Re: Mantua/Sergal/Panart

Jul 10, 2003 2 Replies



>Indeed, all these European produced kits these days have problematic
>instructions. The English translations are far worse than anything I
>have ever seen in Japanese plastic models.
>
>You did not say how experienced a ship modeler you are. Keep in mind
>that wooden, planked sailing ship models are the toughest modeling
>genre. Even the experienced builders I know consider such models >multi-year projects.
>
>If you have never built a sailing ship model before, I would not start
>with one of those. Most hobby dealers estimate about three quarters of
>such models they sell are never completed. Do a plastic sailing ship
>first to gain experience, then maybe a Midwest wooden small craft kit,
>and then go for one of the planked kits.
>

i have a wooden model of the wasa sold at the wasa museum. i will never build it because it is so incredibly complex, i will never have the tools. it was amazing expensive and i would love to trade it for a buttload of plastic kits. ww2 stuff is my desire. anyone interested?

Thanks, I guess the translations don't improve with time...,,

I have lots of plastic model experience, and as per my reference to the Billings of years ago, have dealt with wooden ships.and bad translations...no expert, but no rank amature either...( built a few patio decks as well.. he, he :-) ). just seeking opinions on the Mantua models (Endevour in particular) and the quality of material and instructions since I haven't had exposure to one.

~voigt

Have you ever built any R/C kits - in particular, any rag-wings with capped ribs? I can't imagine the wood working involved would be any much worse chore than that...complex build, yes...but it sounds like you can handle it. Especially if you can just work from drawings and ignore the words. That's what I do.

I'd like to actually scratch build a plank on bulkhead ship - but I need to do a considerable amount of research. I have (had...) a great-great-odd uncle that died in a mutiny on his ship at sea and has a plaque commemorating him in New York harbor. I'd like to build his ship.

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