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Hello from Hungary

Deák Zsolt

Deák Zsolt

Joined
Sep 21, 2026
Messages
3
Points
3
Hello, and thank you for granting me access to this forum.

My name is Zsolt (pronounced “zholt”, with the first sound like the “s” in “measure”), and I am from Hungary.

Ever since I was a kid, I dreamed of owning a model ship. There was a small shop in my hometown where beautiful model ships were built by hand and sold. I used to stand in front of the window and look at them for what felt like hours. Unfortunately, I never had the chance to own one or try building one myself.

Now, many years later, I came across a picture of a model ship, and something just clicked. I thought: I want one — but I don't just want to own one. I want to build one myself, from scratch.

At the moment, I honestly have no idea what I need for this hobby or exactly where to begin. I do quite a bit of DIY woodworking for myself, so I already have a lot of tools and some experience working with wood — just not at this scale!

My plan is to read through the forum, learn as much as I can, and slowly find my way into the world of model shipbuilding while working toward my first ship.

The ship I am planning to build is:

LEON
Norwegian Brigantine, 1880
Designed by Colin Archer

I'm sure I'll need plenty of help and guidance along the way, especially when it comes to figuring out the first steps and what tools and materials I will need.

I'm really looking forward to learning from all of you and hopefully, one day, seeing my own LEON completed.

Thank you in advance for your help!
 
Zsolt - Welcome to SoS from Philadelphia USA! Is the Leon kit you plan to build the paper cardstock model from Orel? If so, that is a very beautiful and challenging project. You may want to check out our build logs in paper and cardstock, there are some great builds and I contributed the paper cardstock build log of my Dutch Smalschip. There are some great paper modelers here on SoS...I hope you enjoy your time here.
 
Thanks everyone for the warm welcome!
DocTom said:
Hello, and welcome to SoS from Massachusetts. I look forward to a build log of your Leon. Will you be using the Underhill plans?
Click to expand...
That was my original plan, but I found out that the ship was originally designed by Colin Archer, so I’m planning to find his original plans from before the ship was modified.
Underhill created his plans after the ship had already been modified.
For now, I have no idea where I can find the original plans, but I’ll try to track them down.
Ignatius27 said:
Zsolt - Welcome to SoS from Philadelphia USA! Is the Leon kit you plan to build the paper cardstock model from Orel? If so, that is a very beautiful and challenging project. You may want to check out our build logs in paper and cardstock, there are some great builds and I contributed the paper cardstock build log of my Dutch Smalschip. There are some great paper modelers here on SoS...I hope you enjoy your time here.
Click to expand...
I didn’t even know there was a cardstock model. I’ll definitely check out the paper models. You’ve got me curious now — thank you!
 
Good afternoon Deák,

If you are comfortable with tools, sharp blades, and wood, then you are going to have huge enjoyment ahead as you produce a miniature of Leon.

You really need to obtain a copy of Harold A Underhill's books 'Plank-on-Frame Models' and its companion 'Scale Masting and Rigging'

That's it. If you have a set of lines for Leon then Underhill will take you through the entire process, from the flat sheets of the plants to a most charming model. It's a bit arrogant to assume that everyone in the world and on the 'net speaks English, but as you announced yourself in English, I'll assume that you are good to go. Underhill wrote in 1958, and seems to have been a major influence in the style of ship modelling we discuss here.
'In the opinion of the Author there is nothing in this class of model which isa beyond the ability of the most ordinary model maker, providing his interest is in the actual work of construction and not merely in seeing the finished product.'
'It is based largely on the building of one of the Author's own models at a time when, immediately after WWII neither an elaborate workshop nor tool kit were available to him.'

Underhill produced many plans and wrote masterful works on the subject of clipper ships. Now somewhat eclipsed by newer authors, his books and illustrations are better than many of today's books, and his explanation of the construction and fittings is consistently clear and accurate. He served in WW1, carrying with him a couple of books dealing with wood construction, which suggests that by the time he wrote POF Models he knew what he was talking about.

Copies are fairly regularly found on the second hand sites. You need both volumes. The first deals with the hull, the second with all the rigging.

All you need do is read through, and set to, mindful of the need to be highly accurate, and all will work out and be well.

In fact, Having just rediscovered some English boxwood that has been maturing for a couple of decades, and having just reached down Plank on Frame models, with its photo's and drawings of brigantine Leon 302 tons, built at Larvig, Norway, 1880 I feel a strong desire to start making some timbering to lay down the keel and make a start on her myself.


Jim
 
Rob444 said:
Welcome aboard from Connecticut!

Here is a good place to start.

Beginners Corner - How to Get Started

Beginners Corner - How to Get Started
shipsofscale.com

There are also hundreds of you tube videos covering all aspects of this wonderful hobby.

