Thread: building scrap model boats

Do you mean scratch builds model boats, as in builds from scratch, drawings and stock of wood to finished model, rather than assembling from a precut kit?

It's not hard to do this, plans and materials fairly accessible through hobby shops etc, tools needed initially are knives, steel rule, hobby style or jewellers saw, some small clamps and maybe a dozen or so small bulldog clips and some pins.

There is (or was 6 months ago) a second hand book shop in the St Agnes shopping centre with scatch built model boats in the display window. Don't ask me what the relationship is between the two but........
The fella on the counter in the shop knew the builder. Might be worth a try.

I've built model aeroplanes most of my life - only stopped to concentrate on building boats (or not building them as the bloody scottish copper will suggest). Believe me, a boat is a basic beast compared to the intracacy of a competition, control line stunt model but like Mik, I always prefered the design phase to the building phase

Anyways, back to boats.

You could build a model from any boat plan. I wouldn't restrict myself to balsa though - it's a nice product to work with but doesn't really mimic the timbers we use in boats. Model shops sell plywood in all sorts of thicknesses and so if your boat plans tell you to use 12mm ply, and you're building a 1:10 scale model, you can buy 1.2mm ply Then there's the stripped spruce - your own lumber yard in miniature

Modern superglues (the ones designed for modelling, not the muck you buy in hardware stores) are wonderful and modern, five minute epoxies are pretty neat too.

Then there are the heros who build full replicas of planked warships, with each plank pinned in place as per the real thing.

I've got a few full sized boat plans here and you're welcome to borrow them - I may be wrong but I wouldn't consider using the plans to knock up a model a concern to the builder though technically a breach of the licence.

I actually started building a model of Redback before I started the main build. I gave up because it was too flamin' difficult (and I'd started the boat building course at TAFE ... and Redback herself). What I later discovered was that the real boat was harder to build than the model

The other source of material is the State Library. Their Pat Maquire (sp?) collection is huge - thousands (literally) of marine books covering all types and ages of boating. Considering you can build a model from just the lines (not even that) and photos, that resource will allow you to build anything you darned well like from a modern small boat, modern warship, right through the ages to the earliest boats found or described.

I'd start with Gardiners book on wooden boats - lots of designs in there ranging from row boats through to fishing boats. Only small but start small before tackling your warship. The State Library's got all three versions, but it's also got Chappelle, Bolger and quite a few other big names, all with enough information to build models.

I didn't reply earlier as I thought we had some boat modellers on the forum who would. However, in their absence, I'm happy to give any help I can ... as long as you don't get me sucked back into modelling

Richard

Originally Posted by Daddles

I'd start with Gardiners book on wooden boats - lots of designs in there ranging from row boats through to fishing boats. Only small but start small before tackling your warship. The State Library's got all three versions, but it's also got Chappelle, Bolger and quite a few other big names, all with enough information to build models.
Richard

I built 3 or 4 models in cornflake box cardboard straight from Bolger's "New Instant Boats" before settling on "Teal". (Also built straight from the book, only.... differently )

What sort of models do you have in mind to build ? RC racing yachts? Yachts? Trawlers? warships? liners ?

cheers
AJ

Originally Posted by Daddles

However, in their absence, I'm happy to give any help I can ... as long as you don't get me sucked back into modelling

Richard

Really Daddles !
I'd never have picked you as a model !!
<runs away quickly!>

Originally Posted by b.o.a.t.

Really Daddles !
I'd never have picked you as a model !!
<runs away quickly!>

With my legs, I can be anything I like ... ridiculous, hideous, horrifying

Richard

thnx heaps for the infor guys has been very helpful will hopefully start to gather materials etc soon. looking more towards building sailing boats and even one i feel comfortable start to build bigger scale rc speed boats

Hi peoples, I have plans of a model PT boat if anyone would like them. I have no more use for them as I am now going to build a wooden boat that I can actually use. If Interested let me know.

Cheers
Art

Originally Posted by cruiser

Hi peoples, I have plans of a model PT boat if anyone would like them. I have no more use for them as I am now going to build a wooden boat that I can actually use. If Interested let me know.

Cheers
Art

Well come on man.... don't leave us in suspense !!

What are you going to build ?!!!

Then again why dont you scale the model plans UP and build a pt boat? Wonder if you can get the turret guns to go with it Now that would be cool!!

Shane

Well AJ, it is going to be a 12ft runabout of my own design. I will have to see how it goes. I haven't built a boat before, But I did design and build the models for the Sydney harbour cleaning vessels that were built in 1988 for the then Maritime Services Board (which is now NSW Maritime). I also spent some considerable time studying boats built in the Goat Island Shipyard before its demise, And yes Shane maybe I should have built a PT boat, Always on the cards I suppose.

Cheers
Art

Originally Posted by cruiser

Well AJ, it is going to be a 12ft runabout of my own design.
Cheers
Art

Pics ? Drawings ?

I have a problem with the plans AJ, I have drawn them quite large (2mx1,8) so there is a problem getting them small for the computer. I will be posting photos as soon as i get started (just waiting for the rest of the materials). I have been lucky enough to have a professional boat builder move to town (worked for Halvorsens for many years). I had him look at my plans yesterday and he gave me the nod so that made me feel better so now I have to just get it built.

Cheers
Art

Howdy ... I have found that the easiest way to take copies of plans is a digital camera. I seldom use photocopies these days ... just take photographs so I can read things on the computer.

So you could take a pic of your plan and then post it here.

MIK