American Ship Models: Kits

Metal Works 3D Black Pearl Laser Cut Model
Not really a kit for young children. The large, detailed instruction sheet refers you at times to a website, particularly to complete the bottom of the hull. The idea, it seems of ship modeling is to unplug, so we hope that updates of this model will include full printed instructions. This one takes patience, but the finished ship is worth it.

Revell 1:72 Caribbean Pirate Ship
The galleon appeared on the early morning horizon, off the port, bearing down on us from out of the blood-red sunrise. At first, we mistook her for another merchant ship, traveling home from Jamaica or the Bahamas, heavy with cargo. But no, she was moving too fast. As she approached, she dropped her main sail to reveal the skull and crossbones. We went hard to starboard, full speed. praying she would not catch us” and that was the last entry in the journal found floating.

The Ship of the Line (A History in Ship Models)

The work takes the best models from the National Maritime Museum in Greenwich to tell the story of the evolution of the ship of the line, known as the capital ship and epitome of British sea power during its heyday from 1650-1850. This period coincided with the golden age of ship modeling. Each volume depicts over one hundred models in full color photos, including many close-up and detail views. These photos are captioned in depth, but many are also annotated to focus attention on interesting or unusual features. The book weaves the pictures into an authoritative text, producing a unique form of technical history. Ship modelers and those with an interest in the development of ship design during the sailing era will be attracted to the in-depth analysis of this beautifully presented book.

Da Vinci Catapult Kit, Wood, 3B Scientific W64067
Fully functioning, scale model of Leonardo Da Vinci catapult for demonstration of historical launching device. Flings soft clay balls (included) up to 15 feet for realistic reproduction of discharge. Made of wood for durability. Assembly required.

Revell RMS Titanic
1/350 Scale Model
RMS Titanic of Britain’s White Star Corporation was the biggest moving object ever built. She was backed with superior quality and performance. The RMS (Royal Mail Ship) Titanic, an Olympic class luxury passenger liner, sank on April 15, 1912, en route to New York from Southampton, England on its maiden voyage. She had a double-bottomed hull divided into 16 watertight compartments.

The Titanic struck an iceberg on the night of April 14, at 11:40 PM and sank, with great loss of life, at 2:20 AM, on April 15, 1912. The United States Senate investigation reported that 1,517 people perished in the accident, while the British investigation has the number at 1,490. The disaster ranks as one of the worst peacetime maritime disasters in history, and is by far the best known. It carried some of the richest, most powerful industrialists, multi-millionaire entrepreneurs of her day. The sinking of Titanic has been the basis for many novels describing fictionalized events on board the ship, such as Titanic: The Long Night written by Diane Hoh. The book A Night to Remember was made into a movie in 1958 and was also transformed into ‘Titanic: The Musical’, with a book by Peter Stone and music and lyrics by Maury Yeston. The 1997 film Titanic, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet was a critical and commercial hit, winning eleven Academy Awards and holding the record for the highest box office returns of all time.

Waterline Warships:
An Illustrated Masterclass
Philip Reed, Seaforth Publishing
Reed, best known for his superb models of ships from the age of sail, turns his attention to the other highly popular subject for ship modelers-the warships of the Second World War. The book is a step-by-step manual for building a scratch waterline model of the Ca Class destroyer HMS Caesar, the sistership of Cavalier now on display in drydock at Chatham Historical Dockyard. These emergency built ships were launched between 1943 and 1945.

Building Ship Models:
Patterns and Instructions for a Clipper Ship and a Whaler
George B. Douglas, Joseph T. Higgins, et al.
Clearly written text, detailed illustrations and full-size working plans provide novices and experienced model builders with a treasury of information for creating the Benjamin F. Packard, a classic American clipper, and the Alice Mandell, a famous 19th-century whaler. It has useful tips, but isn’t really suitable for the beginning model-maker. This rare edition  also devotes chapters to ship’s rigging (ancient and modern) and  information on clippers and old-time whaling ships. A treasury of essential information for hobbyists, model builders, and devotees of the great age of sail.

The Built-Up Ship Model
(Dover Woodworking)
Charles G. Davis
Dover Trade Paperback
A classic in its field, “The Built-Up Ship Model” is an expert guide aimed at model builders with experience, patience, and a passion for building “the real thing.” Photographs illustrate day-to-day work in progress. Over 100 drawings demonstrate correct implementation of the more complex instructions. In his introduction, the author chronicles the exciting career of the Lexington and the role it played in America’s fight for freedom.

A Day in the Life of a Colonial Shipwright
PowerKids Press, 2004
Canada-Pre Confederation (to 1867)
Part of a series that includes Millers and Glassblowers
Age range: 12 to 16

Describes a day in the life of a shipbuilder in 1777 discussing training, key figures in the field, and steps to building a ship.

Travel back in time and spend a day in the life of a real citizen during the earliest days of our nation. The book is part of a series featuring a person who actually lived and worked during Colonial times. The books offer original period documents, oil paintings, etchings, and woodcuts that portray the colonial era. These primary sources bring depth and authenticity to young readers’ exploration of life before the American Revolution. The captivating stories of these real-life characters, some of them American icons, will make history tangible and fun. John Langdon, a former representative to the second Continental Congress, owned the Langdon Shipyard in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. (Note: Is not always available.)

American Ship Models and How to Build Them
(Dover Maritime)
V. R. Grimwood
Easy-to-learn techniques, arranged in order of difficulty, range from relatively simple models to complicated square-riggers. Starting with the construction of a half-hull ship model, the book advances to a whole-hull model and replicas of twelve vessels, with separate chapters on rigging, gear and furniture, and tools and materials.