dsadberry Posted January 18, 2021 Share #1 Posted January 18, 2021 (edited) Hello all. I'm a 57 year old guy looking to get into wooden ship building. I live in Queen Creek, AZ, which is in the far southwest corner of the Phoenix metropolitan area (not a big ship building town, that Phoenix ). I have been been all over the internet looking for direction. So I'm very happy that I found this forum! I've built plastic models cars, planes, and a plastic ship years ago, although I never finished the rigging. I've also built an RC car. But I am definitely a beginner in wooden ship building. That said, I am very interested in learning planking (I have the book, "Planking Techniques for Model Ship Builders" arriving today). I want to build a model with planking, but am unsure which makers or models are right for my first attempt. I currently have the Amati Lady Nelson pending in Age of Sales, but I've read several comments that Amati instructions are very difficult for a beginner. What do you all think? Is the Amati Lady Nelson a good choice for a beginner? What are some other suggestions? Any advice will be greatly appreciated. Regards, Dennis Sadberry Edited January 18, 2021 by dsadberry Duanelaker, mtaylor, VTHokiEE and 6 others 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce d Posted January 18, 2021 Share #2 Posted January 18, 2021 Hello Dennis, Welcome to MSW, it is a great place to get a bit of help when starting out. No comment from me on Amati as I have never built one of their products but I am sure someone here will shine some light on the subject. Perhaps you have already searched the build logs and got an impression of how the same problems/issues bedevil both new and experienced builders, so don't be shy about asking for help. Can we look forward to a build log? Regards, Bruce mtaylor, dsadberry and JeffT 2 1 Quote 🌻 STAY SAFE A model shipwright and an amateur historian are heads & tails of the same coin current builds: HMS Berwick 1775, 1/192 scratchbuild; a Slade 74 in the Navy Board style Mediator sloop, 1/48 - an 18th century transport scratchbuild French longboat - CAF - 1/48, on hold Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccoyle Posted January 18, 2021 Share #3 Posted January 18, 2021 Welcome, Dennis. The Amati Lady Nelson is a perfectly acceptable first model, as it has the "three nots" needed for beginners, i.e. not a lot of planking, not a lot of guns, and not a lot of rigging. The instructions should be pretty decent, and the designer -- Chris Watton -- is a member here. Also, there are a lot of finished cutter build logs and gallery entries for inspiration and tips. Cheers! catopower, dsadberry, JeffT and 6 others 8 1 Quote Chris Coyle Greer, South Carolina When you have to shoot, shoot. Don't talk. - Tuco Current builds: Brigantine Phoenix, Hawker Hurricane Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryland Craze Posted January 18, 2021 Share #4 Posted January 18, 2021 Hi Dennis and welcome to Model Ship World. The Lady Nelson looks like a nice model for your first build. There are a lot of videos on YouTube that show this model being built. I do hope you start a build log for whatever model you should choose. JeffT, mtaylor and dsadberry 3 Quote Ryland Member - Hampton Roads Ship Model Society - Ship Model Society of New Jersey - Nautical Research Guild Current Build - Armed Virginia Sloop, 18th Century Longboat Completed Build - Medway Longboat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Lad Posted January 18, 2021 Share #5 Posted January 18, 2021 Hello Dennis, and a warm welcome to the forum from 'Down Under'. John mtaylor, dsadberry and JeffT 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shotlocker Posted January 18, 2021 Share #6 Posted January 18, 2021 Welcome, Dennis, you've found the best model ship-building site on the net; there's a huge amount of information here to help you out. I know the Sonoran desert well having lived for years in Tucson and Yuma. Enjoy the great winter temps! Gary JeffT, mtaylor and dsadberry 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtaylor Posted January 18, 2021 Share #7 Posted January 18, 2021 dsadberry and JeffT 1 1 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...
