Ship Model Builder's Assistant

PACKET ships and clipper ships had distinctive characteristics by which they could be recognized at a glance from that little heard of but more numerous type of plain, common, everyday merchantman that constituted the bulk of the American tonnage. Packets and clippers had a pedigree of their own, as it were, and the newspapers gave long, glowing descriptions of them and their records were given columns in the newspapers, while the rank-and-file would be dismissed in a line in the marine column, reading—"Ship Betsy, Sharp, from Madeira." But there were dozens of Betsies and Sallies to one clipper. They were the common wall-sided, flat-floored, bluff-bowed and heavy, squarctransomed ships with which everyone was so familiar that they were just ships and nothing more. Today, looking back and reviewing all the different types of ships, those little, three hundred ton ships, of about 1820, with their decks laid out with the same simplicity that characterized the schooners and brigs, are a novelty. They had one big, main-cargo hatch just forward of the mainmast. Fiferails, of course, were around each mast, at the deck, for belaying the gear.

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Military Modelling 12 1995

Towards the end of last year I was fortuitously introduced to an enthusiastic fellow modeller, one David Love. He had, for many years, been engaged in collecting and painting 54mm scale figures and had progressed to constructing scenic bases to contain various groups of these figures. He felt, however, he had arrived at a point where there was a strong urge to develop his hobby, particularly regarding 'scratch building' and developing more individualistic figurines. For my part, owing to unforeseen circumstances, I had been absent from the modelling scene for many, many years, although naturally following events monthly in Military Modelling magazines. Dave's exuberant enthusiasm soon had me back in the 'grip' of the modelling fever. Suffice to say after further meetings the outcome was an agreed plan to create mutually a small diorama. The subject was to be a Catling gun and Royal Naval Brigade team during the Sudan campaign.

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Railroad Model Craftsman 03 2009

My very first HO freight car kits were made by Megow, which had established a reputation for balsa wood airplane and ship models. At fifty cents each they were well priced for a teenager and came with sprung trucks and automatic couplers. Those late 1930's kits used wood construction with printed cardboard sides and stamped detail parts. Their sprung trucks were also stamped metal, and the modeler fastened the sideframes to the bolster with small rivets. For fifty cents you wanted detail in those side frames? Idle dreamer! Megow couplers were a variation of the LaNal basketball hoop design on top of which was placed a stamped hook. A small screw underneath was used for uncoupling over a ramp between the rails. I soon found in that pre-World War II world there were other brands of HO freight car kits, kits with such names as Ideal, Charlen, Varney, and Walthers. I also discovered that each brand had its own coupler. Most were cast lead dummy couplers. Some almost resembled the real thing, while others, such as the one made by Varney, were oversized and coupled only with themselves. These were actually better than their scale couplers.

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Ship Modelling Hints and Tips

The modelling of ships is a fascinating hobby because it has such a tremendously wide field of choice both geographically and chronologically. Its appeal to craftsmen and artist, youth and age, student and sage, rests on sure foundations; for it is inexpensive, it is within the reach of all and, although within the reach of all, it still permits very broad standards of artistry, science, and craftsmanship. Some years ago, while organising a huge shipping exhibition for the City of Liverpool, I decided upon a novel competition to popularise the ship model part of the exhibition. Competitors were invited to submit ship models wherein the materials had cost not more than three shillings. The results were amazing in ingenuity, craftsmanship, and popularity. I feel sure that really fine models can be constructed for less than ten shillings. Unlike the model engineer the requisite tools are few and comparatively inexpensive. Some friends of mine, good modellers they are, manage along with a favourite knife, spokeshave, small hacksaw and a few files (tiny ones) and some razor-blades. With these few things they consider themselves well equipped.

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