Wooden Sailing Ship companies

Modeling Subjects Ships
1

Hi,

I am interested in buying a medium scale wooden ship
model. I have looked at Mamoli, Mantua, etc. kits
and would like everyone’s opinion here on which kits

are the easiest by manufactorer.
Which wooden kits require the least amount of fabrication for parts?
What is it about some kits that make them for “advanced” builders.

I have built a couple of solid hull kits from BlueJacket and I’m
looking to build something larger. I havea the patience of a clam
so I’m prepared to spend a long time on it but I really hate having
to fabricate pieces from sheet wood.
thanks for any info.

2

We’ve taken up this topic several times in this forum. I’ll briefly summarize my own personal opinions on it; in the unlikely event that anybody wants to read my earlier, longer rants on the subject, I’ve put a couple of links below. Maybe some folks who hold other views will join in.

If you’re interested in scale ship modeling three companies with wide distribution make a genuine effort to appeal to your interests: Model Shipways, Bluejacket, and Caldercraft (also known as Jotika). They understand what scale modeling is about, and their kits are designed to produce scale replicas of actual ships.

There’s considerable variety in the products of the other firms Old Macdonald mentioned; I don’t want to over-generalize. I’ve seen good models built from some of them - by skilled modelers who modified the kits almost beyond recognition. But in general those companies seem to have something other than scale fidelity as their highest priority. I can’t claim to have seen all of their kits by any stretch of the imagination; I’ve never bought one (and have no intention of doing so). But the ones I have seen are characterized by utter lack of historical research, poorly-chosen materials, grossly inaccurate and un-detailed plans, irrational construction methods, poor fit, crude, out-of-scale fittings, and hideous prices.

There seems to be a big market for these things, especially in Continental Europe. Many of the people who buy them, it seems, are interested in producing decorations for their houses first and scale models second (if that). I don’t quarrel with those people’s right to pursue whatever hobby they most enjoy, but I do take issue with manufacturers who pretend they’re producing scale model kits when they are in fact producing something else. Sometimes I wonder whether the people running those companies know what a scale model is.

Bluejacket and Model Shipways have been in business for a long time; Calder is a relatively new firm, but is making quite an impression on the scale ship modeling community. Any firm’s products vary in quality. Some kits from a given company are noticeably superior in design, detail, and accuracy to others from the same company. But if you buy a kit from one of those three you can be assured that it represents a genuine effort to produce a scale model.

In previous forum discussions several people have raised other arguments on this subject - and those views certainly deserve as much attention as mine do. Here are links to two earlier threads:

www.finescale.com/fsm/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=34574

www.finescale.com/fsm/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=18901

Good luck. It’s a great hobby.

3

My personal favorite is Model Shipways. Although it is not a “big” ship, the Newbedford Whaleboat would be a good kit for you to start with. It is more traditional yet not overwhelming.

Scott

4

thanks everyone, I do appreciate your comments and links. I definitely have
a lot of reading to do to prepare. I’ve been wanting to get into the tall ships for a while now and it’s definitely a different world than the plastic kits. I was thinking that if I was considering a 2100 part Heller HMS Victory, why not consider a wood kit with fewer parts (minus planking).

jtilley, thanks for the links, I’ll definitely look at them to see what I can learn.
Basically, I’m looking to build a 36 to 40 inch boat. I’m confortable with the planking on bulkhead requirements. What I am hoping to avoid are those kits that require you create your own fittings such as railings from sheet wood. I was thinking that the larger, more expensive kits would have everything laser or die cut.

Thanks again and more comments/suggestions are welcome from others.

5

Old_McDonald,

I found myself in exactly this same position a few months ago when I first decided I wanted to build a wooden ship model. My wife actually bought me the Model Shipways Prince de Neufchatel. A beautiful ship in it’s own right with a wonderful history behind it. Although the MS fit, finish, and materials are superb, the instructions FOR ME were still lacking. Mostly because this is an older kit. The newer kits have better instructions. After thoroughly reading the material I knew I needed something with even more detailed instruction. That’s when I discovered JoTiKa (aka Caldercraft) in the UK, and I decided on the HM Bomb Vessel Granado:

http://www.jotika-ltd.com/Pages/1024768/Nelson_13.htm

BTW I will come back and buy this ship in the future once I complete the Granado… :slight_smile:

I decided on the Granado kit because of the unmatched level of detailed instructions, superb fit and finish, and superb historical accuracy. There are 69 pages of written instruction with photos and pics, 9 HUGE plan sheets, and a parts booklet that numbers every part so when the instructions talk about assembly, part numbers are used. There is also an online build documentation at the JoTiKa site).

It is far more expensive then the Prince model I had from MS but I think since this is my first ship I needed something with an “extraordinary” amount of instructional material so that I’m not sumbling around trying to figure things out.

I contacted Richard Wright at Caldercraft/JoTiKa several times while I was deciding, as well as others who own the kit. Richard was most helpful and gave me lots of details about the ship and answered all of my questions - excellent customer service! If you want to read what he sent me: http://forum.drydockmodels.com/viewtopic.php?t=1796 It became quickly apparent that this was the kit for me. Only time will tell how it all turns out… I am still religeously reading the kit documentation to familiarize myself with the kit before beginning, but I must say that so far I have no questions about the build, the instructions are that good!

