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Hello from Western Massachusetts

DocTom

DocTom

Joined
Mar 19, 2026
Messages
9
Points
43

Hi All,
I'm a fairly new wooden ship modeler, hailing from the beautiful Berkshires. I was an avid plastic plane and ship modeler as a kid, but was always intimidated by wooden ship models. Fast forward 50+ years, and now that I am retired I've dived into wooden modeling, and am loving every minute of it. After lots of research, I started with the Model shipways series of the Dory, Pram and Lobster Smack. I have finished the first two, and am well into the third. I was posting a build log at Model sHip World, and hope to continue it here.
 
Welcome from Philadelphia! I went to law school in Boston, so I love Massachusetts. I am also beginning the Muscongus Bay Lobster Smack in a few weeks, so I'm looking forward to pictures of your Lobster boat build!
 
Welcome to Ships of Scale. Nice to have someone from the Berkshires here. I'm currently building the Golden Hind and the King of the Mississippi with the Greek Bireme in the hopper. Favorite saying is a rule of model making "Good enough...Isn't!" Welcome aboard and smooth sailing>
 
Ignatius27 said:
Welcome from Philadelphia! I went to law school in Boston, so I love Massachusetts. I am also beginning the Muscongus Bay Lobster Smack in a few weeks, so I'm looking forward to pictures of your Lobster boat build!
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Thanks. I grew up in Jersey, on the river a bit north of the Tacony-Palmyra bridge. Philly is a great city. I think you’ll enjoy the smack. I am going to try and post a “highlight reel” of my now gone build log.
 
DocTom said:
Hi All,
I'm a fairly new wooden ship modeler, hailing from the beautiful Berkshires. I was an avid plastic plane and ship modeler as a kid, but was always intimidated by wooden ship models. Fast forward 50+ years, and now that I am retired I've dived into wooden modeling, and am loving every minute of it. After lots of research, I started with the Model shipways series of the Dory, Pram and Lobster Smack. I have finished the first two, and am well into the third. I was posting a build log at Model sHip World, and hope to continue it here.
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Welcome aboard from Northern CT. Your story and mine sounds similar. Was into plastics for a long time and dipped my toe into wooden boat modeling. I love both. Your starting with the dory and pram was exactly what I did, and at least for me, it was the right move. I look forward to seeing your building log. This is a great place to present your work and get excellent suggestions from a large group of wonderful people!

Rob
 
Rob444 said:
Welcome aboard from Northern CT. Your story and mine sounds similar. Was into plastics for a long time and dipped my toe into wooden boat modeling. I love both. Your starting with the dory and pram was exactly what I did, and at least for me, it was the right move. I look forward to seeing your building log. This is a great place to present your work and get excellent suggestions from a large group of wonderful people!

Rob
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Thanks Rob. We lived in Hamden for 26 years before heading North. I see you're working on the Bluenose. I have the kit in my stash, but I think I need to practice my rigging and masting skills a little more before I tackle her. I plan to build the Model Shipways Harriet Lane after I finish the smack.
Tom
 
Tom,

Now Living in Avon, close to Hartford. After I finished my sailing pram, I did the shipways 18th century long boat, which my son gave to me as a birthday present. which I learned how to do some simple planking. After that the Constitution cross section, which took me a year (I still work part time). I learned a LOT from that build and did not go crazy with rigging as I would worrying about a 3 masted ship. I just looked at the Harriet Lane. Looks like a fabulous model! You can download the instruction manual for the Harriet lane from the Model Expo website to see if it looks like you would like it.



If I may suggest if you have not yet bought her look at places like Ebay for the ship you want. Sometimes you can get unused ones for a significant discount. Also Model Shipways has "sales" and then sometimes significant sales (Like 50% off). So keep an eye out for those. Also peruse the boats for sale here on this site.

I picked up that Bluenose for a significantly lower price. The seller also threw in a holder to construct the ship on.

Look at every build log you can get your hands on for the Harriet Lane. When I built the Cross section I found 3 other build logs that were crucial to helping me build one that I would not have done without their ideas. Also you tube has tons on all aspects of this hobby as well as specific build logs.

Definitely start a build log for the Harriet Lane, they are simple to do and the feedback and suggestions you will get will be invaluable.

Rob
 
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Rob,
I picked up the Harriet Lane kit during a Model Expo sale. I've also bought several kits off Ebay, and just bought "pre-owned" Model Shipways Charles W. Morgan, Fair American and Flying Fish kits from a fellow modeler in Central Mass. I am a retired doctor, and like many MDs, a little compulsive! I have enough kits in my stash to get me through the next 25 years :D.
 
DocTom said:
Rob,
I picked up the Harriet Lane kit during a Model Expo sale. I've also bought several kits off Ebay, and just bought "pre-owned" Model Shipways Charles W. Morgan, Fair American and Flying Fish kits from a fellow modeler in Central Mass. I am a retired doctor, and like many MDs, a little compulsive! I have enough kits in my stash to get me through the next 25 years :D.
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At 74, still working as an Anesthesiologist a few days a week. I just have a few kits. My Admiral is always alert to that and her standing response if I get a kit is "And where is that going to go?" The Bluenose is actually being built in my second home in Tucson. I just started on the Black Swan that I was lucky enough to win in a raffle on SOS!
 
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