Ian,

Thanks for reply. It is the other way round, My preference is for large vessels at small scales

I usually build at 32'=1" for ships between about 2,000 tons and 20,000 tons.

I went from large scale [8'=1"] to miniatures [32'=1"] literally overnight many years ago and found it easier from the start, and still do at the age of 69! If you build large, it seem to me that you have to include things that wouldn't nomally be seen on a miniature such as rivets, door handles, ringbolts, splicings, etc etc.

In the 60s and 70s, I was a regular contributer to Model Boats magazine. In fact they were the first publishers to accept anything off me. I only stopped because they gradually lost interest in miniatures and stopped using my articles. That was thirty years ago with a completely different management (It was Argus Books then).

I was very happy indeed to be asked to return for the special edition and am pleased it has been well received. I doubt if there would be much demand for a regular feature and I would find it very hard-going to produce articles on a regular basis anyway!

I have been very lazy recently as far as model shipbuilding is concerned. A combination of house decorating, hot weather and a general acceptance on my part that there doesn't seem to be much interest in my type of ship or model these days. No doubt I will recover from this torpor (always have before).

Bob

PS – The reason for all the editing [below] was because closing the two scale above with a conventional bracket brought in two unwanted smilies.    I finally changed them for square brackets and all OK now!

Edited By Bob Wilson on 05/08/2013 15:59:25

Edited By Bob Wilson on 05/08/2013 16:00:00

Edited By Bob Wilson on 05/08/2013 16:00:45

Edited By Bob Wilson on 05/08/2013 16:03:21

Ian,

Yes, true enough when you are comparing my relatively large" 32'=1" with even smaller scales such as 50'=1" or 100'=1" !

I have noticed on Ebay that the 100'=1" resin models have a high degree of popularity. I have made them at that scale, but cannot get the amount of details that I like in them, even if they look well enough from a distance.

I think what gets to me more than anything else is the almost complete lack of feedback and a general indifference to ships and models of 19th and 20th century vintage. I would even find it refreshing if someone would say "what a load of rubbish!" or "can't stand them at all!"

Take the "Marjory Glen" for instance (in the static models section). Absolute zero response – good or bad!

I have no axe to grind on that one, because it sold for hundreds of £s, but for many years, it has amazed me that so little interest is ever shown in this type of ship or model (made ether by myself or others)! I can almost see a curtain come down whenever fellow modelmakers cast their eyes upon them!

Therefore it is a very pleasant interlude to be able to talk to someone like yourself about them!

Recently, I have gone into the frame of mind of "speak only when spoken to!"

Bob

Hi Ricky,

Glad you enjoyed the article. America shouldn't pose any problems as a first miniature. I started with a full-rigged ship and didn;t have any problems. One of the advantages of miniatures is that they don't take very long to build!

Bob