thanks for the feedback all
@Jim: yes, a step by step approach is what I've been looking for.
@Wilfried: let say I have the technical drawing of the ship. front, side, top, bottom view. usually I will match the top and side view, crop it a little then scale it down to my desired scale - than print it out.
after that, I try to make the pattern out of it. Biggest challenge was and still, I can't find an efficient way to 'map' the curve side of the bow to a flat pattern in paper.
(picture will talk more than words
, I attach currently the biggest challenge for me to make a paper ship pattern)