I was wondering if for my first wood ship kit, if maybe something real small would be alright, like a dingy or a dory type boat.
THeirs a couple over on model expo I saw.
This is one of the best ideas I’ve heard in a long time. A small boat is a great way to break into the hobby. Building a model of a dory, skiff, sharpie, lobster boat, catboat, etc. will give you more of a workout than you probably think; it will get you acquainted with lots of techniques, materials, and terminology. Some of the most exquisite models I’ve ever seen have been models of small boats.
Furthermore, any real ship lover knows that almost every small boat has a beauty and interest all their own. The lines of a Grand Banks dory, for instance, are extremely subtle and attractive. Such a boat is a fascinating combination of simplicity and ingenuity. It’s simple enough to be mass-produced at a reasonable price from common materials. A competent dory builder probably could build one in a day (except for letting the paint dry). It can be handled by one man, and is stable enough to stay upright when he goes through some pretty serious physical gyrations as he hauls in his nets. It’s incredibly durable and seaworthy; if the fisherman in it gets separated from his mother shipand has his lunchbox and a bottle of water with him, he probably can survive fairly comfortably for several days on the open sea. It handles well under oars or sail. And four or five dories, with their removable thwarts, can be stacked inside each other, taking up minimal deck space on board the mother ship. Boats like that supplied the United States and Canada with seafood for generations. What better subject for a model could there be?
Model Expo ( www.modelexpoonline.com ) sells the line of small craft from Midwest. I’ve never built any of those kits, but they have a fine reputation. (For some reason Model Expo doesn’t list Midwest as one of its “featured kit manufacturers.” But if you type “Midwest” into the “Search” box on the Model Expo homepage you’ll see the whole line.) Midwest kits get distributed pretty widely to decent hobby shops; you may be able to find them locally. Another good manufacturer is Bluejacket ( www.bluejacketinc.com ). It’s a fine old company with a particular interest in New England smallcraft types - dories, lobster boats, etc.
One of those kits, combined with some basic tools, a good paint job, and a couple of weeks’ work, will give you a good deal of practical experience, a good deal more knowledge of the subject matter, and a handsome model for your mantel. That makes infinitely more sense than investing the same amount of time (and considerably more money) struggling with the early stages of a big sailing ship model - and later getting so dissatisfied with the results that you tear it apart and start over.
Good luck. It’s a great hobby.
I think one of those neat little Midwest kits would be a good choice too. They seem to be simple kits that build into attractive models. This guy has built a few and has some good photos of them on his site: http://www.modelboatyard.com/models.html
If you do buy one keep us informed of how you get on. I quite fancy a go at the Day Sailor or Lobster Smack myself.
Blighty
Thanks Blighty!!
I’ve built one of the Midwest “Muscongus Bay Lobster Smack” kits. Very nice beginners wood kit! Not because it’s easy, but because the instruction book (Yes, Book) is very thorough, with clear drawings of each step of construction. They recommend using ACC for assembly, and after using carpenters glue for mine, I can see why. The balsa hull sheets are soft, and don’t “appreciate” being clamped (that leaves a mark). ACC sets up and holds while your fingers hold the material in place. I would like to start another smack, add some drag to the keel, and fill in the run just a bit, remove the live wells and centerboard, and come up with an early Friendship sloop.
I wasn’t aware that any of the Midwest kits contained balsa. I don’t think all of them do; I certainly hope not. It’s pretty widely regarded as one of the worst materials in existence for serious ship modeling.
I wonder how difficult and expensive it would be to replace the balsa parts in one of those kits with basswood. That would make quite a difference.
My suggestion would be to check the specifications for any kit carefully before buying it - and if it’s got balsa in it, either figure on replacing the balsa or pick another kit. I’m at least 90 percent sure none of the Bluejacket kits contains any balsa. They do, however, tend to be a little more on the pricey side.
The bottom line continues to be that there are some fine, attractive small craft kits out there - and they’re a great way to get into the hobby.
I’ve just had a look on the Midwest website and found that the Lobster Smack and Day Sailor contain balsa. If they’re for planking I’d definitely look to replace them. I have some 1mm limewood strip left over from the Sherbourne, but probably not enough. I’ll keep saving extra wood. That sort of thing wouldn’t cost much to buy I don’t suppose. It wouldn’t put me off buying the kit. The Chesapeake Bay Flattie and Crabbing Skiff don’t have balsa though. So you could go for one of those instead.
Blighty
I have to agree with Prof. Tilley, balsa is… I built the kit “out of the box” because we have them in stock, and I wanted people to see how the kits go together. For a beginner, trying to plank the hull any other way, without instructions might prove difficult at best. I had to swallow my pride a little, and use the rigging materials provided. I did refuse to use the sail cloth provided, opting instead to simulate just the boltropes to outline the sails. Again, for a beginner, it’s a good kit, and does make an attractive model.
Pete