All About Building The Body Of Ship Model Kit

One of the trending hobbies across the globe is building ship model kits. There are a lot of things that every modeler must keep in mind. Let’s explore the ways to build the body of the model.

Unbox & lay out the components

Unboxing the kit and inspecting the components is the first thing you need to do. Ensure every component and instructions manual is available to assemble the ship. However, you will even need to lay out everything in order to make sure that no piece is damaged or missing. Take care every component is accounted for and none of the components is broken. Start the process of ship building by going through the instructions manual in detail. Check for the additional materials or tools you need prior to getting started.

Begin with frame building

Start the process of ship modeling by building the frame once you have verified the availability of every tool and material. The ship frame will let you add planks, shaping the actual body of the ship model. Make sure to check with instructions manual for the appropriate building process. Check out some proven tips to help provide you an understanding of what you can anticipate while building the frame of your model kit.

ü  Slide the bulkhead frames into the keel. The keel will be an extended part of the frame, running the length of the boat. The bulkheads will slide into slots located on the keel. Bulkheads will facilitate to outline the planks of the boat when it is time to apply them.

ü  Once you are certain everything fits, glue can be applied to the bulkhead frames into the keel.

ü  Take care that everything is level and flat on the top of the frame. If any areas of the keel or bulkheads are elevated than others, make use of sandpaper to level them off.

Level the bulkhead frames

Ensuring the planks lay consistently over the bulkheads is an essential element of building the ship model. The kit may possibly not be assembled properly if the planks are not capable of touching each bulkhead and lay flat. The following steps can be used to check how flat the planks will fit across the bulkheads, making sure that the model ship will be assembled properly.

ü  Position a plank over the bulkheads.

ü  Sand the bulkheads until the planks rest totally against every bulkhead if there’s a room where the plank doesn’t touch a bulkhead.

ü  Take your time and ensure every plank will lay totally against the bulkheads.

ü  Ensure to test both sides of the bulkheads.

ü  You can add minute slices of wood afterward to level off the plank if you smooth one area down too much.

Add the deck

Once you sand the hull, the deck is all set to be added, which will complete the main body of the ship model kits. The top of the deck level planks, keel, and bulkheads will be required to be glued to the model deck. Once glued properly, you are free to go for detailing and give your model boat a final touch.