grsjax

The Billings Blue Nose II 1:100 kit is actually a good kit for beginners.  The instructions are getting better but still need some work.  However there is plenty of help here on MSW so if it was up to me I would say go for it.

The suggestion of going with a Midwest kit is a good one.  The Skiff is a level 1 model that goes together easily and looks good when done.  A little more complicated is the Dingy.  The Crabbing Skiff would also be a good one to start with.  Makes a very handsome model that is fairly simple to build.  Although Midwest no longer makes the kits they show up on eBay regularly at reasonable prices.

9 hours ago, stuglo said:

BUT decision now between Wen 3939 or Skill 3386!!

Just my 2 cents but I think the Wen is the better value and for what you would have paid for the Proxxon you can get the Wen 10" which is a quantum leap forward in performance over both the Wen 3939 and Skill 3386.

There are two WEN 9" saws.  The better one is the WEN 3939T 2.8-Amp 9-Inch Benchtop Band Saw with the ball bearing guides.  The 10" is more powerful and has a larger throat but costs about $100 more.  As far as cutting thick, hard wood both will do the job but care has to be taken in feeding the wood to the blade.  I think the Proxxon is way over priced for what you get and no more capable than the cheaper and larger band saws available.

Don't know if it is available to you but I find the WEN 2 speed 9" bandsaw very useful.  Amazon sells them in the US for under US $300 including shipping.  It isn't going to be as powerful as a 12" or 14" bandsaw but is completely adequate for resawing 1" hardwood stock.

Looks like it is the same saw sold by many outlets including Home Depot, Lowes, Dremel and Harbor Freight and many others.  Minor difference between labels but all the same basic saw.

On 12/3/2019 at 7:47 AM, Bob Cleek said:

diluting acrylics with isopropanol (rubbing alcohol)

There is a formula on line for an acrylic thinner for airbrushing that is basically 50% water and 50% rubbing alcohol with a small amount of retarder and flow enhancer added.  It is reported to be identical in use to Tamiya airbrush thinner.  Not sure if Tamiya actually uses this formula.  However I have read in a couple of books about airbrushing that alcohol is a very good solvent to use with acrylic paints.

Also there is this is something to consider to prevent fadeing of your paint.  https://www.amazon.com/Krylon-K01305-Coatings-11-Ounce-UV-Resistant/dp/B00397STRW?th=1

Unusual subject but it looks like a nice kit.  Put it on eBay with starting bid that works for you and a Buy it Now price set at what you think the max bid is likely to be.

Haven't tried this yet but it looks good.  https://www.amazon.com/KappAloy9-Aluminum-Solder-diameter-medium/dp/B00HYKQ6XY?ref_=fsclp_pl_dp_3

Great looking kit and a very interesting subject.

4 hours ago, Altima211 said:

Wow. 270 $ canadian box at amazon.ca. And 24 $

Hadn't realized how expensive things are in Canada.  Found a 3 drawer on Amazon.ca for Can $43 but there as an additional $25 in "import fee" and shipping.  What is an import fee?

That appears to be a radeau.  A sort of barge with sails that could carry heavy guns.

36 minutes ago, Ponto said:

But I live in Canada

Have you looked at Amazon Canada to see if they have them?

I use a 3 drawer wooden art supply organizer.  Just the right size for xacto knife handles and blades.  Available in 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 10 drawer versions.  Take the time to apply wax to the drawer runners to ensure smooth operation.

https://www.displays2go.com/P-22078/Art-Supply-Organizer-3-Beechwood-Drawers

Also available from Amazon and Jerry's Artarama .

I was giving a couple of large pieces of cedar from a guy that cut one down.  He didn't know what kind it was but it appears to be western red cedar.  Nice wood, light tan in color with a mild cedar smell and a fairly fine straight grain with a few small knots.  My question to the forum;  Has anyone used western red cedar in building models?  If so how did it work out?

On 11/17/2019 at 6:04 PM, Old Collingwood said:

Different make I think  but thought I would post  it to you  I dont know perhaps colour reference   - 

 

OC.

This is a Matchless motorcycle.

I thin MS paint with 91% rubbing alcohol with a little retarder because the alcohol will really speed up drying and you can end up with a mass of dry paint on your brush in no time.  For spraying add some flow enhancer to the mix.

An excellent reference for these boats is "The American Fishing Schooners, 1825 - 1935" by Howard I. Chapelle.  Has drawings, construction details and history of the type.

Although boxwood seems to be the holy grail of modeling woods there are many alternatives.  Not all are going to be available already cut in to sheets and strips but you might be surprised at how cheap it can be.   The basic criteria is a wood that is hard with a fine straight grain.  If you can mill your own wood the possibilities really expand.  For instance here in Hawaii there is a tree called Ohia.  The wood is very hard, fine grained and varies in color from medium brown to red.  You can't buy it but it can be found for free.  Currently there is an embargo on shipping the wood because of a fugal problem but I harvest my own from my property and treat it before using it.  Check the wood database https://www.wood-database.com

for information.  Also talk to woodworkers and the agricultural extension office in your area for ideas.

great selection of books and very good prices.

https://www.amazon.com/Ships-Christopher-Columbus-Anatomy-Ship/dp/1844860140

If are interested in building the Santa Maria you might want to check out "The Ships of Christopher Columbus" by Xavier Pastor.  This is one of the Anatomy of the Ship series.  I found it to be a real wealth of information on ship design and construction of that time.

On 9/13/2019 at 1:52 PM, kurtvd19 said:

I second the recommendation for Ken Foran's Model Building with Brass

There are a few copies on clearance at Amazon UK for about $5US.

Update.  Looks like Amazon UK has sold out of the clearance priced books.  They only had 4 available when I ordered mine.

A good rotary tool, a disc sander and a jig saw.  Many great models are built with nothing but hand tools and many a failure has been produced with lots of power tools.  Go slow and buy what you need when you need it.

Depends on how large a boat you are talking about.  Several manufactures including Model Shipways, Master Korabel and I think Dusek make PoF models of open boats.

You could build a strong back or carve a plug to build the hull over.  These are pretty common practices in building small boat models.