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Wooden Ship Modeling for Dummies
or
Learning from Pictures


More than 200 video-clips and more than 3,000 photos and files.


    Summary for Visitors

  • Clic here to see one example of a paragraph from Chapter 17 - Hull: First Planking Without Stealer
  • = Video(s) in the Chapter
  • Part 1    - What a Model Builder Should Know
  • Part 2.1 - Construction from Kit to Scratch
  • Part 2.2 - Practicums on Typical Models
  • Part 2.3 - Construction from Scratch (S/B)
  • Part 3    - How to Improve One's Kit

  • images/02442.jpg (49162 octets)

    Part 1 - What a Model Builder Should Know   images/010.gif (141 octets)

  • 01 - Choosing a First Model
  • 02 - Adhesives, Glues
  • 03 - Tools to Measure, File, Grate, Cut
  • 04 - Tools to Bore, Grip, Tighten, Curve, Nail
  • 05 - Home-made Tools
  • 06 - Selected Products
  • 07 - Tips & Tricks   
  • 08 - Tips & Tricks per category   

  • images/01109v.jpg (55692 octets)


    Part 2.1 - Construction from Kit to Scratch   images/010.gif (141 octets)

  • Chapter 1 - The Kit


  •        1 - The Box
           2 - Plans
           3 - Wooden Parts
           4 - Brass Parts and Others
           5 - Ropes
           6 - Glues
           7 - Conclusion


  • Chapter 2 - Starboard, the Good Side
  • images/01597f.jpg (40268 octets)


  • Chapter 3 - "Backbone" and Bulkheads, Assemblies

    images/6051.jpg (16199 octets)  images/6052.jpg (14120 octets)


  •        1 - The First Assembly
           2 - The Keel
           3 - Checking Bulkheads
           4 - Gluing Stern Parts Square
           5 - Three Checkings before Gluing
           6 - First Gluing
           7 - Final Gluing


  • Chapter 4 - Decks

    images/4012.jpg (46718 octets)


  •        1 - Decks
           2 - Gun Carriages on the Second Deck
           3 - Installing Decks Before Plankings


  • Chapter 5 - Timberheads


  •             Introduction
           1 - The Example of L'Astrolabe
           2 - Checking the Height of the Bulwark
           3 - Pattern for the Bulwark Layout
           4 - Installing the Bulwark
           5 - Inner Planking of the Bulwark
           6 - Installing Timberheads
           7 - Symmetric Gunports
           8 - Do we Have to Cut Timberheads?
           9 - S/B - Installation of ceiling planks or ceiling planking


  • Chapter 6 - Caulked Decks
  • images/01830.jpg (44648 octets)

           1 - The Choice for Plankings is Huge
           2 - Conversions According to Scales
           3 - Preparing Strips
           4 - Marking Strips
           5 - Cutting and Marking Planks
           6 - Gluing Strips or Planks
           7 - Simplified Caulking  
           8 - Finishing Off the Planking


  • Chapter 7 - Pegged Decks
  • images/02842.jpg (46462 octets)

           1 - A Word On Treenails  
           2 - False Treenails
           3 - Cutting Real Treenails  
           4 - How To Stick Treenails  
           5 - Cutting Treenails  
           6 - S/B - Case of "Le Boullongne" 1:48  
           7 - Nails  
           8 - Brasswires


  • Chapter 8 - Gratings and Ladders

  •        1 - Verifying Before Cutting
           2 - Assembling Ledges of Gratings
           3 - Assembling Frames of Gratings
           4 - Fitting Gratings on Deck
           5 - Angle of Inclination of Ladders


  • Chapter 9 - Bow and Stern Filler Blocks
  • images/1077.jpg (51070 octets)

           1 - Return To the Past
           2 - Layout of a Stern Filler Block
           3 - Cutting and Sizing of a Filler Block
           4 - Last Control Before Gluing a Filler Block
           5 - Defect to be Corrected
           6 - S/B - Checks Hull Horizontal Lines  


  • Chapter 10 - Bulwarks - Cap Rails and Gun Ports

  •        1 - Drawing and Cutting Main-Rails
           2 - Cutting Openings of Gun Ports
           3 - Installing Cat-Heads, If Needed
           4 - Installing / Gluing Main-Rails
           5 - Follow Your Common Sense
           6 - Other Wooden Gunport Lids  
           7 - S/B - Styrene Hinges  


