Most Popular Type Of Model

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Most Popular Type Of Model

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1 May 2013 at 07:49 #40571
Paul T
Participant
@pault84577
Fellow modellers

As some of you know I repair and restore model boats to raise funds for the Parkinsons Society and the Royal British Legion however my recent health problems have reduced my physical abilities so for the immediate future I shall be concentrating on designing model boats rather than building them.

To this end I wish to establish which is the most popular type of model boat so that I can refine my design work.

Modern Warships, Vintage Warships, Cabin Cruisers, Speedboats, Sailing, Workboats.

I would really appreciate as many comments as possible covering favourite type and size.

Thanks

Paul
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1 May 2013 at 07:49 #8411
Paul T
Participant
@pault84577
A design survey
1 May 2013 at 07:59 #40572
ashley needham
Participant
@ashleyneedham69188
Paul. Despite my back catalogue of unusual craft, the majority of my collection (just) is

warships, modern and ancient, up to 4 feet in lenght best size, as this is handy car-boot size.

I particularly like Victorian types, as being very unrepresented, and of course not the usual Dreadnought ones. There are loads of unrepresented types, from monitors to early light/heavy cruisers…American monitor types…paddle warships (yes please..I have a good book on them, one is on the list)

Ashley
1 May 2013 at 08:22 #40574
neil hp
Participant
@neilhp
simples….my top three:

1) Lifeboats

2) Trawlers and fishing vessels,

3) tugs.

neil.
1 May 2013 at 08:44 #40576
Kimosubby Shipyards
Participant
@kimosubbyshipyards
I would suggest a top three of

1) Lifeboats

2) Tugs ancient and modern

3) any Navy vessels – flattops seem quite popular

For myself – sailing fishing vessels – thinking along lines of Nickeys, Nobbys and Luggers.

Kim
1 May 2013 at 09:04 #40577
LARRY WHETTON
Participant
@larrywhetton68737
HI Paul,

any working boats , trawlers , narrow boats, coasters , and easy build sport boats,

and will fit in the boot, are you thinking of producing plans for sale..?..

good luck .Larry..
1 May 2013 at 09:54 #40578
Colin Bishop
Moderator
@colinbishop34627
Well Kim, a close look at your three choices is being featured in this year's Special issue (among others) so maybe I've got something right.

I have a few thoughts on this myself and will post them later as I have to go out for a bit.

Colin
1 May 2013 at 10:07 #40579
ashley needham
Participant
@ashleyneedham69188
SIZE chaps, not only types…..size as well

Size matters (or paul will make them all 6 feet plus….)

cant wait to see the special !!!

Ashley
1 May 2013 at 13:41 #40580
Paul T
Participant
@pault84577
So far so good but if anyone has a specific ship or boat in mind it would help refine my survey.

Neil, I had expected you to include ferries in your suggestion.

Kim, I'm currently working on a flat top even though its not been launched yet there is enough info available to enable the production of a set of working drawings…the problem might be size, as Ashley points out I do like to build big so I might 2 sets of differing scale for the Queen Elizabeth carrier.

Larry, The idea is to sell them to raise funds for both charities, the designs will be issued on CD rather than paper both to keep my costs down and to enable the buyer to print as many copies as they like.

Colin, I am looking forward to reading your thoughts.

Ashley, Like the Actress said to the Bishop (no not Colin) size is important but I would ideally like to work within 2 to 6ft range.

Paul
1 May 2013 at 14:47 #40581
Colin Bishop
Moderator
@colinbishop34627
Paul,

In the context you have described I think you need to ask the question which types of design will be most marketable rather than which model boats are most popular. In other words, who are you designing for?

As you are selling designs this means that they will be to scratchbuilders who are something of a declining breed these days so you need to choose something that will appeal both to them and to anyone contemplating scratchbuilding to maximise the potential client base. This usually means ‘simple and straightforward’.

Size does indeed matter, if it won’t fit on the back seat of a typical family hatchback then you have lost a lot of potential customers. Model Slipway designed all their kits to this rule!

Choose your prototypes with care, popular doesn’t necessarily mean practical in terms of what you want to do. Lifeboats are indeed popular but mainly as kits and semi kits since a modern lifeboat is a tricky project for a scratchbuilder and those willing to attempt it have access to the original RNLI plans.

