Brockley Combe - Scratch Built

[Glendwr]

Before anyone reads further, this is my first attempt at scratch building, or paper / card modeling for that matter. I built a number of plastic models from kits in my youth, but never liked the way they looked. I find that I am much more obsessive in my old age.

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For Christmas I received from my Amazon.com wishlist a book by Edwin Leaf entitled: Ship Modeling from Scratch: Tips and Techniques for Building Without Kits. I decided I would build a 1938 Coastal Freighter by the name Brockley Combe that was recommended as an easy scratch build by Leaf. After discovering this site I was inspired to build it out of paper and cardboard, but using the techniques that Leaf suggested (which I modified only slightly).

Note that you will see many rookie mistakes here as I move along. I figure, I might as well make all my mistakes on the same model rather than start again.

Next time - The First Attempt.

Have Fun!


Jon Benignus

[Michael Mash]

Welcome to the forum.
It will be a pleasure to watch you blaze a new trail with your freighter.
Mike

[Glendwr]

So it is the first days after Christmas and I read my new book about scratch building model ships. I want to try out some techniques so I am going to get some shipping boxes left over from Christmas. My wife (who is a better engineer than I am) says "Don't use corrugated cardboard." Did I listen to her? Of course not. "Everything will be fine dear." Yea right.

Pictured below are the results in corrugated cardboard with box cutters.

I abandon this attempt and started over.

Next - New tools, for a new hobby

Have Fun!


Jon Benignus

[Sammuel]

Glendwr;

I also need to get the same book. I'm a plastic 1/700 ship builder but would like to try larger scales. The price tag for this day and age is what scares me off on the larger models.
I have gained so much info from this group and some plastic model groups I belong to. My skill have improved greatly in just the past year.
I to would like to take on the challange of a true scratch build. I will follow along with your build and see what I could learn along the way.

Sam

[Glendwr]

Now it is New Year's Eve and I want to do some shipbuilding as the New Year comes in, so my wife (who knows more about crafts than I do) takes me to Michael's and Hobby Lobby to buy new tools. We got new glue, stacks of 3x5 index cards, an X-acto and an Excel knife (I wanted a saw blade that only Excel sold, but I have never used that blade with paper or cardstock), a cutting mat, and some basic drafting tools.

Life is much easier with proper tools

Next - I finally get started (for the second time).


Have Fun!


Jon Benignus

[redhorse]

I've got that book too. This will be very interesting seeing the ship built. Good luck!

[Glendwr]

I used my scanner and my Gimp software (freeware that does the same job as Photoshop). I scaled the images to be exactly the size that I wanted 1/8 inch = 1 foot or 1/96th scale.

Finally, I printed out the false keel or backbone using 3 sheets of paper and cut them out. You can see the new backbone with the previous incarnation (SS Garbage Scow) in the background.

Next - It's a Bird! It's a plane! No wait ... it sort of looks like a ship.

Have Fun!


Jon Benignus

[Glendwr]

And at long last we have the current model with all the bulkheads assembled into the backbone. Note that I have inserted 2 dowels about 1 cm away from the backbone to provide stability and straightness. I saw Doris do this with her excellent Sovereign of the Seas.

Wow it actually looks straight! Sort of ship like too.

It has been over a week since I took pictures. The ship is in the process of being planked with 3x5 index cards. I am working on a system of itty bitty "steel" plates complete with rivets that I will glue to the outside of the hull. But you will probably have to wait until next weekend to see those.

Have Fun


Jon Benignus

[CREL]

Its looking good. I must get that book,as I see its on Amazon. By the way, live about 5 miles from Brockley Combe, it's in the Mendip hills in Somerset.

Keith M

[whulsey]

Off to a great start and as your sign off says looks like you're having fun.