  • Chapter 11 - Gun Ports and Port-Lids

  •             Introduction
           1 - Supports of Dummy Cannons
           2 - Locations of Gunports
           3 - Cutting Out Gunports
           4 - Gunports into Bulkheads  
           5 - Bulkheads To Be Cut Out
           6 - Assembling Metal Gunport Lids
           7 - Assembling Wooden Gunport Lids
           8 - Follow Your Common Sense
           9 - Other Wooden Gunport Lids


  • Chapter 12 - First Planking - Preparation

  •        1 - Bow and Stern Filler Blocks
           2 - Fitting the Edge of Bulkheads
           3 - Tools for Fitting Bulkheads
           4 - Marking the Location of the First Strake
           5 - Now Add the Keel and the Stem


  • Chapter 13 - First Planking - Installation

  •              Introduction
           1 - Hull with "Double Planking"  
           2 - Hull with "Single Planking"  


  • Chapter 14 - First Planking - Correcting and Finishing

  •        1 - Objectives of a Neat Finishing Off
           2 - First Evaluation
           3 - Tools Needed to Finishing Touches
           4 - Filling Disparities Before Sanding
           5 - Correcting Important Hollows
           6 - Removing or Avoiding Undulations
           7 - Final Controls
           8 - Finishing Hulls with Simple Planking


  • Chapter 15 - Second Planking - Size of Strakes

  •        1 - Tools
           2 - Easy as 2+2 = 4
           3 - Calculation of a "Main Strake"
           4 - Jigs to Profile Strakes
           5 - Layout, Cut and Finish of a Strake
           6 - Correcting the Strake Profile  
           7 - Stealers in the Finishing Planking  


  • Chapter 16 - Second Planking - Installation
  • images/03122.jpg (118998 octets)

                Introduction  
           1 - Tools
           2 - Checking Strips
           3 - Hull without Wales
           4 - Hull with Wales
           5 - Reminder of Techniques
           6 - Fitting Ends of Strakes
           7 - Last Four Strakes
           8 - S/B - The "scarf of bending"  
           9 - Another Method of Planking  


  • Chapter 17 - Second Planking - Finishing

  •        1 - Tools for Finishing Off
           2 - Sequences for Proceeding
           3 - A Good Position for Sanding
           4 - Doubling the Keel and the Stem
           5 - Caulking  
           6 - Dyeing
           7 - Varnishing
           8 - Rudder and Stern Post
           9 - Drawing the Waterline
           10 - Painting the Hull  


  • Chapter 18 - Gallery
  • images/03017.jpg (78986 octets)

                Introduction.
           1 - Reference Points
           2 - Installing the Transom
           3 - Preparing the Installation of Sides
           4 - Installing Gallery Sides
           5 - Installing the Laser-carved Panel
           6 - Installing Carved Side Panels
           7 - Finishing Mouldings
           8 - Glass Windows
           9 - Glass Windows With Cross Bars   
           10 - Front of the Boullongne's Aft-Castle  
           11 - S/B - Relief Patterns  
           12 - S/B - Carving the Model Name  
           13 - S/B - Various Sculptures  
           14 - S/B - Making a Cast for Repetitive Sculptures  
           15 - S/B - Glass Windows With Cross Bars  
           16 - S/B - Other Moulded Sculptures
           17 - S/B - Quarter Galleries  


  • Chapter 19 - Blocks, Seizings, Hearts & Splices

  •              Introduction
           1 - Rounding The Blocks   (video)   
           2 - Cutting Small Blocks  
           3 - Dye Small Blocks Quickly
           4 - The Hearts  
           5 - Hardening Ropes To Thread Them  
           6 - Tackle Elements
           7 - Pre-assembling Tackles with Dead-Eyes  
           8 - Dead-Eyes on Topmast
           9 - ZIP Seizings  
           10 - Series Seizings
           11 - Various Seizings
           12 - Collars on Spars
           13 - Rope Strops
           14 - Iron Strops
           15 - Mast Gammonings
           16 - Deck Coils  
           17 - Knots
           18 - Splices For All The Ropes  


  • Chapter 20 - Rigging Ropes

  •             Introduction
           1 - Diameter of the Running Rigging
           2 - Diameter of the Standing Rigging
           3 - Belaying a Line on a Belaying Pin  
           4 - Coiling a Line on a Deck  


