Getting back into the game

[javajohn]

Hello from Phoenix!

 

I've been out of the ship modeling hobby for about a decade. but now I'm getting back in and glad to join such an active forum! To date, I've built three models and had started on a fourth before life got in the way.

 

My first was La Toulonnaise. I think it was an introductory kit that a hobby shop owner recommended to me. I then made the mistake of trying a much too complicated build, the HMS Bounty, and ended up not completing it, but I sure learned a lot working on it. I was disappointed in some of the kit quality, but I didn't have the skill to really fix it, so, the Bounty sits mostly completed on a library shelf as a decoration.

 

Here's a picture of my third model, the Armed Virginia Sloop (Model Shipways). I'm really happy with the results. 

 

 

 

 

I had started my fourth model about ten years ago - Lauck Street Shipyard's Fair American admiralty kit. It sat unfinished for years, but now that I have time to get back into the hobby, I've been able to get back to it. I made a huge number of mistakes, but I view them as learning experiences and problems to solve. Here's a pic of it currently. I just have the stern transom , and channels to complete.

 

 

I'm glad to be aboard!

 

-- John

 

[Moab]

Welcome back aboard, Your armed Virginia Sloop looks great . This is a great forum with a wide range of interests and abilities. Help is always  close at hand...Moab

[mtaylor]

Welcome to MSW, John.  I'd suggest you start a log on whichever model you wish to build or finish.   It's a great way to met others and also to get advice.

[James H]

Welcome back to the hobby, and of course to MSW 😁

 

[JeffT]

Welcome to MSW 

[Jim Lad]

Hello John, and a warm welcome to the forum from 'Down Under'.

 

John

[Keith Black]

 John, welcome to MSW. As Mark said, please start a build log, we'd like to tag along. 

[bruce d]

Hello John, welcome to MSW. Nice work, hope to see more!

[Duanelaker]

Beautiful work, welcome back!

[Eurus]

Welcome to the forums! Those ships look awesome!

[javajohn]

Thank you all for the kind words. My next build will be the Rattlesnake. I plan to start a build log for it.

[allanyed]

Welcome home!!!!   Looking forward to your Rattlesnake build log.

Allan

[gagliano1770]

Great looking photos! 

[Louie da fly]

Welcome to MSW, John. That  Armed Virginia Sloop is a beautiful model. You've done a lovely job.

 

You're not alone in making mistakes - we all do it - but as you say they are very often a learning opportunity, and fortunately wood is a very forgiving medium.

 

Good to hear you'll be making a build Log for your Rattlesnake, but in the meantime if you want to start one  your Fair American - particularly if you have photos to enable you to do a retrospective log - I'm sure we'd all be very interested.

 

Good to have you aboard, mate!

 

Steven

[glbarlow]

Two of my favorite models. The AVS was my first model, Fair American came later, I used it as an opportunity to “paint with wood”. Exotic woods were easier to obtain back then. Welcome back to modeling. 

[javajohn]

Thanks all again for the kind words. I really enjoyed building the Armed Virginia Sloop was really a lot of fun. I used Robert Hunt's practicum to build it. That provided me a wealth of information to help me through it.

 

The Fair American is now finished except for the stand. I will show pictures of it when I get it completed - I'm just waiting for some rope from Syren Ship Models. I think it turned out OK, but not great. I used dowels to simulate pier posts lashed together. It doesn't really fit the model's appearance, but I wanted to try something different for the fun of it.

 

I looked for a topic on stand ideas, but didn't find one. It might be fun to set one up so people can post pictures of their stands.

 

@Louie da fly I really wish I had more pictures of the Fair American build so I could write a retrospective log.

 

I'm probably going to start my Rattlesnake log in a few days.