I would also recommend you pick up a few books on the subject to understand the intricacies (sp?) of building wooden ships. I have been reading many books and articles over the last few months in preparation for this new modeling venture.

As per jtilley’s earlier post, who I agree with 100%, you owe it to yourself to check into all three of his recommended companies and at least for your first project, stay away from the continental European stuff (except for Caldercraft/JoTiKa in the UK - whether you consider them European or not :wink: until you are more experienced in building wooden ships.

Just my two cents worth and my findings. Good luck to you :slight_smile:

Best,

-Greg

6

I think that I would go for a Caldercraft/Jotika kit.
I have built several of their earlier merchant ship kits ( Talacre, Milford Star and the Round Table class Armed Trawler) All of which I have enjoyed building sailing. The fittings are very good and the instructions great. The only problem I had was that the plans were not full size. I believe that the “Nelsons Navy” kits do not have this problem.
I would not go for a Billings kit at this stage.

Dai

7

I am building my 2nd tall ship, both are from MS. They are really nice kits. My first was the beginners Armed Virginian Sloop. A great kit but there was a lot more fabrication than i expected but it was not difficult. I really enjoy taking small secitons with me when I travel such as cannon carriages, rudders, pumps, etc… plus I was not in a hurry. I am halfway through the standing rigging and after my eyes start to cross I work on my newer kit, the Prince from MS. Instructions are not as complete but after building one i htink it is not bad. If you order from Nature Coast’s website they threw in a guide book with the Prince. Good book to read first. Whatever you choose just be patient, relax and take a break when you glue your fingers together more than you glue the wood pieces together…

8

Thanks everyone, all great advice and information. I have started reading a book titled “Wooden Shipbuilding Simplified” or something like that. I also ordered the video “You take the Helm” on building the bluenose. One thing I came accross is that the mast on most models have to be tapered. How does one do that? neither the book or video show this. I don’t own a lathe but i do own a nice dremel set. I think if I can get comfortable with learning more about finishing up the edges of planking to the edge of the keel and tapering those masts, I can handle most other things.

Also, from your experience, is a larger kit easier to work with or the small kits?
I’m more partial to a 36 incher or so. I have to say, I’m also more partial to the Constitution and Victory but if it’s a matter patience, I can handle it. I’m not in any hurry or I’d buy a pre-built one. I have built the Heller HMS Victory but I just can’t paint it to look like a wood kit.

thanks again

9

If you don’t have a lathe, probably the easiest way to taper a wood mast is to chuck it up in an electric drill. The drill needs to be clamped to your work surface somehow (vise, c-clamps, or whatever) and run at a relatively slow speed. Fold a sheet of sandpaper several times into a fairly thick pad (otherwise the heat will burn your fingers) and hold it up against the spinning wood. Start with fairly coarse sandpaper to establish the taper, then work your way down to extra-fine. It may take a little practice, but you can make perfectly satisfactory spars that way.

The choice of size and scale needs to be a matter of personal taste and skill. The three-foot size you’ve mentioned is on the large side of medium. A good-sized ship reduced to that size typically will be on the scale of 1/8"=1’. That’s a good, medium scale that’s comfortable for lots of people. Smaller vessels can conveniently be modeled on larger scales; if your eyesight is such that you have trouble dealing with dimensions under 1/32" you might consider a larger scale. Other modelers like smaller scales. Some people work best with their fingers, others work best with their wrists, and still others with their elbows. One of the first things a serious ship modeler needs to do is figure out what scale suits him or her best.

There are two good wood Constitution kits available. Both are a bit bigger than three feet, but they’re excellent kits. The big difference between them is the hull construction method. The Bluejacket one has a solid, carved hull; the Model Shipways version is plank-on-bulkhead. Your choice between them probably should be based on which construction method you like better.

There are so many wood H.M.S. Victory kits on the market that I’ve lost count. On the basis of the photos and reviews I’ve seen I can only recommend one of them: the one from CalderCraft (otherwise known as Jotika). I haven’t bought it (nor am I likely to; it costs about $1,000) or seen it in person, but by all accounts it’s an outstanding product. I haven’t bought any of the other wood Victory kits either, but they’re made by those Continental companies I mentioned in my earlier post - the ones who don’t seem to understand what scale modeling is. I would suggest avoiding those kits like the plague. They’re cheaper than the Calder/Jotika one, but still well up in the hundreds of dollars; the extra money for the better product, if you can handle the initial outlay, would be well worth it.

I can’t resist seizing on one phrase from Old_McDonald’s last post, in which he said he’d built the Heller Victory but “just can’t paint it to look like a wood kit.” In the first place, in terms of scale accuracy the Heller kit is far, far superior to any of the wood ones except the Calder/Jotika one. In the second place, if scale modeling is your interest, give some thought to what the objective of the hobby is. I personally have no desire whatever to make models that look like wood kits. I want them to look like ships. There’s a difference. If I built a Heller Victory and somebody said “oooohhh, it looks just like a Mamoli one!” I’d be profoundly insulted.

10

My father-in-law bought me an Artesania Latina. Independence 1775 . It’s 1/35 scale. I haven’t started it yet. I’m scared, never done one before. This is not a solid hull ship.[D)]

11

Try looking at some of the kits from AMATI. Their Americas Cup Yachts are pretty good. Also only one mast to worry about. The 1/35th Endeavour is awesome. Nearly 5ft long and 6ft tall. All laser cut and brass.