  • Chapter 21 - Armament - Guns and Carriages

  •             Introduction.
           1 - Dyeing Wheels and Gun Carriages
           2 - Assembling Gun Carriages (kit)
           3 - Setting Up and Varnishing Axles and Wheels
           4 - Fitting and Finishing Gun Carriages
           5 - Axes and Keys of Axles
           6 - The Highlight of the End
           7 - S/B - Assembling Gun Carriages  


  • Chapter 22 - Armament - Rigging Guns

  •        1 - Standard Rigging of a Gun
           2 - Ring Bolts of Gun Carriages
           3 - Breeching  
           4 - Blocks and Tackles
           5 - Anchoring Rear Tackles
           6 - Setting a Gun Carriage and its Rigging
           7 - Tension of Tackles, Coiling of Lines
           8 - General View of the Battery of L'Astrolabe


  • Chapter 23 - Armament - Blacken Guns

  •        1 - Two Ways of Blackening Guns
           2 - Painting Guns in Black
           3 - Darkening Guns with an Oxidizer  
           4 - Setting Up Axes (Trunnions) of Guns


  • Chapter 24 - Acrylic Base & Wall Display Bases

  •             Introduction
           1 - Tools
           2 - Quite a Lot of Time
           3 - Crossbar and Reinforcement
           4 - Last Fitting
           5 - Last Fitting
           6 - Wall Display Base for Bigger Models
           7 - Wall Display Base for Smaller Models
           8 - Acrylic Showcase
           9 - Mural Showcases
           10 - Classic Showcases
           11 - Showcases "House of Cards"  
           12 - Transparent base at the water line  


  • Chapter 25 - Channels and Pin Rails

  •             Introduction.
           1 - Tools
           2 - Construction of Channels
           3 - Preparation of Deadeyes with Chainplates
           4 - Brazing Chains Of Stays And Back Stays  
           5 - Assembling Pin Rails
           6 - Drilling and Finishing Pin Rails
           7 - Precise Assembling/Gluing
           8 - Specifications of the "Musée de la Marine" (Paris)


  • Chapter 26 - Deck Racks

  •        1 - Tools
           2 - "Diamond" Cut  
           3 - Assembling
           4 - Additional Finish
           5 - Stain, Varnish and Nails
           6 - Installing Racks


  • Chapter 27 - Running Rigging - Pre Positioning

  •             Introduction
           1 - Length of Lines
           2 - Coiling Lines
           3 - Placing Coils on Belaying Pins


  • Chapter 28 - Deck Cleats and Rings

  •             Introduction
           1 - Tools for Fitting 11mm (7/16") Cleats
           2 - Cleats of 11mm (7/16")
           3 - Tools for Fitting 6mm (1/4") Cleats
           4 - Cleats of 6mm (1/4")
           5 - Deck Rings


  • Chapter 29 - Deck Structures

  •             Introduction.
           1 - Small Joinings
           2 - Scale Errors
           3 - Few Deck Structures on L'Astrolabe
           4 - S/B - Boats of Le Boullongne (1: 48)


  • Chapter 30 - The Head

  •             Introduction.
           1 - Head Timbers
           2 - Gratings Head
           3 - Fitting and Setting Head Rails
           4 - The Figurehead
           5 - Carving a Figurehead: "Lion + Armorial Bearings"   


    >>>   From here, the hull cannot be turned upside down   <<<


  • Chapter 31 - Masts and Sails

  •             Introduction.
           1 - Masts, Identification
           2 - Yards and Sails, Identification
           3 - Standing Rigging, Identification
           4 - Running Rigging, Identification
           5 - New Sequence for Stepping Masts


  • Chapter 32 - Masttops - Assembling

  •             Introduction
           1 - Trestletrees and Crosstrees
           2 - Planking the Top
           3 - Deadeyes  
           4 - Guardrail and Safety Net
           5 - Blocks
           6 - S/B - Top  
           7 - S/B - Top, Blocks and Belaying Pins  


  • Chapter 33.1 - Tops - Assembling

  •        Introduction
           1 - Trestletrees and Crosstrees
           2 - Planking the Masttop
           3 - Deadeyes  
           4 - Guardrail and Safety Net
           5 - Blocks
           6 - S/B - Top, Scratch Building  
           7 - S/B - Blocks and Belaying Pins of Tops  


  • Chapter 33.2 - Masts - Finishing, Assembling

  •        1 - Painting and Hooping Lower Masts  
           2 - Fish of Parrel and Bibbs
           3 - Preparation of Components
           4 - Mast Caps in Wood or Brass  
           5 - Assembling Lower Top and Topgallant Masts
           6 - Assembling Lower Mast, Topmast and Topgallant Mast


