Jump to content

Hi from South Africa - novice alert!


Recommended Posts

Hi everyone at MSW, and thanks for having me on board.

 

I'm based in Mossel Bay, South Africa, and am very excited at the prospect of starting my first model ship. A love for all things ocean-going was previously expressed in sailing, including ten years on Captain Robert Beebe's original wooden motor yacht, Passagemaker. However, my experience with all things wood is unfortunately currently restricted to rough sanding, varnishing, amateur carving, and an unfortunate incident where it was necessary to put a blow torch to the hull to barbeque a shipworm infestation. However, despite a long-standing appreciation for wooden ship models, I have never tried my hand at modelling before. 

 

I have purchased, on a whim, the original San Francisco Galeon S. XVI Wood Ship Model Kit (AL #20408), second-hand (in hindsight, no, not ideal, yet here I am). The original owner had already progressed as far as starting the first layer of hull planking, but even to my untrained eye, it was a bit of a botch job. Thus far, I have only dug out nails to remove this planking, followed by light sanding. The bulkheads had not been faired whatsoever, and will probably be my first hands-on job to ensure proper placement of the strakes. I am also concerned about the bulkheads, with not all having been glued/fixed at a 90 degree angle. Any advice in this regard would be much appreciated! 

 

At the moment, I am purely delving into online resources to learn the basics of ship modelling, and already several posts on MSW have been extremely enlightening. I am also compiling a list of basic tools to start out with, comparing quality and price. Unfortunately, a modelling hobby costs a pretty penny out here on the southern tip of Africa, with a heady shipment fee added to the import of quality tools. So the aim is to start out with the bare bones and then work my way up as time (and skill) progresses.

 

Please bear with me as I am still familiarizing myself with the correct terminology. I am working through the multitude of helpful posts that have already been provided to new members, and will try to avoid asking questions that have already been answered!

 

I look forward to opening a build log soon, and would absolutely appreciate any and all advice, guidance, and mentoring offered, hoping to learn from the vast experience of MSW members.

 

All the best,

Louise

Link to comment
Share on other sites

:sign:

Louise this is the place to be,  Good luck on your journey !!

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

Posted (edited)
1 hour ago, Ingo said:

Mossel Bay, South Africa,

Welcome to MSW Louise!!  Made it to Cape Town, East London, and Durban way back in the day, but unfortunately missed  Cape St. Francis (surf's up), and Mossel Bay both of which we wanted to visit.  Beautiful part of the world, sharks and all.    

Allan

Edited by allanyed

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

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

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

5 hours ago, Ingo said:

Thanks Knocklouder, half my day has already slipped by engrossed in planking tutorials...

 

allanyed Lately the Great Whites in Mossel Bay have been fleeing the scene, being actively predated by orcas. Guess there's always a bigger fish (or mammal) in the sea. And it's never too late to visit!

Welcome to MSW Louise!  :cheers:
The Great White eating Orcas made it on to the news here in the UK, like you say, there will always be a bigger fish somewhere!

Looking forward to your log. 

Andrew
Current builds:- HM Gun-brig Sparkler - Vanguard (1/64) 
HMAV Bounty - Caldercraft (1/64)

Completed (Kits):-

Vanguard Models (1/64) :HM Cutter Trial , Nisha - Brixham trawler

Caldercraft (1/64) :- HMS Orestes(Mars)HM Cutter Sherbourne

Paper Shipwright (1/250) :- TSS Earnslaw, Puffer Starlight

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Welcome aboard Louise from South Africa and look forward to seeing your first project.You are now officially in very good hands although not so much myself as i am a relative novice too.Best Regards Dave .

Completed     St Canute Billings            Dec 2020

Completed    HMS Bounty Amati          May 2021 Finished

Currently building HM Bark Endeavour  

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

:sign:

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

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...