Model Ships

If you’re looking for a fun and rewarding hobby, consider model ships. There are many different types of kits available these days, so you’re sure to find the ideal one for you. Traditionally, these models were crafted out of wood and often still are. However, many modern kits can also be found in plastic or metal as well. Kits come in varying degrees of difficulty for builders of all skill levels. There are kits appropriate for kids as well as more advanced kits for teens and adults. Not only that, but there are an extraordinary selection of ship types from which you can choose.

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Thanks to the success of the recent Pirates of the Caribbean films starring actors Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom, the subject of pirates is a quite popular one these days. Of course, with pirate ship model builders, they have always been a favorite subject. The basic gist of things is that pirates from the 15th to the 18th century were ocean going thieves who conquered other ships and stole any treasure they managed to find. The romantic ideal of the pirate is enduring yet historically inaccurate as most were poor, sickly, unwashed individuals with short life spans and few moral values. Regardless, you may want or need pirates for model ships to make your model more accurate and interesting.

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Most everyone knows that you can build scale models of cars, planes and boats with materials such as wood, plastic and metal. But did you know that you can use paper to build such models as well? The art of crafting replicas from paper is one of the lesser known pursuits in the model building world but is one that can be fun and fulfilling. Many hobbyists with an interest in military history enjoy building paper model battle ships. In this article you’ll learn more about the basics of this craft and where to find detailed plans for lots of vessels.

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Lots of people enjoy building model cars, planes and boats from kits. When it comes to model ships, you can find all kinds of great kits available these days. There are Viking ships, historic ships, ancient ships, sailboats, yachts, warships and more from which you can choose. Most kits are made from one of three materials — wood, plastic or metal. Wood model ships are the most traditional, while plastic models are the most common. Metal model ships are harder to find in kit form, but can be located in specialty shops or even online. Sometimes, you can even find great kits on Ebay.

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Constructing model ships is an enjoyable and relaxing pursuit. If you’re new to this hobby, it helps to learn more before getting started. The three most popular materials for model ships are wood, metal and plastic. Many crafters prefer plastic as it is readily available, easy to work with, and suitable for beginners. This being said, there are certainly plenty of plastic kits that are also suitable for advanced builders. You’ll find that when shopping for plastic model ships in kit form, the skill level is displayed on the box. There are beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. You’ll even find kits made for young children that don’t require any glue.

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Within the world of model ships, there are many different categories. There are sailing vessels, yachts, Viking ships and historic ships which include famed naval ships. Model navy ships are a favorite of collectors and model builders because of their national significance. Plus, there are a variety of them for hobbyists to choose from. For example, there are ships from many different eras with names like the USS Oregon, USS Lexington, USS Roosevelt and USS Nimitz, just to name a few!

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The RMS Titanic just might be the most well-known ship in history. Not only is it famous for its massive size, but for its legendary sinking that inspired the extremely successful film of the same name starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet as doomed lovers. The extravagant ship sank on April 14, 1912, resulting in significant loss of life. To this day, explorers take sophisticated equipment to the bottom of the sea in an attempt to locate and recover lost treasures from the ill fated vessel. Many model builders choose a Titanic model ship as a project because it is challenging and historically significant.

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Does model ship building sound like a fun hobby to you? If so, you will need to find scale plans for model ships before you begin. Basically, model ships are scaled down versions of their larger counterparts. The size can vary from tiny to rather large, with most models being of appropriate size to display on a shelf. Many hobby builders enjoy using kits, which contain everything you need to construct the ship, including the plans. There are all kinds of kits available which span a wide range of ships and boats.

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You probably already know about model ship kits made from materials like wood, plastic and metal, but did you know there are also paper model ships that you can make? It’s true — paper is a popular material for many hobbyist ship model builders. You can even find free paper model ships, which allow you to try your hand at this craft before deciding whether or not it’s right for you. Paper may also be referred to as card, so when doing research you may want to look for not only paper models but card models as well.

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Scratchbuilt wooden model ships are models that are made from scratch. This means the builder did not use a pre-packaged kit, but rather crafted the model using raw materials that had to be cut, shaped, sanded and placed by hand. This type of wooden model ship is definitely for advanced builders or those with a good grasp of woodworking. There are many collectors who seek out and pay varying sums of money for handmade ships of this type. There are all kinds of scratch built ships from which you can choose.

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