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[tony52]

Help wanted please,

I have no more room for any more model boats, all my storage space has been taken up, and I am reluctant to sell any. Some should really be disposed of but I can't bear to part with them. (is this a form of OCD?).

Is the way forward to build electronic models? If so I haven't a clue where to start, and would like to see how these look as finished items before I spend my hard earned 'spending money' on software etc. Which software would I need?, are electronic kits available?

Any help would be appreciated.
Tony.

[dreadnought72]

In answer to the question...

No.

I work with computers on a daily basis, and have a range of draughting and 3d software at my disposal - but there's nothing quite so "present" as a model you can touch, feel and move your head around.

There's something a bit soulless about the views of ships made on PCs and manipulated by a mouse. It's like "early CGI" - too clean, too perfect. A physical model can give a sense of architectural mass, layout and form (along with grime and "use") that currently created computer generated ones seem to lack.

Maybe***, in the future, we'll have the software and the ability to make realistic ships on the computer: accurately model waves and seas, populate them with crews, generate all the black smoke we want - run a "virtual" harbour/battlegroup with the same acumen that the scale railway modellers want their circuits to achieve - but for those of us who've made models with hand/eye coordination and employed craft skills that are learnt or self-taught, there's nothing quite like it. For me, at least, it's a break from "pushing digits" during the nine-to-five.

I rather hope (types this technophile) it stays that way. After all, does seeing a print of a work by a favorite artist bring you anything like the same feeling as seeing the real thing?

That said I have used and will continue to use PCs to scale stuff, fair curves and check out dimensions/buoyancy before cutting. It'd be mad not too. And I have enjoyed seeing B&W photos of ships colourised by skilled Photoshop artists. Maybe if the storage is a problem, an answer would be to scale down things, store them elsewhere, or look to the more creative aspects of using a computer in the hobby?

Andy

***Reflecting on this - it's not "maybe", it's "certainly". Looking at the evolution of Microsoft's Flight Sim and where it is today, there's every likelihood that a Matrix-like world of virtual entertainment will become affordable and will find a place. But it's not there yet.

[SteamboatPhil]

Build small boats 

[Vintage]

Noooooo - get a bigger shed 

[dreadnought72]

Mmmmmmm ... "shed". Wish I had one.

Andy

[Roger in France]

Tony52,

Have you thought of loaning some models to an institution such as a museum, library, shop with nautical clothing, a school? there are many possibilities where you get storage and they get an objet d'art.

Roger in France

[tony52]

Thanks all for all the help,

After reading the reply from Andy it would appear electronic modeling still has a long way to go.

I will have to review my storage facilities and keep enjoying building, (cursing!!) and sailing.

Thanks again,
Tony