Free Model Boat Plans – A compiled list to help you locate free model ship and boat plans for model building – Static, RC, power, gas, sailing, steam and submarines.
You can find free model boat plans on the internet. Here is what I’ve been able to locate so far of decent quality. I’ve tried really hard to filter out sites that seem suspicious in terms of copyright infringements – I’m trying to hold the standard high.
Also, I’ve said this before, remember these plans are free, so keep your expectations at an appropriate level.
Free 18th Century Ship Plans from Chapmannet.
The Architectura Navalis Mercatoria by Fredrik H. Af Chapman is online with high quality .JPG files of the 62 plans. If you are looking for free plans of early or mid 18th century sailing ships – then this is the place to start. As far as rigging, you need to look elsewhere. The ship plans are superb though.
Note: The website is currently being updated and only four plans are available. However, it seems they are working on bringing them all back. I know, my heart stopped too for a few seconds.
Free Ship Plans from Orlogsbasen.dk
Orlogsbasen is a searchable, online ship plan database provided by the Danish National Archives and the Royal Danish Naval Museum. The subjects are original plans in the archives from the age of sail of Danish, Swedish, English and French ships - mostly from the 17th through 19th century. The database also contains photographs of period ship models that the involved institutions possess. The database is under construction.
Free Model Boat Plans from Czech Mo-Na-Ko.net
The Czech MoNaKo is also a hobby and model builder’s magazine. They offer three pages of plans – only two of which are currently accessible. The quality of the plans offered varies, so study them carefully and do your own due diligence.
The subjects range from battleships, destroyers, cruisers, submarines, sail boats, motorboats, tugs etc. Some show construction details, while others seem to be missing pages, some are clearly intended for RC, and it’s all in Czech. Enjoy!
If you want to build a planing hull scale model, consider a PT boat. The acronym stands for Patrol Torpedo and it was the US answer to what is otherwise known as a motor torpedo boat.
For plans and everything you need to know to build a model of one of these, go to Pt-boat.com
Free Coast Defence Monitor plans from PaperShipWright.co.uk
If coast defense monitors from the Victorian era is your thing, here is the chance to get the plans for one for free. We’re talking about the 1872 HMVS Cerberus of the State of Victoria (Australia).
The plans are for a paper (or card) model in 1:250 scale designed by David Hathaway. The free model can be build either as a water-line model or a full-hull version. A full hull lines plan is provided suitable for enlargement into almost any scale. The download is available here.
Free Boat Plans from Svensons.com
Svenson’s offers a number of free boat plans from old magazines like “”Boat Builder Handbook” and “Science and Mechanics”. These plans are not for building models specifically, but could be used for this purpose. Plans included for sailboats, hydroplanes, runabouts, inboards, runabouts, kayaks, canoes, and many other water crafts and vessels.
