ShipbuilderMN

You are welcome. I was amazed at the response and active participation when I first set up the group, and I don't dominate it in any way. The main rule is merchant ships only, but fleet auxliliaries and fishing boats etc still come under the "commercial" banner, so are welcome as well. Some members advertise their models for sale, and that is OK, although I don't myself. The fact that it is confined to merchant ships, means I am not "stepping on the toes" of other maritime model forums who mainly prefer ships of war!! Bob

Hello Andreas, Thanks. I don't have any problems with parts because I make all my own. I rarely come on model ship forums these days, mainly due to lack of interst in models of merchant ships, My main activities are now on Facebook with my "Merchant Ships in Miniature" group that now has over 3,500 members and is thriving. As I get older, (now 76) I find that it easier to move onto a slightly larger scale such as 25 feet to 1 inch (1/300) or even larger for smaller ships. Currently building a 900-ton barque at 20 feet to one inch, hull length about 7 inches. This one, the barque Gulf Stream, shown on UTube, was badly damaged on its way to Belgium last year, and although I have repaired it, it has limited my activities greatly, because I am no longer prepared to send them out by courier, following a number of breakages. https://youtu.be/RkzuzNRI2Qw Consequently they are starting to pile up, so when we run out of space, that will be the end of it all, but that is a while off yet. Bob

How can it be hacked if it is still working?

Just saw the comment on Facebook that Britmodeller has been hacked. Can only say that for me, it is still working! 2nd August 1406 BST

Hi Steve, Thanks, You had used several methods that I had not seen before, and I liked the bit about fishooks etc! Best wishes Bob

Very nice buld, with some handy tips in it. Not many merchant ships ever get modelled for reasons that escape me, so it is especially pleasing when they do appear - Bob

Thank you Rob - Just saw the download notification. Bob

If it isn't fun, maybe best to just go back to what you do like building!

I quite like scale of 32 feet to 1 inch (1:384). They are small enough for normal sized houses or flats, and don't require any high degree of patience to build. This on, the steamer Politician, is shown in a Utube presentation from block of wood to completion. It took a total of 58 hours to build, spread over a few weeks. All timed on a stopwatch. Building costs, virtually nothing. But being scratchbuilt, it would not be a popular choice for a model, but I was never much good with kits! https://youtu.be/dbKlh_aa9r4

Stuart, Several of them give the methods, but it is against the rules to advertise! Bob

From block of wood to completed model - 32 feet to 1 inch - 1:384 - Bob https://youtu.be/LEuoD6klIY4

Yes, I drew it on a large piece of white card using rulers, French Curves etc. Then photographed it and coloured it in using the computer. Bob

Yes, I drew it on a large piece of white card using rulers, French Curves etc. Then photographed it and coloured it in using the computer. Bob

Palermo - 1938 - Elleman Wilson Line general cargo -

Thanks, It has always surprised me that they are not very popular amongst model shipbuilders. The main reasons given are because the rigging is too difficult and they don't carry guns beng merchant ships). Neither argument is remotely valid as the rigging is the easiest part as it is just wire glued on in short lengths with no knots anywhere. The fact that it doesn't have guns (the ports are just decoration, painted on) surely makes things simpler, as you don't have to make what is not there! As for the hulls, a sailing ship is infinitely simpler than a steam ship or warship because it has fewer deck with not many rails, ladders, lifeboats, deck machinery etc. If it is the missing war aspect that bothers you, that is also invalid, because when wars occur, merchant ships are invariably dragged in as well, whether they like it or not! Example, Jervis Bay (Below) Now, that was a complicated model, and her name has gone down in history for her heroic deed in WWII! of drawing a German battleship away from a convoy, resulting in her loss, but allowing the convoy to escape. Bob