  • Chapter 34 - Masts - Stepping

  •        1 - Sequence for Stepping Masts
           2 - A Plumbline
           3 - A Spirit Level
           4 - Your Floor and the Masttop
           5 - Consolidating a Bad Gluing


  • Chapter 35 - Deadeyes, Shrouds and Ratlines

  •             Introduction.
           1 - Seizings of Shrouds and Backstays
           2 - Deadeyes of the Masttop
           3 - Tension of Masttop Shrouds  
           4.1 - Ratlines of the Masttop  
           4.2 - Ratlines "Express"  
           5 - Deadeyes on Channels
           6 - Tension of Low Mast Shrouds
           7 - Chainplates
           8 - Ratlines of the Low Mast  
           9 - Deadeyes and ZIP Seizings  


  • Chapter 36 - Yards - Assembling

  •        1 - Yard Parts
           2 - Tools for Cutting
           3 - Forming Studding Sail Boom Irons
           4 - Setting up Studding Sail Yards
           5 - Setting up Jeer Blocks
           6 - How to Hold a Yard
           7 - Footropes  
           8 - Blocks of the Yard Ends
           9 - S/B - Cutting the Parts of A Yard  
           10 - S/B - Irons of A yard (video)
           11 - S/B - Assembling A Yard
           12 - S/B - Turning A Square Strip  


  • Chapter 37 - Yards - Installing & Running Rigging

  •             Introduction
           1 - Yard Halyards and Jeers
           2 - Lifts
           3 - Braces
           4 - Tacks


  • Chapter 38 - Masts - The Fore Mast

  •        1 - Fore Mast Parts
           2 - Sequence for Stepping
           3 - Stays
           4 - Yard Tackles


  • Chapter 39 - Masts - The Bowsprit

  •             Warning
           1 - The Bowsprit Parts
           2 - Blocks and Hearts
           3 - The Jib Traveller
           4 - False Seizings
           5 - Adjusting and Fixing the Bowsprit
           6 - Don't Forget
           7 - The Spritsail Yard and its Standing Rigging


  • Chapter 40 - Masts - Mizzenmast

  •             Introduction.
           1 - Parts of the Mizzen Sail
           2 - Goose-Necks
           3 - The Boom
           4 - The Gaff


  • Chapter 41 - Crow's Feet

  •        1 - Why do we need Crow's Feet ?
           2 - Same Tension for Arms
           3 - Freezing and Finishing Crow's Feet
           4 - Many Kinds of Anchorings


  • Chapter 42 - Sails - Sizing and Sewing

  •             Introduction
           1 - Preparing the Material
           2 - Adjusting the Sewing Machine
           3 - Copying Sails Plans
           4 - Hems And Boltropes   
           5 - Tack Loops And Brail Lines   
           6 - Brass Bolt Ropes And Bowline bridles   


  • Chapter 43 - Sails - Forming and Installing

  •             Introduction
           1 - Stainless Steel Wire
           2 - Making Wind Blown Sails  
           3 - False Sheet and False Tackle
           4 - Reef Lines and Reef Points  
           5 - Furled Square Sails
           6 - Sequence for Installing the Sails


  • Chapter 44 - Sails - Jibs

  •        1 - The 3 Points of a Jib
           2 - Stays
           3 - Preparing a Jib
           4 - Installing Jibs


  • Chapter 45 - Anchors and Catheads

  •        1 - Anchor Parts
           2 - Cutting Stocks
           3 - Dyeing, Hoops and Finishing the Anchor
           4 - Location of Anchors


  • Chapter 46 - Launches

  •             Introduction.
           1 - The Launch of the Astrolabe
           2 - The Launches of the Algonquin (First version)
           3 - The Launches of the Algonquin (Second version)


  • Chapter 47 - Flags and Pennants

  •             Introduction.
           1 - Printing and Cutting
           2 - Shaping
           3 - Tie of a Flag
           4 - Tie of a Pennant



images/01552v.jpg (58785 octets)


Part 2.2 - Practicums on Typical Models   images/010.gif (141 octets)

"Armed Launch" (1:16) by Panart
  • 01- A Special Construction
  • 02 - Laying the Outer Planking
  • 03 - Finishing Outside
  • 04 - Finishing Inside
  • 05 - Rudder, Iron Pieces & Tiller
  • 06 - Equipement & Accessories
  • 07 - Launch under Sails

images/02443.jpg (58399 octets)


