Ever considered to scratch-build from card?

[Ab Hoving]

I’m afraid to work with paper because it’s susceptible to moisture and the weaker structure could get easily crumpled.

There are scratch built ship models in my collection that are over 10 years old and I never saw any sign of crumpling. What do you intend to do with them? Store them in the bath room?
What I do see in some of the kits I built (mainly planes and vehicles) is discoloring and damage by insects (silverfish). Peculiar enough they don't seem to like my ships, for which I thank them.

 

[DARIVS ARCHITECTVS]

There are scratch built ship models in my collection that are over 10 years old and I never saw any sign of crumpling. What do you intend to do with them? Store them in the bath room?

Well....... maybe. It will give me something to look at while doing my business. . .

As for crumpling, YOU don't have CATS. I also have some silverfish in the basement level bathroom, and you thought teredo worms were a problem.

 

[Ab Hoving]

I think you are creating a wrong association.

 

[11320 Titanic]

I’m afraid to work with paper because it’s susceptible to moisture and the weaker structure could get easily crumpled.

I did the HMS Alert, and when all was said and done the hull was as strong as a wooden hull. The spars and mast are wood. It has been in the basement for two years with no degradation, though I did paint the surface with a flat poly on the bottom and a semigloss on the superstructure, but you have no need to worry.
I have to rerig it due to a former family cat

 

[DARIVS ARCHITECTVS]

I did the HMS Alert, and when all was said and done the hull was as strong as a wooden hull. The spars and mast are wood. It has been in the basement for two years with no degradation, though I did paint the surface with a flat poly on the bottom and a semi gloss on the superstructure, but you have no need to worry

Nice. It's good to know. Paper seems so flimsy to me.

 

[Ab Hoving]

It's not just paper Kurt, it is also card. You know how rigid a cardboard box can be.
The fact that everything is glued to everything makes the whole structure surprisingly sturdy. You should give it a try.
I know a very nice book that excessively details the whole proces, called 'Dutch 17th century ship models in paper' written by a very well know author. )

 

[kevin Pooley]

beautiful , well done

 

[TJCampbell]

I will quickly chime in and note that I know a guy locally (Windsor, ON) who does historic great lakes freighters out of card stock and they look fantastic and hold up very well. He stores them in his basement and has no issues at all.

I have considered doing so at least once, but I prefer working with wood. One thing though......the card stock models are super light weight of course.

Quick aside: The local model railroad club here as a waterfront scene depicting the steel mill in Hamilton, Ontario and they have a scratch built waterline laker that was built out of automotive modeling rigid foam, with styrene and PE parts for details. This stuff is rigid like wood and super light - but.....hard to get and expensive.