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Let's get more people into wooden ship building!

This is definitely the trend among the latest generation.

what age group is the latest generation we are talking about?
my parents generation
my generation
my kids generation
my grandkids generation
my great grand kids generation
 
my grandsons now in their 20's have far better things to spend money on than ship model kits ranging from $300.00 to $1,500.00

i am thinking the hobby of model ship kits is getting far too expensive for young people.
 
It is way too expensive for young people or for that matter, many people. For $1500 if one is careful he or she can be well on their way to outfitting a shop. With that, it’s possible to build a whole fleet of models as well to build skills that will last a lifetime.
 
It is way too expensive for young people or for that matter, many people. For $1500 if one is careful he or she can be well on their way to outfitting a shop. With that, it’s possible to build a whole fleet of models as well to build skills that will last a lifetime.

young people in their 20s do not have this kind of extra money. Even $200.00 is a little too much. Sure you can buy Kits for around 100 bucks but in the long run it will get expensive. This has become a hobby for retired people or people who can afford it. Young couples raising a family facing $400.00 a month grocery bills, car payments, rent or mortgages spending $1,000.00 on a hobby kit is out of the question.

kit cost.JPG
with this kind of prices, you can set yourself up with pretty much all the tools you would need. the problem here is you have to know how to build a model of a ship and not rely on someone's instructions or a box of parts.

maybe the answer to getting more people or young people involved in the hobby is making it affordable.
This is not a wham bam thank you man type of hobby it is one that evolves and as it evolves it becomes more and more expensive either in tools or more advanced kits.
 
This does not have to be an expensive hobby. All that is required is to be willing to spend some time learning a few skills in developing the techniques necessary to produce a model subject you are interested in. Whether it is airplanes, doll houses or ships nothing comes with that "instant gratification" that so many people are looking for.

Baltimore City Fire Tug, Scale 1/2 inch to the foot, Total Cost of Materials Approximately $85.00 excluding radio gear.

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Building things is in my blood. I grew up in a house where we built things. When I began life after College as an active duty USNR Ensign, I bought a well used 1958 Chevy for $250. My next major purchase was a set of socket wrenches to keep it running! Over the years I gradually bought hand and power tools as I could afford them. My 10” Delta table saw bought used in about the year 2000 cost me $150 including a trailer to haul it home. I daily use power tools that are 50 years old and hand tools inherited from my father that are nearing 100.

Not until I was promoted to a well paying job did I buy a Byrnes Saw and Sherline mill/lathe. Both are luxuries. I have milled my own lumber and scratch built perfectly fine models without them.

The cost to build models now that I have a well organized shop? Loose change! My message to young people: good tools are a lifetime investment.

Roger
 
I never had the patience, money, or space to build kits, and as I sold my scratchbuilt models, the hobby paid me many thousands over the years. This one cost very little to build, and only took 84 hours to build, timed on a stopwatch. The work was spread over a total of 40 days, but I didn't work on it every day.

1951 Kenya (Large).JPG
 
Dave Stevens (Lumberyard) said:
my grandsons now in their 20's have far better things to spend money on than ship model kits ranging from $300.00 to $1,500.00

i am thinking the hobby of model ship kits is getting far too expensive for young people.
Click to expand...
Hi Dave:
Yes, some kits today are super expensive but there things that we can do when purchasing a kit.
From my experience, the best way is EBay.
They are many people out there with a huge stacks of models that they can’t build because of age or any health issues and are willing to let those models go for a very reasonable prices.
I visits Model Expo often, and you have to see the lots and lots of models that they buy from people and they sell them very cheap.
Another way, is eBay.
I have created a list of wanted models that I have on my eBay watch list.
Every time some one is selling them, I get a notice, after that I try to make offers and finally I get the model I want with a very modest price.
So, that being said, model ships could be expensive, but there is a way cheaper to buy them.
 
This is definitely the trend among the latest generation. Their instant gratification world has made them unwilling to earn an accomplishment that is truly challenging if they have an option not to bother earning it. It means that only a few who have the discipline to willingly take on the challenge of developing new skills and talents to achieve the completion of a ship model become modelers. I also play video games, but possess the patience and persistence to do models too.

i have read this a number of times "Their instant gratification" applied to younger generation is in the way of pursuing a more rewarding hobby like model ship building.
let's take that term "Their instant gratification" in another sentence

people who buy a kit a model in a box is looking for "Their instant gratification" which has made them unwilling to earn an accomplishment that is truly challenging like researching and building a scale model from scratch, if they have an option of a pre made model kit why bother earning the discipline to take on the challenge to develop new skills and knowledge required by scratch building

hum?
 
