"Wanted: 1/600 scale cargo ships for 16th to 17th C." Topic

I have an ever growing collection of 1/600th scale ships modified to look about 1600ish. Most of them are Skytrex Armada period castings, but I bought a few of the Peter Pig 1/450 scale to complement them, because the scale is close enough (the Skytrex models are slightly overscale anyway) and I love the fluyt. I haven't tried yet, but I think the various square-riggers might look 17th-C. enough after I modify them to have much higher sterns. We'll see…

Of all of these, the only merchant-looking ships are the Peter Pig fluyt and Skytrex San Christobal (which is modified for war as cast). I'd like to find models of a caravel or two, a bigger carrack, and maybe some generic tubby-looking cargo haulers. Before I go trying to scratch-build them, does anyone have any ideas?

I'm only concerned about hulls. I'm perfectly happy to craft my own masts and sails (and probably will anyway).

Strict adherence to 1/600 is unnecessary, if there are no cast-in features that seem oversized or undersized for the scale.

The casting material is unimportant. I can work with metal, plastic, or resin equally well.

- Ix

The Airfix Golden Hind is actually a small kit, about 2.75" on the waterline. I use them as small merchies in 1/300, but they might make a big fat nao in 1/600. Their Mayflower is a bit bigger but still might work.

Another thing I seek: lanterns!

Ships of the 1600s typically had one or more huge lanterns festooning the top of the stern, and adding lanterns to these models adds a nice bit of period character.

I can make do with cut sections of styrene rod, but it would be nicer to find something produced by a better sculptor, with just enough scribed/cast detail to suggest a polygonal cross-section, panels of glass, fancy scrollwork, etc.

I haven't found anything on Shapeways that would work. All creative ideas welcome.

- Ix

Try plastic beads from a craft store.

Those old Airfix kits are a nice idea, thanks.

Unfortunately, the prices for them on eBay are galling. I'll keep an eye out for some at more reasonable prices.

- Ix

Are there any tricks to cutting the hull of those plastic Airfix kits at the waterline? They're not waterline models.

A link to a VSB photo guide would be enough for me. It was a VSB workbench article on building a Langton Capitana that got me to buy a bunch of Langton galleys (which I have yet to build…).

- Ix

May have answered my own question, courtesy of TMP via Google:
TMP link
TMP link
As I strongly suspected, I'm not the first person to ask about this.

- Ix

A bandsaw with a matal blade has worked well for me.

I doubt I'd be able to cut straight or clean enough with a bandsaw. I've had problems with that before….

I'll probably just do a score-and-break to get most of the material off, glue the hull together, then use a sanding block and/or belt sander to level off the waterline to the right level.

I wouldn't be as nervous about this if the plastic models were still cheap and plentiful, but alas, they're all OOP and command inflated prices.

- Ix

Here is the article I put out a few years ago on how I did it with the Airfix HMS Victory kit.
It may be of help. I have around 150 1/600 scale ships at this time.

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Building a 1/600 scale fleet.

I originally got the idea from "Virtual Scratch Builder site virtualscratchbuilder.com Using the Airfix HMS Victory in 1/600 scale you can make just about any ship from a 28 – 130.

After getting your ship, first assemble parts 1, 2 and 3. This is the two sections of the hull and the deck. Use a few rubber bands to give some pressure so it set up tight. Using standard plastic model glue, let it set for a few hours to become hard.

Then take a fine tip marker and mark were you will make your cuts. Once marked make all of your cuts. You may use a hobby knife, or as like me I use a "DREMEL Motor-Tool."

Bringing the ship down to water line is the easy part. Simply cut below the gun ports that are closest to the water line leaving about 1/16th of an inch space. This is done if you are building a 1 2 or 3 Decker.

In the area of the stern of the ship you will make a cutout of the hull were the rudder would be. I take piece #16 the (nameplate) for the stand and cut it and place it in that location so you have the area below the stern windows filled. You do not have to do this on a 3 Decker as it cuts perfectly as per the original kit.

To make a ship shorter or longer then the original kit you must remove or add a section from the hull. These changes are best made before the ship is cut to water line.

To make a ship shorter remove the section between the Cargo Hold and the Middle Mast. Then glue the two sections back together.

To make a ship longer insert a section from a ship that was made shorter by putting it behind the Middle Mast. Then glue the three sections back together.

Below is a list of different numbered gunned ships and what you need to make them.

1. 28 – 38 gun Frigate, 1 deck and remove a section.

2. 44 – 50 gun Frigate, 1 deck.

3. 64 – gun ship of the line, 2 decks and remove a section.

4. 74 – gun ship of the line, 2 decks.

5. 80 – gun ship of the line, 2 decks, add a section.

6. 98 – 100 gun ship of the line, 3 decks.
7. 110-120 gun ship of the line, 3 decks, add a section.

8. 130 gun ship of the line, 3 decks, add a section, add a 4th deck from a
previous ships 3rd deck being removed.

9. Merchantman, 1 deck, and remove a section, sand down gun port if you like.

Once the ship is reassembled give it a good primer coat then finish assembling, painting, rigging, flags and mounting your ship on base.

For Frigates and Merchantman you may wish to reduce the height of the masts and reduce the number of sails per mast by removing the bottom section of sail.

As per painting and rigging your ships there are many good references out there.

On the "Yahoo groups" "WoodenWalls" in the files section there is a very good article NAVAL.xls Napoleonic Ships Painting Guide by Roy Trochim

I have also done this with a number of the Piretolagy ships.

Any qestions pleace fill free to contact me off site.

badbobalbino@aol.com