Watercraft have been built since the cave man tried to cross the river on his log. In fact they were probably the very first object that had to be “built” to transport people. This means that are innumerable ships and boats that could be modeled.
It’s, therefore, a shame that whenever someone thinks of building a ship model they limit their interests to sailing warships in the 200 year period early 1600’s to early 1800’s. While I realize that these vessels make impressive models, and for many evoke images from romantic fiction, they might actually hinder beginners from building these simple models that allow them to learn the skills necessary to eventually build their masterpiece. “What, no cannons? Why waste time and money on this?
I have a friend who has built from scratch a beautiful model of the American Brig warship Syren. He told me that if he had known that Model Shipways would offer a kit for the vessel, he would picked a different subject. Like him, I try to choose subjects that are unique.
To Richie: sorry, but building solid hull models is not “the easy way out.” It is a different way of producing a durable, accurately shaped ship model hull. In fact, with the hype about building “museum quality” models, it is actually the method preferred by museums. I fully understand and appreciate the fully framed models displayed on the European ship model contest circuit. But some modeling subjects don’t feature planked hulls.
Roger
Great advice, Roger, as usual. When I got into this hobby about two years ago, my first impression was that a majority of first-time boat model builders gravitate towards that 200-year period from 1600 to 1800, the "Grand Age of European tall ships." Surely, the HMS Victory and the HMS Vanguard are impressive vessels, but does everyone have to build them? Does everyone really want to tie 200 knots to get perfectly realistic shrouds and ratlines? Not (knot) for me!
After building my first few wood kits I took your approach and started gravitating towards boats that were "eclectic" (not one that every model builder has built) and particular to my own interests: working boats of oystermen and crab fishermen, "windjammers" that are powered by sail & steam, early Dutch merchant ships, and Japanese vessels (like the windjammer Nippon Maru). I like to build models that are "off the beaten path," and perhaps unknown to most members of this site.
That's what makes model building a great deal of fun (at least for me) - researching obscure ships, finding historical sources and drawings, and finding subjects that have a great backstory (like the Dutch retourschip, Batavia, and the Japanese tall-ship, Sant Juan Bautista).
I also like to pick projects that will allow me to learn a basic skill, like rigging, planking, hull carving, half-hull models, and papercard modeling, before moving to my next build. Building models intentionally and methodically has helped me NOT to bite off more than I can build right now.
Now that I am starting to build from scratch (with 3 completed scratch builds so far), I much prefer to build from plans and books rather than from kits. This has been an economical way into the hobby for me, as I'm a church pastor with limited means. But everyone must chart their own course into this hobby.
While many first-time builders want to build a double planked Santissima Trinidad as their first build, many drop out of the hobby because they picked a model to build before having the basic skills to build it. The David Antsherl beginner kits from Model Shipways are a perfect way to start - I built the Grand Banks Dory when I got started and I can't say enough about Model Shipways kits for beginners. The Sea Bright Dory (lifeguard boat) and the Maine Peapod Lobster Smack from Midwest Products are also great starter kits and I build both of them (twice) before moving on to an intermediate build.
