what level of skill / experience needed

[KenWParticipant @kenw]

[KenWParticipant @kenw]

I am an experienced woodworker and feel able to turn my hands to most things in wood. I am interested in making a static model such as HMS Bounty (Billing Models) but have not made one of these before. In the blurb the Bounty is described as suitable for the experienced builder. My problem is I can’t tell if my other woodworking experience is enough to compensate for the lack of model building experience. I would welcome any advice on this; should I start by whittling a raft?.

 

Ken.

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

Ken,

 

The biggest mistake people make when entering this area of modelling is to bite off more than they can chew and then become discouraged.. However there are some very attractive subjects which give a good introduction without too much effort after which you are much better placed to assess your capacity to take on a more ambitious project.

 

You might like to look at the Caldercraft HMS Sherborne which makes up into a very nice model indeed and can be enhanced with extra detail. One of these recently won a Silver Medal at the Model Engineer Exhibition. (Photos below)

 

http://www.jotika-ltd.com/Pages/1024768/Nelson_6.htm

 

Hope this helps,

 

Colin

 

Click on photos for a larger image.

 

 

Edited By Colin Bishop, Website Editor on 24/11/2011 17:46:49

[neil hpParticipant @neilhp]

you have chosen the poorer end of the scale where this type of vessell is concerned, Ken.

Billing are notoriously poor for their instructions, and the higher the experience scale within billing kits, the sparcer the instructions become, as they feel that your”experience” will see you through a build.

also, the timber used in Billing kits was always of the poorer stock and not very good quality.

As colin says, you would be better going for a Caldercraft model such as the one shown by colin in the picture..good quality plans, good instructions and fine quality timbers and fittings.

neil.

[KenWParticipant @kenw]

Colin and Neil, thankyou both for very good and helpful information. The Caldercraft site is fascinating and my first reaction is to want to do the lot.

 

More homework to be done before making my decision.

 

Thankyou

 

Ken

[Colin BishopModerator @colinbishop34627]

If you give John Wright at Caldercraft a ring and explain your situation I’m sure you will find him very helpful in suggesting a selection of kits which would be most suitable for you to tackle as a first project

 

Remember, it isn’t just the woodwork involved, there’s a lot of rigging too!

 

Colin

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