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

Many people would love to build a mantel-quality model of a sailing ship but are intimidated by seemingly arcane terminology and two left hands. In Ship Modeling Simplified, master model builder Frank Mastini puts on paper the methods he's developed over 30 years at the workbench, to help novices take their first steps in this growing pastime. Mastini guides readers patiently through the mysteries of choosing a kit, setting up a workshop, deciphering instructions-and even displaying finished models. He reveals dozens of shortcuts: how to plank a hull, how to build and rig complicated mast assemblies, and how to create sails that actually look like sails. Along the way he offers pointers that will keep beginners on the right track, preventing the common mistakes that can cause even the most patient modeler to take a hammer to his project in frustration.