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Greetings from South Africa

Ferdip72

Ferdip72

Joined
Oct 6, 2025
Messages
10
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8

Warm greetings and thank you for allowing me inside this circle of knowledge, skills and wisdom. My name is Ferdinand. At the age of 54 I have embraced the faculty of model ship building for the first time. Being a modeler (static and RC) since the age of 5, I have assembled, enjoyed and destroyed my fair share of projects in the past. As an active real time aviator and sailor I have more than just a "problem" but, for some respectful reason I left the ship building for last. ((everyone here will shout and cry to know that I bought a Artisana Latina Cutty Sark kit back in 1999 from ModelExpo Inc - spent hours trying to plank the hull- ended up about 40% done- abandoning the project- just for my wife(who happens to be the miniature dollhouse fanatic) to use all the spare wood and accessories for her many projects over the years))
I "stole" a brand new sealed Constructo Enterprise kit recently from somebody for $20. My searches for info brought me to your doorstep and I found one individual here that also built it as his first ever model. I immediately knew that I had to take the plunge officially!
So, here I am. I am NOT going to abandon this project like I did back in 1999. I will start by log soon and request that the "fellows" in here will endure my "stupidity" at times and lend a hand if possible.
Be blessed!
 
Welcome to SoS, Ferdinand! If I may suggest, you might consider setting aside Enterprise for awhile and start with a few less complex builds. Those will allow you to make some more easily reparable mistakes and develop skills you will need to build Enterprise to your own satisfaction.

In any event, whether you choose to continue immediately with Enterprise or work on some interim projects, a build log will be worth your time. You can get lots of good input and advice whenever you bump up against something that’s got you scratching your head. There’s no stupidity here (well, there actually is some); merely a lack of experience. Everyone on this site start with none at some point. The learning curve is shallow and long, so don’t get discouraged.
 
Namabiiru said:
Welcome to SoS, Ferdinand! If I may suggest, you might consider setting aside Enterprise for awhile and start with a few less complex builds. Those will allow you to make some more easily reparable mistakes and develop skills you will need to build Enterprise to your own satisfaction.

In any event, whether you choose to continue immediately with Enterprise or work on some interim projects, a build log will be worth your time. You can get lots of good input and advice whenever you bump up against something that’s got you scratching your head. There’s no stupidity here (well, there actually is some); merely a lack of experience. Everyone on this site start with none at some point. The learning curve is shallow and long, so don’t get discouraged.
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Thank you kindly! What kit(s) would you suggest as a starting point? What I have learned here and elsewhere to date is that the Constructo Enterprise is a tough nut to crack for a "noob" I am already "sucked" into this more than I bargained for so I might as well give it a good and fair go. I am already sorry that I did not open this door sooner in life but free time was not available as it is now. And "now" is never too late.
 
Welkom to SoS Ferdinand. Where are you in in SA? I have fond memories of my travel there from Cape Town to Durban and beyond in my younger days.
Allan
 
Ferdip72 said:
Thank you kindly! What kit(s) would you suggest as a starting point? What I have learned here and elsewhere to date is that the Constructo Enterprise is a tough nut to crack for a "noob" I am already "sucked" into this more than I bargained for so I might as well give it a good and fair go. I am already sorry that I did not open this door sooner in life but free time was not available as it is now. And "now" is never too late.
Click to expand...
Many will recommend the Model Shipways Shipwright Series of three kits as a good starting point. I think if you start with most any small (i.e. working, fishing, etc.) boat with a simple rig, you’ll have a good opportunity to develop skills and gain confidence. If you dive straight into Constitution, there is a strong chance it will be frustrating from start to finish, which will detract from you enjoyment.

One thing many modelers (myself included) making the jump from plastic models to wooden ships fail to appreciate is how much interpretation and sussing out of errors and inaccuracies in plans and instructions there is in this hobby (DML instructions come the closest in the styrene world, and those are still light years ahead of most wooden kits).

Others’ mileage may vary, but that’s my $0.02.
 
fourseas said:
Welcome to the SOS group Ferdinand. Sounds to me that you should keep your supply of wood under lock and key from your doll house building wife;)

Jim
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Thank you Jim! Yes indeed! She is quite a "beaver" when it comes to wood supplies! (hehehehehe) This time round though it is secured!
 
Namabiiru said:
Many will recommend the Model Shipways Shipwright Series of three kits as a good starting point. I think if you start with most any small (i.e. working, fishing, etc.) boat with a simple rig, you’ll have a good opportunity to develop skills and gain confidence. If you dive straight into Constitution, there is a strong chance it will be frustrating from start to finish, which will detract from you enjoyment.

One thing many modelers (myself included) making the jump from plastic models to wooden ships fail to appreciate is how much interpretation and sussing out of errors and inaccuracies in plans and instructions there is in this hobby (DML instructions come the closest in the styrene world, and those are still light years ahead of most wooden kits).

Others’ mileage may vary, but that’s my $0.02.
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Thanks! Will look into it. We have very limited amount of hobby shops in my my country so I will have to look abroad for sourcing. On top of that our money is worth zilch so, any wrong turn in a purchase turns our more expensive than for guys in other parts of the world.
 
AllanKP69 said:
Welkom to SoS Ferdinand. Where are you in in SA? I have fond memories of my travel there from Cape Town to Durban and beyond in my younger days.
Allan
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Hi and thanks Allan! If you drop a pin in the middle on the map of SA it will fall on a place called Bloemfontein. It has been my home for the past 13 years. From here I can reach out to anywhere in SA in a very short time, being by road or air. Durban and the KwaZulu Natal south coast is where you will find me most of the times when the knock on my door goes unanswered. Cape Town... well, we South Africans believe it is another country on it's own- beautiful indeed, indeed the "Mother City" where it all started but generally overrated. I am happy here in the middle close to the mountains.
 
Ferdinand, welcome aboard! I traveled to SA in 2010 on a battlefield tour of Zulu, Boer Wars, and saw the amazing Blood River battlefield. I love the Afrikaners and their culture! Enjoy the forum.
 
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