New member with questions about first kit options

[HeyIwanttolearn]

Hi,

I am new to model building but I do like to build things while paying attention to details and I am super enthusiastic about sailing ships. I find it awesome that the community here is so helpful and the initiatives are also phenomenal, like tracking the completed builds.

I have seen the starting kit recommendation and I am taking it very seriously. I am also intrigued, I have to admit. From the top post recommendation I could see no mention of the Occre kits whatsoever and several build logs mention having done more than their basic kits as their first build. It made me ask myself, is the recommendation standing because it was done long ago, and how many other kit builders made instructions and kits easier to build? This is coming from a time and financial investment perspective as well, if I don't choose a rowing boat as the first project I start with min 70 EUR anyway and if something like the Buccaneer is achievable with precise kits, video instructions, well written manuals and community help with a 50% extra cost then it is a bit easier to choose comparing to Artisania Latina's new Jolly Boat for example, which I am still seriously considering as the first build that does seem to have the recommendation and mention of the community here. In the Jolly Boat I would miss the deck planking, for example which is a part of the Buccaneer or the Endeavor, both having ship logs as first builds.

Thanks!

Kind regards,

Adrian

Edited October 5, 2023 by HeyIwanttolearn
Signed

[Thukydides]

39 minutes ago, HeyIwanttolearn said:

I have seen the starting kit recommendation and I am taking it very seriously. I am also intrigued, I have to admit. From the top post recommendation I could see no mention of the Occre kits whatsoever and several build logs mention having done more than their basic kits as their first build. It made me ask myself, is the recommendation standing because it was done long ago, and how many other kit builders made instructions and kits easier to build?

Yes the list is a bit dated. The hard thing with recommendations is it is impossible to do so without knowing more about the builder. What is your comfort level with modeling in general, do you have any experience with wood, what catches your imagination, how determined as a person are you (do you need to see results quickly to keep yourself motivated), how much does price matter to you. All of these factors impact what sort of project you should do for your first one. That all being said if you want to build a warship that covers all of the basic skills you will eventually need to build something bigger I would recommend starting with a cutter (speaking as someone who is working on his first model ship). If you are more unsure or have limited experience modeling then go with something smaller such as a fishing boat. Some options I would recommend are below:

 

Non Warship:

• The beginner three boat series from Model Shipways
• Vanguard's Nisha

Warships:

• Vanguard's Alert
• Vanguard's Trial Cutter
• Amati Lady Nelson - This is much cheaper in the short term, but you may find yourself spending money in the long term upgrading the parts. Vanguard's offerings let you make very nice models out of the box.

 

[Wawona59]

1 hour ago, HeyIwanttolearn said:

Hi,

I am new to model building but I do like to build things while paying attention to details and I am super enthusiastic about sailing ships. I find it awesome that the community here is so helpful and the initiatives are also phenomenal, like tracking the completed builds.

I have seen the starting kit recommendation and I am taking it very seriously. I am also intrigued, I have to admit. From the top post recommendation I could see no mention of the Occre kits whatsoever and several build logs mention having done more than their basic kits as their first build. It made me ask myself, is the recommendation standing because it was done long ago, and how many other kit builders made instructions and kits easier to build? This is coming from a time and financial investment perspective as well, if I don't choose a rowing boat as the first project I start with min 70 EUR anyway and if something like the Buccaneer is achievable with precise kits, video instructions, well written manuals and community help with a 50% extra cost then it is a bit easier to choose comparing to Artisania Latina's new Jolly Boat for example, which I am still seriously considering as the first build that does seem to have the recommendation and mention of the community here. In the Jolly Boat I would miss the deck planking, for example which is a part of the Buccaneer or the Endeavor, both having ship logs as first builds.

Thanks!

