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Hello from Loveland, CO


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I am in my first year of ship building. I came about it as a challenge from my 85 year-old neighbor, Tom.  His sister is unmarried and a hoarder. A few years ago she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and had to be placed in a memory care facility. While cleaning out her five storage units of stuff, Tom came across two ship kits. Knowing I always had a jigsaw puzzle on the table, he thought I might like to try a different sort of "puzzle". I have always been a modeler of sorts. In the sixties, I was into plastic car kits. After college, I started a model railroad that I worked on 30+ years in various locations and sizes. I also have a 1949 Willys Jeep that I have owned for almost 35 years and did a frame-off restoration that took two and a half years. After retiring to Colorado seven years ago, we downsized house-wise so there was no room for trains. I still have my Jeep but was looking for something I could do in the winter months. The gift of the ship kits was perfect.

 

I have always enjoyed working under the big magnifying glass while assembling and painting model scenes. I had no clue about ship building so started watching a ton of YouTube videos before I started. Tom gave me two unopened kits, Artesania Latina's Victory and Mamoli's Constitution.  I have no way of knowing how old the kits are. The Victory had a. price of $89.95 and the Constitution was $129.95. There are copyright dates in the instructions from the 1980's.

 

Judging by the photo's on the boxes, it was evident which was the easier of the two. I set out to build the Victory. Compared to the Constitution, it had a solid hull and a fraction of the rigging. The AL instructions were not as complete as I expected and took awhile to get used to their translations (practice a 1 mm hole = drill a 1 mm hole), but I figured it all out and completed the kit in about six months. Like everyone, I made errors and it did not turn out as good as I would have liked, but when I presented it to Tom, he was so excited to have it.

 

Before I started on the Constellation, I again watched dozens of videos to see if I could do better with some of the things I felt I didn't do as well on with the Victory. After watching. videos, I always read the comments and that is how I wound up on this site. I have read through and studied all the photos from other's Constitution builds on this site am going to start a build log soon. To keep me motivated, I started an Instagram thread on this build for my family to view my progress. Posting here is a little different as the viewers here are different than family and friends (who are easily wowed).  But I know I will need help. Where better to come for advice and encouragement than a site like this? Thanks in advance to all who will assist.

Current Build - USS Constitution by Mamoli 1:93

 

Completed - US Liberty by Artesania Latina

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49 minutes ago, BruceWayne426 said:

Posting here is a little different as the viewers here are different than family and friends (who are easily wowed).

 

Welcome aboard! True, we're not easily wowed, but we are pretty supportive nonetheless!

Chris Coyle
Greer, South Carolina

When you have to shoot, shoot. Don't talk.
- Tuco

Current builds: Brigantine Phoenix, Bf 109E-7/trop

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Hello and welcome aboard here at MSW. Hope you will have fun on your journey and we don´t bite ^^

 

Micha

"The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever." Jacques - Yves Cousteau.

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Current Build:

"Roar Ege" by Billing Boats - 1:25

On Hold:

n/a

Finished:

n/a

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: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)         

         

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

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