How many people still scratch build?

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

I only scratchbuild.    Kits are too expensive and far too difficult as one is working to someone else’s thoughts & instructions.   Also same old subjects CUTTY SARK, VICTORY, TITANIC, BOUNTY etc.

Bob

 

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

This is one made a while back.  Tea Clipper NORMAN COURT,      It is many years since I came across anyone else who does miniatures, but there are still a handful about.   Once upon a time, I wrote regularly for Model Boats (60s & 70s),  but interest in this sort of thing has now almost died away.

Bob

 

[Len OchiltreeParticipant @lenochiltree67043]

Hi Andy,

I did not know that Ricky Webb designed a model Hovercraft, could you give us the dimentions and what about a photo log of your build,we would all like to see it.

 

Regards,

 

Len, a Ricky Webb fan 

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Nice to see the famous pen again Bob, and the model looks pretty good too. Is that your latest? I did try to access your old website recently but couldn’t make the link work.

 

Colin

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

Hi Colin,

Thanks.   I built the NORMAN COURT a few months ago.    Maybe you were looking at my old website.   Changed it some time ago to http://www.miniatureships.blogspot.com 

Bob

[GrumpyParticipant @grumpy]

Hi Everyone,

 

I have been following this thread with interest but so far I have not said anything because I cannot remember where I saw this.  Basically it was an article where the author asked the question, ‘Do you regard yourself as a model maker or a kit assembler?

 

Any comments?

 

Regards

 

Grumpy 

[David WooleyParticipant @davidwooley82563]

I suppose the  question could be put . What is a model maker ?  Is it  a person who builds a model or makes the model. The two are not the same? or are they?  Shades of grey here .

Dave Wooley

Edited By David Wooley on 06/04/2009 15:47:20

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

Now you’ve completely baffled me, Dave.

I’m off back to my workshop to CONSTRUCT my model, lol

[Andy CParticipant @andyc56856]

Hi Len

 

It is from an article in another well know magazine, which I cannot mention here of course.

The Hovercraft is made from an A4 sheet of styrene, so not very big.

I have just had the skirts sewn up and am due to give the craft a coat of paint (or 3) and I have the electrics all ready to fit.

 

Beginners error earlier, I was going to solder a plug fitting onto the battery (Li-po 7.4v) and had taken off the protective end covers of the battery.  Next thing I know the wires have touched and sparks everywhere.  They had welded themselves together.  Got the battery home and tested it with a meter, nothing.  Looks like a new battery is going to be bought.  Will know next time that they have a charge in them.

 

Will post some pics later on.

 

Andy

Edited By Wraith Leader on 06/04/2009 21:23:13

[TrakkaParticipant @trakka]

Wow! Much gesticulating amongst us…!lol!

 

Just my 2 cents.

 

Apart from Frog and Airfix kits as a smaller human, I had no scratch building skills when I started this hobby. I was not, however, devoid of mechanical aptitude…

 

I bought a Victoria, which has enabled me to approach the various aspects of  RC boat model “making” piecemeal.

The boat in standard form is…OK.

My first job was making new sails, so I made some…(new skill!).

Then I needed a carbon rig, so I made one…(‘nother new skill!).

Then I had to fabricate new running rigging bits, so I made some…(yet another!)

Then my taller mast kept asking for a bigger fin, so I ventured into the world of plywood, epoxy and paint and made one…(approaching “legend-in-my-own-garage”, in skills acquisition status!)

 

In several years of ownership, the only thing left unmodified is the rudder and the bulb.

 

So, having completed the kit to instruction and then modified it, I believe that I now have acquired sufficient knowledge to contemplate building from plan. I now have confidence to match my enthusiasm.

 

Having read Model Boats for several years, I am amazed at the generosity of people such as Glynn Guest in presenting plans for easily constructed vessels, as free inserts in the magazine! 

Having said that, enthusiasm is still a key ingredient no matter how free and easy the plans!

 

Unfortunately, too many people want immediate gratification and buy expensively tragic plastic from ebay, which performs badly and leaves a bad taste. If they get all undone and bin the boat, they probably aren’t suited to the hobby/sport. If they seek solutions to the problems, then maybe there’s hope…

 

Cheers,

 

Andrew

[gardenerParticipant @gardener]

Hi John and all scratch builders,

Have to agree with all the comments. I am on to my fifth scratch build, a bit quicker since I retired. The one model I don’t feel at all proud of was from a kit. I could hardly wait to finish it whilst normaly  I don’t mind how long it takes and look forward to the challenge.It helps to have a good workshop which also means that the models cost next to nothing to produce.I am staggered by the amount of money that people are prepared to lay out on ever more elaborate kits,although they and I might be staggered on what I have spent on tools over a lifetime.

Gardener

[tom thomasParticipant @tomthomas28293]

I have been following this thread from the wings since it started, and I think you are all overlooking a very fundamental aspect of the hobby. In my opinion model ships / boats are an art form. It is the visualization of the finished project and the acceptance of the challenge of creating it which ultimately bring a model to completion. Whether you place it in the local pond, sell it to your neighbor,  or put it on the mantle is secondary. Why else would a supposedly sane person spend 500 or more hours hunched over his work table, forsaking all else to achieve the fruition of his vision?

