Keen to learn

[Gordon BirkwoodParticipant @gordonbirkwood64323]

Hi

sorry if I'm going over very old ground, but I've just retired and now I've got time to devote to building a model boat.

I've had in mind for over over 30 years building a model of HMS Warspite, my dad served on her in WW2.

I had experience fo small aircraft kits as a lad and dabbled a wee bit over the years but nothing serious.

So, where can I start in my ambition to build a 1:96 HMS Warspite. RC would be just dandy.

I have time and some money.

I'm assuming there would be books to start with to decide on methodology, plans **LINK** ?

I guess starting something a bit more manageable than a 2 metre warship might be advisable. How about something appropriate and contemporary. Any suggestions?

As I say, I'm in now rush, If I get finished in 10 years I'll be happy.

Any and all advice more than gratefully received.

[Gordon BirkwoodParticipant @gordonbirkwood64323]

Where do I start?

[Charles OatesParticipant @charlesoates31738]

Have a look at the kits by Dean's marine, plenty of choice for a contemporary model, and a good choice to get you into your stride. The kits need work to make into a decent model, but you learn all the basic methods and you'll get plenty of help on here.

Chas

[Martin Field 1Participant @martinfield1]

Gordon,

good advice there. but if you're a confident sort, capable with basic tools, you could start a bit closer to a scratch build with just a decent GRP hull of a similar ship and do everything else yourself.

1/96th is an excellent choice of scale…a)it's on your steel rule and b) there should be a lot of fiddly bits that you could buy from various suppliers.

2 metres is also a decent size that will not bob about like a cork in a hurricane, like so many model boats.

Beyond that, I know as much about warships as I do about football and you really don't want to know how little that is!

But I do wish you good luck and a lot of enjoyment.

I'm sure there are excellent books on modelling R/C warships. Whilst they ain't my cuppa tea, there can't be a better reason for modelling that particular vessel.

Cheers,

Martin

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Gordon. Firstly, welcome to the MB forum. Gosh, some ambition you have there! As a first timer I would suggest making something first, perhaps a warship from a Glynn Guest design. He makes nice clean straightforward models, build article and plans in the mag now and then. Plans from "shop" above and likely a back issue mag for the build article.

Perhaps an HMS Penelope, at 42 inches, a decent size. Will get you into the swing of things, and you can have a go at detailing it up, as you would be doing lots of that on a battleship.

You do not want to start a massive ship and get bogged down, and never complete it. There is also the transportation and storage to think about…a box or whatever…and car space!

Ashley

[Gareth JonesParticipant @garethjones79649]

Hi Gordon,

I think I would echo Ashley's advice and recommend starting with a relatively simple model as a first project.

However if you really want to be ambitious, Fleetscale do a 1:128 semikit of HMS Warspite **LINK** You can buy just the hull and a set of drawings or a complete set of detail parts as well. There would still be an awful lot of work involved, model boat kits and semi kits do not go together like Airfix models. There will be lots of cutting, shaping and fitting required.

I have never built a Fleetscale semi kit so I don't know how well made they are or how easy they are to build. However I have seen some very impressive models built from them. It would be slightly smaller than the 1:96 scale you mentioned but it would still be 60 inches long and be a very big impressive (and heavy) model. Don't underestimate the difficulties in storing, transporting, launching and recovering a big model but it can be done if you are determined.

There are lots of people on this forum who would be willing to offer advice and there is also a dedicated Fleetscale forum covering their models.

Gareth

[Malcolm FraryParticipant @malcolmfrary95515]

What Ashley and Gareth said. Add that a 1:96 Warspite will weigh about 88lb to float at loaded waterline, a lot to safely launch and retrieve without ruining your back or joining it in the pool.

Academy do a nice 1:350 plastic kit which should weigh in at just under 2lb, a one hand launch. Having a finished model early on is a lot better than becoming overwhelmed by a huge project.

[Gordon BirkwoodParticipant @gordonbirkwood64323]

Thanks guys.

Lots to think about.

I had half a mind to have a go at the Academy model anyway.

I think I may get the plans for a Hunt class destroyer **LINK** and see if that makes any sense. It's a small investment at any rate.

