Introduction to Model Boat Building - Here's how to start building your own RC or static model boat from kit or scratch.

When first starting to build model boats, I found that the hardest part was being able to help people choose the model that corresponded to their particular situation, whether it was their skills, tools, interests, or where to build. This page is intended as an overview to help you find your way around the corners of this great hobby.

The laminated hull was roughed in.

Model ship in the process of carving

Most people seem to think that building a model boat from a kit is much easier than building from scratch. I'm not sure this is true. The most important advantage of kits is that some parts are pre-built and come with instructions.

Some wooden model boat kits are of low quality in terms of materials and instructions. A poor kit like this is a waste of time and will hinder you rather than help.

Many model ships are built from scratch as a first model. You just need to figure out which build method will work best for you. A good way to start is to use a slatted bulkhead model boat using strips or sheets. I recommend using balsa or basswood to limit the need for power tools.

If you happen to be an experienced woodworker with a store area and some power tools, then building bread and butter model ships may be a good option. In most cases, it is much faster than strip planking.

Both of these methods can be used if you are building a radio controlled model boat. One thing to consider is how fast you want to sail. If you are in a hurry, consider a kit with an ABS or fiberglass prefabricated hull.

If you're just starting out, you may want to choose a relatively simple program. The fastest way to kill all enthusiasm is to cross your mind. A sensible approach is to conquer some skills with each successive model. In this way, you will learn to handle more and more difficult projects as your skills develop. At the same time, you can reduce costs if you decide to abandon a project.

Static or working models

Building a model boat serves many purposes. For hobbyists it usually comes down to two categories:

Static Model Ship

Most model ships are built as static models. By nature, this means that they are intended for display only. They are usually more or less successful attempts to depict historical or fictional ships (such as those in movies). Most kits, regardless of the materials used, are intended for static display only. Often, builders want to save time by converting static kits to working models. Usually, this is a mistake. Not only is the time and effort required often underestimated - static models are often too heavy to work well as working models.

Working Model Ship

The primary purpose of building a working model ship is to operate in the water. In order to achieve this, some compromises may have been made in scale detail or accuracy. There is a potential tolerance in the model boat community for "half-scale" models, as long as they are working models. In fact, most off-the-shelf RC boats are completely fictional.

Model building materials

To date, almost every model building material you can think of has been used in the hull construction of model boats, from whale teeth to carbon fiber. Aside from the exotic, the most common materials used to build model boats include:

log (of wood, timber etc)

Plastic or resin

Fiberglass (GRP, polyester or epoxy)

Paper (kraft, cardstock)

Hull model design and construction

The hull is probably the most important aspect of model boat building - and, in my opinion, the most fun to build! There are many methods and materials available. For more information, click on the title above.

half-shell model

If it's the first time building a model boat from plans, a half-hull model might be a good place to start. Essentially, it is a hull half split down the middle, sometimes with wheel covers and a stump for the mast (if relevant). It is then mounted on a board and hung on the wall for display.

This type of model was originally produced by yacht, boat and ship builders and designers who did not have the expertise to design directly on the drawing board. It became the "master" of their plans. Herreshoff, the famous American yacht designer, apparently designed all his boats this way.

Solid or laminated hardwood is the most common material, although there are also plywood or "crow's nest models" (dividers and incomplete plywood). An obvious benefit is that symmetry is not an issue!

Radio-controlled boats

Building an RC boat gives the building a purpose beyond the building itself. Radio controlled hulls differ in that they must:

Waterproof and sealed for ruggedness and ease of transportation and handling

Large enough (buoyant) to accommodate RC gear, motors, steam equipment, etc.

It seems that model boat fiberglass hulls are increasingly coming at the expense of vacuum formed ABS hulls in kits from manufacturers. You can also make your own. This may make the most sense if you need multiple hulls from the same mold. Some suppliers specialize in making hulls only, not complete kits. This is usually a cheaper option than getting a complete kit.

Toy Ship Building

Building toy model ships can be as easy as you want it to be. Aiming to build toys rather than scale models takes some of the stress out of making the results 100% realistic and allows for unlimited artistic license.

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