I have built model boats for the best part of forty years.
I had never, until a fortnight ago, tried 'a kit'.
And then
Portgarth arrived, my 'maintain sanity in lockdown' project. Now I don't know if it's
this kit, or
this manufacturer, but I think it's worth emphasising to any newbies tempted by a similar project:
1/ The cost of the complete kit is approximately
half of the
full-build cost. Add in glues, paints, props, batteries, charger, radio, fillers, glassfibre, extras - like a bowthruster, for example - it all adds up. This fella will be knocking on a thousand quid, complete, easy.
2/ In this forum I've seen lists of
basic tools required for newcomers to this pastime. While you could, conceivably, build this kit using hand tools, I know I've already saved many,
many hours by having a scroll saw, pillar drill, table saw, dremel, belt sander, etc., in reach, in a well-organised shed. Without these? I don't know if my drive would be enough.
I need to see progress!
3/ The
plans and
instructions - I'm using these as a guide to my build. 'Guide' is flexible. I've heeded the words
some fettling required and
don't trust the templates, and have an innate feel for what I should do first, but I worry that a newcomer would find themselves stuck. Maybe hopelessly?
4/ The
accuracy. I stopped tonight's building when I noticed one side of the wheelhouse, going from the deck layout being built into the hull, was liable to be nearly 10mm out compared to the other side. I stopped because I need to think about this, and
can now see a solution to square an asymmetric hull up. A newcomer? I dunno!
In conclusion?
Don't get me wrong, I'm loving the exercise ... building a kit is an absolute joy, and I'm really enjoying it: but I know I'll 'tweak' the end result to suit
me. I appreciate the manufacturer's dedication to the hobby: putting a model out there requires incredible effort and commitment. But to a newcomer, never having buiit before, perhaps limited in experience, or limited to hand tools and the kitchen table for an hour or so per night? Surely it couldn't end well?
I'm really wondering what percentage of kits like this hit the water, compared to the bin, at the end of the day. Any ideas?!
Final shout out: the builds of this particular kit on Mayhem: there are loads of great ideas here, in a variety of Portgarth threads, highlighting the potential pitfalls, and various ways around 'em. Thanks to you all!
Andy