Customer Reviews

Ship Models: How to Build Them (Dover Woodworking)

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Charles Davis is the old grandfather of ship modeling and maritime history. Though much of his work has been since superseded by more recent research, much is still worthwhile today. "Ship Models and How to Build Them" takes the reader step by step through the process of building a classic 1/8"=1' solid hull ship model, with the 1846 clipper ship Sea Witch as the subject. Plans of Sea Witch accompany the book. The techniques may also seem outdated to the modern reader but only the most advanced artisans will not find something of value in Mr. Davis' suggestions and examples. Although the text and illustrations are specific for this clipper ship, the guidance is also intended to be useful for building models of a large variety of vessels. It is an excellent primer for this kind of ship modeling. Modern techniques and research have made the construction of a more sophisticated and historically accurate model of Sea Witch possible but it is hard to imagine anyone seriously undertaking such a project without reading through this classic.

The type of wooden model kit covered in this book can cost hundreds of dollars, and the plans that are included in the kits. while detailed, are not enough to do a good job. You need more help. I bought this book to get some help, but was disappointed as soon as I opened the pages. As much as I love Amazon, you can't be sure what is between the covers until you can open the book yourself. If I could have paged through this book, I would have realized right away that it wasn't what I was looking for. This is a book about a master builder. It is not really written to help a novice builder like myself. I regret the purchase.

What I have learned is that there will not be any one book that will guide a person through this hobby. "How To Build First-Rate Models From Kits" by Ben Langkford is a better purchase by far, but that single book will also not be enough. If you are relying on books for help, you will find yourself with a small library of books, each of which will be better than others to help with some aspect. So be careful what you buy.

A web site that really was better than the books is Model Ship Builders. There I found a detailed builder's log, with many photos, for the very model I am building: Model Shipways "Dapper Tom".

Some day I will appreciate Charles Davis' book - he is a craftsman - but look elsewhere for tips to help you build your model.

This book is like a textbook (very small textbook) probably written by someone who knows a fair bit but has no ability to teach and explain. The book is a small paperback book with minimal illustrations that tries to cover the complete building of a model boat. If it were a map, it would be one 8.5 x 11 map of the whole United States.