Beginner suggestion

[CarlosEcheverria]

I’m new to wooden ship modelling, but before jumping in I did some research. I searched the web, read reviews, and asked for advice from experienced modelers. I put together a short list of beginner-friendly kits and focused on ones that would require the least amount of tools — that way, the initial investment wouldn’t be too high in case I found out this hobby wasn’t for me.

After comparing the options and following my hunch, I finally decided to start with two boats:

• Santisima Trinidad Launch Boat 1:50 – Artesanía Latina
• Bounty Launch Boat 1:24 – OcCre

And now… I already have a long list of boats I’d like to build next! Looks like I’ve really been captured by this hobby. The amount of knowledge and support available here on SOS has made it even more enjoyable and encouraging to dive in.

 

[AllanKP69]

Bounty Launch Boat 1:24 – OcCre

I have no idea about the Santisima Trinidad launch but the OcCre Bounty launch has little, if any, resemblance to a British launch. Why not follow the advice given above and go with the 3 boat series from Model Shipways which has proven to be a great series for beginners with high quality materials and teaches good building techniques.

 

[El Capi]

I’m new to wooden ship modelling, but before jumping in I did some research. I searched the web, read reviews, and asked for advice from experienced modelers. I put together a short list of beginner-friendly kits and focused on ones that would require the least amount of tools — that way, the initial investment wouldn’t be too high in case I found out this hobby wasn’t for me.

After comparing the options and following my hunch, I finally decided to start with two boats:

• Santisima Trinidad Launch Boat 1:50 – Artesanía Latina
• Bounty Launch Boat 1:24 – OcCre

And now… I already have a long list of boats I’d like to build next! Looks like I’ve really been captured by this hobby. The amount of knowledge and support available here on SOS has made it even more enjoyable and encouraging to dive in.

you did it correct. well done mate

 

[Roger Pellett]

Listen to Allan! He’s an expert at modeling small craft. Small crafts appear to be good beginner projects as they don’t have rigging and complications that the larger sailing warships that “everyone” (except me) wants to eventually build.

In fact, a properly built model of a small boat can be a very difficult project. Why? It’s a question of scantlings. So, what are scantlings? Scantlings are the structural members that hold the ship or boat together. They also support and attach to the plankings. In a large wooden sailing vessels scantlings are massive, so modeled at reasonable modeling scale they can be shaped using common woodworking tools.

By comparison, scantlings in small craft are very small. This is particularly true of warships boats that were lightly built to reduce weight. So, to build a planked small boat at a usual modeling scale you have to either develop special techniques (see Allan’s current Pinnace build), or build the model with grossly out of scale scantlings (many European POB kits).

By comparison this Beginner Series has been engineered by an accomplished model builder who professionally builds small craft models for clients. Properly built ant one of these three models will result in something that you can be proud of.

Roger