The Old Man

Why not organize a "Official Kit Review Board"?    Once a month review a Kit for quality, then send the Kit Manufacturer an "Official Letter" as to the quality of the Kits materials and documentation.  I am sure that some Manufacturers would appreciate some constructive feedback.  A organized  "Official Kit Review Board" would get their attention faster than a single disgruntled email complaining of wood quality or lack of instructions. 

I spent today looking at Ship Models from various manufactures. It only confused me. Is there a central rating system somewhere that rates each individual model? A Comparison page somewhere? When I shop for a camera, there are comparison pages. How do I compare Wood Ship Models without opening a box and examining the materials inside? Which I cannot do. I suppose I could buy a $400 plane ticket and fly to my nearest Ship Model Kit retailer, which is in California, and look into a box to determine the quality of the wood.  

I was wondering about the older Kits I sometimes see on Ebay. I thought about buying one. Then I thought about how wood rots and deteriorates over time. If a Kit has been sitting in a closet somewhere, or even worse in a attic, then humidity and moisture have to be taking a toll too. How old is the expensive Kit being sold by the retailer?  How long has the Kit been on their shelf, or back warehouse? Three years old, five, or even ten?  I want wood to be dry, not aged like cheese.

Do you accept funky models like mine in the scratch build section?  I thought about it when I started, then I thought what would happen if I never finished it, or it ended up in the wood stove. Plus, I think I broke a lot of rules while building it. I didn't want to end up looking stupid.

Looks great!can you post more close ups?

It's pretty rough up close.  I had no plans. No past experience. Bought 2 used books. Used this web site and Dr. Google.  All the parts are hand cut from wood I found, or Bass wood I was able to buy. Lot's of carving and sanding. I'm sure the scale is off in some areas. I know I made the stern deck too low. Lot's of small mistakes I'm sure. Filled the garbage bucket with sometimes hours of work. Compared with the quality on this site, it's Folk Art.

I am finding rigging to be a bad experience. I have poor eyesight, loss of feeling in my fingers. CA glue makes me sick.

Bought the canon and grating. Those little canon are like gold nuggets!  Plus, I really don't care for them. 

I took up this hobby about 3 months ago. Why? Because I am too crippled for sports like golf. I am on a limited income, so that eliminates railroad building, coin collecting and just about everything else. Starting out was not expensive. I collected my tools from garage sales, friends, and my wood from the lumber yard. Sure, I have spent some money. But I have been busy with my new hobby. Working 2-3 hours per day on it.  Sure, my model looks more like folk art up close, but at ten feet away, it isn't bad for someone who doesn't know what they are doing.  Will I continue with this hobby? I don't know. Will I ever buy a expensive Kit? I don't know. All I know is that I am enjoying myself, and keeping busy.

A person starting out does not need to make a large investment. Looking back in my life, every time I started a new project, I always thought I needed to buy the best of everything. I'm too old to make that mistake again.

Should I chose to build a Kit in the future, I do see advantages for replacing parts and wood. Tools? They seem to always collect themselves.  Right now I'll just go with flow, and see where it all ends up. It is a hobby you know.

Kit Suppliers are in business to make a profit. It looks to me that the profit is in the small accessories.

Ulises Victoria,

We are about the same age. I have never attempted to build a Kit before. I know nothing about them. Due to my limitations, I doubt I could complete a Kit. However, with no experience at building anything, I started a Scratch model of a 1803 ship. Sure it's a little rough on the edges, but it was not that difficult to do. I say GO for it!

I have no fear as far as scratch building, I just prefer a faster pace when building. I don't want to invest in a bunch of tools to maybe build one or two ship models in 10 years and by the time you factor in all that scratch building material extra tools and such, you have far surpassed the cost of even the most expensive kit. To me, there is nothing like getting that package in the mail, cracking open that crisp new box and see all those nice trinkets inside and smell that nice cut wood. It makes me smile just thinking about it. I just can't seem to get that worked up over a scratch build project. But then again, I never tout any of the models that I have built as being museum quality because I know without a doubt that anyone else who buys that kit can build just as nice a model or nicer than the one I build even if I change a few things on it, it's still a decrative display. Now to me most any scratch built model would be considered museum quality. But this is just my opinion and my opinion alone so don't go a hating.

