Are you looking for a model ship to build but don’t know where to start? Model ship building has a huge following around the world. Model ship kits come in levels of difficulty for a beginner who is just getting started, to those for an expert builder. They come in sizes from small scale that don’t have a lot of pieces, to kits that may have over a thousand pieces and can take months to build. There are kits for every level of model builder.
How do I pick a model ship to build? First ask yourself:
- What type of boat you like
- What skill level you are able to build
- How large of a ship you want to build
- How much you want to spend
- What material to build– plastic, wood, paper or metal
- How much time you would like to spend building it
Model Ship Guidelines For Beginners
- No more than two masts.
- A single deck level or two at most.
- Rigging which is simple in form.
- A clipper like hull i.e. no bluff or apple shaped bows.
- A ship which only has a few decorations.
- A limited number of cannons.
- Some personal interest whether it be historical, geographical or simply visually appealing.
If you would like to learn more about getting started in this intriguing hobby of boat and ship building, read on.
What Types of Ships Are Made Into Kits?
Every type of boat and ship that has ever sailed has been made into a model kit. All of these model kits are not created equal. Some may be more historically accurate than others, while others may have better scale accuracy.
The level of detail may vary widely from one model to the next. Many kits may not get the small details right so they are not included in the kits. This can be disappointing if you thought you had purchased a kit with more of the finer points.
Here is a list of many of the different types of ships that have been built into model kits.
- Pirate Ship Model Kits
- Age of sail ships
- Submarines
- Carriers
- WW1 Warships
- Post WW2 Warships
- Pirate ships
- Civilian Ships
- Civilian Work Boats
- WW2 Warships
- PT boat kits
- Pleasure Craft
- Coast Guard
This is a long list but still doesn’t cover all the types of ships that have been made into model kits. Check on some of the many internet sites and stores that sell ship and boat model kits and you will find a few other types not listed here.
What Skill Levels Are Model Ships Made In?
Model ships and boats difficulty levels are rated from one being the easiest to six, with six being the most difficult to construct. All six ship and boat levels require the builder to be able to read and follow the instructions and interpret the included drawings.
Skill Level 1 – These ship model kits are the best kits for beginners. They can be built with little or no experience. These kits are most often snap together models that may in rare instances require some usage of simple hand tools. These kits are recommended for ages 10 and older.
Skill Level 2 – These ship model kits require the builder to have slightly more skill than level 1with the ability to follow instructions and will require the use of gluing or some knowledge of using hand tools. This level is recommend for modelers 12 years and older with adult guidance.
Skill Level 3 – These ship model kits are intended for the builder to have had some experience building model ship kits. A skill Level 3 kit contains more parts than a level one or two and may require some fabricating of wood, metal or plastic. Skill Level 3 kits require reading and following of detailed instructions. These kits are most often recommended for ages fourteen and older with adult supervision.
Skill Level 4 – These ship model kits are built for the more experienced builder. It is recommended the modeler have experience with completing a model level 3 before attempting a level 4. This kit will require using hand tools to shape and mold some of the parts and is also recommended for ages 14 and older.
Skill Level 5 – These ship model kits are made for the period model ship builder with experience in completing a model 4 kit. Extensive use of hand tools will be required to complete these models.
Skill Level 6 – These ship model kits are made for the expert period ship model builder. These are for builders with lots of experience and patience as they may take months to complete.
What Scale Models Do Model Ships Come In?
For model ship construction the most commonly used standard Imperial measurement scales are: 1:12, 1:24, 1:48, 1:240, 1:360 and up to 1:1200 that is a British and American size for ship and harbor models. At one time Airfix model company produced in this scale. For model ship building the standard Metric measurement scales are: 1:5, 1:10, 1:20, 1:50, 1:100, 1:200, 1:500.
The scale size of a model ship represents the actual physical model ship that is the full size. The scale model tries to represent as close as possible the details of the full size ship it is patterned after. The relative proportions of the scale model to the original is called the scale ratio.
There are some cases where a model may built to a smaller or larger scale if the circumstances require. An example of this would be a smaller size beginners model snap together kit or a large special built model with over one thousand parts and very intricate detail.
While the scales previously listed are the standard scales there are other Imperial scales used in ship models such as 1:36, 1:76, 1:96 and other Metric ship models scales used such as 1:60 and 1:75.
In terms of details of a model with a scale of 1:12, it will have a significant amount of finer detail than can be seen on a smaller scale model with a scale of 1:240.
Where Can I Buy Model Ships And Boats?
