CHECK IT OUT:

As one of the oldest activities, model ship building has developed a following of dedicated hobbyists. From hand-carved wooden replicas to remote-controlled battleships with working cannons, model ships vary in size, type and complexity. As accessible as the hobby is, it is one that requires dedication, patience, attention to detail and a steady hand. Despite the work involved, the hobbyist is rewarded with satisfaction toward a job well done. The library has a variety of materials on model ship building. Some offer an overview and history, while others give specific instructions on how to get started.

“Ship Models: Their Purpose and Development from 1650 to the Present” by Brian Lavery and Simon Stephens: Lavery and Stephens’ book charts the historical development and meaning behind model ship building; some of which may surprise you. Several different models and the famous individuals who made them are represented in an easy-to-read format accompanied by wonderful photographs of model ships, each one varying in complexity. For the avid hobbyist, this book contains a catalog of the National Maritime Museum’s collection of model ships.

“The World of Model Ships and Boats” by Guy R. Williams: Guy Williams explores the history of model ship building covering hand-carved designs from as early as 2600 B.C. to the motorized models of today. This text comes with a large supply of beautiful photographs, presenting more than 200 intricate model ship designs of every shape and size. Such presentation allows Williams’ book to be a useful resource for hobbyists and casual observers alike.

“Ship Modeling from Stem to Stern” by Milton Roth: A great guide for beginners, Roth’s book covers everything a newcomer needs to know about model ship building. All aspects of ship construction are here: types of kits available, preferred paints, glues and tools, and the best practices for applying a ship’s rigging. For the more adventurous ship modelers, the text offers a quick-start guide to constructing a ship inside a bottle. Roth’s book is a useful text for novice hobbyists, but is also a fine resource for modelers of any skill level.

“The Cutty Sark: The Ship and a Model” by C. Nepean Longridge: One of the most famous projects in the world of model ship building, the English Cutty Sark is a “poster ship” for the hobby. Longridge’s book is a thorough manual on how to build your own version of the clipper ship, providing detailed instructions for every section of the boat and the best methods for bringing it to life. Photographs of the actual ship are provided as reference as well as highly detailed plates that outline the construction of various ship elements. “The Cutty Sark” is an incredible and dense (in a good way!) resource for those ready to take on the famous ship.

“A Modeler’s Guide to Rigging” by Richard A. Mansir: One of the more daunting and tricky aspects of ship building is the installation of rigging, the massive lengths of rope that raise and lower a ship’s many sheets of sailing. The text traces the history and functionality of rigging and defines different styles and how they are applied and supported on ships of varying design. It’s a light body of work that serves its purpose as a rigging style manual, supplied with plenty of illustrations and diagrams.

CHECK IT OUT is written by the staff of the Newport Beach Public Library. All titles may be reserved from home or office computers by accessing the catalog at www.newportbeachlibrary.org. For more information, please contact the Newport Beach Public Library at (949) 717-3800, option 2.