of little spring clamps or T-pins for holding the planks to the frames. No matter how many you buy you won't have enough, but I suggest a couple of dozen minimum.
You probably have most everything else that will be recommended in your kit instructions.
Don't get talked into a plank bender or fancy rigging tools; there are other ways around any problems you might encounter in these areas, just come back and ask if you run into trouble.
Good luck and let us know how you make out.
Bruce

thanks.....i really appreciate it.

There is a community all it's own when it comes to building wood ships. There is a certain brand of the Bluenose 2 that is universially considered a good strater kit. In fact, the one I'm thinking of even comes with a video. I have this kit so I know.

The biggest hurdle in wooden ships is learning how to properly bend planks for the hull. In fact, that one feat is usually what causes beginners to throw the whole thing in the closet and give up.

I'll try to remember to post the brand of the kit I was referring to when I get home tonight.

Dana

The Bluenose 2 kit I was referring to is made by Artesania Latina.

Dana

Also .... be prepared to do some miniature carpentry. Making the switch from plastic to wood can sometimes induce a bit of "culture shock". But building with wood is one of the most gratifying hobbies there is.

I have to agree with Dai on Underhill's books, they've been my constant bench side companions for a long time. A couple of other good titles are " The Anatomy of Nelsons Ship", and " Modeling the Brig of War Irene". I don't have the authors or ISBN numbers handy, as I've just recently moved they are still packed. I'll try to dig them out in the next day or so and post them. Another good title for a beginner is " The neophyte Shipmodelers Jackstay " from Model Shipways.

MJ

Hi There, I have only just read this and wondered why no one has mentioned about the two huge plastic model ships HMS Victory and Le Soleil Royale by Heller 1:100 scale and only £100. I am doing the latter which has ~2000 pieces. There is lots of detail and massive room for personal touches and enhancements. It is a very workable kit but definately complicated enough to make a fine model with complete rigging. It is certainly occupying me for months. For example the ship's boats are just shells, how can I make the internal look more convincing...with scratch built ribs and oars etc. Also, for a plastic model of this size, subtle painting is required. The woodern kits are a different ball game and much more expensive. I have done some research into the model and found many enhancements which are being applied to the model which being of sufficienly large scale can be done by a relative novice.

Ewan:
Welcome to the FSM forum. Always nice to see another ship modeler. Maybe one day we'll outnumber the treadheads and flyboys!

There are a number of threads here about both the kits you refer to, and you are right, they build up into magnificent models! I think the reason they weren't mentioned in this thread is the subject was more specific to Thyamis thinking of making the jump to tree products from dead dinosaurs.

I am sure we are all looking forward to seeing pictures of your 'Royale' when done!
Regards,
Brcue

My father has built a couple of those and found the process very satisfying, even therapeutic. He thinks of parts as models in themselves. He'll spend an evening building a skylight for the deck of a Baltimore Clipper privateer and rant and rave as much as I do when I finish one of my plastic kits. Seaways' Ships in Scale magazine is a great reference for that facet of our hobby. Especially the articles by Father William Romero. His work boggles the mind.

Yes,
I subscribe to Ships in Scale and get a lot out of it. Another good one is Model Boats. This is a UK publication that also covers other aspects of the hobby including a lot of prototype walk-arounds.
Bruce

Hi,
FWIW, My 1st BIG wood ship was Bluejacket shipcrafters USF Constitution. ~40" long. What I lacked in experience (having built only 2 scientific kits: Baltimore schooner and USS Kearsarge) I made up in zeal. I got it done in 2 years and kept a small note book in which I listed sub-assemblies to make and had a small check box beside. Slowly but surely, all the boxes got checked and the ship was done. I used seven different sizes of rigging and tyed over 2.000 clove hitches on the shrouds for the rats. Believe me, it was EASIER than sewing or gluing the little buggars on, and because it was done the correct way, looked great. Now I'm on to a plank on bulwark Royal Soverign (or Soverign of the Seas). I use only simple tools, no. 11's and single edge razor blades, razor saw, and lots of photos. Hope to inspire. BCNU, Doc

Doc:
Congratulations on your Constitution. Can you post pictures?
Regards,
Bruce