Just chiming in to say how heartening it is to see the energy in this thread, clearly, we all care deeply about keeping the art of wooden ship modeling alive. The Model Shipways initiative is a brilliant step toward that, and I hope it sparks interest among those just discovering the craft.
That said, I’ve noticed a strong enthusiasm here for scratch building, and I get it (in multiple forums)!!!! It’s a deeply rewarding endeavor that pushes your skills, expands your knowledge, and connects you to the historic roots of ship modeling. For many, it represents a natural progression beyond kits.

But I’d like to gently remind/suggest we keep space for all paths in this hobby. Some folks will thrive on scratch builds; others may find lifelong joy in the artistry of kit building, bashing, and detailing. Both are valid, both are creative, and both deserve encouragement.
Also, it’s worth mentioning, there’s a common misconception that all kits are prohibitively expensive. This is NOT true! They are NOT! While high-end, multi-thousand-dollar kits do exist, they’re usually aimed at advanced modelers. Beginners have plenty of budget-friendly options to get started with, many of which are well-designed and enjoyable to build.

As someone who appreciates precision and craftsmanship, I believe what matters most is not how we build, but why we build, and how we support one another along the way. That spirit is what will draw people in and keep this community thriving.

So, whether it’s a simple dory kit or a full scratch build off an archival plan, let’s make sure every new builder feels welcome, capable, and proud of the ship they launch.

Fair winds to all!
 
Also, it’s worth mentioning, there’s a common misconception that all kits are prohibitively expensive. This is NOT true! They are NOT! While high-end, multi-thousand-dollar kits do exist, they’re usually aimed at advanced modelers. Beginners have plenty of budget-friendly options to get started with, many of which are well-designed and enjoyable to build.

i agree with you Jim there are plenty of budget-friendly options for beginners, but the natural progression kit or scratch starts to get more and more expensive until you reach the "i can not afford to go any further" more advanced kits are now in the 100s of $$$ or thousands of $$ so either i stop or learn how to scratch build. Even scratch building has its limits for example if you want to scratch build but you are not good at carving so you hire someone who can create a 3D model and print files for a figurehead. The average cost to create a figurehead STL file is from $80.00 to $150.00. If you do not have a resin printer and send it out to be printed. ya right!

figutrhead quote.JPG

A builder wanting a figurehead can spend in the neighborhood of $300.00+ to have one modeled and printed this is just a figurehead the cost to add all the stern carvings is over $1,000.00
So ya! scratch or kit this is a very expensive hobby and not for young people unless mommy and daddy are in the higher income bracket. Or the kids have a nice big allowance

bounty9a (2.jpgImage 8.jpg
 
Dave, with all due respect, it almost sounds like you are trying to discourage people from participating in ship modeling regardless of the path they take. Any hobby can be expensive. Whether or not you choose to spend your money on expensive kits, expensive tools, expensive materials or expensive greens fees, hobbies can get expensive - for those with the means. At the same time, there are still many options for those with the desire, but without the means - you just have to be resourceful.

Your example above citing the cost of a 3d printed figurehead is a bit unrealistic as well. Aside from the fact that it quotes FDM, which I would never use for a figurehead due to the layer lines, your example is quoting a piece 11 x 6 x 4 inches! What size ship model are you building that requires a figurehead that size? 1:48 and smaller prints would be much more reasonably priced.
 
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Dave, there’s no denying that this hobby can get expensive at the high end, especially for advanced modelers chasing whatever their ultimate goal is. But let’s not lose sight of the original goal of this discussion: getting more people started in wooden ship modeling, not scaring them off with figurehead costs in the hundreds of dollars.

There are plenty of great beginner kits that cost less than a nice dinner out. Many have no guns, no elaborate stern galleries, no figureheads, and still offer a satisfying build that teaches core skills. Dories, small fishing vessels (personally, I love those), sloops, barges, and workboats are affordable, attractive, and historically meaningful subjects to choose from.