For ship and boat model kits typically check eBay first whether it is a new kit or one thats out of production. The next choice for is Amazon as sometimes their prices will be lower or they may be the only site that has the exact model I want. Check the internet sites and your local hobby shop as it pays to shop around.
As for the more detailed higher skill level wooden kits, there are numerous internet stores and hobby shops that carry all levels of these kits. There is a wide variety of models available for beginners to expert. These places will also include most of your metal model ship kits.
Paper model ships have become readily available in the same outlets as wooden and plastic ships. You may have to search a bit harder as they are not as common as the other types.
What Materials Are Model Ships Made Of?
Wooden ships have been the most popular kits for many years. These kits are most likely made up of solid wood and contain two pieces of wood attached to a vertical seam or slab. In the years since world war two plastic molded ships have become quite popular. Paper kits are common in Europe.
There is a great history of ancient ship and boat models that have been found throughout the Mediterranean, especially from ancient Greece, Egypt, and Phoenicia. These models have provided us with valuable information about early seafaring technology and the social and economic importance of seafaring.
These historical models were cast in many different types of materials, including wood, bronze, lead, and clay to name a few.
Today here are four main categories that ship model kits are built of: wood, plastic, paper and metal.
The wooden kits are most likely made up of solid wood and contain two pieces of wood attached to a vertical seam or slabs of wood placed one on the top of another. This will greatly reduce the amount of carving required, but good skills are needed to create an accurate hull form.
A different type of this technique, better known as bread and butter construction is a hull made up from thin blocks of wood glued together with either a horizontal seam which can be built into deck design, or a vertical seam. This lessens the amount of carving required, but still takes a lot of skill to create an accurate form of the hull.
In the years since world war two plastic molded ships have become quite popular. The plastic ship kits can be either injected styrene or resin models. Plastic ship kits are the least expensive of ship kits and are mostly for the level one and level 2 modelers who are just starting this hobby. They sometimes include stick on decals or water-slide decals, turned metal replacement, special colored paints and gun barrels to make them more authentic.
The pioneers of plastic model kit ship making included Airfix, Revell, Frog and Pyro. They have recently had Imai, Tamiya Hasegawa and numerous other companies join them. These model kit makers have shifted over the years to a focus on not just beginner model builders but to also include the intermediate and expert builders.
Paper kits are common in Europe. These are preprinted construction kits and are available in a variety of scales. Though the ship building process with paper is easy if we compare it to other types, it can still be tricky. These ship kits are again good for beginners, who after grabbing the nuances of ship modeling can advance to the higher levels.
As mentioned these kits have a large following in Europe but are also popular in Russia and Japan. Paper model kits ordinarily don’t come packaged in a box, but come in a booklet or a file to be downloaded from the internet, and you can print them at home.
There are paper model kits sold in Europe that are preprinted in many different scale sizes. These kits may seem quite easy but still present the builder with many challenges. These ship kits are excellent for beginners to work on their skills before moving on to harder levels.
Here is a list of types of paper that can be used in paper ship model building:
- Silkspan is a fiber material, not unlike tissue paper but definitely thicker
- Tissue paper, also known as rice paper.
- Paper, Card stock, Fiber Board, and Bristol board
It seems since paper is just a two dimensional tool to work that it may seem quite strange that it can be built into a model ship. There are certain benefits to paper building that we have listed here:
- They are inexpensive
- They come in large formats
- They are easy to cut with hand tools
The last type of kit is made of metal which are a cast lead or similar alloys. However, steel, sheet tin and aluminum brass are also used but less frequently. This group will also include the Metal Earth kits which are quickly gaining in popularity.
Here is a fine example of a 3D metal kit by Fascinations Metal Earth models. This kit comes in three sheets and only requires tweezers and small needle nose pliers to build. It is recommended for ages fourteen and older and is priced around $22.
What Is The Cost Of Model Ship Kits?
A model level one kit with 110 parts is about $30. They will go up from there to where a skill level 6 with over a thousand pieces can cost over $1000. The levels between two through five go from $40 to a few hundred dollars.
The prices of these models can vary more widely that any other types of model kits. Let’s begin with an inexpensive model level 1 for beginners. This is a snap together kit that introduces the use of and has 110 parts to make it a bit of a challenge. The price range is under $30 it is a fun and challenging kit for ages 10 and older.
This is a model of the famous Black Pearl from the movie Pirates of the Carribbean.
This is a skill level 2 that is in 1:600 scale that has 112 parts. This kit will need gluing and painting for completion of the model. Expect to pay under $40 and is recommended for modelers aged 10 and older.