Choose a scale for which commercial fittings are readily available. Some people will build hulls and superstructures and then look around for fittings to speed up the project or because they prefer not to tackle them. On balance, larger scales of 1:48 and up tend to be more popular than smaller ones which older people in particular are inclined to find a bit fiddly.

Try and find a niche that is not well served at present but which is still attractive to modellers.

Are you intending to draw up plans for existing vessels, design your own or a combination of both? In the former case you will need to go the extra mile to achieve scale fidelity but of course you are aware of this.

One area you might consider exploiting is small harbour craft where you can base your designs on generic types. I am thinking of craft like general purpose workboats that might also do a bit of towing, small ferries, both roll on and roll off or passenger only (such as they have in the Western Isles); various categories of fishing vessels (always popular and not too complex), a modern MOD police launch such as those operating in Portsmouth Harbour (very smart) etc. etc. All of these could tick a lot of boxes.

Hope these ruminations are of use! They would seem to tie in pretty well with what the others have said.

Colin
1 May 2013 at 15:17 #40582
ashley needham
Participant
@ashleyneedham69188
Wow, that`s more thoughts than I have had all this week so far!!

Taking on board what you have said, and I can see shades of the great moan by dedicated modellers…more grey porridge..same old same old..usual stuff for maximum commercial value.

It would depend on what Paul fancies doing or could there be a different angle to these plans.. the ability to print them at different scales perhaps, or….something?

Only suggestions and thoughts boys, just for debating purposes.

Ashley
1 May 2013 at 15:38 #40583
Colin Bishop
Moderator
@colinbishop34627
If the priority is to sell the designs, as Paul suggests, then obviously you need to go where the likely market is. Otherwise you can amuse yourself with some unusual project which might be very satisfying to you personally but hold rather less appeal for modellers at large in which case you won't sell very many!

Colin
1 May 2013 at 15:38 #40584
Paul T
Participant
@pault84577
Colin

I am aiming for the kit builders who fancy moving to building from plans and for the experienced plan builder who fancies something a little different.

To this end the drawings will consist of fully detailed Plan, Elevation, Bow & Stern views. Critical Sections and Details along with Isometric views and step by step construction plans & instructions….a mix of common building industry drawings and airfix style plans.

I intend to plan and develop my own designs rather than copy any existing ships or boats simply for the design freedom.

I like the idea of generic types such as the MOD launches (which are not a thousand miles away from another design that we are both familiar with) which do offer quite a wide scope.

You have given me a lot to think about.

Paul
1 May 2013 at 15:44 #40585
Paul T
Participant
@pault84577
Ashley

I don't want to churn out the same old grey porridge (please explain) the intention is to produce highly detailed drawings of exciting but simple to build models.

Paul
1 May 2013 at 16:08 #40586
Kimosubby Shipyards
Participant
@kimosubbyshipyards
Paul,

I have a specific build in mind, the new Pharos (been around for a few years). At 1:96 she would be 870mm, so a nice fully working model at 1:48 could be a dream. Massive crane at stern, heli pad up front etc.

I have the shipyard drawings for hull waterlines and hull profiles but only plain profiles for superstructure with little deck layout thereon. There are lots of images about though to get a good representation too. I've even been approached to make a 1:100 for static display, and been offered a bit to do it.

Kim
1 May 2013 at 16:36 #40587
Colin Bishop
Moderator
@colinbishop34627
MOD Police Launch photo here: **LINK**

Colin
1 May 2013 at 16:50 #40588
neil hp
Participant
@neilhp
a nice Calmac ferry or older I O M S P Co. ship would have been my fourth choice on the list Paul……….but the nicer ones are getting too large for me to man handle these days cos of my back and legs.

neil.
1 May 2013 at 18:02 #40589
Paul T
Participant
@pault84577
Neil & Kim

The old Ben

Pharos

Lots of work in drawing up either of these….but how many people would buy them?

Colin…Thanks for the link, they do have potential.

Paul

Edited By Paul T on 01/05/2013 18:08:10
1 May 2013 at 19:55 #40590
ashley needham
Participant
@ashleyneedham69188
Big liners (in miniature) would be another choice.

Not the Titanic, but the Canberra for instance or some of the early ones. I like "the old ben" above.

A simplified Great Eastern..now that would be a cracking model!

Jervis Bay (did I mention that?) in its armed escort guise.

