JonSnow Posted October 10, 2020 Share #1 Posted October 10, 2020 Hi all, I'm completely new to this hobby, though I've always been interested in it. I was watching TV with my dad a few weeks ago and on the set was a model ship. He mentioned he's always wanted one, so I thought it'd be cool to try and build him one as a gift. Does anyone have any recommendations for one that's good for a novice? Definitely doesn't need to be the best, biggest, and definitely not complicated. I just want it to look cool and to be able to put it together. Thoughts? Many thanks! mtaylor, GrandpaPhil, ccoyle and 3 others 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEDDO Posted October 10, 2020 Share #2 Posted October 10, 2020 Welcome! You might try this link as well as exploring the many build logs here if you are interested in a particular ship/boat. For whatever you choose you can begin a build log of your own to show off your work, ask questions, and enjoy this wonderful community Rik Thistle, Old Collingwood, mtaylor and 2 others 5 Quote Michael Shipwrights of Ohio Current Build: ... Completed Builds: Queen Anne Barge - Syren, Pinnace - MS, Halifax 1768 - LSS, Murrelet - Pygmy, Swift 1805 - AL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VTHokiEE Posted October 10, 2020 Share #3 Posted October 10, 2020 56 minutes ago, JonSnow said: Definitely doesn't need to be the best, biggest, and definitely not complicated. I just want it to look cool and to be able to put it together. Thoughts? Are you okay with a sailboat (no guns)? If so I might recommend searching eBay for a Midwest kit like the Sharpie Schooner or other Midwest kits as a relatively easy entry. Alternatively if you like the look of a working boat and are up for the challenge of planking then maybe take a look at Vanguard models Fifie or Zulu model. If you are thinking about a warship then there are many options but I would recommend sticking to a single masted vessel. Jonny 007, Old Collingwood, mtaylor and 3 others 6 Quote Current Build: HM Sloop Echo 1781 (First Scratch Build) Previous Builds: HM Cutter Alert, Sharpie Schooner, Chesapeake Bay Flattie, Half-Hull (NRG) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt D Posted October 10, 2020 Share #4 Posted October 10, 2020 Hi Jon. My first ship model was the Virginia 1819 by Artesania Latina. There are a lot of build logs for it and many of us did it as a first wooden ship model. It has the big advantage of being double planked, which makes it much easier to get a good looking hull. If you read through those build logs, you’ll see that it takes six months to a year to build. So keep that in mind with your gifting plan. Whatever you choose, read as many build logs for that kit as you can find. I would never have finished without the things I learned on this site. Ryland Craze, mtaylor, Old Collingwood and 1 other 4 Quote Current Build: HMS Winchelsea 1:48 (Group Project) Completed Builds: Virginia 1819 Artesania Latina - 1:41 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccoyle Posted October 10, 2020 Share #5 Posted October 10, 2020 The phrase "model ship" is a little vague -- the kind of model ship your dad saw may help determine what sort of model would best suit your purpose. Can you tell us more about what you're looking for? mtaylor and Old Collingwood 2 Quote Chris Coyle Greer, South Carolina When you have to shoot, shoot. Don't talk. - Tuco Current builds: Brigantine Phoenix, Salmson 2, Speeljacht Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cathead Posted October 10, 2020 Share #6 Posted October 10, 2020 One of the most basic questions to answer is your skill level at assembling models and what materials you want to work with. Your phrasing "put together" implies a pretty basic model, based on assembling pre-made parts with glue, which suggests a simple plastic model. For example, a couple Revell sailing ships (Bounty and Charles Morgan whaling ship) were my first entry into ship kits and look reasonably cool without needing more skills than basic gluing and painting. In contrast, most wood-based kits are not going to be "put together" because almost all require more work shaping the parts first and this can quickly get challenging if you aren't aware of what you're getting into. BlueJacket makes a whole series of intro-level wood kits that look nice and are meant for beginners. I strongly recommend reading the link Meddo gave above. But it would help to know some basic ground rules for type. Tugboat? Canoe? Sailing vessel? Battleship? Old Collingwood and mtaylor 2 Quote Eric Current builds: scratchbuilt Missouri River steamboat Peerless (1893); 1:1 scale timber-framed outdoor kitchen Nautical builds (kits): USS Cairo; NRG capstan project; NRG half-hull; Viking longship; US revenue cutter; 18th century longboat; Bounty launch Missouri River craft (scratchbuilt): 1853 Missouri River steamboat Arabia; 1865 steamboat Bertrand; Lewis & Clark barge; keelboat; 1876 steamboat Far West Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtaylor Posted October 10, 2020 Share #7 Posted October 10, 2020 Hi Jon, The others have provided excellent advice about your question so I'll just say "Welcome to MSW". Old Collingwood, Matt D and Ryland Craze 3 Quote Mark "The shipwright is slow, but the wood is patient." - me Current Build: Past Builds: La Belle Poule 1765 - French Frigate from ANCRE plans - ON HOLD Triton Cross-Section NRG Hallf Hull Planking Kit HMS Sphinx 1775 - Vanguard Models - 1:64 Non-Ship Model: On hold, maybe forever: CH-53 Sikorsky - 1:48 - Revell - Completed Licorne - 1755 from Hahn Plans (Scratch) Version 2.0 (Abandoned) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duanelaker Posted October 11, 2020 Share #8 Posted October 11, 2020 Welcome! Model expo has some nice beginner models and a great selection overall...best of luck! mtaylor 1 Quote David Builds in Progress: Phantom Pilot Boat - MS Completed Builds: Bounty Jolly Boat - AL Chesapeake Bay Crabbing Skiff - MW Grand Banks Dory - Bluejacket The Dinghy - MW Grand Banks Dory - MW 32 Pound Carronade - MS Skiff - MW Peterboro Canoe - MW On Hold: 18th-Century Merchantman Half-Hull - NRG Ponte Berlin - Corel Taurus Steam Towboat - MS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Collingwood Posted October 11, 2020 Share #9 Posted October 11, 2020 Just to add to what others have said - if you can get an idea what sort of ship your dad likes - then we can start form there and find a kit similar to that or similar - it will simply be better that way as there are hundreads of different ship/boat kits out there. Hope this helps. OC. mtaylor 1 Quote Current builds 28mm Battle of Waterloo attack on La Haye Saint Diorama. 1/700 HMS Hood Flyhawk with PE, Resin and Wood Decking. Completed works. Dragon 1/700 HMS Edinburgh type 42 batch 3 Destroyer plastic. HMS Warspite Academy 1/350 plastic kit and wem parts. HMS Trafalgar Airfix 1/350 submarine plastic. Black Pearl 1/72 Revell with pirate crew. Revell 1/48 Mosquito B IV Eduard 1/48 Spitfire IX ICM 1/48 Seafire Mk.III Special Conversion 1/48 Kinetic Sea Harrier FRS1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrandpaPhil Posted October 20, 2020 Share #10 Posted October 20, 2020 Welcome! Quote Building: 1:64 HMS Revenge (Victory Models plans) 1:64 Cat Esther (17th Century Dutch Merchant Ships) On the building slip: 1:72 French Ironclad Magenta (original shipyard plans) On hold: 1:98 Mantua HMS Victory (kit bash), 1:96 Shipyard HMS Mercury Favorite finished builds: 1:60 Sampang Good Fortune (Amati plans), 1:200 Orel Ironclad Solferino, 1:72 Schooner Hannah (Hahn plans), 1:72 Privateer Prince de Neufchatel (Chapelle plans), Model Shipways Sultana, Heller La Reale, Encore USS Olympia Goal: Become better than I was yesterday "The hardest part is deciding to try." - me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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