New to Wood Boat kit building

[lstmysock11]

Hi all

 

Would like to give this a try, I had made a attempt a few years ago but did not get very far. Had looked at Occre Bounty boat and found a couple videos they made on building it. Figured a good video could be a very helpful thing but there video has no audio what so ever or subtitles or anything like that. Any sugjestions for a beginner. On there site if you search for beginner it was showing me the Santa Maria, Looks like a nice kit but it is over 200 dollars.

 

Would like something that will teach me and the directions are half way decent and not to to expensive.

 

What are the basic tools I will need?

[SkiBee]

40 years ago I started with a solid hull model and failed to get past step one.  I've built a lot of plastic models but never went back to try a wood model, shaping a hull and the rigging intimidated me.  A couple of years ago I decided to try my hand at wood models and saw an advertisement for Model Expo & Shipways models.  I started with the Model Shipways 3 ship beginners set and they took me step by step and I learned a lot of skills and knowledge for a fair price.  So much I tried my hand at a solid hull again and it's been successful so far.

   I highly recommend the Model Shipways Shipwright 3 Kit Series. By the time you finish the 3rd boat, the Muscongus Bay Lobster Smack, you will have the skills to take on anything.  They might be small and appear to be simple, but that's what you want in the beginning and to learn the basic skills, then try the other models.

 

Also, search "new to ..."  there are many others that have asked the same question and there are a ton of great recommendations on this website.

[lstmysock11]

1 hour ago, SkiBee said:

Model Shipways Shipwright 3 Kit Series. By the time you finish the 3rd boat,

About 2 years ago I had tried the Dory but totally messed up in the start of the kit and it ended up in the trash. I should try again and this time I did find the youtube video on step by step on the dory.

[robert952]

I'd recommend: try the Dory again.  

 

There's several build logs hereon MSW that will help you with building that specific model. (Just search Grand Banks Dory.  You'll find many on the Model Shipways model.  (Also a couple other companies that follow similar procedures for building.)

 

If you start a build log, you will get some followers (and lurkers) who can give advise and tell their experience if you run into something you don't know or understand. You can ask for advise there.

 

If you have a specific questionpn some aspect of modeling (paint, glue, etc), search those items.  If you don't find a thread, start a new  thread in the appropriate sub-forum.

 

If you mess up on something (all of has 'been there, done that') we can likely give some advise and tips on how to correct the error. 

 

Take your time. Building models is ALWAYS a learning process.  

 

Welcome aboard. 

 

[Cleat]

When I started here I read the Cautionary Tale thread and decided to not to get the kit I wanted to try, I'm glad I went with a smaller kit (CrisCraft speedboat).  I found out that I wanted to learn more about planking so I built the half hull planking kit, it is an instructional kit just not a complete ship (I learned a lot, mounted it to a board, and use it to hold rages for applying finishes).

[hamilton]

It's exciting to try something new! I got into this hobby just after we had our first child - 16 years ago now....As a joke, I Googled "what do retired people do?" and this was the first hit that caught my eye. 

 

I started with the Model Shipways solid hull Phantom Pilot Schooner (1:96). They had a deal where they sold it with a rudimentary tool set (very basic but more or less what's needed for this kit - pin vise & some small bits, 2 hobby knife holders and various blades, a small saw) so I got that. I also got a dremel rotary tool after reading a bunch online. It took about 3 months of occasional work at my kitchen table to finish it. I did not concern myself too much with the results, but approached it as something to learn through and see if I liked it - turns out I did! 

 

Start with something small and easy - get a few necessary tools but no more and then level up as you go. That's my advice - this hobby can be pricey, but it also goes on for years so there's lots of time to acquire things along the way as you find you "need" them.

hamilton

[Literalman]

My first model was also the solid-hull Phantom. It came out pretty well. That was about 50 years ago. It's still on a shelf in the living room, but when it needed some minor repairs after moving, I no longer seemed to have the dexterity or eyesight to do the work. However, after the Phantom, when I was young, I was able to do the solid-hull Model Shipways Forester and scratch build a Revolutionary War Washington galley. I'd agree that the Phantom is a good place to start.

[Stevinne]

Definitely sign up for Model Expo emails - they frequently have sales, so the emails will alert you.

I agree with the recommendation to start with some of the Model Shipways starter kits or something like the Phantom.

I'd also recommend picking up the book "Ship Modeling Simplified" by Frank Mastini, which does a good job of laying out all you need to know for building a first kit.

[lstmysock11]

Think I might go with titanic by occre has a line of videos to help  it will keep me busy for a good amount 

[palmerit]

Have you checked out Vanguard Models (https://vanguardmodels.co.uk). If you're in the US, you can order from https://www.agesofsail.com. The Sherbourne is probably the same price as the Titanic from Occre and has really clear instructions (though obviously very different ships). Vanguard also has less expensive fishing vessels. These models will keep you busy too. I've been working on the Sherbourne since summer.

 

You can see the instructions on the Vanguard web site. You can see that they're a lot more detailed than the Occre instructions (just photos) and videos.