Not everyone needs to commission 3D-printed art to enjoy this craft. Some of the best shipbuilders started by learning to shape a hull, plank a deck, or rig a sail, long before they ever thought about carving. I'm not sure if my personal experience still fully applies to this thread, but...I began my shipbuilding journey a long time ago by shaping the hulls of probably hundreds (if not more) of submarines. The first dozen of my attempts ended up being used to heat the room in winter! I started with a log of wood, shaping it with a plane into something vaguely usable. Then, using a fretsaw, I’d cut out half-bulkheads and shape the blank, constantly attaching, checking, and removing more material as needed. That was the process of learning I went through. It was slow, often frustrating, but incredibly valuable, and it cost me almost nothing but time and patience.

Let’s keep the focus on inclusion and encouragement. If someone enjoys it and wants to move up the ranks, they’ll naturally decide when and how to invest further, at their own pace and budget.
 
i know any hobby can get expensive i once went to a model airplane air show. Taking to one of the builders about his model jet. The cost to build it was $19,000.00 he even hired a pro pilot to fly it so he didn't crash. i was into high power model rockets for a 27 second flight was $400.00 but in model rockets there was a large beginner base and you can buy a hobby rocket for $9.00

your example is quoting a piece 11 x 6 x 4 inches! What size ship model are you building that requires a figurehead that size?

the size is 74mm x 155mm x 109mm 25mm= 1 inch so i could have clicked the in rather than the mm but other quote were still in the $100.00 range. The cheapest quote i got was $85.00 to print a figurehead the size of your thumb.

i was looking at the "getting younger people involved" i just saw it as way too expensive for young people and there are so many other hobbies far less expensive and entertaining.
People looking into a hobby will Google it and those $1,400.00 kits come up. These was a survey done on people wanting to build a model ship. Survey says lots of fancy carvings and lots and lots of guns. This is why the Victory is so popular. Very few will start with a dory or canoe. The survey also found a lot of kits never get finished because builders do not start off small, they jump into the deep end.


..I began my shipbuilding journey a long time ago by shaping the hulls of probably hundreds (if not more) of submarines. The first dozen of my attempts ended up being used to heat the room in winter! I started with a log of wood, shaping it with a plane into something vaguely usable. Then, using a fretsaw, I’d cut out half-bulkheads and shape the blank, constantly attaching, checking, and removing more material as needed. That was the process of learning I went through. It was slow, often frustrating, but incredibly valuable, and it cost me almost nothing but time and patience.

so are you suggesting builders should start out scratch building like you did? i agree it is a cheap way to go and you learn so much more.


one way to NOT get people involved in this hobby is showing kits so expensive you have to take out a load to afford them and years to build and poor instructions so you better know what your doing from the start. there is a 75% failure in actually completing the kit.

so what is the flip side?

maybe turning cheap kits into fine looking models trash to treasure. or maybe a semi scratch project under $150.00
 
It shouldn't really matter anyway! I just built what I wanted to build, and I am sure most of you do the same - You know how much you can afford, and act accordingly, and just get on with it! I preferred a low-cost hobby producing sellable ships. I have often been critiscised for my mercenary attitude, but producing at least one a month for fourteen years or more, I just had to get rid of them somewhere.
I wasn't obsessed with it, but it just followed on after a 31-year career at sea, that I got tired of at the age of 48, so just wanted something that would keep us going money-wise until getting my pension, and generally, I did enjoy it!
Very few tools were needed, but in addition to these, I had a small hobby two-wheel band saw, and a small Unimat SL lathe, that cost £69 second hand in 1973.
17 Hand tools copy (Medium).jpgIMGP8193 Lathe (Medium).JPGBandsaw Charnwood 8th June 2012 (Large).JPG
 
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Scratch building opens the door to such a wide variety of subjects that you can pick one that avoids things that you lack the skills or equipment to build. For example if you can’t carve the decorations, there are many vessels did not have figureheads or other decorations that would make unique and interesting models. Sailing water tanks, hoys, etc are examples of these.

In my case I have no artistic ability, and no desire to buy a figurehead made by others, so I skip models that require this sort of work. Instead, my present model requires a large number of fabricated metal parts. Making these at 1:96 scale from brass is a challenging and satisfying project.

Roger
 
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