Rob
Click to expand...
Thank you, Rob! I’ll check them out. I’m definitely going to need them, as I only know a little about this hobby so far.
Jim Fortnam said:
Good afternoon Deák,

If you are comfortable with tools, sharp blades, and wood, then you are going to have huge enjoyment ahead as you produce a miniature of Leon.

You really need to obtain a copy of Harold A Underhill's books 'Plank-on-Frame Models' and its companion 'Scale Masting and Rigging'

That's it. If you have a set of lines for Leon then Underhill will take you through the entire process, from the flat sheets of the plants to a most charming model. It's a bit arrogant to assume that everyone in the world and on the 'net speaks English, but as you announced yourself in English, I'll assume that you are good to go. Underhill wrote in 1958, and seems to have been a major influence in the style of ship modelling we discuss here.
'In the opinion of the Author there is nothing in this class of model which isa beyond the ability of the most ordinary model maker, providing his interest is in the actual work of construction and not merely in seeing the finished product.'
'It is based largely on the building of one of the Author's own models at a time when, immediately after WWII neither an elaborate workshop nor tool kit were available to him.'

Underhill produced many plans and wrote masterful works on the subject of clipper ships. Now somewhat eclipsed by newer authors, his books and illustrations are better than many of today's books, and his explanation of the construction and fittings is consistently clear and accurate. He served in WW1, carrying with him a couple of books dealing with wood construction, which suggests that by the time he wrote POF Models he knew what he was talking about.

Copies are fairly regularly found on the second hand sites. You need both volumes. The first deals with the hull, the second with all the rigging.

All you need do is read through, and set to, mindful of the need to be highly accurate, and all will work out and be well.

In fact, Having just rediscovered some English boxwood that has been maturing for a couple of decades, and having just reached down Plank on Frame models, with its photo's and drawings of brigantine Leon 302 tons, built at Larvig, Norway, 1880 I feel a strong desire to start making some timbering to lay down the keel and make a start on her myself.


Jim
Click to expand...
Good afternoon, Jim. Thank you very much. You’ve cleared up my doubts about what I need.
I’ll definitely go with Underhill’s book, especially if he explains everything from the beginning, as that would help me a lot.
And yeah, I’m good with English since I mostly work with people from the UK and the US.
 
Deák Zsolt said:
Thanks everyone for the warm welcome!

That was my original plan, but I found out that the ship was originally designed by Colin Archer, so I’m planning to find his original plans from before the ship was modified.
Underhill created his plans after the ship had already been modified.
For now, I have no idea where I can find the original plans, but I’ll try to track them down.

I didn’t even know there was a cardstock model. I’ll definitely check out the paper models. You’ve got me curious now — thank you!
Click to expand...
Deák - No need to look far.

Here is a paper model kit for Leon from Orel. It looks like a sweet paper build with full-color build templates, rigging plan, laser-cut parts (maybe) and build progress pictures of her hull structure - which you almost never get with European paper model kits. Looks to be more affordable on EBay than Amazon. I could see myself building this kit down the road and from what I've seen Modelland in the U.K. is a good site for paper builds.


When you get a chance, do check out our Build Logs in Paper & Cardstock forum. You will be impressed by the wide range of paper and cardstock methods used by SoS members. If you're curious, here is an index of all of the paper & cardstock builds on SoS:


And here is a link to my Build Log of the "Smalschip" in paper and cardstock from Ab Hoving's book "17th Century Dutch Model Ships in Paper." I liked the paper and cardstock method so much that I am currently building a second Ab Hoving paper build from the same book, the Witsen's Pinas (1678), with my Build Log underway in the Paper Cardstock Forum.

Lastly, I have a couple of great paper & cardstock model build kits that I would be happy to share with you for free. I have paper model kits for tugboats (Cyclon II, Centaur), armed cargo ships (Graf Goetzen), and a few others. Direct message me your email address and I'd be happy to share them with you so you can try out a paper model kit. Beware, once you start building in paper and cardstock its hard to go back to wood and plastic!
Ignatius

"Smalschip" 17th-century Dutch inland cargo ship from plans by Ab Hoving - Build Log

1. Build Log - "Smalschip" 17th-century Dutch inland cargo ship 1/48 scale, in paper cardstock from plans by Ab Hoving in his book "Dutch 17th Century Ship Models in Paper: An Introduction to Scratch Building Paper Ship Models," from SeaWatch Books. I started this build because I wanted to...
shipsofscale.com
 
Deák Zsolt said:
Thank you, Rob! I’ll check them out. I’m definitely going to need them, as I only know a little about this hobby so far.

Good afternoon, Jim. Thank you very much. You’ve cleared up my doubts about what I need.
I’ll definitely go with Underhill’s book, especially if he explains everything from the beginning, as that would help me a lot.
And yeah, I’m good with English since I mostly work with people from the UK and the US.
Click to expand...
Here is a book I found very helpful


Rob
 
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