Books

[Andy CParticipant @andyc56856]

What books should we be reading

[Andy CParticipant @andyc56856]

Hi All

I have been reading the threads and I have now built a boat from a Glynn Guest plan, however when reading some of the threads I kept seeing the name Vic Smeed being used and it got me wondering. What are his books all about? So having found copies of two of books on a well-known online market place and some money duly parting my company, I received them yesterday. Well apart from them being written a good few years ago, I think they are great reference material for a beginner like me to have on his bookshelf. It also got me wondering what I should have on said book shelf (once the workshop is built in the garage conversion we are planning).

So my question is, what would people recommend as good reading for a beginner?

Cheers

Andy

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

to be honest……the best reference for your modelling progress are the forums you can join and the model boat clubs you can go down to………….

As a kid, yes, the vic smeed books were a good starting point, but much of the info in them now is so out of date……….modern glues and adhesives bare no resemblance to what was on the market years ago, and the radio equipment is light years ahead of what it was when these books were written.

Don't take it the wrong way…..they were a bible for young builders 30 years ago, but there is now far more info than you'll ever need on the forums that are around……

The only books I have for reference these days are those none fiction books with plenty of photos in them on the subject prototypes that I want to build…………..if it's a trawler…….then plenty of books with trawler photos in them.

neil.

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Neil,

I would only agree with you up to a point. Yes, the Forums are a rich source of information for specific queries but there is still a lot of useful information to be found in the various books on boat modellintg depending on your particular interests that never goes out of date such as the books by John Bowen or Brian King for example.

Although glues and adhesives have changes beyond recognition, basic scratchbuilding techniques have not. You still have plank on frame just as it used to be and many of the tips for things such as deck planking spacing are timeless.

Books do provide a useful overview provided that you make allowances for updating things like paints and adhesives. Fortunately you no longer need to melt down a horse to stick the thing together although you may still be eating it between building sessions in a bun!

Likewise a lot of techniques remain the same such as installing running gear, while radio control has only really changed since the late 70s in the sense that you no longer have to worry about frequency control with 2.4Ghz equipment. You still have a box with twin sticks on it to control the model just as you always did and servo lingages are just the same.

For a beginner, the books by John Cundell:

**LINK**

and those by Tom Gorman (Google for list) are still good reading and give a grounding in the subject which can then be supplemented by specific queries on Forums such as this one. When you have a basic grasp of the subject it is much easier to ask questions which will get the answers you want.

Colin

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Andy

In many ways the problem these days is one of too much information, so rather than following one specific method or design we are able to cherry pick the best bits from multiple sources.

This is fine for the experienced model builder who can recognise which bits are actually the best but for the beginner it can become a torrent of often conflicting advice.

I find it best to follow one single line of thought and would suggest that once you have found an author that you enjoy reading you stick with their basic principals.

When confronted with a modelling problem I still revert to the principals that I learnt as a child form the Vic Smeed books.

I hope this helps.

Paul

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

I would agree with Paul, once you have done some background reading it becomes much easier to understand and appreciate the relevance of information picked up off the Forums. For example it is often the case that someone will pick up on an internet post that a certain motor is best for his boat without realising that you also need to have the correct size propeller, correct type and capacity of battery and a matching speed controller to make it all work. At best this can lead to a lot of other questions and at worse to a fried speed controller or cooked battery and a discouraged and out of pocket modeller.

While many techniques and materials have changed over the year,s the basic constructional, engineering and electrical principles that govern the operation of model boats have remained remarkably constant.

Colin

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

I don't disdagree with what you say guys say…….I was only pointing out that there is much change in materials not even mentioned in books, and if you were to treat these as "bibles" in this present day and age, you would miss out on a lot of modern products and techniquies and be hard to find other's……..

when was the last time you saw Cascamite powder'ed waterproof glue on the shelves in a shop??

not decrying them, as I have Vics books on my own book shelves………..but there are more up to date sources without going down the road of spending huge amounts of money on books that are not necessarily needed

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Well, less than a fiver for JC's book isn't big bucks and that's new. Most of the classic reads can be picked up very cheaply secondhand……

Colin

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Hello Neil and others

Cascamite glue reminds me of our younger days, where my brother and I built a Hobbies two seater canoe

We used Cascamite for the first time and were amazed to discover the thin water based glue set like concrete…….in 24 hours!

Just by chance, I still have a photo of same, taken in about 1955 on the Peak Forest canal at Denton

Brother Geoff in the forecastle and yours truly aft………We canoed to Llangollen and back, the following year………130 miles round trip

Apologies to Wraith Leader for intruding on his thread, but we are talking about Cascamite glue afterall!

Bob

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

No substitute for experience.

Get a back issue of a well known model boating mag featuring a free Glynn Guest plan, and build that. Instant experience, and when contemplating the next build an appreciation of the likely challenges etc will be forthcoming.

Looking at posts in well known model boating forums will then instantly make much more sense, and enable pertinant questions to be asked, the answers to which will add to the overall sum of knowledge of the novice boater.

Attending well known (but sadly underused) venues like, for instance, Bushy Park would also add vastly to that sum of knowledge, by meeting knowledgeable boaters (depending who is down !!!!) and seeing various models and getting a feel for the sizes, equipments used and paint finishes etc.

Bob…great picture!! your brother a scout ??

Ashley

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Andy

In a way the range of answers to your question actually goes to emphasise your problem i.e. where to start.

I wish that I could help and say that one specific author such as John Cundell was the way to go but as with many things in life it is all down to personal choice.

Paul

[Bob Abell 2Participant @bobabell2]

Ashley

Brother Geoff took an active interest in scouting and qualified for Queens Scout and Scout Master !

He also appeared in Ralph Reader's Gang Show!

He is an excellent model maker too, but lately, he's taken an interest in Lego Locomotives

Appologies, once again, Wraith for digressing

Bob

[Ian GardnerParticipant @iangardner62867]

One of the joys of any interest I think is to build up a library of relevant books. I found that to read anything and everything is a good way to go and I still refer to Vic Smeed's books forty years after puchase- lots of basic information in one place.

When I was younger I struggled to buy tools, materials and books as most young family men would, but now find my 'library' a constant source of pleasure and I can buy a sophisticated radio set for half the price of my first two function, 27meg set.

The (whisper this) Traplet books on specific subjects such as steam, scale sail, tugs and racing sail are very informative.

Ian

[Tony HadleyParticipant @tonyhadley]

As the initial question was for books for the beginner, Making Radio Controlled Model Boats by Graham Goodchild (with a foreword by Richard Branson) is worthy of a place on the modellers bookcase. As it was published in 1991, it isn't too date (27 meg radio is still in use). Includes 9 easy build plans.

Tony

[Andy CParticipant @andyc56856]

Hi All Thank you very much for all your thoughts and comments. I will investigate some more books, as I am one for having a library of stuff to refer to. I completely understand that times have moved on and materials have changed, but as has been pointed out, the techniques are still pretty relevant, if still a little baffling. I will ahve to read and re-read the plans chapter and try and get my head around all those lines. I also acknowledge the information and skills that have been gathered to gether in one place such as this forum and others. Ashley, I am still trying to get me and the littles down to Bushey Park to see what goes on and to give the goblin a maiden voyage. Too cold for them (and me) at the moment though. Cheers Andy (return key not working)

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