• Win a Free Custom Engraved Brass Coin!!!
    As a way to introduce our brass coins to the community, we will raffle off a free coin during the month of August. Follow link ABOVE for instructions for entering.

Hello!

berc

berc

Joined
Aug 15, 2025
Messages
3
Points
0
Hello everyone!

I'm Berc, a 17-year-old guy who has always been interested in building models. I first started with LEGO, and when I was around 10, my dad introduced me to plastic modeling. Since then, I’ve been building all the time. Interestingly, I’ve only built one ship—the Gorch Fock kit by Revell—as my main interest has always been planes.

A couple of months ago, a new idea came to mind: maybe I should try building a wooden kit? The thing is, I don’t really have any idea how it works or how much it costs.

I’m looking forward to many great conversations here, and I’m eager to learn new methods and tricks from you all!
 
Welcome to SoS, Berc. If you are starting wooden ship building for the first time, most people on this site would recommend starting with the Model Expo Shipwright series. It consists of three kits of progressively more challenging builds. The biggest word of warning I can give you is that building wooden ships is very different from plastic kits. The instructions rarely tell you everything you need to know for assembly, and pieces do not usually simply fit together. Be prepared for lots of trial and error until you get very experienced.
 
berc said:
a 17-year-old guy
Click to expand...
GREAT to see someone from your generation joining Ships of Scale. Good and high quality kits are expensive, but as you are new at this, you can start small. Namabiiru's suggestion is excellent. There are kit manufacturers in Europe that may make it less expensive for you, but be careful, many are poorly designed and use less than optimum materials. Do you have a wood shop near by or in your local schools? You may benefit from their help, and might consider scratch building rather than kit building. There are advantages and disadvantages to each route you can take.

Allan

1755340044094.jpeg
 
Welcome aboard. Look forward to seeing your builds. I've only started this year and have found an enjoyable new hobby. I have learned much from this site. People here have been very helpful as I learn about how to do wooden models.
 
A warm welcome to you. My first wood build was a Boston fishing smack with a solid pre-formed hull, so no planking. I learned an awful lot from it and it was good in honing my skills - fine woodwork, rigging, sails etc. It wasn't a deliberate choice as I inherited it when my Dad passed away and he hadn't really got much done. Planking is not to be feared, it's just a question of working methodically, but it can stop a lot of first-timers in their tracks. Looking back I am glad I started as I did, but when I look at that model today there are a few things I would have done differently now that I have more experience - this is the curse of the ship modeller.
Do keep us posted on your decision and build. Regards.
 
Hi and welcome
I suggest you browse the OcCre website. They do a good range of models and give the option of downloading the (very clear) instruction sheets free. Based in Spain it might be a simple buying method.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top