Ship Models from Kits; Basic and Advanced Techniques for Small Scales

144 pages. Illustrations (some in color). Includes References and Resources and an Appendix on Dealers and Suppliers. This new manual offers practical advice and guidance to anyone building ship kits in the 1:700 to 1:350 range of scales, in either injection-moulded plastic or resin. It covers the latest techniques and materials, and tackles many of the traditionally challenging topics, such as rigging, painting effects, and display. Step by step photographs take the reader through the building of two models, one in plastic and one in resin, aiming to achieve the best results possible. The author started building ship models as a child, and is proud never to have grown out of the habit. The author suggests that taking photographs at frequent intervals during the construction of a model may be a good way of assessing the quality of your work, just as long as you are sufficiently disciplined to go back and sort out imperfections before you move on to the next stage. In the past thirty years the world of model kits has undergone a veritable revolution. New techniques in injection moulding have improved the scale accuracy and surface detail of the humble plastic kit, while many specialist companies now produce top-quality resin models, vastly broadening the range of subjects on the market. However, the really radical change has been the advent of photo-etched brass fret, which allows the finest detail to be reproduced to scale. In ship modelling, this has resulted in a new form of the hobby, mid-way between traditional build-from-the-box simplicity and the time-consuming demands of fabricating everything from scratch. These new materials have prompted innovative techniques, which are comprehensively demonstrated in this new manual. Designed for those wishing to achieve the best results from their ship kits in the 1:700 to 1:350 range of scales, it uses step by step photographs to take the reader through the building of two models, one in plastic and one in resin, from basic construction, fittings and detailing, to painting, finishing and display. Written by a highly experienced, award-winning ship modeller, the book is a showcase for the contemporary approach to the avocation.…