 

Obviously, everyone has a different approach to the challenge, as regards the completion of the model. My theory as regards scratch building, is the more pain, both physical and mental, involved in the project, the closer it is to an actual piece of artwork.

 

The French sailors on the prison ships on the Thames, who built bone models to survive, didn’t have thousands of dollars worth of tools to accomplish their task, but given enough time, and talent, produced some very nice models.  Each person has to balance technology and craft to some degree to obtain the level of personal satisfaction inherant in making something from nothing, or very little.

 

In theory, a truly scratch built model starts with a tree and your bare hands. Everything else that is added to the process, for whatever reason, diminishes the purity of that concept. What is needed beyond that point are three things, which each person must decide how much of each he will use to accomplish the task…talent, time and tools.

You can use any two of the three, or all three, but noone can build a model using just one.

 

 

 

[David MeierParticipant @davidmeier28154]

 

Tom said.

“What is needed beyond that point are three things, which each person must decide how much of each he will use to accomplish the task…talent, time and tools.

You can use any two of the three, or all three, but noone can build a model using just one.”

 

Tom. I get the gist of what you are on about in your first three paragraphs but I cant for the life of me under stand your above statement. How can you build with out time? Also you need some level of talent. If your fingers were running out of control, there is an edit function available. I know, I have used it many times.

David. 

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

I suppose he should have said you need time, plus one or both of the others.    But time is a constant, we all have it.    When someone says  to me “I haven’t time to build a model,” I tend to think well what are you doing looking at mine, or reading this posting, how did you manage to find time for that?         If you want to do something, you can always find the time.    If you don’t really want to do it, you use “no time” as an excuse!

Bob

[KristophParticipant @kristoph]

Heyya there ALL… Does anyone know or able to give guidance on how to use and work with Fibre-Glass. ANY help (or website links) would be HIGHLY appreciated.

Cheers for your time. Kristoph

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

When I look at this post, it shows Kristoph as the last entry, but from my computer, I can’t see it – I have the last entry!    Where has it gone?

Bob

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Should be visible now.

 

Colin

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

kristoph, i don’t mean to be flippant, but that question is like asking does anyone know how to fly a plane or build a model boat.

i have been working in, and teaching about grp moulding for 30 years or more and I AM still learning.

it is a vast subject in it’s own sphere and not really one that can be done justice too on a forum.

your best bet is to find a laminater in your area and ask if you could spend a couple of days watching and getting your hands dirty.

you’ll pick up far more in experience than you ever could on here listening to us all putting in our different two penneth, all varying in techniques and ideas, and then going away totally confused.

neil.

Edited By neil howard-pritchard on 18/04/2009 22:54:57

[KristophParticipant @kristoph]

Re-ply to post from  neil howard-pritchard on 18/04/2009 22:54:07. 

Thank you very much for your advice, and i can see what you mean… i will look into that. Again, much Appreciated.

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Points taken Neil but it’s not too difficult to get a working knowledge of the basics as I had to when carrying out maintenance on my full time GRP boat.

 

There are also plenty of books on the subject, this is just one of many: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Glass-fibre-Handbook-R-H-Warring/dp/0852428200

 

But I agree that sitting in with a professional would be of great practical value.

 

Colin

[KristophParticipant @kristoph]

Thank you very much Colin,and i appreciate the Link,  i will definately have a look, an das Neil suggested, will also look for a local professional.

[Dr John BoothParticipant @drjohnbooth43899]

What materials do we prefer to use when scratch building.

 

Wood, Plastic,Card, Steel?

 

And what tools do we use the most.

 

John

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

I don’t have any rules.     Hulls are usually wood, but the rest of the model contains plastic, brass, steel, copper,plywood, veneer, acrylic, plasticine etc etc.

 

This one, WINCHESTER CASTLE, was built from materials that were just lying around.    The most expensive material was the 3mm acrylic for the display case (that I also made myself).

Bob

[Phil Winks 1Participant @philwinks1]

As a very recent returner to model boats in general and scratch building in particular (not been involved since I discovered girls. so about 48 yrs) the biggest change I’ve found is the rarity of good model shops that stock things like deck fittings  I’m sure  bits and pieces like cleats fairleads deck vents and the suchlike were far more available in the late sixties and in variety scales too. I’ve had to source my 39″ chriscraft barrel back deck fittings from halfway round the world literally . now the question is this a result of fewer scratchbuilders or the cause of it. It really has so far been the one down side of coming back to the hobby. On the tools and materials question mostly wood (I am a joiner after all) and nearly all hand tools and a dremel (wish we’d had them in the 60’s)

Edited By Phil Winks 1 on 08/05/2009 18:41:19

[Bob WilsonParticipant @bobwilson59101]

The original question was “how many people still scratchbuild?”    The lack of suppliers of deck fittings has nothing to do with it as far as I can see.   If you buy deck fittings, you are not scratchbuilding!    I fear that hardly anyone scratchbuilds these days.    I don’t think it is because the skills are not there, I think it is mainly because kit producers have convinced Joe Public that perect or near-perfect models can only be produced from a kit.

 

Lots & lots & lots of people have told me that they heven’t the time to scratch build, but when I ask how long it takes to build a kit, they usually come up with either months or years.    I seldom take more than a few weeks and even so, I don’t spend each and every day on them!    But then again, I scratchbuild!.

Bob

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