NONSUCH 30 - 1:24 SCALE - By Model Shipways

kurtvd19 · September 27, 2022

In box review of the Model Shipways Nonsuch 30

Scale 1:24 - Length: 16" Width: 6" Height: 30"

Kit #MS 1475 and Kit #MS 1475CBT

This is another excellent kit designed by David Antscherl with the support of Mark Ellis, the designer of the Nonsuch 30 and the other boats developed for the Nonsuch line of Fibreglass hulled yachts that were manufactured in Ontario, Canada. The Nonsuch 30 was the first of the series built in 1978. The series grew to included boats of 22, 26, 33 and 40 feet, all derived from the original Nonsuch 30 design. The Nonsuch series of boats were manufactured until the mid-90’s.

MODEL & PHOTOGRAPHS ( directly above & below) by David Antscherl

When I first picked up the box it felt as heavy as most Model Shipway kits. However, when I opened the blue box from Model Shipways, my immediate thought was that half of the kit had to be missing. I was surprised to see a single bag with a stack of laser cut sheets of Basswood and a long plastic bag with a single piece of strip wood and a wooden dowel and another bag of cast metal parts. The instructions, plan sheets and sail cloth completed the contents. I immediately found the parts list to check on what was missing. The contents of the box checked out to be 100% complete.

Box with plans and instructions removed

The heft of the contents is mostly in the sixteen (16) sheets of Basswood. Thicknesses of the sheets are 1/32” – 6, 1/16” – 1, 3/32” – 3, 1/8” – 2, 3/16” – 1 and 1/4" – 3.

Laser cut sheets

The wooden dowel, wood strip & brass rod

The cast pieces and brass pieces are in plastic bags. The castings all appear to be new castings for this model – except for the cleats. The castings are very crisp and mostly flash free with only minor seam lines. None have any offset to the casting halves.

There are two sheets of plans. The plan sheet is used to identify parts of the assembly with the details of construction covered in the twenty-seven pages of the instruction manual that includes 126 full color photographs and 4-line drawings. While the plans are meant for overall identification and location of parts and rigging there are eight detail drawings on the main sheet. All rigging lines are identified as well as routing of the rigging.

I was impressed by the overall quality of the kit components. The plans are well done, and the instruction manual is exceptionally good with clear full-color photographs and precise step-by-step directions. Tips are provided on construction techniques and super detailing tips are provided. I highly recommend this kit for modelers with a few kits under their belts as there are advanced skills needed to complete the kit.

Model & Photograph by David Antscherl

Thanks to Marc Mosko, owner of Model Expo for providing the kit for review.

Thanks to David Antscherl for providing the photographs of the completed model.

Thanks to both for bringing another model accurate to the original boat, by enlisting the aid of the designer of the Nonsuch 30, to assure the kit is accurate to the original. Thanks for adding another great kit to the hobby.

Two kit numbers are shown at the beginning of this review. The 1475 designation is the complete kit and instructions for the kit as reviewed. The 1475CBT is the kit plus a set of seven bottles of their acrylic house brand paint set specific to this model, three paint brushes, C/A glue, wood glue, hobby knife, extra blades – 2 types, pin vise, and two grades of sandpaper. The tools, glue and paints provided are good quality and the additional cost difference between the two kits is only $30. The paint set’s list price of $34.99 by itself is more than the $30 price difference between the kits, making it a great deal if the paint and tools are needed. Even if you have all the tools and just need the paints why not order the 1475CBT kit and give the tools to a starting modeler in your club?