LineAlpine Posted January 5, 2023 Share #1 Posted January 5, 2023 Hello! My name is David and I am interested in joining the ranks of model ship builders. I’m 27 and live in the United States. I’ve always been interested in history and in sailing, but what sparked my interest in model building was a simple wooden model ship from my grandmother, seen here. It is labeled as the USS Constitution but it doesn’t seem to look like the ship to me. I thought a good way to get a taste for ship building might be to repair some minor damage to this model like replacing a snapped spar and reattaching some loose rigging. I also thought about painting the model to look a little more like the USS Constitution. I also have an unopened kit which is also seen here. I did a little research on this kit and learned that it is a rebranding of an older kit called La Flore by Lindbergh. I have a lot to learn about model ship building and I am looking for advice! Am I more likely to ruin my grandmothers ship by trying to work on it myself? Is the La Flore / Jolly Roger kit going to end up being way too difficult for a beginner? I don’t really know what I’m signing up for but I read the cautionary tale for beginners about biting off more than you can chew. I don’t even have any proper tools! I’d love to hear from some of you about what you think. Thanks for your time! mtaylor, ccoyle, GrandpaPhil and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave_E Posted January 5, 2023 Share #2 Posted January 5, 2023 Welcome to the forum! This is the place to learn all you want to about model ship building! 😀 LineAlpine, Knocklouder, mtaylor and 1 other 4 Quote Dave Current builds: Rattlesnake Completed builds: Lady Nelson On the shelf: NRG Half Hull Project, Various metal, plastic and paper models Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcmdrvr Posted January 5, 2023 Share #3 Posted January 5, 2023 Welcome to the forum. Without proper tools, both projects you mention will be difficult if impossible. You might look into acquiring some basic tools such as a hobby knife, a few clamps, tweezers, etc. I sure there is a thread on this forum which discusses a "basic" tool list. mtaylor, LineAlpine, Dave_E and 1 other 3 1 Quote Completed Builds: USS Cairo by BlueJacket; Nave Egizia by Amati; Harriet Lane by Model Shipways Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hollowneck Posted January 5, 2023 Share #4 Posted January 5, 2023 Welcome to the forum. This is the right (and BEST) place to learn about model ship building. Post all the questions you'd like; you'll get plenty of helpful advice - and encouragement. As long as you can acquire some basic tolls like @rcmdrvr has recommended, you can build that styrene model and then step over to a wooden kit with a handful of a few more tools - and then you could do some repairs on the legacy model from your grandmother. I've got a question for you: how did you learn about this free forum? THANKS!! LineAlpine, mtaylor, Dave_E and 1 other 3 1 Quote Ron Director, Nautical Research Guild Secretary/Newsletter Editor, Philadelphia Ship Model Society Former Member/Secretary for the Connecticut Marine Model Society Current Build: Godspeed 2, (Wyoming, 6-masted Schooner) Completed Builds: HMS Grecian, HMS Sphinx (as HMS Camilla) Ongakuka Maru, (Higaki Kaisen, It Takes A Village), Le Tigre Privateer, HMS Swan, HMS Godspeed, HMS Ardent, HMS Diana, Russian brig Mercury, Elizabethan Warship Revenge, Xebec Syf'Allah, USF Confederacy, HMS Granado, USS Brig Syren Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LineAlpine Posted January 5, 2023 Author Share #5 Posted January 5, 2023 (edited) I’m currently putting together a list of tools to buy based on videos I’ve seen of other similar builds, without spending too much! Edit, I’m new to forums so I need to learn how to post and reply properly. I heard about this forum by researching ship modeling and I came across some advice which was posted on this forum. I browsed around the forum a bit more and decided to create an account! Edited January 5, 2023 by LineAlpine mtaylor, Keith Black, Dave_E and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prowler901 Posted January 5, 2023 Share #6 Posted January 5, 2023 Welcome aboard! Your research led you to the right place. Plenty of knowledgeable and helpful members here. I'm also in Colorado. Todd LineAlpine, Dave_E, mtaylor and 2 others 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Lad Posted January 5, 2023 Share #7 Posted January 5, 2023 Hello David, and a warm welcome to the forum from 'Down Under'. John LineAlpine, mtaylor, Dave_E and 2 others 4 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccoyle Posted January 5, 2023 Share #8 Posted January 5, 2023 Welcome! Your Constitution 'model' is a highly simplified decor model. As far as modeling skills go, you'll not learn much of anything useful by working on it but, OTOH, you can't really hurt it, either, and if it has some sentimental value for you (being a gift from Grandma), then by all means fix it up. As for your plastic kit, we have many avid plastic modelers around here, including some who build tallships in that medium. I'm not familiar with that particular kit, so I can't really speak to its strengths/weaknesses or suitability as a beginner project. What I would advise you to do before jumping into any ship modeling project is take some time to thoroughly browse this site. As you do, look for projects that particularly appeal to you, especially the ones tagged as first builds. Any ship model requires a considerable commitment of time and at least some investment of capital, so you should spend these on a model that will keep your creative juices flowing. That might turn out to be your Jolly Roger kit, or perhaps you'll find your interest drawn elsewhere. Researching a new project should be a fun part of the process! Good luck with whatever project you choose! Dave_E, mtaylor, Keith Black and 3 others 5 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...
LineAlpine Posted January 5, 2023 Author Share #9 Posted January 5, 2023 Thanks for the warm welcome and the advice everyone! I’ll continue doing some research and collecting some tools together and then I’ll make a decision on either starting the Jolly Roger Kit, or something else entirely! Whatever I decide I’ll create a build log on the forum! hollowneck, Dave_E, CPDDET and 3 others 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Black Posted January 5, 2023 Share #10 Posted January 5, 2023 David, welcome to MSW. Glad to have you aboard. LineAlpine, mtaylor, Dave_E and 1 other 3 1 Quote Current Builds: Wood Hull Screw Frigate USS Tennessee Decorative Carrack Warship Restoration, the Amelia Completed: Early Swift 1805 Model Restoration Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knocklouder Posted January 6, 2023 Share #11 Posted January 6, 2023 mtaylor, LineAlpine and Keith Black 2 1 Quote Start so you can Finish !! Finished: The Santa Maria -Amati 1:65, La Pinta- Amati 1:65, La Nina -Amati 1:65 , Hannah Ship in a Bottle -1:300 The Sea of Galilee Boat-Scott Miller-1:20 , The Mayflower-Amati-1:60 Current Build: 1972 Ford Sport Custom On Hold: HMS Pegasus: Amati Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtaylor Posted January 6, 2023 Share #12 Posted January 6, 2023 Keith Black, Dave_E and LineAlpine 2 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...
Baker Posted January 6, 2023 Share #13 Posted January 6, 2023 And good luck with the Jolly Roger mtaylor, Keith Black, Dave_E and 1 other 3 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...
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