Building Models From Scratch

Hi Eddie,
I build all kinds of models from scratch, aircraft, ships, steam and gas engines, firearms etc. I have used basswood, maple , brass, steel, pourable resins and plastics to name a few. It just depends what you want to build and what tools you have available. The biggest things in scratch building is to get drawings for what you want to build. If it's something mainstream you can always find some type of drawing but if it's an odd item you might really have to dig to get adequate information before starting to build. I hope this helps a little.
gbritnell

Thanks gbritnell
If I was to start with something simple like a row boat hull by producing a wood pattern and then building a mold from that, what would I make the mold from and what type of pourable resin or plastic should I use? This may sound far out, but I would like to teach my 13 year old son the principles of starting with and original and then making copies.
And what is a good wood for carving to make the original pattern? This could turn into something big in that I may even go out and purchase a small band saw to cut out figures and patterns and some type of bench sander to smooth them down. Does this sound too crazy?
Of course www.polytek.com list several products, but I'm not familliar with any of them and would not know which ones to start with.

This may not be a model build from scratch, but it is an example of one of the things I want to do.
http://www.titanic-plan.de/i_legros_e.html
I would like to build a large scale model of a modern cruise ship like the Carnival line, but of my own design. Or prehaps a car of my own design.

Eddie I like to use balsa wood impregnated with CA glue for my master pattern. By CA I'm talking about super glue and the thin type is great for this use. The finished pattern will be hard and will take a nice polish. The mold material I would suggest is the two part room tempature vulcanizing type that is available at most places that sell the casting resin.

Eddie,

Over the years I've made a lot of parts by the mold/cast resin method (usually for armor models). I think you will find that the expenses involved with making a large scale ship complete from molds and casting resin would be extremely high (not to mention the weight of the completed item). You might consider making your project a "multi-media" project - hull and decks made from fibre glass cloth/resin, superstructure from styrene and details from cast resin.

Several years ago, FSM ran several articles (don't remember the dates, maybe someone out there can help) on the construction of a 1/72 scale U.S.S. Essex aircraft carrier. If you can find a copy of those those articles, they may help you decide on how to proceed.

You might be able to use one of these fiberglass hulls to build on. Besides this site is just plain fun to check out. http://www.swampworks.com/SwampworksHomePage-2.html

Thanks Woody. That was an interesting site.

Tell you what. I've been scratch building for years and have a tendency to scratch build all the parts from flat stock. The best stuff i've found (and inexpensive) is "For Sale" signs. This stuff cuts well and will bond using any plastic cement. I'll try and post a pic of my "Aliens APC". Perfict example.