Whaleboat kit - Amati vs Model Shipways vs Blue Jacket

[ArtB169]

Does anyone have any recommendations for one kit over another?  There are some detailed build logs on and off this forum for Model Shipways and Amati, but I haven't been able to find anything that helps answer my question.  (Same for a forum search here.)  From finished model photos of both* I get the impression that the Amati has somewhat finer details (more true to scale).  If I build one I'd use the Ansel book as a reference, so I'm not really concerned with the quality of the plans or instructions.

 

For anyone who built one, was there a reason you chose one manufacturer's kit over another?

 

Thanks

Art

 

*I wasn't able to find any good illustrations of a completed Blue Jacket kit so I'm in the dark there.

Edited March 6, 2016 by ArtB169

[texxn5]

Hello Art, this is a very good question. I have investigated both models, and recently finished the Charles W Morgan which has 7 whaleboats. I have a good library on whaleboats. There were many variations of these boats as they were basically expendable. The Model Shipways to me seems to be the best choice, and the details are up to you as to how detailed you want to build it. I have a section on whaleboats on my website with a page called "New Bedford Whaleboats" and also a build log from another modeler who is building the MS model. Personally, I would go with the Model Shipways, and it is built in the USA.

Check my website:

 

http://www.charleswmorganmodel.com

 

John

[thibaultron]

The Amati kit and the Model Shipways kit are of two different styles of whale boat.

 

The Amati is not of a boat use on a larger sailing ship. It is a model of a Tancook Whaler, a type of fishing boat use on Tancook Island in Canada.

 

The Model Shipways kit is of a different style, used on those larger whalers. Artesania Latina makes a kit of a boat also used on larger sailing whalers, in this case specifically the Charles W. Morgan, a ship that still exists in the Mystic Seaport Museum. Both the Artesania Latina and MS kits are models of actual boats used. I'm not sure if the Amati kit is from a real boat, or only of the general type.

 

The Artesania Latinai kit has some mistakes in its design, as compared to the boat used on the Morgan. The hull and most of it are correct. I can not remember the article exactly, but the biggest mistake is the shape of the rudder. I think the build log is on this site, but an internet search should find it. This kit is actually less detailed than the MS kit. If I remember the build correctly, the author added a lot of scratch built details.

 

The MS kit comes with an entire bound printed step by step book, on building the kit, not just their normally good stapled instructions.

 

I have the Amati kit, the Artesania Latina kit, and in the past have had the MS kit, which I stupidly sold. The MS kit is much better.

 

Both Artesania Latina, and Amati are known for questionable historic accuracy, but the Artesania Latina, is very close, and the Amati looks to be quite close to drawings I have seen in Chappele's books.

 

From what I can see of the Bluejacket kit (I really wish they had more and larger pictures of their kits), it looks to be excellent also, but I have not seen the kit in person, only web pictures. They have an excellent reputation, and I do own some of their kits.

 

If you want a model of the boat used on the Morgan, go with the Artesania Latina kit, otherwise, I would go with the MS kit. If you want one of the Tancook type, the Amati is the choice, but will need detailing, on the interior.

 

Looking at the MS and BJ sites, the MS kit is 24" long 1/16 scale. The BJ kit is 10" long and 1/32 scale (it says 1/3 scale, but I doubt that the real boat was only 30" long). As both kits seem to be assembled stick by stick, I'd again recommend the MS kit, there is a lot of very small pieces in both, and the larger kit would make it easier to handle those parts. Depends on your skill level, desire for a challenge, and display space.

 

The Artesania Latina kit is 1/25 scale, according to the article I saw. Depends on which site you look at, and the actual scale is not listed on the box. The Amati is also about 1/24, or at least falls in that range according to the general dimensions for this type.

 

The two US manufacturers have a much better reputation than the other two. I normally avoid the European manf. but bought those kits after checking to see if they were accurate.

[thibaultron]

The Charles Morgan whaleboat does have a build log on this site.

[thibaultron]

Found the article on the Morgan whaleboat. http://www.thenrg.org/resources/The_Journal/574/57-4%20NRJ%20Morgan%20Whaleboat.pdf

[ArtB169]

Thanks to both of you.  Sounds like the Model Shipways kit is the best choice.  

 

John, I had come across your Morgan website previously; your build is superb.  Looking at the photos of her finished in the sunlight (and having been aboard her) I'd think I was looking at the real thing if I didn't know they were model shots.

 

Art

[texxn5]

Hello Art, I just saw your post - sorry - haven't been here in a while.  thanks for the kind words about my Morgan.  I am at the masting stage on my New Bedford Whaleboat by MS.  You can visit it at my Build Log of the Morgan on my website under: "Whaleboat Build Log by John Fleming" page.  Did you ever start a log?

John