CrazyCatMan Posted March 22, 2023 Share #1 Posted March 22, 2023 I have finally got around to joining this great resource, I just wish that I had discovered it six months ago instead of last month. I am currently building my first ship model, the Caldercraft HMS Mars/ Orestes in 1/64th scale. I inherited an unmade and damaged Corel HMS Unicorn from my late father, and had that in mind as a retirement project, however a repetitive strain injury curtailed my usual pass time of computer gaming and I thought I would give it a go. I got as far as enumerating the contents of the box and realised it was far beyond my skill level, so ordered a beginner kit from Cornwall Models in the UK (I kind of fluked that one, didn't realise at the time how good they were...). Settled on the Mars kit just because I liked the look of her... and have found out that I should probably have chosen a much smaller vessel. However, I went into it expecting to make a lot of mistakes, and if I could produce something vaguely resembling a model ship I would be happy. I have certainly achieved the former, and am well on my way to the latter, having more or less finished the hull and masts and started on the standing rigging and spars. If I had had the benefit of the collective skills and wisdom I have found here since finding this site I would have been much further along... or maybe I would have spent even more time admiring the skill displayed in the build logs and be even further behind! But I am determined to get a completed Mars on my dresser before start the next one... which is likely to be something like the Amati Lady Nelson. I read and reread the Hornblower and Bolitho series as a youngster, so that is where my imagination lives as far as choice of subject lies. Still at least a couple of years away from retiring and more likely it will be seven plus years, so I am starting to accumulate some projects... just purchased the Amati HMS Fly, have the Unicorn still to do, and I would like a bigger ship at some point, probably the Caldercraft Agamemnon or Diana.... and a few power tools to go with my inherited Unimat miniature lathe that I have very little idea how to use. Looking forward to the journey! mtaylor, ccoyle, vaidas and 8 others 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baker Posted March 22, 2023 Share #2 Posted March 22, 2023 Keith Black, JeffT, mikegr and 1 other 4 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 große-jacht / Yacht D'Oro 1/50 Corel Gallery : Revell Bounty Pelican/Golden hind 1/45 scratch 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 Cleaning the 1/72 military collection Si vis pacem, para bellum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knocklouder Posted March 22, 2023 Share #3 Posted March 22, 2023 Glad to have you aboard!! mtaylor, JeffT and Keith Black 3 Quote Start so you can Finish !! Finished: The Sea of Galilee Boat-Scott Miller-1:20 , Amati } Hannah Ship in a Bottle:Santa Maria : LA Pinta : La Nana : The Mayflower : Viking Ship Drakkar The King Of the Mississippi Artesania Latina 1:80 Current Build: Royal Yacht, Duchess of Kingston-Vanguard Models Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gus M Posted March 22, 2023 Share #4 Posted March 22, 2023 Wellcome to MSW, enjoy mtaylor, Keith Black and JeffT 3 Quote Greetings Gus ------------------------------------------------------------------- Current build log: San Francisco Cross Section Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
druxey Posted March 22, 2023 Share #5 Posted March 22, 2023 Welcome aboard, CCM. Nice start there, but keep the cats away from your rigging! mtaylor, Keith Black and JeffT 3 Quote Be sure to sign up for an epic Nelson/Trafalgar project if you would like to see it made into a TV series http://trafalgar.tv Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allanyed Posted March 22, 2023 Share #6 Posted March 22, 2023 Warm welcome to MSW from the other side of our planet. You have 43,000+ new friends and a ton of build logs not mention the fantastic articles on rigging, proper planking, and much more in the Articles database here at MSW that will help enhance your models. Allan Keith Black, JeffT and mtaylor 3 Quote PLEASE take 30 SECONDS and sign up for the epic Nelson/Trafalgar project if you would like to see it made into a TV series. Click on http://trafalgar.tv There is no cost other than the 30 seconds of your time. THANK YOU Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ccoyle Posted March 22, 2023 Share #7 Posted March 22, 2023 Welcome aboard! Your Mars project is looking pretty darn good so far. Happily for you, with the exception of Unicorn, all of the kits you mentioned were designed by the same man, Chris Watton, who is an active member of our forum. Being the innovator that he is, Chris' kit designs have become increasingly 'user friendly' over the years. He produces his own kits now under the name Vanguard Models, and if you click here you'll see that they have become very popular, and for good reason -- they are among the best kits in the hobby. Hope to see more of your work soon. Cheers! mtaylor, Keith Black and JeffT 3 Quote Chris Coyle Greer, South Carolina When you have to shoot, shoot. Don't talk. - Tuco Current builds: Brigantine Phoenix, Bf 109E-7/trop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Black Posted March 22, 2023 Share #8 Posted March 22, 2023 CCM, welcome to MSW. If you like cats and by your handle I assume you do, check out 'Cats' in the 'Shore Leave' section of the forum. See the link below. Glad to have you aboard. mtaylor and JeffT 2 Quote Current Builds: 1870's Sternwheeler, Lula Wood Hull Screw Frigate USS Tennessee Decorative Carrack Warship Restoration, the Amelia Completed: 1880s Floating Steam Donkey Pile Driver Early Swift 1805 Model Restoration Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffT Posted March 22, 2023 Share #9 Posted March 22, 2023 Keith Black 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...
TomShipModel Posted March 22, 2023 Share #10 Posted March 22, 2023 Welcome. It looks like you have it planned out well. mtaylor and Keith Black 2 Quote Tom Ruggiero Director Nautical Research Guild Member Ship Model Society of New Jersey (Past President) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Lad Posted March 22, 2023 Share #11 Posted March 22, 2023 Hello, and a warm welcome to the forum. John Keith Black 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtaylor Posted March 22, 2023 Share #12 Posted March 22, 2023 Keith Black 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...
CrazyCatMan Posted March 23, 2023 Author Share #13 Posted March 23, 2023 Thank you all for the warm welcome, I am certainly learning a lot from the tips and tricks on display in the wonderful build logs. I have to say I am unlikely to ever reach the level of skill I have seen so far, but I am having a lot of fun attempting to improve my model from what it was originally going to be. Currently wrestling with caparthins, up to version four but very close to what I need! I did of course check out the cat posts... had many laughs. I am of course a cat owner, a long haired cat owner in fact. The reason I am a crazy cat man rather than just a cat man is because two of the three are Maine Coons, and their super fine undercoat fur sticks to every single thread I am attempting to tie and have to be removed one by one with tweezers before any knots can be tied.... not to mention anything I need has been pushed over the edge of the table Keith Black, Knocklouder, mtaylor and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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