HSM

Seems there is quite a bit of confusion over the design choices in this kit, so I figured I should try to defend it. I designed the 1:48 scale Phantom as an easy Plank-on-Bulkhead model based on the old solid-hull 1:96 version. Yours is the first online build of the Phantom and your workmanship and technique is flawless, but your build is nowhere near a beginner's level. I am afraid your build log unfairly taints the kit and might give it a bad reputation before anyone has given it a chance and built it "out of the box". I will explain some of the decisions made in producing the 1:48 Phantom, a beginner's level model.
 
The planking as described in the kit is not run the way it would have been on the real ship, but it is very easy to complete successfully, and that is the primary goal of a beginner's kit. IMHO, spiling planks like you have so expertly done is beyond what most first-timers would be able to do. The Phantom will be covered with paint and copper anyway, and for a beginner a nice looking completed model is the most important goal. The transom not being planked follows the same design philosophy. 
 
Similarly, for the deck houses I used brass because it would be easier for a beginner to get a nice looking result. I don't like Basswood for complex structures like these because it is hard to sand and fill and get a nice finish on it. I'm sure the Pear or Box you use will look terrific, but those materials and the tools and techniques you use are well beyond a beginner's kit. 
 
There must be some scaling errors in the production laser-cut kit parts. For example, the molds with alignment holes were drawn once in CAD, then copied and rotated so the holes are in exactly the right position. Model Expo made me a few iterations of the wood parts and I built and modified the files several times to ensure an easy assembly. The alignment holes were perfect in all of those physical examples. 
 
I appreciate the build-log, but I just don't think it's fair to buy a beginner's kit, and then build it as a master-level scratchbuild, and then complain about all the reasons that beginner's kit doesn't produce a masters-level scratchbuild. If you were to "kit" your masters-level Phantom, it probably wouldn't make sense to point out all the reasons it doesn't make a good beginner's kit.
 
With all due respect and admiration, your workmanship is certainly beautiful and I can't wait to see the finished model.
 
Cheers!!!
Jarod 
www.historicshipmodel.com
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

I recently bought the same printer you have and have used it to make davits and lifeboats for a cruise liner I am making. It produces amazing results doesn't it? Being a newcomer to 3-D modeling I am impressed with your figures. Can you briefly tell how you made the computer models?

This isn't really a build log in the classic sense, it is more of a video build log of my recently completed scratchbuilt 1:144 scale cruise ship Oceanic (1963). I documented the build and have edited it into several videos on the design and construction and figured some here may be interested in seeing how it was done. Hope you like the pictures and videos!

https://historicshipmodel.com/how-they-are-made
 
 
 

Couple more images

Hey all, I just published video 5 on making custom photo-etched parts and soldering. Hope it helps someone, or at least is mildly entertaining!
 
https://historicshipmodel.com/how-they-are-made
 
Next-up I will be making some custom photo-etched brass sheets! Any small, thin details you see on the model such as ladders, railings, window frames, antennas, radars, etc... etc... are photo-etched brass. I will show you how I did it from planning and drawing the parts in CAD to sending the files for fabrication to folding the parts to soldering them together and painting. Lots to cover here, but it makes such a difference in the model!!!
 

I recently bought the same printer you have and have used it to make davits and lifeboats for a cruise liner I am making. It produces amazing results doesn't it? Being a newcomer to 3-D modeling I am impressed with your figures. Can you briefly tell how you made the computer models?

Couple more images

Hey all, I just published video 5 on making custom photo-etched parts and soldering. Hope it helps someone, or at least is mildly entertaining!
 
https://historicshipmodel.com/how-they-are-made
 
Next-up I will be making some custom photo-etched brass sheets! Any small, thin details you see on the model such as ladders, railings, window frames, antennas, radars, etc... etc... are photo-etched brass. I will show you how I did it from planning and drawing the parts in CAD to sending the files for fabrication to folding the parts to soldering them together and painting. Lots to cover here, but it makes such a difference in the model!!!
 

Hey all, I just published video 5 on making custom photo-etched parts and soldering. Hope it helps someone, or at least is mildly entertaining!
 
https://historicshipmodel.com/how-they-are-made
 
Next-up I will be making some custom photo-etched brass sheets! Any small, thin details you see on the model such as ladders, railings, window frames, antennas, radars, etc... etc... are photo-etched brass. I will show you how I did it from planning and drawing the parts in CAD to sending the files for fabrication to folding the parts to soldering them together and painting. Lots to cover here, but it makes such a difference in the model!!!
 