Ashley

Edited By ashley needham on 01/05/2013 19:57:44
1 May 2013 at 22:48 #40592
neil hp
Participant
@neilhp
beautiful Paul……..they sure are beautiful looking ships…….long gone sadly.

neil.
2 May 2013 at 07:27 #40595
Paul T
Participant
@pault84577
As experienced model builders the few who have contributed so far would be quite happy to build a Canberra or Pharos from plans but what of the less experienced modeller who wants to move from the relative comfort of kits.

Taking the Pharos as an example….to enable a model builder of average skills to build a decent model of this complexity would require somewhere in the region of 12 A2 size drawings and magazine size set of instructions.

The question is: Would our average model builder want to build such a complicated model or would they rather build a simple speedboat or cabin cruiser…….as Colin says I have to produce plans to suit the widest market rather than a time consuming indulgence.

To produce plans / instructions for the Pharos would take a considerable amount of time, this time might be put to better use in producing several single sheet plans and increasing my fund raising ability.

I would really appreciate comments from those forum members who seldom become involved in discussions as I believe that they hold the key to helping me solve this issue.

Paul
2 May 2013 at 09:42 #40597
Colin Bishop
Moderator
@colinbishop34627
Yes, I think many of the people who have posted have been indulging their pet preferences rather than addressing Paul’s request. I would also like to see a model of Canberra but all those windows, all those portholes, all those lifeboats and all that superstructure which immediately introduces stability issues in model form! It’s no project for a scratchbuilding beginner and would be a challenge for more experienced modellers.

Glynn Guest’s plans are popular as he has the skill to take a relatively complex prototype and make it simple to build whilst still keeping the characteristics that made it an attractive subject in the first place. This attracts people wishing to have a go a scratchbuilding.

Glynn doesn’t tend to tackle very small craft which is why I suggested that there might be a niche for harbour/estuarial craft of various types. There is an added advantage that the modern versions of these are usually built to simple designs with largely flat plating and angles rather than curves to reduce costs and this translates into corresponding simplicity when making a model. A small simple prototype will also usually mean quicker building time too and there are opportunities for customisation by adding crew figures plus some of the fittings and other items from the likes of Macs Mouldings and Mastman who produce scale fish, oil drums and other pamphernalia which bring a model to life.

At the larger end of the prototype range something like the WightRyder ferries could be considered:

**LINK**

A few more thoughts anyway!

Colin
2 May 2013 at 13:18 #40601
Ian Gardner
Participant
@iangardner62867
Firstly Paul, I look forward to the results of your labours in terms of model boat designs. I re-read your initial question regarding the most popular types of model and it begs the question of why some types are popular. Is it because so many drawings and kits are already available for those types- ie tugs, fishing boats,service launches, warships etc? And do we need more!?

I agree that size is important- these days I find 3' is a good size as it's manageable on the bench, in the car and looks good on the water. I think small prototypes to larger scales are good too as they make more robust models and detail is easier.

Although there are a few, there seems to be a general dearth of designs for small steam and motor yachts, classic cabin cruisers of the 20's and 30's, lake steamers and small paddle craft such as paddle steam launches. Of course, these are my preferences, but I think many of these types would make attractive and unusual models. Designs that are small but will enlarge successfully are also a good idea too- a nicely designed hull should look good at any size.

I find the idea of simply constructed but elegant models very interesting and anything that encourages scratch building has got to be applauded. Plans with construction methods are a big help to those with less experience and composite hulls are capable of being made into nice looking boats without inordinate amounts of skill- witness many of Vic Smeed's designs. Back to basics I say! Good luck with it all.

All the best….Ian
2 May 2013 at 13:58 #40602
Andy C
Participant
@andyc56856
Hi Paul

As someone just starting out in the model building world, I tend to look at something simple but with some scope for me to add something of my own. I have onlt built the one boat so far, but intend to start on another soon. I have looked at some of the simple stuff from Glynn, but if there are other options for me to look at I think it can only be a good thing.

Cheers and good luck

Andy
2 May 2013 at 19:30 #40606
Paul T
Participant
@pault84577
Colin

You do have a point about the small harbour boats and if built at 1:12 scale would produce a decent sized model with readily available commercial parts, not sure about WightRyder ferries though.

Ian

Something like this perhaps.

This is a drawing of Lady Aron a 1930s teak and mahogany cruiser, one of a pair that used to sail on the Bridgewater when I was younger. I have been working on this set of plans off and on for a couple of months, it will end up as a 4ft model.

Andy

Thanks for the comments,,,,but tell me what kind of model would you build if you had access to a set of plans.

Paul
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