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Ship Model

History

Ship and Boat Models from the Ancient Mediterranean

Ancient ship and boat models from ancient Greece, Egypt, and Phoenicia have been discovered throughout the Mediterranean. These models provide archaeologists with valuable information regarding seafaring technology and the sociological and economic importance of seafaring. In spite of how helpful ancient boat and ship models are to archaeologists, they are not always easily or correctly interpreted due to artists mistakes, ambiguity in the model design, and wear and tear over the centuries.

In the Ancient world, ships ere among the most technologically complex mechanisms of the ancient world.2] Ships made far-flung travel and trade more comfortable and economical, and they added a whole new facet to warfare. Thus, ships carried a great deal of significance to the people of the ancient world, and this is expressed partly through the creation of boat and ship models. Ancient boat and ship models are made of a variety of materials and are intended for different purposes. The most common purposes for boat and ship models include burial votives, house hold articles, art, and toys. While archaeologists have found ship and boat models from societies all around the Mediterranean, the three of the most prolific ship model building cultures were the Greeks, Phoenicians, and Egyptians.

Archaeologists have determined that Ancient Greek ship models were used as burial or votive offerings and as household articles such as lamps or drinking vessels. The kinds of ships depicted in Ancient Greek models can be classified broadly as small craft, merchant vessels, and warships. Models were cast in different materials, including wood, bronze, lead, and clay.

Greek warships were popular subjects to be made in miniature. One particular model, acquired by the Staatliche Museum in Kassel, Germany, proves to be helpful to archaeologists and historians in understanding what a hemiolia warship was like. Archaeologists have tentatively dated the Kassel model to be from the 6th or 5th centuries BC through iconographic and literary sources. This ship model is made of clay and features a distinctive prow shaped like a boar head that is described by Herodotus in History, and depicted on pottery, coins seals and drinking cups. The model is a miniature of a vessel that would have been too small to be a typical warship. The presence of holes bored into 8 thwarts in the ship suggests that the thwarts may have been seats for a pegged-in dummy crew. If the holes bored into the thwarts are indeed meant to accommodate a dummy crew, the crew seating would have been arranged with two men per bench amidships, and one man per bench fore and aft where the ship narrows so that there is only room for one man. Alec Tilley suggests that a small ship with this type of seating arrangement would have been called a hemiolia, or a one-and-a-halfer. The name indicates that two oarsmen would have been seated on half of the benches and one on the others. Until this ship model was discovered, archaeologists, classicists, and historians had only been able to hypothesize on what the seating arrangement might have been like on a hemiolia based on its name.

All ancient Greek ship models are not of warships. One boat model from a house deposit in Mochlos, Crete, dating to around 3000BC, is thought to be too small to be a war ship. Basch postulates that the boat annot have been propelled by more than four oarsmen so it can hardly be other than a fishing boat.8] As opposed to other Early Bronze Age ship and boat models, this model was not found in a burial context. This model is thought to be a child toy or a piece of art, instead of a burial offering. The model itself features a projection of the keel beyond the stem-post at both ends. Despite appearances, these projections are not rams. Because the model is depicting a fishing boat, there would be no need for rams. This model in particular has helped archaeologists understand that not all keel projections in depictions of boats during this time are necessarily rams. Instead, keel projections on depictions of Bronze Age ships are explained as cut-waters or as beaching protection.

Phoenician ship models also provide archaeologists information regarding the technical aspects of seafaring, and the cultural importance of seafaring for the ancient Phoenicians. However, some models offer tantalizing pieces of information that are, unfortunately, difficult to interpret. Item number H-3134 at the Hecht Museum, a dark brown clay model of a 5th century BCE oared boat, is one such craft. The vessel is unprovenienced, save for the reported location of its discovery off the Phoenician coast, but scientists have been able to tentatively confirm the origin and authenticity of this model. The model is of an oared boat manned by three pairs of oarsmen, who are rendered with ands raised to their chests, in the last instant of pulling the oar in the water, before lifting it for the recovery.10] The mystery of this model is the purpose of small holes- three on the starboard side, and four on port- that were made in the sides of the ship with a sharp tool before the clay dried. It is believed that the holes are too small to pass an oar through, and thus would not be used for rowing purposes. This is hard to prove, however, because the poorly preserved state of the model and the amount of fouling that is layered on the model makes it difficult to definitively rule out this possibility. Another theory regarding the purpose of these holes suggests that opes for holding oars were threaded through these holes.10]

Ship models are helpful to archaeologists in that they allow archaeologists to make estimates regarding the size the vessel would be in real life. While this technique makes the assumption that artists scaled the models appropriately, it is useful to get some sense of how large these ships and boats may have been in real life. Archaeologists estimate the Phoenician vessel above (H-3134) to be about 6 meters long and the beam about 2 meters. Archaeologists are able to calculate these estimates of size by employing a series of assumptions about the distance between benches, the lateral distance between rowers, and a maximum draft of the vessel.

