wdretired Posted August 4, 2014 Share #1 Posted August 4, 2014 I'm looking to buy a wooden model ship. I have several models in mind but I'm not sure where I can buy with confidence and good customer service. Any suggestions? I tried to buy a model off E-Bay and I thought I was buying from California but it ended up flagging my bank from China. When I contacted them they then said they were from Canada?? I'd like to buy from someone that can be trusted. Any Help would be appreciated. wdretired Quote Wayne Present build - U.S.S. Constitution Website - mwdretired.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tasmanian Posted August 4, 2014 Share #2 Posted August 4, 2014 ebay is probably not the best place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Landlubber Mike Posted August 4, 2014 Share #3 Posted August 4, 2014 It might help knowing what ships you're thinking of. I've bought directly from Caldercraft and Model Expo before with no problems whatsoever. I also have ordered parts from Cornwall Model Boats in the UK, and have had a very good experience with them as well. Stockholm tar 1 Quote Mike Current Wooden builds: Amati/Victory Pegasus MS Charles W. Morgan Euromodel La Renommèe Plastic builds: Hs129B-2 1/48 SB2U-1 Vindicator 1/48 Five Star Yaeyama 1/700 Pit Road Asashio and Akashi 1/700 diorama Walrus 1/48 and Albatross 1/700 Special Hobby Buffalo 1/32 IJN Notoro 1/700 Akitsu Maru 1/700 Completed builds : Caldercraft Brig Badger Amati Hannah - Ship in Bottle Pit Road Hatsuzakura 1/700 Hasegawa Shimakaze 1:350 F4B-4 and P-6E 1/72 Accurate Miniatures F3F-1/F3F-2 1/48 Tamiya F4F-4 Wildcat built as FM-1 1/48 Special Hobby Buffalo 1/48 Eduard Sikorsky JRS-1 1/72 Citroen 2CV 1/24 - Airfix and Tamiya Entex Morgan 3-wheeler 1/16 Terminated build: HMS Lyme (based on Corel Unicorn) On the shelf: Euromodel Friedrich Wilhelm zu Pferde; Caldercraft Victory; too many plastic ship, plane and car kits Future potential scratch builds: HMS Lyme (from NMM plans); Le Gros Ventre (from Ancre monographs), Dutch ship from Ab Hoving book, HMS Sussex from McCardle book, Philadelphia gunboat (Smithsonian plans) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stockholm tar Posted August 4, 2014 Share #4 Posted August 4, 2014 I would second Mike's suggestion, Cornwall Model Boats. Their prices seem to be cheaper than elsewhere, and they provide a good service: http://www.cornwallmodelboats.co.uk/index.html Landlubber Mike 1 Quote Kester Current builds: Sherbourne (Caldercraft) scale – 1/64th; Statsraad Lehmkuhl (half model) 1/8th" – 1'. Victory Bow Section (Panart/Mantua) scale – 1/78th (on hold). Previous build: Bluenose ll (Billings) scale – 1/100th. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtaylor Posted August 5, 2014 Share #5 Posted August 5, 2014 Stateside.... hmm.... a few that I've dealt with, but it will depend on what model you're looking for as no one carries every maker. You can Google the addy's of the ones I've listed: Model Expo Tower Hobbies Blue Jacket Ages of Sail Billing Boats I also have noticed that MicroMark is carrying kits. I'll pop a link on this one since they have a mixed bag of kits: http://www.micromark.com/ship-and-boat-model-kits.html and the kits spot took some digging. Quote 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 More sharing options...
mtdoramike Posted August 5, 2014 Share #6 Posted August 5, 2014 I agree with Mark, I have bought from all of them at one time or another and have no complaints. BUT, I have noticed quite a few models at Model Expo now say a 4 week or so waiting period. I never had that issue with them, but it's been probably close 10 ten years ago that I bought from them. I have purchased several ship model kits and materials from Ebay and have never had an issue, but you have to follow certain rules like verifying the sellers location, as well as checking out their feedback record. You also have to remember that a lot of these on line sellers drop ship now due to the cost of the kits, you pay them, they order the kit from a distributor, who ships it directly to you. It keeps their inventory down. Good luck, Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vossy Posted August 5, 2014 Share #7 Posted August 5, 2014 naturecoast.com i'm in australia but get all my stuff from them. they are in florida (i think) and heaps cheaper than anywhere i can buy from in aus. have never had any problems with them and they have a huge range of kits and accessories. thoroughly recommended. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdretired Posted August 5, 2014 Author Share #8 Posted August 5, 2014 I appreciate the information. I ran across Tower Hobbies, does anyone have any dealings with them? Quote Wayne Present build - U.S.S. Constitution Website - mwdretired.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtdoramike Posted August 5, 2014 Share #9 Posted August 5, 2014 Yes, I have dealt with Tower & Naturecoast and have nothing but good words to say about them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azzoun Posted August 5, 2014 Share #10 Posted August 5, 2014 CRAIGSLIST! I find awesome deals on there all the time. Picked up a Mantua Cutty Sark - $600 kit. for $150 shipped to my location. Picked up a Prince De Neufchatel- brand new, retails for $400 - I paid $50. People buy them, don't get to them, and let them go for various reasons. Download it to your smart phone and you can search the country in one query. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azzoun Posted August 5, 2014 Share #11 Posted August 5, 2014 on a side note, love BlueJacket - great company... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AntonyUK Posted August 5, 2014 Share #12 Posted August 5, 2014 Hi. Shoping @ Cornwallmodelboats is a pleasure. Orderd late yesterday afternoon and it's arrived this morning. Yes it's just the next county. But that's service Avoide the dreaded TAX inport duties if you can. Shoping direct with Model Expo. Or ther EBay shop as suggested above by Geoff. All the best. Antony. Quote Best advice ever given to me."If you don't know ..Just ask. Completed Mayflower Completed Fun build Tail boat Tailboat Completed Build Chinese Junk Chinese Pirate Junk Completed scratch built Korean Turtle ship 1/32 Turtle ship Completed Santa Lucia Sicilian Cargo Boat 1/30 scale Santa Lucia On hold. Bounty Occre 1/45 Completed HMS Victory by DeAgostini modelspace. DeAgostini Victory Cross Section Completed H.M.S. Victory X section by Coral. HMS Victory cross section Completed The Black Pearl fun build Black Queen Completed A large scale Victory cross section 1/36 Victory Cross Section Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JPett Posted August 15, 2014 Share #13 Posted August 15, 2014 Ahoy Mates I would suggest clicking on this link http://modelshipworld.com/ Scroll down and you will find a list of companies on the bottom right who take some of their profits and use them to sponsor a great site that could only exists as a result of this generosity. Something to consider on your next purchase CaptainSteve 1 Quote On with the Show.... J.Pett “If you're going through hell, keep going” (Winston Churchill) Current build: MS Rattlesnake (MS2028) http://modelshipworld.com/index.php?/topic/45-model-shipways-rattlesnake-ms2028-scale-164th/ Side Build: HMS Victory: Corel http://modelshipworld.com/index.php?/topic/3709-hms-victory-by-jpett-corel-198/?p=104762 On the back burner: 1949 Chris Craft Racer: Dumas http://modelshipworld.com/index.php?/topic/939-1949-chris-craft-racer-by-jpett-dumas-kit-no-1702/ Sometime, but not sure when: Frigate Berlin: Corel http://www.corel-srl.it/pdf/berlin.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hollowneck Posted August 15, 2014 Share #14 Posted August 15, 2014 Cornwall Model Boats, Model-Expo and Bluejacket. All three top drawer companies. No B.S. Ethical. Real WORKING web sites. Decent prices and mostly excellent after- sales support. I have not had direct experience with Ages Of Sail. They are a relatively new dealer/distributor/reseller- not a manufacturer. I prefer dealing with a manufacturer for many reasons- this said, Cornwall in the UK is the RARE exception who are not manufacturers (that I am aware of), and they do a superb job of doing more than just flogging stuff. Follow the advice here my friend. There's a collective wisdom no where else to be found on this hobby! Good Luck on your foray into the Ship World! Ron Quote Ron Director, Nautical Research Guild Secretary/Newsletter Editor, Philadelphia Ship Model Society Former Member/Secretary for the Connecticut Marine Model Society Current Build: Grace & Peace (Wyoming, 6-masted Schooner) Completed Builds: HMS Grecian, HMS Sphinx (as HMS Camilla) Ongakuka Maru, (Higaki Kaisen, It Takes A Village), Le Tigre Privateer, HMS Swan, HMS Godspeed, HMS Ardent, HMS Diana, Russian brig Mercury, Elizabethan Warship Revenge, Xebec Syf'Allah, USF Confederacy, HMS Granado, USS Brig Syren Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtaylor Posted August 15, 2014 Share #15 Posted August 15, 2014 I have dealt with Ages of Sail. I would recommend them. We had an issue and they resolved it very satisfactorily. Above and beyond the call of duty, IMO. GGibson 1 Quote 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 More sharing options...
birchbaysider Posted August 15, 2014 Share #16 Posted August 15, 2014 Try Hobbylinc. They only carry a few manufacturers, but their prices are hard to beat. They also have good deals on supplies and tools. Hobbylinc Quote Scott Present Build AL's "King of the Mississippi" Future Build AL's "San Francisco II" AL's "Sanson" Previous Builds Constructo's "Louise" (Victorian Steam Launch) Constructo's "Pilar" (Ernest Hemingway's Fishing Boat) Midwest's "Maine Peapod" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrandpaPhil Posted October 30 Share #17 Posted October 30 I like buying from Cornwall Model Boats and Ages of Sail. I have had excellent experiences with both companies. mtaylor 1 Quote Building: 1:64 HMS Revenge (Victory Models plans) 1:64 Cat Esther (17th Century Dutch Merchant Ships) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myxyzptlyk2003 Posted October 30 Share #18 Posted October 30 On the right of the forum page is a list of manufacturers/dealers. I have dealt with Vanguard, A. Latina, Maris Stella, Age of Sail, CAF. For those not on the list, Caldercraft, Cornwall are both top notch. Honestly, there are so many good places to buy from. Find the model you are interested in from whatever of the above sources and buy it. You will not be disappointed mtaylor 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myxyzptlyk2003 Posted October 31 Share #19 Posted October 31 Also, while a number of the manufacturers/dealers are located in Europe, they all still have extremely fast delivery times. My UK purchases have always arrived within a week. mtaylor and GrandpaPhil 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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