"Le Renard" (1:50) by Artesania Latina
  • 01 - Keel, Bulheads & Deck
  • 02 - First Planking, Installation & Finishing
  • 03 - Second Planking, Installation
  • 04 - Second Planking, Finishing
  • 05 - Rudder
  • 06 - Deck Planking
  • 07 - Deck Structures
  • 08 - Bulwarks & Gun Ports
  • 09 - Gun Ports & Port Lids
  • 10 - The Carronades
  • 11 - Tiller Roof
  • 12 - Channels, Pin Rails & Bitts
  • 13 - Running Rigging on Belaying Pins
  • 14 - Running Rigging on Cleats  
  • 15 - Bowsprit
  • To be continued


images/02437.jpg (69457 octets)


"U.S. Brig Niagara" (1:64) by Model Shipways

  • Introduction
  • 01 - Bulkheads & False Keel
  • 02 - Filler Blocks, Bow & Stern Timbers
  • 03 - Stiffeners, Waterways & Carronade Planksheers
  • 04 - Ports
  • 05 - Deck Planking  
  • 06 - Hull Planking  
  • 07 - Finishing the Hull
  • 08 - Launches
  • 09 >- Launches and Boat, Finishing
  • To be continued


images/03493.jpg (65992 octets)

"Sciabecco del 1753" (1:60) by AMATI
  • First impressions
  • 01 - The Framework - Pre-assembly frames + false keel
  • 02 - The Framework - Assembly And Glueing
  • 03 - Decks Planking  
  • To be continued


images/03681.jpg (104978 octets)

"Golden Yacht 1678" (1:300) by AMATI
  • 01 - Evaluation
  • 02 - Another Method of Building


images/03681.jpg (104978 octets)

"Boston Whitehall Tender" (1:14) by MIDWEST Products
  • 01 - Hull Planking  
  • 02 - Hull Finishing
  • To be continued


Part 2.3 - Construction from Scratch (S/B)   images/010.gif (141 octets)

  • Introduction

images/01792v.jpg (59968 octets)


"Bluenose" (1:48)

  • 01 - Inventory & Materials
  • 02 - Bulkheads & False Keel
  • 03 - Decks
  • 04 - Decks, Planking
  • 05 - Central Beam & Waterways
  • 06 - Protection of Decks & False Bulkheads
  • 07 - Hull Planking (1)
  • 08 - Hull Planking (2)
  • 09 - Timberheads & Bulwarks
  • 10 - Dories, Assembling the Hull
  • 11 - Dories, Finishing
  • 12 - Main Rail
  • 13 - Monkey Rail and Buffalo Rail
  • 14 - Hull, Finishing Off and Painting
  • 15 - Rigging - Mast Circles  
  • 16 - Deck Structures
  • 17 - Bowsprit  
  • 18 - Main-mast  
  • 19 - Booms and Gaffs
  • 20 - The sails - Forming  
  • To be continued


images/02527r.jpg (68602 octets)

"La Belle Poule" (1:85) monograph
  • Introduction
  • 1 - The Framework
  • To be continued


images/03300.jpg (83052 octets)

"Le Boullongne" 1:48


  • 01 - Introduction & Materials
  • 02 - Building Jig
  • 03 - Artillery  
  • 04 - Installing Bulkheads
  • 05 - Filler Blocks  
  • 06 - Tree-nailing the Planks
  • 07 - First Hull Planking  
  • 08 - Carvings
  • 09 - The Head  
  • 10 - Forecastle and Quarter-deck  
  • 11 - Rigging  
  • 12 - Bowsprit  
  • 13 - Foremast
  • 14 - Main Mast  



images/02447.jpg (68083 octets)

Partie 3 - How to Improve One's Kit   images/010.gif (141 octets)

  • 01 - Objectifs
  • 02 - Documentation
  • 03 - Bow and Stern Filler Blocks
  • 04 - Timberheads (Brackets) and Gun Ports
  • 05 - Hooks and Oars
  • 06 - Hammocks Placed in Gangway Nettings
  • 07 - "Active" Sails
  • 08 - Dowelled Planks
  • 09 - Finishing Gunwales
  • 10 - Guns
  • 11 - Photograph your Own Model
  • 12 - Glass Windows on Galleries
  • 13 - Building Octagonal Mast Sections
  • 14 - Mast Caps
  • 15 - Launches from Mantua
  • To be continued
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Copyright © 2013 Hubert Sicard
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