Building something like this really isn't difficult... All it takes is 10 million very simple steps!
Scroll down for a complete series of videos on how to go from paper plans and good intentions to a beautiful scale model!
This is the first in a series of videos I will make to document the building of a scratchbuilt scale model of the cruise liner "Oceanic" in 1:144 scale. The project was a commission I took for a ship model collector in Wisconsin. This beautiful ship was built in 1963 and was used both as a trans-oceanic vessel, and when that industry was superseded by airplanes, as a pleasure-cruise vessel. In this video, I receive a package of plans and photographs from the client. I discuss the original vessel, review the plans and use CAD to draw the false-keel, bulkheads, decks, and other parts that will become the hull and superstructure of the Oceanic. By the end I will inspect a 3D CAD model of the hull structure and send these drawings away to be laser-cut.
This is the second video documenting my scratchbuilt model of the cruise liner "Oceanic". The laser-cut hull false-keep, bulkheads and decks arrive and are assembled into the basic structure of the Oceanic. Laser-cut porthole patterns are installed on the flat sides of the ship, and the remainder of the model's hull is planked and prepared for covering in fibreglass. Finally, the one big uncertainty I had when I started this project (the partially-open stern) was planned out. This will be accomplished with a plug that will be temporarily attached to the hull structure, and then fibreglassed over. The plug will then be removed, leaving a thin shell of fibreglass at the stern.
In this, the third video describing the 1:144 scale Oceanic model, I will complete the hull and all of it's details. The planked hull is covered in fibreglass and painted. I also add hull details like the propellers, shafts and rudder area, the anchor and rope ports, and I cut the complicated openings at the stern.
Moving up from the painted hull I work on the planked wood and non-skid decks and buildings above the hull. These structures are complicated shapes with large, smooth curves and intricately shaped window and openings. Some of this was done with styrene plastic and some with brass. This video also contains the biggest *&^$%#@ moment of the project so if you want to know exactly what NOT to do, stay tuned!!!
Next-up I will be making some custom photo-etched brass sheets! Any small, thin details you see on the model such as ladders, railings, window frames, antennas, radars, etc... etc... are photo-etched brass. I will show you how I did it from planning and drawing the parts in CAD to sending the files for fabrication to folding the parts to soldering them together and painting. Lots to cover here, but it makes such a difference in the model!!!
With many, many multiples of small, detailed parts on the Oceanic the best way to make them is by 3-D printing! Before this project I had always resisted 3-D printing, and for wood sailing ship models I probably wouldn't use it, but for a modern vessel such as this it is an awesome technology that makes some wonderful parts for a model. I am not an expert by any means at 3-D modeling, but I was more than happy with the parts I was able to make for the Oceanic.
And now, all the things that don't fit neatly into the other categories. I will make the mast from start to finish, make some waterslide decals for all of the markings, make the flags, pools, deck furniture and end off with the most important detail of all... the signature!
Oh, yeah and photographs. Lots and lots of photographs! I was going to deliver this myself when I first took the project, but then... you know... COVID happened so I couldn't travel to deliver it :-( I have shipped dozens of models before so this wasn't exactly new, but this was by far the most valuable model I have trusted to a shipper, and in the end it arrived in perfect condition! (almost.... :-(