Hello from the Antipodes

[CrazyCatMan]

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!

[Baker]

[Knocklouder]

Glad to have you aboard!!   

[Gus M]

Wellcome to MSW,  enjoy 

[druxey]

Welcome aboard, CCM. Nice start there, but keep the cats away from your rigging!

[allanyed]

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

[ccoyle]

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!

[Keith Black]

 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.

 

 

[JeffT]

[TomShipModel]

Welcome.  It looks like you have it planned out well.

[Jim Lad]

Hello, and a warm welcome to the forum.

 

John

[mtaylor]

[CrazyCatMan]

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