Building large scale ships and warships in card for R/C or static

[brooker]

I once wrote a book on how to build in card, for strong big R/C models or static - I wrote it years ago when I was thoroughly overjoyed with building ships in card but I've lost that feeling, probably due to anti depressants these past 15 years or so - talk about an addiction.

I wrote it on a Commodore 64 Computer about 30 years ago - I have it on file somewhere - and if there is sufficient interest in model shipbuilders to try something different, than small and expensive plastic kits, I am happy for it to be a free sticky for anyone to download and use here, for free.

Whilst my shipbuilding skills have gone out the window - I can field any queries - because my mind remains relatively sharp, if blunted, from medication.

I have the means to provide plans of ships from just about any period of shipbuilding, both civil and war, sail or steam or a combination of both, for my photocopy and postage costs and how to enlarge those plans with a photocopier, if necessary. Give or take, roughly £5 would easily cover it, per A3 or A4 set, which includes my travelling costs to the nearest A4 photocopier......etc, payable into my PayPal Account - I can provide details later, if necessary.

The cost of a 3ft to 6 foot model, from plans to built model, either for static or radio control with electric motors (I used to use 12 volt windscreen wiper motors for power, from wrecked cars and a speed controller made from an electric wire wound fire, powered by 12 volt rechargeable motorcycle batteries) is no more than £20 and all you need are a hobby knife, ideally the one which you hold like a pen - not a Stanley Trimmer - a black biro and a metal MAUN Safety Ruler, PVA glue which is cheaper the bigger sized bottle you buy, varnish, prior to painting parts and water based paint and paint brushes....... and somewhere to cut without doing the table significant harm - I used to use 1/4" card sheet to cut on - what £15 worth, reusable, all up?

The quality of any model is the detail which you build in and the time it takes you - so if you want a quick model, stick with plastic - if you want a card model, then any scale is pretty much possible, if you devote the time and learn as you go.

Which is not plastic.

Richard

[brooker]

[brooker]

SMS Bismark - 6 feet long:

[Guba]

Thanks for posting pictures! Those look great, I had never thought or heard about card models that big before you posted. Thanks for sharing with us!

[brooker]

Yoslaba

[brooker]

Andrzej Wazwanich

[brooker]

Jules Verne's Nautilus From Disney Plans

[brooker]

SMS Sachsen. The crew used to call it the cement works because of the 4 funnel arrangement:

[brooker]

D’Entrecasteaux: The hull is just like the old sailing Men Of War the French used to build with a big tumblehome.

[brooker]

The dust & dog hair is provided free - I have not worked out how to clean the blasted stuff off on a regular basis and it sticks like dry glue.

If you look at my Pocher car pix, you will see that they also have a coating of dust - I intend to polish them up with a Dremmel with polishing pads and plastic polish, from America via e.Bay - it remains to see how successful I am.

Richard

[whitestar12chris]

Thanks for sharing these with us there are some beautiful builds there.

All the best Chris

[brooker]

Thanks Chris,

At the time, they were a labour of love.

Anything can easily be built in card, once the building technology is understood - each of these models cost no more than £5 to £20 - from plan to built and each one can be floated and played with by R/C on the water, or in the case of Jules Verne's Nautilus, under the water, if it is floated with negative bouyancy, so that the diving planes push it under, but the lack of power brings it back to the surface, once they have been varnished inside and out and checked for leaks and that fixed..

I used to build Tanks & AFV's in card, but regrettably, I don't seem to have kept any.

Richard

[brooker]

Thanks Guba,

My own building technique, tried and tested over time.

Each ship is unique, they are the only ships, built my way, that exist at the scales I built them in - SMS Sachsen & D'Antrecasteaux are the smallest at roughly 2.5 feet and The Bismarck is the longest at 6 feet roughly.

The dust is provided free, unfortunately.

Richard

[Guba]

It's easy to see why you pick that time era to model. Ships with guns poking out all over remind me of porcupines, LOL. At one time all those ships were cutting edge technology.

[brooker]

Bit like me - past it in everything - except ?

Richard

[TristanR]

Wow these are amazing, I especially like the nautilus!