Hello! I have been "lurking" here for several years (actually, I go way back to the email digest days), taking in all the experience and expertise (there is a difference) of the many builders and researchers, and have learned a ton about ships (and boats), shipping, history, nautical engineering, etc., on everything from ancient craft to modern warships. But now it is time for me to cross the Rubicon, and get my first build going.
I built plastic airplane models as a kid, and very sporadically through my working years (mostly with my young kids), but "building a ship" was always in my "someday" plans. Over 20 years ago I gifted myself with MS's Niagara, but was never able to get much beyond dry-fitting the bulkheads to the center keel, and that only about 2 years ago at my retirement.
After following many logs (and yes, all of the Niagara logs), it seems wise to me to take the "Cautionary" advice to beginners, and start out with the Model Shipways Shipwright Series, from which I have already started the Dory. I'm referencing the many existing Dory build logs. My immediate learning is that it is one thing to follow a log, but quite another thing to actually put sandpaper and glue to wood--already have errors to correct and questions to ask.
I'll get my Dory build log going soon. And just maybe, someday, I'll get to that Niagara...
-Eric
