Ship Modeling Simplified: Tips and Techniques for Model Building from Kits

by Frank Mastini

Book Overview

In Ship Modeling Simplified, master model builder Frank Mastini puts to paper the methods he's developed over 30 years at the workbench to help novices take their first steps in an exciting pastime. You don't need the deftness of a surgeon or the vocabulary of an old salt to build a model. What you need is an understanding coach. Mastini leads readers from the mysteries of choosing a kit and setting up a workshop through deciphering complicated instructions...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0877422729
• ISBN13: 9780877422723
• Release Date: March 1990
• Publisher: International Marine Publishing
• Length: 161 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.

Customer Reviews

A memorial from his loving daughter

November 2008 a time to be grateful..A warm follow up: I wanted to thank all of my Dad's fans..he left a legacy, and I think about him everyday. I remember when he handed the autographed copy of his book to me saying "here's my legacy to you"...I miss him very much, but it's heartwarming to know that he is not forgotten. I recently was the proud recipient of the original Blue Nose model that is on the cover; how wonderful to have him so close to me...keep on working on those models everyone, it is a tribute to him and extremely fulfilling... steph July 13,2006 My Dad, wrote this book as a labor of the love and devotion of his talent to share with the world. He is considered by professionals and hobbyists as the greatest master of his craft. He has been cited in articles all over the world and recently we were sent an article from a major Fla. newspaper concerning a model ship builder. The article made reference to my Dad's book as being the "Bible" of model ship building. It made my modest but gravely ill father smile. I hope you have all enjoyed his book and will continue to for years to come. He is now living in Virginia Beach, VA. I would like to give a heartfelt thank you to all his fans and most importantly my father, who has influenced many in this wonderful art. He has been my guiding light throughout my art career. Goodbye Dad. You will always be my shining star. Stephanie Mastini. Epilogue: My father, Frank Mastini, passed away at home, peacefully in his sleep on July 15th, 2006. He fought a courageous battle to the very end, sitting 4 feet away from his gift to all of our family to enjoy. The "Amerigo Vespucci". I know that is the way he wanted to be remembered. At his beloved home, surrounded by his life long passions and his loving wife, Lucy. His last wish was that in honor of him, that contributions be made to the Boy Scouts of America. He can now breathe again and smell the sweet roses he loved so much. I love you Dad. Steph

MUST READ for Any Beginner

I seldom write critics, but this time, I just want to say, thank you to the author, it makes me clear about what ship model building is. I wish I have bought this book before starting the hobby, so won't have been so frustrated!

Perfect it ain't, but very good it is

After years of plastic and wooden airplane modeling, and having taken up sailing a while back, I decided I just HAD to build a wooden sailing ship, complete with planking, masting, rigging, the whole smash. To avoid the frustrating (and expensive) experience of learn-by-doing in a new medium, I decided to seek out and purchase a library of "how to" books on the subject, and managed to drain several "boat bucks" (one boat buck = 100 regular bucks) from my bank account in assembling a library of the most highly recommended tomes on the subjects of construction, detailing, rigging, etc. Each of the construction-related books I bought had something of value, but each was sadly lacking in describing the process clearly, and few had consistently clear photos and easily understood text. Most had slightly different ways of approaching the project, and none made me feel warm and fuzzy about turning an expensive box of wood strips, plans, and other bits and pieces into that masterpiece I still have no room to display (another story). Mastini came the closest, with clear, simple, logical instructions, sharing his experience with loads of useful practical hints and tips along the way. The book is reasonably well organized, has clear photos and drawings that are near the related text (some authors/editors seem to take some perverse delight in describing a very complex procedure and then referring the reader to "figure 4" which is found some six or eight pages from the text.... Argghhh!) The book includes an Italian-English nautical dicationary and English glossary of terms, useful for the Italian kits whose English translation is weak or non existant. Can't comment on its usefulness yet, but it seems like a nice touch.Anyway, to date, I have referred constantly to Mastini while assembling my Artesania Latina Harvey (hull construction, planking, bulwarks, decking, deck furniture). I like his plain, clear writing style, and the book has helped me avoid several major pitfals in the process, and helped me turn out a creditable first try so far. There are only two knocks I can give it (both minor). The first is that in each section, Mastini briefly outlines a series of steps to building the subject part of the boat. Cool! But... the text following the outline develops in a rather haphazard manner, not as an expansion of the outline. This caused me to continuously go back and forth between the text and the outline, trying to tie them together. Maybe I'm just too linear a thinker, but it was unnecessarily confusing, IMHO. The second is not really a knock on the book, and applies to most of the books I purchased. It seems that most of the techniques look so simple on the printed page are much more difficult to accomplish with hands and tools :) Perfect it ain't, but very good it is, and if I were to buy only one book for a project, this would be it.

The best book for begginers

This book will help you through your first plank on frame model like no other will. If you follow the procedures here in you will succeed on your first try, and go on to enjoy the hobby.