Model shipbuilding

“Finally, I broke down and bought the little solid hull kit of the pilot boat Phantom made by Model Shipways. As I started working on it, I fell in love with small woodwork and this little developing gem of a model. That big USS Constitution kit with all it’s bristling guns just sat up on the shelf, partially completed. I never touched it again. I was completely hooked on wooden ship modeling.”

“I recently completed the Bluenose II kit from Artesania, it was a very difficult project. It is a beautiful model but very challenging! The joy is in the building of the model and the greater the challenge the greater the joy. That kit is considered intermediate by professional modelers and Artesania says, “Recommended for initiated modelers.” It was the most difficult model that I have attempted. It turned out well but not perfect by any means. After I complete a few other projects I may go back and re-do some things. I of course can see all of my mistakes and shortcuts but to all except experienced modelers it probably looks amazing.”

“Shipbuilding took my fancy next and I built Latina Artesania's "le Hussard" in 1/50th, followed by an admiral model of Corel's "HMS Victory" in 1/98th scale and in (what is thought to be) her colours of cc. 1765. This build took 735 man-hours, over a period of 4 years, and 3 relocations and I lost my enthusiasm for building ship models, which is also the main reason why I did not build the masts, opting to build an admiral model instead!”