Customer Reviews

Model Boat Building: The Menhaden Steamer

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I only got into ship-building because my model railroad will be built around a fishing harbor, thus requiring a plethora of small craft of various types. Upon discovering that the range of fishing boat models is both very limited and very pricey (especially if you envision needing a dozen or so!), and figuring (erroneously, as it turns out) that crafting one model type is pretty much like crafting any other, I decided to try my hand at building one or more.

After going through half a dozen fairly useless, and ponderous, tomes on the subject of building model ships, I stumbled across this one. I wish I'd found this book first. It's pretty basic, but it carefully explains (with beautiful photos and good illustrations) each step. Not only that, but many of the techniques shown herein can be directly transferred to my modeling of other subjects.

For me, the book is excellent with the exception of one issue specific to my situation and one shortcoming. My issue is that the book shows how to construct a full hull and my models will have to be waterline. While I should be able to puzzle out a revised construction, it would have been nice to have seen that addressed.

The book's only shortcoming, which I have noted in most other ship modeling books, is that there is a dearth of information on both painting and detailing (a subject dear to this hobbyist's heart). As an aside to ship modelers, it seems very odd to me that so many books on this subject seem to skip over something so obvious. Maybe I'm just reading the wrong books!

In any case, for anybody looking to build a cool little purse seiner for whatever reason, I recommend this book as a great starting point! Happy building!

As far as I know I have all the books written by this couple, and I have built all the models. I made three of the Menhaden Steamer and four of the Lobster Boat, one each of the two sail boats, and an uncountable number of the rowboats. Although there are places in all the books that aren't as clear as I would have liked, I had no problems in eventually overcoming them. The text and photos are as clear as one could expect, understanding that the authors can't be aware of the skills of every user. I would buy any future books by these authors. I spoke with Steve a couple years ago asking when the next book would be out, and unfortunately, he said the time requirement was too great and he was going to put his time to building models for museums. I see this as a great loss to those of us that enjoyed all five of his books. One can always hope he will someday change his mind and another boat building book will be available.

Great photos, and a nice overview of how a scale modeler attacks a project. I like the format, not a lot of wasted space describing how to use a hammer or what sandpaper is, they spend the money on great graphics and photos. If you want to get into scale modeling, this is a good view of what is involved in building from scratch out of wood, using some bought fittings. If you want to build this particular boat, all the information for that is here as well.

This book is one of the two that I ordered by Steve Rodgers, the other being Model Boat Building Made Simple. The latter was my first attempt at building a simple model boat and I was impressed with the results. The pictures and instructions are pretty clear, descriptive and simple.
The lobster boat book is a little more difficult and involves "lofting" the plans to achieve the results you're after. This could have been explained a little better and the photography of the master (the mold on which you will build the boat) in progress also looks to have been taken by an amature with lot of picture cut-offs. The actual steps of building the model are a bit clearer and photographed better. With a little woodworking skills, access to scale lumber and an understanding of sea going vessels one should be able to produce a fairly decent model. (I recently started working on mine and seem to be off to a good start)

Great book! Complete and concise instructions and plenty of clear photos. This book takes you through building your own boat from scratch, no kits! It's great, just as my great grandfather did many years ago. Anyone with the right tools and access to the proper lumber can do this!