ShipSpotting.com Forum
Shipspotters all over the world => Scale Models => Topic started by: fairlead on March 21, 2017, 10:57:28 PM
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Has anyone made model ships from cardboard?.I am thinking of making a model of a ship i sailed on,and would appreciate any tips.
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Well, long ago I was building ship models out of cardboard/paper & other stuff... Could you provide infos of your vessel for a start?
There was this thread about scratch built models, incl. ones from cardboard - http://forum.shipspotting.com/index.php/topic,10219.0.html
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Hi Denis,the ship I would like to make is the Canadian Pacific MV Beaverfir,I sailed on her in the 60s.With no plans to work from only photos it will be a lot of guess work I suppose.
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I did some searchging - there's only one photo of her here - http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1538143
& also these:
https://www.delcampe.net/en_GB/collectables/postcards/ships-cargos/beaverfir-canadian-pacific-cargo-liner-c1950-s-postcard-351175165.html
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-54nG1Z0YAQM/VOo0GrRzCTI/AAAAAAAAR74/GPgnDHamzy0/s1600/Beaverfir.jpg
& almost a profile view - http://www.benjidog.co.uk/allen/Images/ImagesC/CANPAC05.jpg
I don't have much knowledge regarding 50s-60s ships - I'm more in to 90s-onwards ones & have GA plans of many coasters & medium sized cargo ships of this period. So, any infos regarding your ship (dimensions, sisterships, etc) from other members would be much welcome!
Another question - if you want to have a model of that ship - how accurate you want it to look like? An exact copy or a "kids toy" that more or less resembles the original ship? Have you ever modeled ships?
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Hello Denis,thanks for your reply,no I have never modeled a ship but have a good knowledge of ships having been a Shipwright for part of my working life.I don't want it to look like a toy,more like a builders model.I know it sounds ambitious, but I shall have a good go,it will take some time but I am retired so plenty of time.
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Hello!
OK, here's what I would do:
- try to get a plan and/or paper mode of a ship as similar as possible (regarding type, size and year of construction)
- draw a plan of the hull and superstructure from pictures - calculating the proportions with the help of proportions from the plans mentioned above
- for details and fittings I would use the appropriate details from the plans/papermodels of similar ships (e.g. bollards, life boats, hatch covers)
You said that you sailed on this ship so I suppose you know the basic facts about it like measurements, type of hatch covers and so on.
A great book on details and fittings of cargo ships (but most examples are from ships built before 1950) is 'A ship modelmaker's manual' by John Bowen.
If I find a plan of a similar ship in my archives or catalogues that might be helpful to you then I will post it if you are interested.
Are you planning to build a waterline model? And which scale?
I am building RC scale models for many years, my scratchbuilt-project for the next year is MV Queen Of The North of BC Ferries which sank in 2006 (my last trip with her was only a few weeks before the sinking).
Best regards,
Michael.
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I have drawn the plans,eighth of an inch to the foot,I have an Ariel shot of her which is very useful for deck layout,so there should not be many problems. I am going to plate her as would a shipyard,what glue do you think would be best for this card model ?.
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OK, 1:96 Scale.
I model hull plating to a scale of 1:48 only. I had a few discussions with shipmodellers of museums in the past and they convinced me that in small scales a model looks more realistic if small details are only printed or painted on. I made the test and really had to agree.
For cardboard models I use mainly "UHU Alleskleber" (all purpose glue), CA for small parts and a mixture mainly made of wood-glue for the larger hull parts.
But most of the time I use cardboard models as a template for bigger models made of wood, brass, styrene, ..
Best regards,
Michael.
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Its been back to the drawing board,I found that I hadn't made enough room for the engine room skylight,can't have those engineers sweltering down there,many thanks for the advice that has bee posted for me.
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on Instagram there is a Polish guy who makes lovely cardmodels.
See:
https://www.instagram.com/jsc_model/
Perhaps he can help you with some of your questions
regards
Frans
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I'm fond of modeling ships! But I prefer to work with wood