How many people still scratch build?

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Completed GLENMOOR late this morning.

Bob

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

At the North West Model Shipwrights meetings today, we had two interesting “Practical” demonstrations in the use of plastics in scratchbuilding and highly detailed construction of small planked boats.     A short talk on the technicalities of deep-sea oil-drilling and a general discussion on nautical matters.     About 23 members were present with no guests.    Models on display included a very large R/C yacht, a scratchbuilt destroyer, several small boats and my GLENMOOR.

Bob

 

 

 

  

[Alex EttlesParticipant @alexettles46350]

Hi I am very new to model building and am having a problem with planking (on side of boat), I built a very simple one and then though I would try something a bit further with the Scarabh, but when you come round the bilages the bow and stern tend to need adding to and taking away from the plank’s width and I am struggling as to how to do it, I have read through Harold Underhills books on plank on frame but got a bit confused with what to do, any help please, Alex

[Ian GardnerParticipant @iangardner62867]

Hi Alex,

I have found the method described in Underhill’s Plank on Frame to work very well and highly satisfying once you get the hang of it. Have another look at Vol 1, Chapter 3. The meat of it begins at the bottom of page 61 and Sketches 44 and 45 help a lot. 

I think the book is largely aimed at static modellers but with some adjustments the method can be adapted to larger planks.

I didn’t find it easy to obtain proportional dividers at a reasonable price but I’m sure, with t’internet you will be able to track some down- they are key to this method.

If you mean Scarbh which was a recent Jim Pottinger drawing, the hull was bright finished which might be a bit of a challengr for a beginning model. It might be easier to start with something with a blocked bow and stern making the planking easier.

This is an enlarged Vic Smeed Silver Mist planked in cedar with blocked bow and stern. The plank ends can get quite small and hard to attach if they go right to the ends.

Anyway, good luck- there’s nothing like the satisfaction of seeing a boat shape coming together from flat pieces of wood.

If you have any further questions, I or many other users of this forum, will surely be happy to help.

All the best,

Ian

 

[B BParticipant @bb42502]

I have only built 2 boats from kits but I did not get the satisfaction as I do from Building from scratch. The fun is in deciding which ship to build and then the hunt for plans and photographs begins. This research, I find adds to the enjoyment in being able to build an accurate model of the original vessel and then also being able to display the ship with some interesting history that goes along with it. Building a ship from scratch is far more pleasing and satifying, having the ability to create a model that is not  available in world in the form of a kit. ONE OF A KIND!

[Aldo PetrinaParticipant @aldopetrina40484]

Scratchbuilding in Northern Italy: in Trieste we have a model club with many fellows who scratchbuild their models.  We have many models of warships and merchant ships, all built in scale 1:200, and a series of work boats of the Adriatic sea in scale 1:50.

 

Interested to know anything more about our activity or see some photos?

 

regards

 

 

Aldo

 

[David WooleyParticipant @davidwooley82563]

Hi Aldo   Yes I would be very interested in more photos of the  activity in scratchbuilding in Trieste

 Dave Wooley .

[Laurent Gontier-VersaillesParticipant @laurentgontier-versailles47241]

Posted by B B on 02/09/2010 22:41:17:

I have only built 2 boats from kits but I did not get the satisfaction as I do from Building from scratch. The fun is in deciding which ship to build and then the hunt for plans and photographs begins. This research, I find adds to the enjoyment in being able to build an accurate model of the original vessel and then also being able to display the ship with some interesting history that goes along with it. Building a ship from scratch is far more pleasing and satifying, having the ability to create a model that is not  available in world in the form of a kit. ONE OF A KIND!

 I’ll second that fully!

 The hunt for plans is the most exciting (and sometimes expensive) part of scratchbuilding, the motivation as to why bulding that ship and not another one is also important. Another point I like is to start from scarce information, when some informations are missing or unavailable, some drawings have to be done, sometimes it’s the hull lines, sometimes something else.

 

Regards,

 

Laurent 

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