Thoughts Please.

[Roy ParkesParticipant @royparkes]

Thanks for responses to my initial request under the heading ‘Help for a Rookie.

On Tuesday of this week I also Emailed 6 suppliers/shops regarding boat kits and what they would suggest a first time effort, to date I have only received one reply, is this the norm because it was a bit disappointing.

I am also dithering because I have read from many sites that a lot of the well advertised kits seem to have various build problems and weak instructions and this goes a bit against my experience in constructing many railway kits of which the majority were fine.

A friend has also told me of his one and only experience of a boat kit purchased a few years ago. This was from a well known provider and he found all sorts of problems, plan not to scale, measurements incorrect, white metal fittings very rough, parts missing and some not fit for purpose in the end he gave up.

Is this what kit building is really like?

To am sorry to be having a good moan, but paying out £250/300 for a kit would be a lot of cash to me and I would like to make sure that I have a chance of completing the project.

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

Roy, how about getting something a bit cheaper first, and one that comes with a ready made…ie, plastic or grp hull. Build that first and then see how you get on. For instance the RAF rescue launch that featured in a MB special last year/xmas or whatever.. This was very cheap, and came simply as a set of vac formed parts and (I think) drawings. This sort of thing gets the brain into model boat mode as there is a fair amount to do, but at the same time is relativley straightforward.  With this experience you will be in a better position then to judge what the other kits offer.  Ashley

[SeasprayParticipant @seaspray]

Have a good look and read the kit reviews in various magazines (including Model Boats ) I am sure the standard of kits and plans has come a long way from those dark ages.

 Alternatively if you fancy a certain kit ask on our forum as well as other model boat forums, what that kit quality is like and any building problems.

Martin  

[Roy ParkesParticipant @royparkes]

[Author]

Posts