This is the Model Shipways plank-on-bulkhead kit of the 1780 Massachusetts privateer “Rattlesnake.” I built this for a friend who already had the kit, but didn’t want to build it himself. And I can’t say I blame him! I don’t recommend these plank-on-bulkhead kits to anyone except masochists. Put another way, once you have the pre-cut bulkheads and frame together, the rest is largely an exercise in scratchbuilding. The instructions are only moderately helpful; basically it’s you against a big box of miniature wooden planks. Nevertheless, I persevered, and here is the result.
I greatly simplified the running rigging; I found the rigging diagrams largely impossible to decipher, so I based what I did on the main bits from the photo of a completed kit on the box. After this experience, I’ll be very glad to get started on a nice modern ship in good old styrene!
All kidding aside, I have tremendous respect for anyone who can take a kit like this and build it into a real museum piece.
Paul, I think you persevered very well in building this ship. You didn’t say if this was your first plank on bulkhead kit or not. If it was, you did a good job. With a few more under your belt, they would look great. You’ve got the knack for building them and all you need is a little practice. Wooden ships just take a little while to learn the tricks to make them really shine. Steaming planks, fitting planks, and sanding and staining takes a bit of learning and practice, but, once learned, you get great results. Keep up the good work.
The Model Shipways kits are among the best of the genre. Some of the European kits are really junk. A plank on bulkhead kit is not for the feint of heart! Indeed they are closer to being a scrach build than a kit.
Really nice work. I am wondering how long it took to complete this? I have been considering doing this kind of model since there seems to be a much, much greater selection of period sailing ship models to build than plastic has to offer. Again, impressive first effort for this medium.
Thanks! This took me about one year - while worked on several other projects simultaneously. The hull planking takes the longest. Once that’s done, the rest goes together more or less like a styrene sailing ship kit.
Paul, thanks for the post and your thoughts on building what appears to be a nice model! Your comments go far for fledglings like myself who have big dreams, a kit stash, and not much experience with today’s kits and building/painting supplies.
The Scottish Maid, my avatar, took me two years to build. It’s just OOB, not 100% scale. I added AM anchors and a few other items as the kit pieces were not really good. My wife was redecorating the den with a “beachy” theme. Lighthouses around the edge of the ceiling, fish nets with shells caught in them on the walls, and some pics of beach scenes on the walls. She looked through my catalogs, on the sly, and picked out the Scottish Maid and ordered it for a birthday gift. She said she wanted it on a shelf in the den. It took two years with her coming into the work area, looking over my shoulder, and telling me how nice it was coming along. When finished, I made the shelf and put it right where she wanted it. She had me put it right near the door where everyone would see it as they came into the room. I don’t think that anyone who comes to our house gets past the door without hearing from her all about my building the ship. As a result, I’ve built a few for friends and a couple for some of our neighbors. Nice gig if you can get it as they pay for what they want plus everything I need to build it. So Paul, if you really like building them, get some practice and spread the word around. [;)]
