Ship Modeling Simplified: Tips and Techniques for Model Construction from Kits

by Frank Mastini

In Ship Modeling Simplified, master model builder Frank Mastini puts to paper the methods he's developed over 30 years at the workbench to help novices take their first steps in an exciting pastime. You don't need the deftness of a surgeon or the vocabulary of an old salt to build a model. What you need is an understanding coach. Mastini leads readers from the mysteries of choosing a kit and setting up a workshop through deciphering complicated instructions and on to painting, decorating, and displaying finished models--with patience and clarity, not condescension. He reveals dozens of How to plank a hull "egg-shell tight"; how to build and rig complicated mast assmeblies without profanity; how to create sails that look like sails. . . . And along the way he points out things that beginners usually do wrong--beforehand, not after they've taken hammers to their projects.

Ship Modeling Simplified even includes an Italian-English dictionary of nautical terms, the key to assembling the many high-quality Italian kits on the American market.

Model building is fun, and not nearly as difficult as some experts would have you believe. Here is everything you'll ever need to get started in a hobby that will last a lifetime.

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference

174 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 1990

Reviews

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book seemed to have good tips, and a good beginning to get into model ship building. Since my wife has a beach theme in our house, and has some simple looking boats around, I thought I could up our game a bit and build some fancier models to display. Going to start small and hope this book was a good first reference to get started.

The book contains tips on the type of models to start with, however, it is a little older, so most of those kits don't exist in stores. You may be able to find them on eBay or at garage sales. There is also a section that offered tool lists based on experience. The majority of the book was tips on how to build the different parts of the ships. Planking, building the masts/yards, and then rigging were discussed, and tips were given on the best ways and the build order to simplify assembly.

The book also included a translation list of Italian ship terms to English, because apparently there are a lot of model ship manufacturers that have plans in Italian, and the terms don't translate all that well.

I plan on getting a beginner model and having a go in the next year, so I can't really say how well this book is actually helpful. In this review, and planning ahead, it seems like it will be a big help with the first build. Internet searching also suggested that it is a good reference to start with too, which is why I bought it in the first place.

[Jbussen · Rating 1 out of 5]

One word. Simplified???

[Krystian Gora · Rating 2 out of 5]

not much in IT. very out of date.

[Joseph Ficklen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful tips on a variety of subjects for ship builders of any level of experience. I especially liked the section on ship’s rigging, it had very clear illustrations of what it was describing.