Kind regards,

Adrian

Hi Adrian,

 

Welcome to Model Ship World and your start on your first wooden ship model.  There a lot of kits available today aimed at the beginning wooden ship modeler.  Model Shipways offers a 3-kit combo in which the beginning ship modeler works their way through three successive models; each one being a little more challenging than the previous model.  Each model is designed to introduce new skills.  Bluejacket offers several entry level kits as part of their Ensign Shipbuilder series.  In addition to enjoying building process whichever model you choose, you should strive to FINISH IT.  Nothing builds more enthusiasm and confidence than finishing a model and seeing it displayed in a case or on a bookshelf.

 

good luck in your ship modeling journey.  Feel free to post an introduction in the new members forum.

 

Welcome to MSW

 

 

[HeyIwanttolearn]

Thank you, these are very nice recommendations and it's another valid point, it's difficult to tell the abilities of people who start. I would prioritize the possibility to cover all of the basic skills and that the ship has fine lines, a fat cargo ship wouldn't feel as good to look at as a sleek schooner :).

Are the Vanguard kits available in Europe? I have a feeling this is also a factor to use in our decisions as kits from other continents may be either unavailable or priced to account for import taxes making them less competitive with similar kits in the same range, other aspects considered comparable.

[HeyIwanttolearn]

And John, thank you as well. At least the lobster from Model Shipways is available in Europe but I'm not sure about Bluejacket, do you know about them by any chance?

Kind regards,

Adrian

[Thukydides]

18 minutes ago, HeyIwanttolearn said:

Are the Vanguard kits available in Europe?

Yes, he is located in UK. I believe he also has a German distributor, but the instructions for those ones I believe are in German.

[Mercator]

I would highly recommend Vanguard kits, they are more expensive but for a beginner they are perfect. Great instructions and quality material. I build a couple of fishing boats to learn some of the techniques before taking the proverbial plunge and got one of the larger model. Get a quality kit that will not

frustrate you. As a plus he is located in England, so easily available in continental Europe. I did purchase one kit in England and the other two in California.

The shipping from England to the US was cheaper than from California to Idaho.

 

Current build: The Duchess of Kingston (Vanguard models)

[Keith Black]

Adrian, welcome to MSW. Glad to have you aboard. 

[Knocklouder]

[wmherbert]

Welcome.

For my two cents I would look at the Billings boats Henriette-marie.

I just got it for about $50 as a break from more complicated models.

Easy rigging. Planking practice. 1:50 scale. Nice looking boat.

Simple deck structures. I think pretty much a perfect first time model

Bill 

[mtaylor]

[rmccook]

I'm also a newcomer and I was given my first kit as a gift, so I didn't have a choice in the matter, but I am building OCCRE's Polaris... I've found the instructions very clear, the required tools to be things that I already possess or can easily (and cheaply acquire) but most importantly, there is an extremely useful YouTube series that shows everything in very good, simple detail and has helped me enormously. I'm very happy with the way my boat is progressing—there have been stumbles, but it's a simple enough model that I think (so far) they're easily remedied. And it's been an encouraging enough experience that I am interested in doing more model-building. One of the things I like about this model is that it is a serious step-up in sophistication and difficulty than anything I have done before, but the overall model is still pretty simple—especially compared to some of the gorgeous complicated projects here.

 

Below is a some recent photo of where I'm at... I think it cost about $100USD.

 

The only really notable potential downside, which I was only aware of after coming here and reading build logs and reviews is that, perhaps, the material quality isn't the greatest. I've had a couple of pieces snap, and some outer planking be so fragile it was difficult to cut, resulting in some complications. I had chalked that all up to my own incompetence and dull knives, but now I wonder if it wasn't really attributable to the quality of the material. But none of it has been something I couldn't repair or fix.

 

All of THAT said, if I had been aware of Vanguard "novice" kits, and if I had been the one selecting the kit, I might have gone with one of those. I've read the directions for those and they appear to be at least as thorough and the models are similarly sophisticated-yet-doable. The Ranger, for instance, looks very similar, but is much prettier.