Greetings. I’ve just discovered scale modeling as a new hobby for myself. I’m most interested in sailing ships and earliest subs and monitors; but while there are more than enough plastic sailing ships’ kits, I wasn’t able to locate any early subs or monitors.
Does anyone know of such kits? In particular, I wanted to build British “His Majesty’s Submarine M1” or any other of M class, or really any of the early experimental models; but other WWI and pre-WWI model is of interest for me.
Same with monitors. I’ve seen small waterline model, but I’m interested in full-hull models.
P.S. Also, I’m interested in good internet-shops for plastic scale kits in Europe, but not in UK (UK prices for some reason are way higher than prices in other countries); I know of some, but if you have some favorite shop or shop with a really big choice, I would be interested to hear about it. US-based shops are good and plentiful, but shipment costs are killing me; I have rather limited funds.
Iron Shipwright may well be your best bet for Spanish-American War era through WWI monitors and pre-dreadnoughts. Such as my USS Katahdin ironclad ram or a Monterrey
Thanks; indeed, what I need; however, prices (in $100+ range) +shipment are a bit too much for me, at least for now. I will definitely have Iron Shipwright in mind; but for now I would prefer something a bit cheaper.
Check the free downloads on paper shipwright and digital navy. The models are small , but can be enlarged. These are very detailed models and look very good if care and patience is taken to construct them.
All you need is a color printer , card stock (several weights available) , an exacto type knife , a metal ruler and some paper glue and you are in business. You can find scores of free downloads of famous buildings , ships, aircraft , tanks , construction equipment , animals and cars/trucks.
Some model subjects actually look better as card models than as plastic models.An example of this is my Vickers Airship model (free download, Ralph Currell paper models) and my Gee Bee racer Fiddlersgreen.net.
At this time I am working on the HMVS Cerberus 1870 from Paper Shipwright. This is a very detailed model. I would suggest you start with a less complicated model to “get your feet wet”.
I started with Lighthouses and famous buildings , many free downloads. You can also be very creative with paper because you fabricate the parts yourself. I use Future floor finish to simulate glass and acrylic paint and a very small brush to enhance surface detail.
Modeling is a fun and creative hobby in any form. Buiding models is one of the things I do to “unwind” after a long stressful day at work.
