'Let’s try this again. i’m posting this note on the ships forum[:I]
Can anyone recommend where I can find good instructions for building a model ship? In particular tips on how to build a hull.
Thanks[:D]
Yes, there are several low cost books availble to the novice. here are a few titles I have.
Ship Modeling Simplified: Tips and Techniques for Model Construction from Kits
$10.00 -13.00
Ship Modeling from Stem to Stern by Roth
$6-10.00
The Ship Model Builder’s Assistant by Davis
$6.00-10.00
look at amazon.com
Here are a couple of my hull build ups online.
http://groups.msn.com/ModelersAndHobbyForum/typicalshiphullconstruction.msnw
http://groups.msn.com/ModelersAndHobbyForum/japaneset103lstbuildup.msnw
As far as books go, I have an old copy of
Building Warship models, by P.C. Coker III
Other people on this forum have recommended
Basics of Ship Modeling: The Illustrated Guide, by Mike Ashey
What are you planning on building?
Let us know if you plan to build from kits or from scratch, and if you plan to work in wood or plastic …
Meanwhile I can recommend “Ship Modelling Simplified” by Frank Mastini; that is the first one Big Jake listed in his reply. Also “Ship Modelling from Scratch” by Edwin Leaf has a lot of good tips and techniques in it. Of course FSM … most of what applies to other types of models translates over to ships. “Ships in Scale” is also a good magazine and pretty well covers the spectrum.
As to tips on building a hull; follow the directions, dry fit everything first, and make sure the components are square and symmetrical before you go for the glue. I use a flat melamine board as a base for each build, with a vertical strongback made for each project that holds the keel and frames upside down and stationary until the hull is finished.
Don’t be in a hurry to rush out and buy a lot of specialty tools, you’ll find a lot of them won’t do the job for you or there are other cheaper alternatives. I recommend picking them up as necessity dictates.
Also consider your first ship carefully; don’t be in a big hurry to do the full rigged clipper as a first project. Choose a subect that appeals to you and that is in the ‘simple’ category to start with, particularly if you are going to be working in wood. You will find that a lot of smaller craft in the larger scales are very challenging and detailed (I’m thinking of small wooden ships in 1:48 or 1:96, but the same idea applies in plastic).
One of my first wood models from scratch was a sailing dory; that embodied scaling plans, building a lapstrake hull on a mold, scratch building small metal parts, and rigging a mast. In other words, pretty much everything you will need to do on a large complex model without most of the frustration but also very satisfying. I scaled the plans from an old Popular Mechanics or something like that.
I hope this helps and there are a lot of good builders here in case you have more specific questions.
Regards,
Bruce
Walkabout,
email me off BB I have another book for you. jbgroby@cox.net
Planking model ships by Richard Mansir, 1982 super simple and striahgt forward.
Big Jake