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looking at ships, what's the best boat for a newby?


shutter

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Greetings! I chose Sultana by model shipways. Reason being is that MS is very good with instructions, kit accuracy and also practicum's you can download off the internet and this site. Other similar options might be the Phantom, Ballahoo by jotika, some of the modelers central kits mermaid, Norfolk, Port Jackson schooner. A lot of people like Swift or also the Bluejacket revenue cutter kit. I'd recommend solid hull for your first kit but not everyone might agree. It's all a preference really, enjoy!  :)

 

Charlie

Edited by CharlieZardoz

Build on hold: HM Sultana 1/64th scale

 

Current Build: 31 ton Doughty revenue cutter as USRC Active 1/64th scale (in progress)

 

Future Interests: Ballahoo, Diligence, Halifax and beyond...

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hi. my first kit was the amati santa maria. mainly because i am a columbus tragic! i found it challenging but not impossible. i am pretty proud of how she turned out. i always say, do a kit you are interested in first and foremost. you are far more likely to finish it and enjoy the process along the way!

 

cheers

chris

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One thing I would say is avoid the European kits. Many of them are very old and the instructions are not well translated. I mean it's your choice but it may be more challenging without a guide in English. Also look for something which has plenty of logs on this site that way you can learn from those who came before you. Cheers! :)

Edited by CharlieZardoz

Build on hold: HM Sultana 1/64th scale

 

Current Build: 31 ton Doughty revenue cutter as USRC Active 1/64th scale (in progress)

 

Future Interests: Ballahoo, Diligence, Halifax and beyond...

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Hi

 

I was in same situation as you and I decided for Amati Endeavour 1:80. I can highly recommend it and the result is a very beautiful model (link below). The kit have good instructions and they are also translated to English.

 

Jörgen
 
Current:  Sherbourne - Caldercraft 1/64

            Vasa - DeAgostini 1/65
Finished: Endeavour - Americas Cup J class 1934 - Amati 1/80

Other:    Airplanes and Tanks

 

 

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Any of the MS kits will have excellent instructions.  The "Willie Bennett" is an excellent introduction to model building.  For a less ambitious build try one of the Midwest apprentice kits, level one or two.  Good instructions, make a good display model and are not going to break the bank.  I believe the Midwest kits are no longer manufactured but can be found on ebay all the time.

 

A final thought.  Look for something that interests you and do not start with something that has a lot of rigging required.  Rigging can be the most frustrating of operations and the more you have to do the more likely you will decide not to do it.

Edited by grsjax

My advice and comments are always worth what you paid for them.

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  • 3 weeks later...

I chose the Pinta from Dusek. It is described as an "advanced beginner". There is a "beginner" model, the Bireme. That is actually my next (third) project.

 

The Pinta was an excellent model with good instructions. The instructions can be downloaded from Duseks website so you can check in advance if you think it would suit you.

 

Whichever kit you choose good luck and take your time.

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from another topic I posted on:

 

they (model shipways) actually also have one kit (at least) that seems to be aimed at getting the beginner hooked. If you buy their sultana kit that comes with the paint, some tools and some sort of guide book (aside from the instructions), you can get the entire purchase price credited towards your next purchase if you finish the model within 6 months of purchase.

 

the combo kit seems like a really good deal. even if you have the tools the offer in the kit, the combo kit is cheaper than buying the model and the paint separately.

 

http://www.modelexpo...TEMNO=MS2016CB#

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In addition to the kits mentioned, I think there is another concideration for you to make. If you are interested in building a model, you are probably also interested in ship/boat history. A less involved kit is what you need, but one that fits your interests should also be a factor. See if there is a kit that fits that interest, or read the history of the ship/boat your are looking at, and see if it grabs your interest.  For instance, I lived in Maryland for many years, and love the Chesapeake Bay, so many of my kits, and several plans are for boats from this area. Skipjacks, crabbing boats, and other fishing boat subjects are what I'm more interested in.

 

This is not to say that I don't have kits or plans for others, I do, but I especially look for those kits when I see them available. You don't have to start with a wood kit either, there may be a plastic kit that you might want to build, to get started. I have both, and a well researched plastic kit can be as challenging. I'm slowly building a plastic skipjack model, with heavy mods to bring it to the correct configuration. I'm even doing 3D printing for some of the needed detailing. I also learned during my research that some features of the kit I thought were incorrect, were actually right, even though logic pointed otherwise.

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