Who needs Kits

[Roy BullivantParticipant @roybullivant46648]

The Skill of Scratch Builiding

[Roy BullivantParticipant @roybullivant46648]

Ok, so not one of mine, but my dad's, i'd never be skilled enough to create something like this.

But is there a market for taking what you have built, then marketing your plans/instructions. Then allowing someone else to create such a thing.

I mean, many kit manufacturers have been going years, but do they purchase idea's, plans etc ?

Sort of "Scratch Built"….then sold on as a kit form, if this makes any sense, i'd love to hear peoples thoughts….

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Hello Roy

I have sold some designs in the past but not to kit manufacturers.

To answer your question in the most simplistic way I can confirm that designing and then creating a kit is fairly straightforward as all you need is a CAD based design and access to a large bed CNC router. But of course the devil is in the detail as a workable CAD design can take months to put together and booking time on a large CNC router is expensive.

I hope this helps.

Paul

[Dave MilbournParticipant @davemilbourn48782]

All of the kit manufacturers I've worked for have preferred to specify the prototype which they want kitted (except in a couple of circumstances). The main reason is that they will have a house style or a certain way of manufacturing which your model may not suit. Precedent always used to let me have a relatively free hand when it came to the shape and minor construction details of their non-scale models, but there was always an over-riding specification from which I did not stray. The late John Rudd and (the very much alive) Lawrie White particularly had/have a feel for the market which I could never fathom – it was/is almost uncanny!
Paul Freshney is always on the lookout for models which he can publish in Model Boats as free plans, but if you think that therein lies fortune and fame then forget it!
As Paul H says, these days the use of CAD is mandatory for any plan presentation or kitting work.

Dave M

Edited By Dave Milbourn on 28/08/2012 11:34:55

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

If I saw a boat I particularly liked, a three view drawing and some pictures would be enough.

Is that not what scratch building is all about?? (no answers please, we could not agree on the last topic of "what constitutes scratchbuilding"

That is a particularly handsome boat your dad made, something to catch Paul`s eye to be sure. I hope it has a stonking great motor in it!

Ashley

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Ashley

Yes its right up my street (with a suitable engine)

You are right about a three view drawing and some pictures being the basis of most scratch building but for CAD work I usually need a little bit info covering dimensions.

Paul

[ashley needhamParticipant @ashleyneedham69188]

I am afraid a CAD drawing would be no good for most of what I make, as i constantly dicker with the dimensions for one reason or another. Access is a good example, on warships and so forth.

Ashley

[CothyParticipant @cothy]

Hi again

Working with plans wheather pen and paper or CAD design can be daunting for a lot of people so should it not have a topic of it's own?

[Paul TParticipant @pault84577]

Hello George

I can appreciate your apprehension regarding plans as on first sight they can appear very complex and I have to concede that some designers seem to go out of their way to over complicate their drawings.

The skill of a designer is the ability to present the drawing information is a simple, clear and concise way, a perfect example of this would be the Glynn Guest plans that are given away free in the magazine, whilst these designs are fairly basic they are beautifully laid out and easy to follow and are the ideal starting point for a modeller wishing to work from plans.

Regarding this subject having a topic of its own there is a section on the forum headings sub-titled Building from Plans.

Moving this subject forward if anyone wishes to discuss the 'ins and outs' of reading plans we have the perfect example in the October issue in the shape of the free plan of the Wrigley 121.

Paul

[Roy BullivantParticipant @roybullivant46648]

Hi all.

Sorry not been on for a while. Thanks for all your thoughts, and idea's..I'm sure it is something to think about for the future.

Not too sure what motor is in this boat, but it is pretty fast, and does look impressive at full throttle.

Thanks again…

[Author]

Posts