Egyptian ship and boat models are perhaps some of the most enchanting and well-preserved types of ship models available to archaeologists. Some small models made from ivory, wood, or clay exist, and archaeologists believe these models were actually children toys. This is fairly rare, however, because ancient Egyptian ship and boat models more often were placed in tombs of prominent people as agical substitutes for the actual objects which the deceased has used in life and which he expected to use again in the next world.14]

Boats placed in tombs of Egyptian royalty can be separated into two types: boat models that represent actual vessels used on the Nile, and boat models that represent boats that are considered necessary for religious purposes. The second type of model may or may not have been used in real life, but were purely magical boats. The majority of boats found in tombs are carved from wood.

Several boat and ship models were found in the tomb of Tutankhamen, dating to the Sixth Dynasty , and at Meketra (2061-2010BC). The wide variety of vessels depicted by the models in these two tombs has provided archaeologists new information on the types of boats that were used in Egypt. Moreover, the presence of boat and ship models in the tombs attests to the paramount importance of boats and ships to the Nile-going people of Egypt.

The boat models discovered at Meketre feature several different kinds of boats, including traveling boats, sporting boats, and several papyriform crafts. Two of the papyriform skiffs have a trawling net slung between them. It is uncertain whether or not the net is meant to be depicted as being under the water or being pulled out of the water by the fishermen. In the event that the artist meant for the net to be in the water, it is interesting to note that the net is upside down. Needless to say, the upside down net would not work for catching fish. This ambiguity points up the question of artistic veracity of the craftsmen who make ship models. As is attested by the ambiguity of the holes in the sides of the Phoenician model, and the skiff from Meketre, archaeologists need to be aware of the possibility of artistic error while interpreting ancient ship models. While a mistake involving an inverted trawling net may seem trivial, the lesson is important. It is important for archaeologists to be aware of the possibility that ancient artists may not have been familiar with the finer details of ships and boats.

Despite some of the limitations of interpreting ancient Mediterranean ship models, archaeologists have been able to glean a great deal of information from these items. This information has been instrumental in filling in gaps in knowledge about ancient seafaring technology and culture.

Europe

Church votive hanging up in a church; the workmanship is somewhat crude, but sufficient to identify as mid-19th-century

Model of a 19th-century English frigate

Closeup of the frigate’s quarterdeck, showing quality of the detail.

Prisoner-of-war model at the Rosenborg Slot in Copenhagen.

Some of the oldest surviving European ship models have been those of early craft such as galleys, galleons, and possibly carracks, dating from the 12th through the 15th centuries and found occasionally mounted in churches, where they were used in ceremonies to bless ships and those who sailed in them.

Until the early 18th century, virtually all European small craft and many larger vessels were built without formal plans being drawn. Shipwrights would construct models to show prospective customers how the full size ship would appear and to illustrate advanced building techniques.

Ship models constructed for the Royal Navy were referred to as Admiralty models and were principally constructed during the 18th and 19th centuries to depict proposed warship design. Although many of these models did not illustrate the actual timbering or framing, they did show the form of the hull and usually had great detail of the deck furnishings, masts, spars, and general configuration. Some of these grand models were decorated with carvings of great beauty and were evidently constructed by teams of artisans.

Admiralty models served to educate civilians who were involved in the financing or some other aspect of the ship, to avoid construction errors that might have evolved as the ship itself took form.[citation needed]

During the Napoleonic wars French and English seamen who were taken prisoner were confined, sometimes for many years, and in their boredom sought relief by building ship models from scraps of wood and bone. This evolved into something of an art form and the models were sold to the public, which responded by supplying the prisoners with ivory so that the models would be more decorative. For the most part, the models had carved wooden hulls with rigging made from human hair, horsehair, silk, or whatever other fine material could be obtained. Bone or ivory would be used for masts and spars, and as a thin veneer over the hull.

