Ship modeling

[ysi_maniac]

You can add comments to explain your choice.

[Thorvic]

Full hull is fine if your doing the model as a stand alone display model, they look rather good mounted displayed on a shelf or cabinet.

However waterline is more practical, if allows similar ships to be displayed together to set them in context against each other, some may prefer to fit into a seascape or as part of a diorama, but alternately a flat blueish base board allows you the mix and match whats displayed against each other.

Geoff

[beowulf]

dunno..............ask me after i have done my first ship    (do have one in the planning stage  )

[lancer]

I can see the benefits of both. but I think the water line is best as most ships models I have seen have been put on a sea base diorama which is blindingly obvious I suppose as they do look much better like that.. I have only ev er built 3 boats and they are all 1/72 MTB or attack craft. I'm butterfingered enouigh with that scale, I dread to think how I'd work in :350th or :700th scale...

[NARSES2]

Waterline for me (saves painting) although I have fond memories of the stands Airfix used to (still do ?) provide

[sequoiaranger]

I haven't done many ship models to make good ship models--most of my ships were done when I was a teenager, and just used for "play". Then, I liked full-hull models so I could slide them around on a floor or bed (without propellers that would snag on things) .

I would prefer that model companies make "waterline" models, but have an optional lower hull included. Sometimes one might want to display a ship listing, "turned turtle", in a drydock, or otherwise show "underwater" features (like maybe a Tirpitz diorama with an X-craft sneaking up underwater). With waterline models you can put them on a flat shelf as-is, without the need to elevate them on a stand.

My current CV-6 build is full-hull, on a stand, and I kinda wish it had been a waterline, because masking off the waterline black line, and doing the props/hull was (*IS*---still hassling with it) a pain. But that was the way it originally was displayed, so I felt obligated to replicate it.

IMHO, however, unless there is some special reason to show off the hull below the waterline, I don't see the point of modeling it.

[anthonyp]

I used to poo-poo anything but full hull ships, even up to a few years ago, then ran into my first waterline that I really just "HAD" to have, and was sold.  Now, I'm even waterlining full hulls (though holding off on some that will require a steadier hand than I currently have, to do).  Mainly, I'd poo-poo them only because I grew up sailing full hull models in my pool then sinking them in the mother of all Crazy Kid as Godzilla cannon-ball.  They looked very nice on the bottom.

Now, all I need to figure out is a fleet yard diorama or an at sea base, and then I'll actually finish stuff.

[Geoff]

The seperate lower hull is always good for "before and after" models.

[philp]

I picked waterline as I like to see them in action so diorama, however, I just picked up the 72nd USS Gato sub and having a heck of a time deciding what I want to do with it if I decide to build it.

I kind of want to do a diorama with it so full hull will be a waste but on a sub, you have to cut off most of the hull to display it waterline and I am not sure I want to chop that much off the kit (thought I did get it for 65% off so taking 65% of the hull would make sense).  Then I need to decide what I want it doing, docked with some stuff going on around it, at sea looking for trouble or deck gun engaged or even picking up a down flyer (seen the figures for that).  Leaning towards either the docked version or sea rescue at the moment. 

Course, could just do like Greg (I think) did and paint it pink as USS Sea Tiger.  Then it would have to be full hull.

[pyro-manic]

Waterline for me. Personally, ship models are "in the water" (the same as aircraft are represented in flight or on the ground), so I'd probably never do a full-hull model.

[ChernayaAkula]

Another vote for waterline.  Not only is water their natural habitat, but ships also look much sleeker when in the water.

[Cliffy B]

It depends on how you want to display them really.  For me, unless it will be in water and/or in a dio scene, then full hull all the way.  I like the drydock cribbing method personally over the turned brass stands.  If its in the water then waterline is easiest but if you want heavy/stormy seas then full hull is best.  Nothing looks cooler than a tin can cresting a wave with the whole bow out of the water!    So yeah, it all boils down to display choice.  I voted for full hull though since it hardly gets any love anymore 

[Joe C-P]

Full hull can be done in a dio, but there aren't many times you can do a dramatic action dio with a drydocked ship. Perhaps a careened sailing ship, or a ship tossed up by a storm.

Full hull must be done for a museum display. If you're presenting an engineering-style display, it's not really enough to only show the ship from the waterline up unless you are presenting a specific historical event that requires the ship to appear in the water.

[Mossie]

I've never built a ship or boat, although I've got a couple in the stash, Airifx 1/72 RNLI Severn Class Lifeboat & 1/600 HMS Fearless.  I had a Revell 1/142 North Sea Trawler (Depicts the Arctic Corsair, which is a museum ship in Hull) but passed it on.

May or may not ever get around to the Fearless, but I really hope to do the Severn Class.  My Dad died a few years back, as a keen sea angler & also a Fireman for many years, he had nothing but praise for the RNLI, so that one will be for him.  It has a waterline option, my plan is to do it in a waterline diorama, possibly attending another vessel in trouble.  There's not much available in the way of non-military 1/72 boats.  I'll maybe convert an RAF Rescue Launch, or do it capsized.  Saying that, if I can't find anything suitable, the full hull option will be fine.

[philp]

Lots of 72nd or near 72nd to use.
Everything from the Revell 1/72 DGzRS Hermann Marwede Rescue Ship (05238) to Lindbergs tugs (1/84 I think) to HO scale sailing craft (small yacht size in 72nd).

Think that would make a cool diorama.