 

 

mike 

So far scratch building has been very inexpensive for me. I use garage sale tools, and collect wood from the local lumber yard scrap pile. I buy a little Bass Wood from the local variety store. Scraps from the wife's sewing kit, anything else I can find in the garage. I do order parts that I cannot make. But,  my scratch build looks more like "Folk Art" compared with what I have seen on this site.   With my failing eyesight, and lack of feeling in my fingers, I may not be able to build a Kit anyway. Not with any detail anyway.

I agree. I am working on a scratch built model. My first ever.  However, I do not have the talent, tools, or ability to make some fittings or small parts. Let alone anything made of brass. So I have had to order them.

But buying a kit, and incorporating most of that kit, especially the parts made of wood, seems like a odd thing to do. Unless you want to build the Kit, then use the Plans for a later scratch build.

It would be nice if they would through some of that stuff out my way.

I can't find a suitable kit anywhere.  I have sent off a letter to a company called Ocean Mar. The courts have given Ocean Mar legal permission to dive and explore the wreak. Also, legal ownership of much of the booty. They may have more information, or even some plans.

Underwater footage here:

In Sweden I payed about $ 290 with shipping and I got the LED kit for free. Guess it costs a lot to ship the crap overseas... 

 

My opinion is that you're better off without it.

Thanks!

I am agreement with you on that.    Are there any plans available to scratch build the S/S Bohuslan?  or a ship of similar design?

Theres a couple of pics from the unboxing of the kit on my log, examples of the manual also. But beware, the quality of the kit leaves a lot to be desired. 

But on the other hand it's cheap, and as usual you get what you pay for... 

I wonder if the kits are the same?

  US price is $395 for the  NC35-1006 Nordic Class Boats s/s Bohuslän  at "Ages of Sail". Another $50 shipping.     For over $400 I would expect some kind of quality.  Plus I'm concerned with the poor material used to build some interior rooms.

The S/S Bohuslan looks more like the SS Princess Sophia.  Which I am also wanting to build. 

Not much gold..........but a huge loss of life.  A grizzly tale when SS Princess Sophia resurfaced with all the bodies on board.   http://www.sitnews.us/Kiffer/PrincessSophia/120505_princess_sophia.html

In my area, there are two kinds of boaters. Those who have hit rocks, and those who will hit rocks.

Buying from Alaska.  I checked http://www.agesofsail.com/ecommerce/nordic-class-boats/nc35-1006-nordic-class-boats-bohuslan.html. Looks good....are there any manuals or directions I can download to learn more about the model?  I didn't see much info on the site.

I'm building the Bohuslän in-between other projects.

Is the kit still available ?

Where can I get one?

Thanks!     That's what I was looking for.  

Look's like I may be able to tweak the kit.

There will be another attempt to recover the SS Islander gold:

http://www.adn.com/article/crew-will-attempt-recover-millions-southeast-alaska-shipwreck

I know a guy who dove it about ten years ago illegally. He collected some cups and dinner plates. He's gone now.

Thanks!     The s/s Bohuslän looks pretty close. I never noticed it before. Maybe I can tweak it.  Extend the hull and add a stack.

Yes, the SS Islander was built in Scotland 1880.  It is now lying in 360 feet of water off Admiralty Island with a reported 130 million dollars of gold on board.  Part of the SS. Islander was salvaged and dropped onto the beach 1929. Some gold was recovered. I have explored those remains which are visible at low tide.

I want to build it.

Has anyone built the s/s Bohuslän before?  I did a site search, shows nothing here.

I have checked every wood model retailer linked to this site, and I can find no suitable kit for the ship above.

I am mostly interested in West Coast Gold Rush Steam Ships 1880-1900.  Like this one.   Any Kits for such a ship available? or anything in similar design?

I want to build a Norwegian Steamship 1880-1900.

Where can I find a Kit for such a craft?   All I can find are Side Wheeler and a few Steam/Sail Ships.

Thank you.....