Looking for tips on getting started

[Retirement HobbyParticipant @retirementhobby]

Greetings, I”m 64 years old, a avid model car builder as a teen and young adult (back when they only cost a buck and change) and know whant to try my hand at building Balsa Wood boats.  I”m not into “sailing boats,” my interest is Cruisers. 

 

I”ve toyed with pencil drawings, am interested in trying to build a frame from cardboard (back of writing pad), however I”m not knowledgeable  enough on the “art” of boat building.  Am hoping to find some pdf ebooks that I can download and read.

 

Open to suggestions, a retiree looking to start a new hobby.

 

TomS

[Retirement HobbyParticipant @retirementhobby]

Balsa Wood Projects

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

sorry tom, i’m not into computer jargon and ebooks and such, but you couldn’t go wrong by looking at some designs in balsa ships and boats by Glynn Guest…..he is a master with those sorts of models, and regularly submits plans for such in this magazine

[Retirement HobbyParticipant @retirementhobby]

Thank you Neil

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Yes, I agree, Glynn Guest’s designs would be an ideal place to start. They are straightforward to build and perform well. Most of them are warships though.

 

Are you interested in anything in particular?

 

Colin

[Retirement HobbyParticipant @retirementhobby]

Thank you Colin, yes I’m interested in Display Models only and family Cruisers in particular.

[IronmanParticipant @ironman]

Neil which 2 engines do you have in your tug Preserverance?  Got any photos of the engines?  Thanks, Ray…..forgive me for going off topic with this.

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Tom,

 

I assume that by ‘Family Cruiser’ you mean what modellers would normally refer to as cabin cruisers in which case there are a lot of plans available which cater for all levels of ability. It’s therefore worth looking through the plan lists to see if anything appeals. Many of them are graded by degree of difficulty with one star being the easiest. The page for cabin cruisers can be found here: http://www.myhobbystore.co.uk/browser/100/cabin-cruiser

 

Most of these plans were drawn up some years ago and so represent traditional and classic designs rather than the Sunseeker type superyachts of today. Many of them will show detailed constructional detail so you can cut out the parts directly off the plan. Many also closely mirror traditional wood construction but simplified for modelling purposes.

 

There are of course many other plans so have a look through and if you see something that appeals then maybe one of our members will be able to tell you a bit more about it.

 

Hope this helps,

 

Colin

[Dave MilbournParticipant @davemilbourn48782]

Tom

Here is my Fairey Swordsman, which was published as a plan in Model Boats a long time ago. Model is all wood (mainly liteply), 24″ long and I can send you copies of the plans in PDF format if you PM me your regular E-Mail address.  Price is nowt.

Dave M

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

tom, you have sent me your email address……think you should be sending it to Dave

neil.

[Dave MilbournParticipant @davemilbourn48782]

All done!

Dave M

[Author]

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