Let's get more people into wooden ship building!

My first and last kit build was a Model Shipways “Yellow Box” model of Harriett Lane. Since then my models have been scratch built. If I am ever forced to downsize to the point where I lose my workshop, your new Phantom might be a good choice. Marketing ship model kits in high quality publications like Smithsonian Magazine is a great idea. The add is tasteful and avoids the pirate ship hype that trivializes our hobby. Well done!
 
Roger Pellett said:
My first and last kit build was a Model Shipways “Yellow Box” model of Harriett Lane. Since then my models have been scratch built. If I am ever forced to downsize to the point where I lose my workshop, your new Phantom might be a good choice. Marketing ship model kits in high quality publications like Smithsonian Magazine is a great idea. The add is tasteful and avoids the pirate ship hype that trivializes our hobby. Well done!
Click to expand...
Thank you for the patronage and for the compliments, sir! Hope you get to build one of our kits again (without any downsizing, please!)
 
Just got this message form a customer. There's still hope out there!

"When I first saw the Dory promotion and the pictures associated with it I noticed the older group of people, like myself.
Aiden is 8 years old and enjoyed watching me build Model Shipway’s USS Constitution. I thought the Dory promotion would be an excellent way to get Aiden involved in his first ship.
The ship was a surprise present which he was extremely excited about.
The instructions were simple and Aiden was able to read them ( and with a little help) understand them.
At eight years old, his attention span was a bit lacking. The best part of the instructions (which I kept repeating over and over) was that ship building takes patience, it’s not a race. As Aiden and I built the Dory, I decided to do a scratch build myself while Aiden did the kit.
During the project we found Aiden didn’t care much for sanding (wooden ships need sanding!) He told me that when he’s 12 he’ll like to sand .
Aiden and I thank Model Expo for this opportunity. I’m sure he’ll do more in the future. "

James Shultz.jpeg
 
Model Shipways said:
Just got this message form a customer. There's still hope out there!

"When I first saw the Dory promotion and the pictures associated with it I noticed the older group of people, like myself.
Aiden is 8 years old and enjoyed watching me build Model Shipway’s USS Constitution. I thought the Dory promotion would be an excellent way to get Aiden involved in his first ship.
The ship was a surprise present which he was extremely excited about.
The instructions were simple and Aiden was able to read them ( and with a little help) understand them.
At eight years old, his attention span was a bit lacking. The best part of the instructions (which I kept repeating over and over) was that ship building takes patience, it’s not a race. As Aiden and I built the Dory, I decided to do a scratch build myself while Aiden did the kit.
During the project we found Aiden didn’t care much for sanding (wooden ships need sanding!) He told me that when he’s 12 he’ll like to sand .
Aiden and I thank Model Expo for this opportunity. I’m sure he’ll do more in the future. "

View attachment 471817
Click to expand...
These are great news to read - young boys and girls which have fun with our hobby - and when looking at the model he made -> with very good result
 
As an addendum, our Naples shipbuilding group offer a free kit with tools to anyone who attends four consecutive meetings..We have very dedicated members who have worked to expand our membership,Ricardo from ME has attended our meetings and we have a deal with ME in that regard,,wonderful guy. We meet at Moorings Park in Naples (thanks Gizmo) two Saturdays a month.. Also, members have access to the Yellow Submarine ,a building with tools for members to work if their situation is such. We are in the process of mentoring residents in Moorings Park to attend/join our group. We have a new member who is actually not a senior, such as myself! Three doctors..that's handy! We get regular geezer health updates..and if you're having the big one , you're in a good place. If you are in our area,please stop by.
On a personal level, my granddaughter, now ten, and I designed and built a solid hulled basswood two masted sailboat.. We use 1/4 inch graph paper to strike the centerline and have symmetry.. I cut the hull on a bandsaw and a lot of sanding.. We added a weighted keel and she floats proud in the family pool.
She knows how to use a square , metric and in fractions of an inch..down to 1/4ths.. Now I'm bragging.. Have pics..just need to learn how to post them!
 
juansystem05 said:
Model shipways, Do you plan on bringing back the level 4 midwest kits? I have an incomplete endeavour kit, very incomplete actually.
I don't recall exactly why but I bought and build every single midwest kit available, except from the seguin
Click to expand...
Hi Juan
Yes, Model Expo soon will release the Midwest Seguin. I work for ME and at the moment I’m building this model for their new coming catalog.
 
El Capi said:
I do not agree with you. I would like you to build a 74 gunner in 6 months- at least tell me what type of boat .ship, as some newcomers much get it wrong- I have 60 Years of building on my back with more than 30 models built- for it took 3-4 years for 74 gunner.
Click to expand...
I totally agree with you El Capi, Im building Caldercrafts HMS Victory, the approx build time on the box is 3000hrs put that into prospective if you were to work 2-3 hours a day every day it would take 3-4 years to build, that's if you follow the instructions and don't add a customisations to it.
 
Dave Stevens (Lumberyard) said:
here is a wild idea rather than sell a kit sell a project, here is how it would work

have a subject with a set of working plans that is including all the laser part drawings

a model builder can custom make their oun kit.

if all you want are the drawings you can cut out your own bulkhead set OR buy a laser cut set of bulkheads.

many model builders have a saw and tools so they can cut their own planking OR order a planking set from a selection of woods. Maybe someone wants to double plank the hull or plank the hull in Cherry or Basswood or Maple.

maybe the plans inculde a material list so a builder can select either a timbering set to make their own fittings or order a set of fittings.

maybe all you want is to build a hull and no rigging OR buy the rigging set.
Click to expand...
Love the idea Dave, my main complaint with model kits from mainstream suppliers is they simplify the kit, the instructions for planking are poor at best and wrong at worst and teach bad techniques, the materials included are the cheapest in order to maximise profits.
 
Model Shipways said:
It's one of the oldest and most rewarding hobbies in the world. Used to be huge. But then came plastic kits, then video games, internet, smart phones... and our world got smaller.

Some people think "I'll never be able to build something like that". Well, we don't believe in it. And we put our money where our mouth is.

Here is the deal: You buy the Dory - with or without tools - build it and send us a picture of you with your masterpiece. We will GIVE YOU BACK everything you spent in store credit.
Chances are you will build wooden ships for the rest of your life.

If you build plastic kits, now it's the opportunity to give it a try. And if you already are a wood modeler, help us spread the word.

Let's make wooden ship building great again ;)!

Buy The Dory Here



View attachment 414084
Click to expand...
I have ordered mine today - great deal!
 
GKIP said:
Love the idea Dave, my main complaint with model kits from mainstream suppliers is they simplify the kit, the instructions for planking are poor at best and wrong at worst and teach bad techniques, the materials included are the cheapest in order to maximise profits.
Click to expand...
This is exactly what drove me to scratch building, working with detailed drawings choosing my own construction materials, and working as a commercial model maker for a local ship yard over thirty years ago. Today, I only build for myself, but still will not pay the huge prices for a good quality kit, and refuse to pay anything for poor quality kits and materials.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top