Thread: Building a scale model

This may give you an iea of how to building scale models. Craig built a scale model of one of our designs..the Mushulu 12, as a full floating propelled scaled model as a school project.
here's the link:
Bowdidge Marine Designs/ Craigs Mushulu 12 model

regards
Mark

Here's a link to a recent DuckWorks article on making models.

Duckworks - Models

Model Ship World :: Home might give you some ideas. Very good stuff going on there.

Building a model is fun but only 'may' give you some insight into building it in real life. If the only reason you're doing it is to prepare for the full sized build, don't bother. However, models are fun to make, they can be fun to try to get work and there's a good chance that you will learn something about the big boat (such as how lousy the plans are).

Richard

If you're tempted to build a scale model, go ahead and build it. Unless you're very confident of your full-scale competence, the model CAN give you insight into construction difficulties. Make the model of parts equivalent to the full-scale version.

Sculptors of monumental works almost always make a small-scale version, sometimes for direct measurement and scaling up, e.g. Mount Rushmore in USA. Years ago, I made a plaster model of an element for a construction product to verify the geometric description, and our patternmaker borrowed it twice to assist his work.

I'd say more, but this is enough.

Cheers,
Joe

I'm planning to make a model of the GIS before I build it. It'll help make the whole idea tangible (and not just for the kids ); it'll give me a better idea of what the plans consist of, and it'll serve as motivation to get the job done too.

Well, I am back on the web ... but email is not working properly yet

If you have a look through the list of threads here you will find quite a few showing pictures of models that people have built before building the boat.

There have been a number of GIS,s Rowboats, PDRacers, the Venezia Riverboat and probably more reported with photos. Everyone who has done it has found it very useful, and with the panel prefabrication method it is very much like doing it full size in terms of logic and technique.

As Richard says, it does give a lot of insights when you get to the "real thing".

People have used cardboard or balsa or something else they have had available.

Is it worth it? ... I would say if you think it might be worthwhile then it probably is.

Best wishes
Michael