Hey all, I just published video 5 on making custom photo-etched parts and soldering. Hope it helps someone, or at least is mildly entertaining!
 
https://historicshipmodel.com/how-they-are-made
 
Next-up I will be making some custom photo-etched brass sheets! Any small, thin details you see on the model such as ladders, railings, window frames, antennas, radars, etc... etc... are photo-etched brass. I will show you how I did it from planning and drawing the parts in CAD to sending the files for fabrication to folding the parts to soldering them together and painting. Lots to cover here, but it makes such a difference in the model!!!
 

Hey all, I just published video 5 on making custom photo-etched parts and soldering. Hope it helps someone, or at least is mildly entertaining!
 
https://historicshipmodel.com/how-they-are-made
 
Next-up I will be making some custom photo-etched brass sheets! Any small, thin details you see on the model such as ladders, railings, window frames, antennas, radars, etc... etc... are photo-etched brass. I will show you how I did it from planning and drawing the parts in CAD to sending the files for fabrication to folding the parts to soldering them together and painting. Lots to cover here, but it makes such a difference in the model!!!
 

Couple more images

Hey all, I just published video 5 on making custom photo-etched parts and soldering. Hope it helps someone, or at least is mildly entertaining!
 
https://historicshipmodel.com/how-they-are-made
 
Next-up I will be making some custom photo-etched brass sheets! Any small, thin details you see on the model such as ladders, railings, window frames, antennas, radars, etc... etc... are photo-etched brass. I will show you how I did it from planning and drawing the parts in CAD to sending the files for fabrication to folding the parts to soldering them together and painting. Lots to cover here, but it makes such a difference in the model!!!
 

Couple more images

Couple more images

Couple more images

Hey all, I just published video 5 on making custom photo-etched parts and soldering. Hope it helps someone, or at least is mildly entertaining!
 
https://historicshipmodel.com/how-they-are-made
 
Next-up I will be making some custom photo-etched brass sheets! Any small, thin details you see on the model such as ladders, railings, window frames, antennas, radars, etc... etc... are photo-etched brass. I will show you how I did it from planning and drawing the parts in CAD to sending the files for fabrication to folding the parts to soldering them together and painting. Lots to cover here, but it makes such a difference in the model!!!
 

Couple more images

Hey all, I just published video 5 on making custom photo-etched parts and soldering. Hope it helps someone, or at least is mildly entertaining!
 
https://historicshipmodel.com/how-they-are-made
 
Next-up I will be making some custom photo-etched brass sheets! Any small, thin details you see on the model such as ladders, railings, window frames, antennas, radars, etc... etc... are photo-etched brass. I will show you how I did it from planning and drawing the parts in CAD to sending the files for fabrication to folding the parts to soldering them together and painting. Lots to cover here, but it makes such a difference in the model!!!
 

Hey all, I just published video 5 on making custom photo-etched parts and soldering. Hope it helps someone, or at least is mildly entertaining!
 
https://historicshipmodel.com/how-they-are-made
 
Next-up I will be making some custom photo-etched brass sheets! Any small, thin details you see on the model such as ladders, railings, window frames, antennas, radars, etc... etc... are photo-etched brass. I will show you how I did it from planning and drawing the parts in CAD to sending the files for fabrication to folding the parts to soldering them together and painting. Lots to cover here, but it makes such a difference in the model!!!
 

Hey all, I just published video 5 on making custom photo-etched parts and soldering. Hope it helps someone, or at least is mildly entertaining!
 
https://historicshipmodel.com/how-they-are-made
 
Next-up I will be making some custom photo-etched brass sheets! Any small, thin details you see on the model such as ladders, railings, window frames, antennas, radars, etc... etc... are photo-etched brass. I will show you how I did it from planning and drawing the parts in CAD to sending the files for fabrication to folding the parts to soldering them together and painting. Lots to cover here, but it makes such a difference in the model!!!
 

Hey all, I just published video 5 on making custom photo-etched parts and soldering. Hope it helps someone, or at least is mildly entertaining!
 
https://historicshipmodel.com/how-they-are-made
 
Next-up I will be making some custom photo-etched brass sheets! Any small, thin details you see on the model such as ladders, railings, window frames, antennas, radars, etc... etc... are photo-etched brass. I will show you how I did it from planning and drawing the parts in CAD to sending the files for fabrication to folding the parts to soldering them together and painting. Lots to cover here, but it makes such a difference in the model!!!
 

Couple more images