Any special tools I need for building a wood ship? Other than all the plastic modeling tools I already have
I appologize if ive already asked this question.
It depends on what type of ship if rigging is involved then bees wax and a threader are helpful. Also if it is plank on bulkhead then there are tools to bend the strips of wood or soak them in warm water a square is need to make shure the bulkheads are square. Look though the instructions sometimes they will help you on what tools are need. Good luck!
Nuts! I just had a fiarly long reply typed in and lost it! (Don’t enter a reply then click the “Watch this topic for replys” link before submitting the reply! I’ll reconstruct it as best I can remember it.
I have several wood kits which I haven’t got around to starting yet. I’m still trying to figure out the method to plank the hull. But you can find many tools at Modelexpo out of Florida. www.modelexpoinc.com MicroMart also has some. Modelexpo also has a large collection of books. Some are very limited in scope and pretty technical (i.e. “The Art Of Rigging”). Two of my favorites are “Building First Rate Ship Models” and one by Frank Masconi(sp?). (Sorry, I’m at work and don’t have it with me!) Both of those cover the entire builing process. They also have a VHS video on building the Bluenose II. I have found it of limited value. The quality is pretty poor in some places. But once I actually get into the building process, maybe it will be of more use. One tool they have holds the keel and aligns the bulkheads perpendicular to it. A must for a decent looking wooden ship!
Good luck with your building endevors. I hope to hear from you in the future about how things are going.
Bill
wipw@yahoo.com
Okay, part 2 from me!
I got my books from home. The three I have found the most helpful are: “Ship Modeling Simplified” by Frank Mastini (not Masconi), “How To Build First-rate Ship Models From Kits” by Ben Lanksford, and “Planking the Built-up Ship Model”. All of which are available from Modelexpo.
Bill
I agree with Bill that Frank Mastini’s book is a good reference. I use it and also “Ship Modeling from Scratch” by Edwin Leaf. My bible for period wooden ships is “Historic Ship Models” by Wolfram zu Mondfeld. Look for the English translation from the original German.
You don’t need a full shop of tools right away. Like anything else the more you spend on quality the more you’ll be paid back in a quality model.
Basically, for cutting wood, you might consider a fret saw, small carving knives or chisels (Lee Valley Tools has a good selection).
You may also want a good miniature hand drill, jeweller’s hammers (light weight, less than 6 ounces), tons of clamps, and a good square. A micrometer is useful as well.
You can also get things like used dentist tools from your dentist, and crochet hooks from your significant other’s knitting basket. These are a great help in rigging.
If you are already building plastic models you probably have most of the other tools you will need. To each his own, and I know some builders swear by them, but I personally have found so called “rigging jigs” and plank benders to be of limited value and generally not worth the money. Ditto for power tools, start with good quality hand tools and you can always add them to your shop later.
For setting up keels and frames I build a strong back for each model; most kits include a work base or instructions on building one. You cannot build a true symmetrical hull without ensuring you have a ridgid base to keep everything aligned.
Enjoy!
I bought a black & decker recargable screwdriver (not the pistol grip kind) & a chuck that would adapt to regular drill bits & made a mounting seat for it to sit horizontal & turned it into a small lathe where i could sand , shape etc it works quite well & this one only costs like about 10-20$
the biggest thing that a lot of folks figure oh well so what ,is crucial to a good build . that fundamental is when you have your frames or bulkheads in place and square you must ,repeat must sand the surfaces of the frames and or bulkheads to the contour that is the ships shape . this also gives you a better gluing surface . i do this even on my plastic ships an the hulls are strong enough to stand on ,before the detailing of course . tankerbuilder