dsadberry Posted January 18, 2021 Author Share #8 Posted January 18, 2021 Thank you all for your suggestions and well wishes. I am excited to start building the LN and I will start a build log. It's a great community you all have here and I'm proud to be part of it. JeffT and mtaylor 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelW Posted January 19, 2021 Share #9 Posted January 19, 2021 Hi! I've recently started building ship models. I've started with the "Ensign" level of kits from BlueJacket Ship Crafters of Maine. I've included a link to their website below. I've built the Red Baron lobster boat and I'm now working on the Yankee Hero. The kits are very complete with detailed instructions, paint, sand paper, and you can even purchase a kit with some tools you'll need to get started. Plus Nic (the owner) and his crew are super helpful. Good luck. http://www.bluejacketinc.com/ JeffT, mtaylor and dsadberry 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffT Posted January 19, 2021 Share #10 Posted January 19, 2021 Welcome to MSW mtaylor and dsadberry 1 1 Quote Jeff In progress: Medway Longboat 1742 - Syren Ship Model Company -1/2" scale USS Constitution - Model Shipways - Scale 1:76 HMS Granado - CAF Model - 1:48 HMS Sphinx - Vanguard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GuntherMT Posted January 19, 2021 Share #11 Posted January 19, 2021 Welcome aboard! There are a few of us ship-builders scattered around the Phoenix area, but no regularly meeting group/club other than one in Sun City that meets during the workday making it impossible for anyone who isn't retired to attend. I live on the opposite corner of the city as you, out in Buckeye, but I know we have a couple MSW members in the SE valley area much closer than you. mtaylor and dsadberry 2 Quote Brian Mystery project coming soon! Current build - Medway Longboat Complete - Armed Virginia Sloop Complete - Carmen (First Build) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baker Posted January 19, 2021 Share #12 Posted January 19, 2021 mtaylor and dsadberry 1 1 Quote Regards, Patrick Finished : Soleil Royal Heller 1/100 Wasa Billing Boats Bounty Revell 1/110 plastic (semi scratch) Pelican / Golden Hind 1/45 scratch Current build : Mary Rose 1/50 scratch Gallery : Revell Bounty Pelican/Golden hind 1/45 scratch To do : Prins Willem Corel, Le Tonnant Corel, Yacht d'Oro Corel, Thermopylae Sergal Shore leave, non ship models build logs : ADGZ M35 funkwagen 1/72 Einhets Pkw. Kfz.2 and 4 1/72 Autoblinda AB40 1/72 122mm A-19 & 152mm ML-20 & 12.8cm Pak.44 {K8 1/2} 1/72 10.5cm Howitzer 16 on Mark. VI(e) Centurion Mk.1 conversion M29 Weasel 1/72 SAM6 1/72 T26 Finland T26 TN 1/72 Autoprotetto S37 1/72 Opel Blitz buses 1/72 Boxer and MAN trucks 1/72 Hetzer38(t) Starr 1/72 Si vis pacem, para bellum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsadberry Posted January 19, 2021 Author Share #13 Posted January 19, 2021 19 minutes ago, GuntherMT said: Welcome aboard! There are a few of us ship-builders scattered around the Phoenix area, but no regularly meeting group/club other than one in Sun City that meets during the workday making it impossible for anyone who isn't retired to attend. I live on the opposite corner of the city as you, out in Buckeye, but I know we have a couple MSW members in the SE valley area much closer than you. Hi Brian, Good to know that there are some guys out here on the east side. Hopefully I'll get to meet up with them. Since you're in the valley, do you know any hobby stores that carry wooden ships? mtaylor 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GuntherMT Posted January 19, 2021 Share #14 Posted January 19, 2021 42 minutes ago, dsadberry said: Hi Brian, Good to know that there are some guys out here on the east side. Hopefully I'll get to meet up with them. Since you're in the valley, do you know any hobby stores that carry wooden ships? Hobby Bench (both locations in the NW Valley far from you unfortunately) used to carry a pretty decent selection, but only the major Europe companies like AL & Constructo, maybe a few Billings (US Company). No idea what they stock these days I haven't been in one of their stores for at least 5 years now. Unfortunately these days it's better to do your shopping for this hobby online, where you have access to products from newer companies like Syren, Vanguard, Dusek, Master Korabell, CAF and Maristella. Might be worth a visit if you are up in that area, just to be able to look at them in person. Quote Brian Mystery project coming soon! Current build - Medway Longboat Complete - Armed Virginia Sloop Complete - Carmen (First Build) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Louie da fly Posted January 20, 2021 Share #15 Posted January 20, 2021 Hi and welcome to MSW, Dennis. Good to see you're planning to start a build log for your model. In case you haven't already come across them, the instructions for doing so are here: Good to have you aboard. Steven mtaylor and dsadberry 2 Quote It's not really a ship model unless you've bled on it. CURRENT BUILDS Venetian merchant Ship from Basilica of San Marco Golden City - Ballarat paddlewheeler FINISHED Australian couta boat RMS Titanic HMVS Cerberus 11th century Byzantine dromon Winchelsea Nef - Late 13th century Mediaeval ship Henry Grace a Dieu - Rebuild of 1:200 model I started in 1967 https://modelshipworld.com/topic/36379-mistydeefer-by-louie-da-fly-finished-restoration-decor-yacht/#comment-1040663 Mistydeefer - restoration of decor model yacht Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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