[lstmysock11]

10 minutes ago, palmerit said:

Have you checked out Vanguard Models (https://vanguardmodels.co.uk). If you're in the US, you can order from https://www.agesofsail.com. The Sherbourne is probably the same price as the Titanic from Occre and has really clear instructions (though obviously very different ships). Vanguard also has less expensive fishing vessels. These models will keep you busy too. I've been working on the Sherbourne since summer.

 

You can see the instructions on the Vanguard web site. You can see that they're a lot more detailed than the Occre instructions (just photos) and videos.

Looks like a nice model, If I get that I will have to order from the UK. Seems ageofsail has that model as out of stock.

[lstmysock11]

are there any decent boat keel building jigs? I see billings jig but do not see any place to buy it.

[palmerit]

You might ask them if they have any on the way. I did get mine shipped from the UK because ageofsails was out of stock. They got a bunch in a month later. 
 

I don’t have a jig and I have tons of other (arguably unnecessary) tools. Something like the sherbourne is pretty small and you can just hold it in your hands. I also have it (now that it’s planked and painted) sitting on towels. Maybe when rigging it I might decide a jig is useful. 

[lstmysock11]

14 hours ago, palmerit said:

You might ask them if they have any on the way. I did get mine shipped from the UK because ageofsails was out of stock. They got a bunch in a month later. 
 

I don’t have a jig and I have tons of other (arguably unnecessary) tools. Something like the sherbourne is pretty small and you can just hold it in your hands. I also have it (now that it’s planked and painted) sitting on towels. Maybe when rigging it I might decide a jig is useful. 

I emailed them and asked, they said they have a shipment on the way soon from England and should have some next week with any luck. I also found this on youtube, He has made a bunch of videos on the Sherbourne.

 

I did notice in his video some of the wood sheets are rather thin, I would not want to accidentally break parts. Guess just have to be really careful.

 

 

[Stuka]

Welcome and Hello 🙂
I would recommend the Sherbourne as you will be probably less likely to break the parts of the Sherbourne due to the high quality of the material. Then all wooden ships require you of course to be careful and mind your steps but to my own experience I think the Sherbourne is forgiving. 

Finally I saw that you talked about a keel jig, For a ship like Sherbourne due to its small size I dont think you need one all the work I have done on it has been holding it in my hands or having it sitting in its build craddle so I wouldnt use money on that, Perhaps on a future much bigger model. 

[chris watton]

17 hours ago, lstmysock11 said:

Looks like a nice model, If I get that I will have to order from the UK. Seems ageofsail has that model as out of stock.

We are about to ship AgesofSail a new order tomorrow, which includes Sherbournes

[lstmysock11]

50 minutes ago, chris watton said:

We are about to ship AgesofSail a new order tomorrow, which includes Sherbournes

Thank you I emailed them and they told me that. Impressed that they answered me in under 5 minutes. 

[palmerit]

1 hour ago, lstmysock11 said:

I did notice in his video some of the wood sheets are rather thin, I would not want to accidentally break parts. Guess just have to be really careful.

I never had any problems with the wood breaking (except when I smacked the stern end stupidly while sanding too aggressively) on the Sherbourne. The softer wood is pretty thick, and the thin wood is pretty strong. 
 

I’m also doing the Model Shipwright series of three boats, which is a different style (Dory, Pram, and Smack) - also fun, but very different. Those models have a lot of soft, thin basswood that can break if you’re not careful (and that gets fuzzy). 

[ubjs]

I think Vanguard could be a good choice.

I would like to build a Vanguard model myself but no shop in Sweden sells it.

After Brexit its difficult to get anything from UK.

[palmerit]

I got mine shipped from the UK to the USA last summer (because the reseller in the US was out of stock at the time). (No idea if there are added complications going from the UK to the EU.)

[chris watton]

9 minutes ago, palmerit said:

I got mine shipped from the UK to the USA last summer (because the reseller in the US was out of stock at the time). (No idea if there are added complications going from the UK to the EU.)

Not really, instead of the customer paying VAT at point of sale (like they would if buying from another EU country), they pay import or customs duty. It's not all one way, too, as I pay import duties on all supplied and materials I buy from the EU, pear, photo etch etc.

Edited November 26 by chris watton

[lstmysock11]

1 hour ago, palmerit said:

I never had any problems with the wood breaking (except when I smacked the stern end stupidly while sanding too aggressively) on the Sherbourne. The softer wood is pretty thick, and the thin wood is pretty strong. 
 

I’m also doing the Model Shipwright series of three boats, which is a different style (Dory, Pram, and Smack) - also fun, but very different. Those models have a lot of soft, thin basswood that can break if you’re not careful (and that gets fuzzy). 

I had tried the Dory and that is part of why I got stuck , plus some of those directions where not very clear to me with some of the first steps. Yes some of those pieces are way to flimsy.

[Stuka]

9 hours ago, ubjs said:

I think Vanguard could be a good choice.

I would like to build a Vanguard model myself but no shop in Sweden sells it.

After Brexit its difficult to get anything from UK.

I am Swedish too and while I agree its harsh with the extra toll fee. In the end there is nothing to do about it and I still think Vanguard models are worth it even if I have to pay 1/3 extra Toll.

Edited November 27 by Stuka

[lstmysock11]

Will be now looking for what to build after the Sherbourne