amateur

Depends what you expect from the book If you like cooking, buy a cook-book, if you are interested in history buy a history book. What I mean: your choice may depend on what you need/like Mondfeld gives quite a lot of info, however, it does not very often go into the 'how do I do'. Mastini (Ship modelling simplified) goes into extensive 'how to', but is rather focussed on 'kits' and not 'working from scratch' Books like 'Young America' show both detail and how to, but are focussed on a very specific ship (although you can argue that a belaying pin, or a proper executed joint will show up in rather a few other shipmodels.) A second thing you should take into consideration: books like Mondfeld (but lots more) are dating essentially from the late sixties, showing historic knowlegde from that period, building materials from that periode, and techniques from that period. Those techniques may still work, but both technique as well as machinery have come a long way since. The same applies to historic knowledge. You may like Mondfeld, you may consider him outdated. Depends on what you are looking for. Third consideration: the whole digital universe is full of information. Google 'making deadeyes' or 'how to attach a block' and you will find loads of pages and instruction videos showing you how it can be done (the Passaro-tutorials are great indeed) . Far more difficult is finding detailed information on specific ships or of specific periods. The need for a 'general purpose book like Mondfeld is not so large as thirty years ago. You may consider therefore an alternative buying strategy: buy a book on something very specific: framing in the English Navy, Rigging of Tea-clippers, Books that can be read next to a hearth fire, with a glass of something, and getting all the general information from places like MSW. (and yes, Landstrom was my first book on ships, Hoeckel the second and Mondfeld came third.) Jan

My guess would be Corel : as far as I know only Corel uses those ugly metal gunport-frames [edit] just checked, tha mantua version also has these ugly things….. Jan

You mean these?

Nice model so far (I choose not to see your starving cows. Not nearly as starving as I breed them). By the way, how do you know? Jan

This made me aware of the enormous size of those airships. Never saw one mounted next to something as large as a battleship. Both ships came out great! Jan

I thouoght I found a cheaper version of Camarata's book, lister for 67 euro's. Following the link ended up at an american sellerfor 125 dollars. Nice change rates..... I have seen very convincing water doen by paper and arcrylic gel. As Mike says: everyting depends on scale, and situation to be depicted (heavy seas need other techniques that harbour scenes.) Jan

These Halinski's almost look like plastic models: highly detailed, an dlots of very small stuff (I guess that breathing is a no-go while working on those microscopic pieces) Jan

Are you doing those hooks still with 'basic tools' or did you upgrade in the meantime. In any case: increadibly crisp work. (and the studded chain: bought, or also self-made?) Jan

There is a second category of pirated kits: some of the major card-forums, and some individual builders, have 'free download models'. Quite a number of them end up for nice prices on the internet.

Lucky me, he is only taking north american customers

Stunning as always. Did you use your computer and printer to do the 'tiling' in the wheelhouse? Jan

Hi Hans, I missed your update in august. The model looks great. As far as I know the first 'Otte Blom'-model. Till now I only knew of the Dik-versions. It looks convincing to me. Please keep us posted! Jan

But may be a more feasible solution for all of us not in the possession of a watchmakers lathe Jan

Is it PE or the HMV-card lasercut detailset? Jan

Hi Daniel, Doesn’t it bother you that you can see the steps of the printer in the macro-pictures? Those are certainly not like the original Jan

Three meters. Quite a ship. Are you going to use it as a base for your RC planes? Jan

And in case you are in Amsterdam this winter, the scheepvaartmuseum has an exhibition of paintings and drawings of the Van de Veldes. The cover of the catalogue (dutch only) looks very much like the book cover shown by Marcus. Jan

laminating can also be a solution: bend a number of thinner strips and stack until the desired width has been achieved. When you use strips that are wide enough, you can then make two symmetrical rails from this laminated strips. Jan

That is seriously small stuff. Unbeleivable detail, and very nicely painted! Jan

300, even worse .... No, I also haven't a clue how to do so many men at such a small scale. I knew I was asking for something impossible Btw, I like the sea surface. How did you do that? Paper, plaster, putty? Jan

That is a nice little model. I know it is asking for the impossible, but in a diorama-setting, did you consider making 200 (?) oarsmen? From the foam in the sea you can see some rowing is going on, but the benches are empty... Jan

Hi Yves, That looks like a serious project.... one question: the model is fromCAF, but the unboxing video you show is labelled ZHL. I always understood that ZHL is sometimes selling rip-offs, while CAF is not. Do you know how it is in the case of Bellona? Jan

Hi Valeriy, stunning as always. I have two questions: I see a turning mechanism on the lower vents. Will they have cowls also? and second: those large pieces left and right to the vent: are those spare propeller blades? Jan

I like the clean-up crew: it puts things 'into scale'. Jan

I guess you read his final reply in that short thread: This will not be a kit. Jan