I asked for help from Mayhemmers, and got some good advice (not all of which I followed this time, but it's in store for the future!). To part repay the debt, here are some nearly-newbie observations:
I wanted to build a scale, historic, sailing, static model. I eventually decided on a Billings kit (Marie-Jeanne, tunny fisher) - reason being it was in the local model shop, which had few boats being mostly aircraft, so limited choice. It's described as beginner/advanced beginner standard. I was able to look at the kit - always a good idea to inspect the goods! All present and correct, although some discrepancies showed later.
Quality: good. Laser-cut parts were clean, the main grouse being 6 blocks not full drilled, and I don't have that fine a drill, and no spares. Even Ikea give you a screw or two more than the plan says, just in case.
Instructions: meagre - I can make sense of them, but it won't look exactly like the photo on the box. Several parts don't fit well (eg there's a gantry (for fish-drying?) which is too long and too low to fit as the photo; there are several mast fittings shown, and some given part numbers, which are not in the kit). Some instructions are wrong - drilling a 2mm hole in a 3mm diameter rod won't work! However, with some common sense and careful dry-runs, things work out (so far). Conclusion: be careful to chack the plans explain things clearly; missing and poor-fitting parts can be worked around.
Planking: this had me worried, but I took it slowly (some days I only got two planks fitted!). Steaming/hotwater soaking, careful forming, drying the plank, and using superglue to "tack" the ends in place with a quick setting time, and PVA for the main run of the plank, worked well. The model is plank-on-frame, single skin; I wouldn't like to leave it bare wood and varnished, but with woodfiller (Ronseal) and sanding it's not too bad for my first effort. Conclusion: don't be scared by planking, just take it slowly.
Sub-assembly: check the plans: several parts can be almost finished, and left for attachment until later. I've assembled, checked and painted the (3) hatchways, the deck grating, most of the mast fittings and the tiller/rudder, some sitting in a small box and not for attachment until after all the rigging is done, which keeps the deck clear. Conclusion: plan ahead.
Painting: I got some acrylic enamel at Homebase's craft section, brand Polyvine. DON'T! It's serious rubbish. The white has almost no pigment - FOUR coats and the light-coloured wood still showed; the blue's pigments separated (white and dark blue), even stirring between brushfuls, and even on the wood, which I've never seen before. I used acrylic artists' colours (Rowney and Winsor & Newton), three thin coats and a coat of satin acrylic varnish (Homebase own-brand), works fine!
Finish: I planned a cop-out! As a working trawler, some wood texture would be expected on the hull, as the original paint finish wouldn't have been yacht-standard. Allowing myself a bit of latitude in final finish quality means that yes, it's got flaws, but no, I'm not depressed!
Anyway, I hope this is some help to others thinking about this branch of modelling. Don't hesitate too long, common sense helps, but perhaps don't get Billings, although I don't really know if other brands are any better - perhaps someone can say?
