Choosing model boats and ships to build.

When starting building model boats and ships it is easy to get in over your head and loose interest. Here is some help figuring out your level of commitment: kit or plan – toy, semi scale, RC etc.

When choosing model boats and ships it is too easy to go for a glossy box or a famous ship with an intriguing history. That's when it is important to pull the brake on the excitement, even for just a second.

Choosing model boats and ships to build? Don't reach too far!
Image courtesy of Elsie esq.

Does the world really need another Titanic? It seems like the first reaction when entering this hobby is to jump in at the deep end. It can be a Titanic, Bismark, USS Constitution or HMS Victory you've got your eye on.

Now, that's all fine and good if you know what you are getting yourself into. But truth be told, most builders do best by feeling their way through several successively more advanced projects. Starting with something easy and finish it quickly is a lot better than struggling all along, or never finishing.

Some people enjoy the research phase as much as the building and are willing to spend months or years digging through archives for information.

Others just can't wait to get going on the building and will do best with a kit or a good quality plan. Others are perfectly happy building a semi scale model from a single photograph. In the end you decide what will work best for you.

The chance of success depends very much on how much effort goes into the early planning of a model boat project, or any other project for that matter. Early on, ponder the following:

• Goal - what end result am I after? It could be the model itself or to acquire a skill.
• Time - how much time do you have available for this hobby?
• Budget - how much are you willing to spend?
• Tools & Skills - what tools and skills do you have or can aquire?
• Purpose - what's the model for? RC, toy or decorative?
• Size - how much room to build, store and transport it do you have?

Radio controlled boats, Toys or Static Ship Models?

Are you building, toys, decorative, or a near 100% historically accurate ship model?

The expected level of detail is highest on a static ship model and the hulls are often built up or carved, so more patience is usually required to finish it. For modern subjects there are kits that come with molded plastic hulls which save a lot of time over the usual pre-shaped wooden block hulls or planked hulls. Although, some purists think plastic has no place on a quality model boat.

For radio controlled boats and working models the running hardware and motor (or motors), RC gear and access to the innards has to be worked out. An RC boat hull needs to be structurally stronger than that of a static model and it needs to be water proofed.

Toys are by far the most casual to build, but can be just as fun - especially if it is built together with a child or to become a gift.

More and more kits come with fiberglass hulls, which is probably the most durable model boat hull you’ll ever see. Lower priced models come with a vacuum formed ABS hull or wooden plank-on-bulkhead hull.

Be aware that plank-on-bulkhead hulls are slow to build compared to a plastic hull. However, it is a great way to learn the technique.

For first time scratch building, any subject that can be sheet planked will cut down on the labor hours significantly over strip planking.

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