Hello!
I'm building ship models since 1991, the RC Models count to 68 - not all finished, in various stages.
Finished and operational are about 20. The nunmber of unfinished models is so high because I often by wrecks, unfinished kits, ... and restore them.
The models are scratch-built and kits, made of wood (various techniques), abs and other plastics, brass, ... and rage from about 40 cm in length (british Coaster S.S. Gowerian in 1:100) to about 1.5 m (Liberty ship, operational Submarines).
I started way back with a used tug kit (little work was already done,but what was done was done good), that was cheap (as many accessories came with it that otherwise would have to be bought seperatly) and a good starting point. As I said, I still purchase these today.
If you would like to start building in wood (e.g. planked wooden hull, brass fittings) you need a minimum set of tools - more than you need for building kits with a prefabricated plastic hull.
If you want to build a RC Model with a wooden hull, the finished hull should be covered with something like EZ-Cote and fibre glass mats.
You are interested in coasters - great, so am I! There are a few great kits around - I am currently building a S.S. Talacre from a Calder Craft Kit (1:48), fibre glass hull, wooden superstructure and decks, white metal fittings.
A very similar but slightly bigger Coaster named Ben Ain (1:32) is available from Mountfleet Models.
My scratch-built S.S. Gowerian (similar but bigger two-hatch prototype) is based on a Model Plan which is also suitable to build this ship in a larger scale and with a wooden hull.
Perhaps you would like a Clyde Puffer? There are Kits available from tiny 1:72 (Deans Marine, I own this one) to 1:32 (Calder Craft I think) as well as plans.
So there are some decisions to make before you start: Should it float (and be RC)? Kit or Scratch-built? Scale and prototype? ...
I would suggest to start with a kit, perhaps a used one. You can check if this is really yours (you will need a lot of patience - hours and hours in your workshop with only very little progress you can see at first) and you won't have to spend that much money but more important you won't have to learn so many techniques all at the same time.
More questions? Feel free to ask!
Best regards,
Michael.