Jim J

As everybody else has said - Welcome! Looking at the pics of your plastic ship you seem to have a good eye for detail and that goes a long way when embarking on any project. I too spent many years building plastic ship models and had a lot of fun doing it. It wasn't until my "later" years - after the kids had grown - that I started building in wood. There is a learning curve but it is not all that much different from other forms of modeling. Take your time, ask questions and never give-up.

Welcome Tom. Sounds like a good build to start with. I too have done extensive model railroad work - having built three layouts - 2 for hobby stores. A word of warning, though. Once you start building ship models there's no going back (hahaha). Enjoy!

Welcome Christa. I tend to agree with grsjax - the amati kits instructions can be frustrating at times - very little actual construction info. I have looked at them in the past and wasn't impressed, Model shipways and Midwest models are quite nice and the instructions are much easier to follow - especially for someone just starting out in this hobby. Don't be duscouraged however. If that is the one you have your heart set on go for it. There are plenty of "old salty dogs" here to turn to for help if needed. This is an extremely enjoyable hobby so have fun while your are about it.

Welcome back

Welcome! As far as tools go, I've been building models for 60yrs and have gathered so many tools in that time that there are times when I can't even find them all (some day I'll get organized - hahahaha). But to cut to the chase, there are actually only a few that I use regularly. X-acto knives, a couple of small wood files, a lot of sandpaper, a razor saws and a whole lot of elbow grease, so don't get too wrapped up in tool purchases until you definately need a tool that isn't in your tool box.

Pontiac - I have been doing just that - searching the build logs. I am sure that I have probably developed some bad habits over the years since I have been pretty isolated in my building - tall ship modelers seem to be pretty scarce in my experience - so anything I can pick up from others is always appreciated. I will post some pics of my current build shortly. Thanks for the warm welcome and G'day mate.

Hello to one and all. Glad to have found this place. I have been a modeler for over 60 yrs. building just about anything and everything, but model tall ships are my absolute favorites. My great uncle was a master craftsman of tall ship models and his work facinated me as a young boy - and still does to this day. I recently discovered that his model of a Dutch Man-o-War is residing at a museum at a naval base in Virginia. I could only hope that someday my work will be as good. Now that I am retired I am trying to get some of the kits on my build shelf done. I am currently working on a Chesapeke Bay Skipjack that I purchased and started over 15 years ago. It was set aside during a move, and subsequent business/work concerns caused it to be put on the back burner until now. Once done I have a few plastic model ships to do while waiting to be able to finance another wood build. Over the years I have probably built a total of about 15 or 20 ship models, the largest was Revells Constitution which I did for my mother-in-law, whose relative served on her as a caretaker. It took over 2 yrs to complete and had functional runnning rigging with cloth sails. Was a lot of work but also a lot of fun. Another favorite build of mine was the Charles W. Morgan. My wife and her mother's relative, George Fred Tilton, served on her at one point in his whaling career. Unfortunately the model was destroyed during a cross-country move and was totally unfixable - the whole hull was crushed when a heavy box fell on it. Thats what I get for not housing it in a case for the move, and just putting it in a box. Oh. well - another excuse to build another one (hahaha). That's all for now - really just meant to say hello.