Hey guys, I've got a hankering for building one of those grey floaty things right now - I've not built one since I was a kid, probly Airfix's HMS Leandar 20+ years ago!

But reading a detailed account of the Battle of Leyte Gulf in One Day in a Very Long War has awakened a desire to build something different to planes and tanks, only I don't have a single ship kit in my prodigious stash!

So guys, what kit(s) would you recommend for a newbie to ship modelling? My natural leaning is towards Carriers, but I think that might be running before I can walk. I just want a kit that is easy to build, good detail, good value for money and readily available. Oh, and not mountains of PE (but a little is OK)).

WW2 preferably, but modern is OK too. 100% accuracy isn't important to me as I couldn't tell a cruiser from a battleship to be honest!

Many thanks

Hey Neil

first 5 would like to Welcome you aboard MSW! It's always nice to see a modeler turn to the Wet Side - once you'll get your feet wet, you'll never leave

As for an advice, I could suggest the following:
Plastic: Tamiya Fletcher or any DD - you can try to replicate soem of the reading you've been done about Leyte Gulf
Tom's Modelworks PE sets for DD's will make the ship better looking and it's not a ton of PE to add (railling, radar screens and depth charge storage and rolling racks will enhance greatly the model)

Resin: Battlefleet Models have a couple of small, interesting and easy models that already have the PE set included. For instance, you can check this 1:700 Cherokee fleet tug kit No big guns, but a very interesting subject that will make you proud

Sea base: although a newbie in ships, I would suggest to try and make a sea base for your model. It will look great in it's element.
You can browse our features to get the idea and you can follow different types of making water here:
Wet Your Ships - how to make small scale water
Making a Water Base, Step-by-Step
Making Rough Water

Hope this helps and keep us posted with your progresses - if help is needed, just ask!
Skipper

Neil
Your luck is in, the range of ship models around at the moment is quite outstanding. There are plenty of WW2 subjects, I would suggest go with a plastic kit to start of as they are a little easier to work with (and cheaper) unless you are used to working with resin?

How about the new Tamiya E class RN destroyer, there is an etched set from White Ensign Models just out and that should make a nice model. Or as Rui says the Tamiya Fletcher or for a Japanese kit anything by Skywave, though a little more pricey, will be good. For something a bit larger Dragon does some good US cruisers and there is the recent Independance class escort carrier, or for that matter the Tamiya Bogue. Also by Tamiya is their range of cruisers and battleships which are all good value and build up well. My recommendation would be have a browse around a site such as Hannants and see what is available, pick out a few things you like the look of and come back and ask for comments on the kits you have picked. Also there is the white ensign models site www.whiteensignmodels.com have a look through their list and see what takes your fancy.

Mike

Neil:

Welcome. There are so many to choose from. Take your time and pick out something you will like. I can tell you that most of the plastic 700 scale kits from the likes of Tamiya, Hasegawa, Trumpeter, and Aoshima all are great kits. I would lean towards cruisers, Battleships, or aircraft carriers in this scale. There are probably close to 100 you can choose from and I am sure Great Models has a few on sale. If you want something bigger and want to go with adding some pretty easy PE, look to the Tamiya 350 scale kits. They have battleships and a destroyer. You can get a special PE set for each ship, or just buy generic 350 scale rail kits. I prefer the larger kits even though they take up twice the room as they are more detailed than their smaller brethern.

Hi Neil

I only just started building ships myself this year after picking up the Matchbox 1/700th scale "Battleship Graf Spee"


here's a link to my forum thread:
[http://armorama.co.uk/forums/99255#819875]

hope this helps you decide
Steve C (Jnr)

P.S.
Must have done something right :

Congrats Steve!

Neil, I would steer you more towards carriers because you don't have as much of the deck detail as you do in a surface combatant. Try one of Dragon's 1/700 Essex class carriers. Good detail but not as complicated as Trumpeter's kits.

Gator

Thanks for the replies guys - I shall nip into my LHS and browse the ship shelves instead of ingoring them

I joined this forum/web site just in time! Back to the hobby after (gasp!) 30 years... and picked up dragon essex carrier as first ship (well second, if you count the ubiquitous revell JFK PT boat Im building with my daughter!).

Seems 700 scale is good one to start, if you have not used PE before? 350 would look sort of naked without AMs... also figured carrier easier build than BB, dealing with a flat (deck) surface and line painting, vis-a-vis lots of curved structures and hidden details.

Or maybe Im misinformed?? Cheers!

I believe the same way James. It's much easier to assemble a flattop than an other warship.

And welcome to MSW!
Gator

A little off topic here, but I think it applies.
Pick up Mike Ashley's two books on model ships. A wealth of knowledge on ship building. IMHO

Thanks for the welcome... I picked up a Mike Ashey book from FSM.. let me see which one.. Basics of Ship Modeling! I was/am very impressed with the book, more in depth and thorough than the aircraft "how to" books from Kalmback books.. which is the other book? This one: Building & Detailing Scale Model Ships: The Complete Guide to Building, Detailing, Scratchbuilding, and Modifying Scale Model Ships by Mike Ashey

thanks again! jim

Hi Jim,

The other book is, Basics of Ship Modeling: The Illustrated Guide
By Mike Ashey

Edit:

Yes, that is the other book. Sorry my trifocals are old like me

Well guys, I went into my LHS today and they didn't have any of those nice new escort carriers So in the end I decided to get the 1/700 Trumpeter USS Pittsburgh, CA-72 which looked a nice kit with no PE, and a plane

Right now the hardest thing looks to be that splinter camo on the hull! 8-

Look out for an IP thread soon, with lots of newbie questions!

We'll be here to help you

Skipper