I don't have the patience to build a ship model (?)

"Patience is that attribute required to do something you DON'T WANT TO DO!"

...if you don't want to build a model, no one will (or CAN) force you to.

However, there are a number of thing you can do to make it more likely that your patience will be sustained for the duration of the project:

• Have some idea what you're doing. READ THE INSTRUCTIONS (if it's a kit). If you don't understand (and many instructions are "opaque"), ask someone (see the list of Ship Modeling Clubs)!
• If you've never built a (ship) model before, start with a SIMPLE one (see Beginner's Models). That will help insure that you'll finish in a reasonable amount of time, and will help you understand the terminology (i.e., what you call the "pointy end of the boat", and all those "sticks" and "string").
• Build yourself a "kit". Most people start with the hull, which is typically ~10% of the work/time required, and ~90% of the visual effect (more than once, I've been asked by a visitor if I've done anything to a model since they've last seen it (6 months earlier), because I've spent the 6 months adding details that you have to look for). Instead, BUILD SUB-ASSEMBLIES FIRST (e.g., the anchor, ship's boats, cannon/carriages, etc.) -- these can be added to a row of parts marching across the "mantelpiece"; every time you look at them you see you're making progress. When you're done, then assemble them into the model.
• Contact other modelers (even if not ship modelers). Even if they are not doing the same thing you are, being able to ask a person questions, and explaining your "tricks" is a stimulus to get your interest up again.

Pick the simplest sub assemblies to work on first. When you get to the last sub assembly, you may decide to go back and re-do the first few to get them up to the new standards you will set for yourself as you learn. Real bummer if the first few were the most complicated and longest to build.

In keeping with the above, consider doing the hull after you have built most of the deck furniture, despite the encouragement most model plans/instructions give you to start with the hull. A sense of scale is probably one of the hardest skills to learn in this hobby. If you do the deck furniture first, and arrange it on the plans, you can probably pick out the ones that are off scale before you go too far. If you make a thin cardboard template of the bulwarks from waterway to rail and try and fit it around the arrangement of deck furniture you get a sense of what the line of the deck framing needs to be to get the furniture at the right height relative to the bulwarks. You can't always trust the plans to give you a matching set of deck furniture and deck line or hull.

Also, the hull, at least planked ones, are among the most difficult sub-assemblies to build. If you blow this one, you might find you have to rip her down to the keel in order to correct it. And that could be a large amount of work down the drain.

Decide pretty early how much detail you intend for your model. To start out at low detail and then add more as you improve in skill doesn't work. The finished model ends up looking like it was built by a bunch of subcontractors who didn't talk to one another. A moderately detailed model looks a whole lot better than one that varies from low detail to high as you change your view from one perspective to another.

I think its better to start with a simple model rather than plan on getting all of the simple elements of a complex ship working together. In the first few years of this hobby you'll see you skill level going up substantially in steps that are pretty close together. If you work a few models that gradually increase their demands on your skill, you'll probably end up with a set of acceptable models, each perhaps better than the one before, but each able to stand on its own. If you jump right into a major project, you may end up with an end result that just doesn't stand up on its own.
{Jack Silva}

I got started with the Dallas, I was proud of it, but what a mess. The Curator of models at the San Diego Maritime Museum (Bob Crawford) encouraged me to move into scratch building immediately with Petrius' (sp) Irene, not knowing the frames were not drawn out in the plans.

We canned that idea and restarted with Hahn's Halifax. Not too bad, but really got stumped at the head rails, stopped, and at my own inner urging, had the idea to build the Star of India c 1900, the missing model of the trilogy of its life. It took me two years ( 36 hrs. per week), starting with my first bread and butter hull.

With all the guidance I had, I think I built a credible model and Bob agreed. I had to move out of state before I completed the rigging and a good friend and Master Modeler, Joe Bompensero, completed the rigging and put it on display in the museum.

To this day I hate solid hull models and try to build POF or POB and have not really completed one ever again. I always seem to run into a stumbling block that I cannot overcome. Sound familiar?

I am now starting to finish masting and rigging the Constitution's Cross section (bashed to the point that, except for the cannon, it is scratch built) after ruining the hull. This has got me enthused again after 3 years of just messing around.

I can't wait to start the C. W. Morgan staring at me from a shelf shouting in my mind ... build me!!! This after giving up on the Latham after ruining the transom ( I will get back to that one.)

After all the experience I have had, it still boils down to having a mentor at hand. You can not possibly run into all the problems there are in one kit. There is always something that presents a stumbling block and, in fact, may present an insurmountable problem solved only by scratch-building the hull all over. Some of us are not willing to do this, or do not have someone at hand to help, but prefer to move on to a new project.

What am I going on about? I guess before you get seriously involved in this HOBBY, you need to find a support group in your area. Then you can build almost any reasonably sized model no matter the degree of difficulty. It may take much longer than your peers and you may wind up scratch building parts and maybe even a hull if you really screwed up. So what? As long as you have a buddy to help you out, you would be surprised at your capabilities.

If you are on your own, then pick a kit that has a really simple design that will get you through with a minimum of rebuilding your mistakes and build your confidence. You may never build a 74 gun ship, but so what.... some of the simpler designed hulls are really spectacular when they are done.

Bear in mind that you are your own worst critic and, for all the criticism and nit picking you'll hear, that in the end, the people that will see your models really don't see your minor errors, only the overall beauty of a handmade wooden model ship. Most of those guys doing most of the criticizing or giving advice are professionals and have to try to be perfect The rest of us can live with our shortcomings and enjoy the HOBBY.

All this stuff about trying to achieve perfection only applies to a few really amateurish model builders that can't live without perfection. The rest of us can sit back and really appreciate the Masters, and then enjoy our somewhat lesser efforts. I know, these Masters started somewhere. Realize that all of us will not achieve this lofty distinction and don't beat your self up about it.
{Bob Cunningham}

I am new to model ship building. I am 16, my dad bought me a model of the Artesania Latina HMS Endeavour (the ship that discovered Australia, where i live) years ago, but we gave up because he thought some pieces were missing. I got it out again a week ago and have discovered pieces aren't missing, and am having lots of fun building the model. Does anyone have any tips for a newbie? Or any suggestions for models to do next? Any Beginner level French or spanish ships available?

The trick to building a model sailing ship is patience. Do a little at a time and keep coming back to it. I rarely build for more than two hours at a stretch, for example. Also, don't worry too much about the missing pieces. The nice thing about a wood kit is that you can build replacements fairly easily. Replacing them with one you made is very satisfying, too.

Don't worry about getting it perfect either. You learn a lot on your first kit, so the back of the boat (assuming you start at the bow) will look better than the front. That is just the way of a first kit. Just remember, when you get stuck, ask on this list. You have nearly 1000 older brothers and sisters that will be glad to help out.

Finally, as to a next model? What interests you? My recommendation is a two-masted pilot boat, or maybe a cutter if you want something from the 19th century. The Yacht America is a cool kit. It is the boat for which the Americas Cup Race is named. You Aussies and Kiwis know something about that race. You have kept taking the Cup away from us in the States the last few years. America even served as a warship during the American Civil War, too, if you want something with guns. (Modifying it to the US Armed Yacht America is pretty easy, too. Email me and I'll tell you how to do it.) If older eras seem neat, try a model of the Nina or Pinta (as square riggers) or maybe the Mayflower or Duyfkin.

Anyhow that is my advice -- and it is worth every penny you paid for it, too.

The most important point is the one you have already made -- have fun.
{Mark Lardas}

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