ccoyle

You have a nice model there, much nicer than what we usually see. I'm going to venture out on a limb here, though, and say that your model is probably not worth a lot of money, mainly because it does not appear to be built to the standards that collectors and deep-pocketed buyers are willing to pay big bucks for. There are others in this group who are better qualified than I to confirm that this is actually the case or not. Selling your model is complicated by the fact that clipper models are extremely common in the mass-produced nautical decor market, and they can be had in varying shades of quality starting at around $100 and on up to nearly a grand. Unfortunately, this dilutes the value of your model for anyone just looking for a nice decoration. You might have to list it for a ridiculously low price to move it quickly. I have two suggestions. The first, seriously, is to convince your wife to find room in her heart for it. If I had a model built by my great-grandfather, it would be priceless. Second suggestion, if your wife insists that it must go, is to find an antique store near you that will take it on consignment. You get your space, you don't have to track down a buyer, and you might get a little money. Actually, if you still have the custom case, that might be worth as much or more than the model. But honestly, that's a pretty nice model, and it has personal history for you. I'd look for a way to hang on to it. Kind regards, Chris

Nowadays it would have to be paper, and there isn't a good card kit of it available that I know of. And it would probably be far, far back in the queue... after my DH82A, Fokker E.V, PZL P.11, Spitfire Mk. V, PWS-10, Stampe SV-4, etc., etc.

Just as an historical side note, this kit is one of a series of early Caldercraft "Nelson's Navy" kits that were designed by Chris Watton, whose name you may see crop up elsewhere on this site. These were considered cutting edge kits back in the day (although in this case "back in the day" is only two decades), and they're still pretty nice, even though kit design has taken some steps forward since then. The instructions in these early CC kits are not nearly as extensive as in later kits from the company, but since this isn't your first rodeo with model ships, you probably won't need them nearly so much. I have always liked the clean-cut looks of the ship-rigged Cruizers, and this kit does produce a nice finished product. Hope you enjoy it!

I have a soft spot for the Ar 196, as the old Airfix kit is one of the models I can remember building with my dad when I was a kid. I built the same kit again as a teen, but it disappeared somewhere eons ago.

I like how this model is coming together in light of the "box of sticks" nature of the kit shown in your first post. Laser-cut parts and detailed diagrams can be nice, but they are not necessarily essential for completing a project.

Outstanding! Hope you win. 👍

Hello, Charlie. I hate to be the bearer of bad tidings, but I think you will have some trouble in re-homing your model. It appears to be a nautical decor model, a type of mass-produced and inexpensively built model that is not a true scale rendering of its purported subject. In this instance, based on the figurehead, it looks like you have an attempt at portraying the clipper Cutty Sark, but the model is not a good likeness and is in a considerable state of disrepair. Your options for dealing with a model like this one are limited. It has little value for model builders or serious collectors of nautical artifacts. This means that it's unlikely that you'll find someone willing to invest the time needed to restore the model. Perhaps you have another family member who might appreciate it? Wish I had better news for you. Chris

Yup -- we've had them on our radar here for some time. 😉

Now those three are definitely kits. From top to bottom they appear to be Victory, Soleil Royale, and Cutty Sark. Their construction details do look like what one would have seen in a kit circa 1970s. Soleil Royale was either never completed or has lost much of her rigging. The good news is, all three of these kits are probably still in production, so if you decided to learn the craft of rigging a period ship, you could still restore these models, either from kit plans or from appropriate reference works, of which their are plenty in print.

Nice work! Congratulations!

We actually had a Ben Franklin in Fortuna, California, where I grew up, so at one time the chain was coast-to-coast.

Welcome! Being that this is marketed as a "kit", whatever its shortcomings, we'll leave it here in the kits section. Personally, I have a soft spot for these little off-the-beaten-path, mom-and-pop manufacturers and enjoy having a look at their products. Mind you, that doesn't mean I'm a huge fan-boy of their kit design philosophy! I'm looking forward to seeing how you pull this project off. Good luck!

The Mamoli kit line is now made by Dusek Ship Kits. Daniel Dusek (also his username) is a member here. You can try sending him a private message to ask if he sells the plans separately. Cheers, Chris

From your question I assume that there is no name on the transom of the model? To my (admittedly non-expert) eye, your model appears clipper-like, rather than a model of an actual clipper. Clippers tended to have sharper bows, rounded sterns, and generally more graceful lines than those of the model. In fact, the model more closely resembles what were known as packet ships, which were ships that were designed to increase cargo-carrying capacity at the expense of some speed, making them more profitable to operate and giving them a more bluff and stout appearance than a clipper. If you google the term, you'll find images that show what I mean. In either case, your model appears to be scratch-built, as it does not resemble any of the clippers normally found in kit form, and no one, to my knowledge, makes a kit of a packet ship. As you said, dust it off, re-attach any loose lines, and give it a place of honor somewhere to remember your grandfather. Thanks for sharing!

Froggy, One of the best (and cheapest!) things you can do, in all seriousness, is head to your local library and look for ship modeling books. Back in my starting-out days, I was pleasantly surprised by what they had on the shelves. And the staff could easily get other books through their inter-library loan system. Read all you can get your hands on. As primers, look for Ship Modeling Simplified by Frank Mastini and Historic Ship Models by Wolfram zu Mondfeld. Neither of these books should be considered completely authoritative on all matters ship modeling, but they are easy reads, profusely illustrated, and relatively widely available. They'll get your appetite whetted. Cheers from your neighbor up the I-85 corridor!

Danny, you never cease to impress!

If you look through the galleries and build logs here, you will find many examples of nicely done plastic models. The two media, plastic and wood, require slightly different skill sets, though certain modeling tasks, such as tying ratlines, will be the same regardless of medium. If you feel more comfortable working with plastic, there's certainly no compelling reason to not continue working with it. Of course, wood is nice too and rewarding in its own way. There's really no correct answer to your question that applies to very person equally. Perhaps try both and see which one you like better?

These are highly simplified kits done at scales that are often difficult for beginners to manage. I find them to be more of a novelty than a serious project. Or something suitable for kids. As always, your smileage may vary.

That is something to consider for foreign transactions in general. However, I have purchased from the seller in the example and received the kit in good order and with English instructions. As I said, I mainly included that example to show that there are some less well-known sellers who are, in fact, making the effort to be competitive purchasing options and not just trying to sell second-hand merchandise at ridiculously unrealistic prices. As always -- buyer beware!

Great suggestion, Frankie. I got hold of a short piece of braided copper wire and will try something similar, but it will have to wait until after I finish my current project.

As a rule of thumb, I would leave any of the old "yellow box" Model Shipways kits for the collectors (unless it was the lumber schooner Forrester -- I have my weaknesses). Bob's observations above are spot-on.

Looks great! Sounds like one of the walnut billets has a little bit of discoloration. I suspect that most of those parts will end up being painted.

Try telling this to all of those delusional eBayers trying to sell their "vintage" kits at premium prices! 😝

Great videos! Too bad I don't speak Russian. Interested modelers can really see your approach to LOTS of hull frames and assemblies that lock up very tight and precise. Thanks for sharing!