[Ray Wood 3Participant @raywood3]

Hi Gordon

The Hobby Store plan will have no constructional detailing, and not knowing your skill level it difficult to advise Vic Smeed's HMS Cossack is around the same size and suggests balsa & ply construction makes into a proper ship, I'm not a fan of kits with GRP hulls as forming the hull is one of the best and satisfying parts of the build process. The simple free plans in Model Boats are I guess aimed at the younger modeller ? but I find the longer build more rewarding and the end product more entertaining. The pictures attached are HMS Diamond 1/96 scale from the Hobby Store plans and took 3 years on and off, never sure when a model boat is complete but it works. I would recommend John Haynes brass etched portholes & stancions.

Regards Ray Sorry the photos are in the wrong order

[Dave MilbournParticipant @davemilbourn48782]

Gordon

That plan is rated as four stars, which is the most complicated type available and presumes a great deal of previous modelling experience i.e. a bit more than a wee dabble as a lad! A kit or semi-kit would be far more suitable to your skills and experience – at least you'd stand a chance of finishing it without a coronary/divorce/Section 8 Order!

Dave M

[Gordon BirkwoodParticipant @gordonbirkwood64323]

Dave

thanks for the tip on the star rating.

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Gordon,

If you want to see what a detailed model of HMS Warspite looks like then check out these show reports:

**LINK**

**LINK**

**LINK**

Some food for thought perhaps….

Colin

[Gordon BirkwoodParticipant @gordonbirkwood64323]

Thanks for the links Colin.

I found some myself that led me to think I'll be wasting my time.

**LINK**

Extraordinary work.

[mark69Participant @mark69]

Gorden don't be put off by a seascape they are supposed to be detailed ,yours at 34" will I'm sure have detail how much is upto you are you building static really or Rc to be honest mate don't get bogged down with worrying about who's counting the rivets …..mark

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Gordon. As above. If we were all to do research and then decide how ours is likely to turn out, nobody would ever start anything!

Also, if building an RC model, the detail diminishes according to the distance. My Titanic is usually taken to be a kit at only 20 feet away (eh Colin) despite being quite simple…

The larger the ship the more detail you have to put on it.,, sorry, perhaps that should be…the more detailing it will take.

Ashley (usual disclaimer)

[Paul75Participant @paul75]

Hello Gordon.

Welcome to the forum.

A 1/128th scale HMS Warspite sounds fantastic to me. Then again, I suppose I'm a bit biased because I'm currently rebuilding a 1/128th model of HMS Duke of York.

I'm a novice too, and it's a very steep learning curve but great fun. I've enjoyed researching the ship, obtaining photos from National Archives of Scotland and the Imperial War Museum, plans from the National Maritime Musuem and finding out the true paint colours used on the ship from the samples available in the National Archives at Kew. Not to mention about half a dozen books on the ship and her class.

The building is challenging with many practical conundrums along the way. I tend to take two steps backward for every three forward but there's no deadline as such so I just enjoy learning as I go along. Also, the chaps on this forum are very very helpful and offer good advice from their vast experience.

A 1/128th HMS Warspite would displace about 15kg which is fairly heavy but not unmanageable. When I sail my model it takes about half an hour to load her into the car and the same to unload and reload at the lake. It kind of reminds me of a travelling circus. However, the toil is worth it because it's lovely seeing the model on the water. I think 1/128th scale is a good scale for a battleship because the decks are not awash with the choppiness of the boating lake like smaller scales tend to be due to be low freeboard inherent in the ships. Also, there's plenty of room to fit in sound unit, smoke units, turret rotation etc.

Good luck with your build.

All the best,

Paul.

[Anthony StanceParticipant @anthonystance12355]

Hi Gordon Ashley is spot on with the big model thing I'm in the process of restoring a 2.2 meter ferry and trust me you need a lot of space to work on your project and as Ashley said when you have finished the project transportation is absolutely key , I have a skids octavia estate and I think my project will be tight lol, I'm probably going to invest in a small Astra van so you see it all could potentially add up , but personally ITS SO WORTH IT !!!

[Gordon BirkwoodParticipant @gordonbirkwood64323]

Thanks for all the advice guys. I realise this is just the start and that all the best plans have to be capable of accommodating change.

I'm thinking I'll start with a 1:350 Academy with some kind of enhanced detail kit. From there I'll try a smaller scratch build then see how I'm getting on.

Just to make things really easy we're in the process of selling our house and moving. Any properties with separate "workshops" or extended garages are getting particular attention.

Just looking the online catalogues, parts lists, reviews and pictures gets the old modelling juices flowing again, I'm really looking forward to making a start sometime this year.

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