Model ship building does not have to be an expensive hobby. The author takes you by the hand on a journey through one of the oldest crafts – nowadays a hobby – and shows how you can build an end product of fascination, history, skill and value using low-cost materials and a minimum of tools – from ‘scratch’ in fact.
Model Ships from Scratch starts by explaining hull lines and hull construction methods, then moves on to masts, yards, booms and gaffs, deck equipment and furniture, anchors, rigging and blocks, armament and simple sail making. Finally instruction is given to painting, mounting and displaying the models.
Contents: ● Finding a Plan ● Understanding Ship Plans ● Solid Carved Form Hulls ● Slab or Sandwich Form Hulls ● Framed and Planked Form ● Keel, Stem and Sternpost ● Deck Support Beam ● Bulwarks, Gunwales and Rail Tops ● Bulkhead Frames ● Rough Assembly of Hull Framework ● Fixing the Planking ● Notes on Material Planking ● Hull Finishing ● Planking the Deck ● Solid Carved Form ● Fixing Keel, Stem and Sternpost ● Building Up Other Decks and Bulwarks ● Wales and Strakes ● Fitting Out ● Masts ● Tops and Crosstrees ● Booms and Gaffs ● Fittings on Gaff and Booms ● Yards ● Jackstays ● Double Topsail ● Bulwarks ● Kevels ● Gangways and Handrails ● Deck Equipment and Furniture ● Hatches, Skylights and Davits ● Ship’s Boats ● Channels and Chainplates ● Deadeyes ● Rudders and Steering Gear ● Fife Rails ● Anchors ● Hammock Nettings ● Notes on Painting ● Rigging ● Armaments ● Gunport Lids ● Mortar ● Swivel Pivot Guns ● Carronade ● Tools You Will Need ● Simple Sail Making ● Mounting Model Ship ● Useful Addresses ● Bibliography ● Glossary of Terms
Projects: ● Sailing Barges ● Thames Coastal Barge ● Thames River Barge ● ‘Stumpy’ Barge ● Humber Keel ● Norfolk Wherry ● Dutch Barge ● The Brig Nielsen, built 1824
The author’s text is packed with useful hints and tips derived from his lifetime of modelling which, together with the large number of detailed drawings and photographs depicting many of the ship models in his collection, some showing useful close-ups on details and fittings, provides a very practical guide to the art and craft of model ship building.