A consequence of Britain’s naval supremacy in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries was wide public interest in ships and ship models. Numerous fairly crude models were built as children’s toys leading to the creation of functional, as opposed to decorative, ship models. Britain also led the world in model ship sailing clubs – in 1838 the Serpentine Sailing Society was started in Hyde Park, followed by the first London Model Yacht Club in 1845. By the 1880s there were three model sailing clubs sharing the Kensington Gardens Round Pond alone.

Modern era

In the early part of the 20th Century, amateur ship model kits became available from companies such as Bassett-Lowke in Great Britain and Boucher’s in the United States. Early 20th century models comprised a combination of wooden hulls and cast lead for anchors, deadeyes, and rigging blocks. These materials gradually gave way to plastic precast sets.

The development of tinplate and improvements in machine tools enabled significant advances in ship modelling from 1900 onwards. Thin, workable sheets of iron could be coated with tin to prevent rusting, then mass-produced as parts of ship model kits. The process was pioneered by French ship model manufacturer Radiguet, which produced a line of zinc boats with pressurised steam engines, wooden decking and brass fittings. The speed of production for tinplate vessels enabled one 1909 manufacturer to produce ship models of speedboats that had competed that year in Monaco.

Ship modelling in the United States experienced a boom in the 1930s when Popular Science magazine published an extended series of articles and plans for famous ships by modeller and former Navy officer E. Armitage McCann.[citation needed]

In recent years, widespread internet access has played a major role in promoting ship modelling, offering enthusiasts the opportunity to show off their work and share techniques. Internet sites such as Modelwarships.com, Steelnavy.com, or Model Shipwrights are oriented to plastic model ship builders, while others such as Hyperscale focus largely on aircraft or other subjects can regularly feature plastic ship models as well.

Types of ship model construction

The most common materials used for ship models are:

Woodommonly solid wood, two pieces of wood with a vertical seam or slabs of wood placed one on top of each other.

Plasticncluding both injected styrene and cast resin models. In larger scales (1/192 and larger), fiberglass is often used for hull shells.

Metalsually cast lead or other alloys. Steel, sheet tin and aluminum brass are used less frequently for hull construction, but are used extensively for adding details.

Paperreprinted paper construction kits are common in Europe, and are available in a variety of scales.

Wooden model ships

A “plank on frame” model of the HMS Sussex on display at the US Naval Academy museum.

Main article: Wooden ship models

Wooden ship model hulls can be constructed in several ways. The simplest is a solid wood hull sawn and carved from a single block of wood. This method requires the greatest skill to achieve accurate results.

A variant of this technique, sometimes known as bread and butter construction( the wood is the “bread” and glue the “butter”) is a hull built up from thin blocks of wood glued together with either a vertical seam which can be incorporated into deck design, or a horizontal seam. This reduces the amount of carving required, but still requires skill and the use of templates to achieve and accurate hull form.

Modelling precision and lightweight design can be achieved by creating a hollow hull. The plank on bulkhead technique inserts a series of shaped bulkheads along the keel to form a shaped stage which will be covered with planks to form the hull of the model . Plank on frame designs build the model just as the full size wooden ship is constructed. The keel is laid down in a manner which keeps it straight and true. The sternpost and stem are erected, deadwood and strengthening pieces inserted, and a series of shaped frames are built and erected along the keel to form the internal framework of the model. The planks are then applied over the frame to form the external covering.

A wooden hull can be used for operating models if properly sealed.

Plastic model ships

1/720 scale plastic model of the USS Massachusetts

An assembled Skywave/Pit-Road 1:700 scale Japanese destroyer is about the size of a pencil.

1:700 scale plastic model completed with photoetch brass rails and other refinements.

In the decades since World War Two injection-molded polystyrene plastic model ships have become increasingly popular. Consisting of preformed plastic parts which can be bonded together with plastic cement, these models are much simpler to construct than the more labor-intensive traditional wooden models. The inexpensive plastic kits were initially targeted to the post war generation who could glue them together and produce passable replicas in a single afternoon. Plastic models are available in both full hull and waterline versions for a wide variety of vessels.

A more recent addition has been a variety of kits in cold cure resin marketed by various small companies as part of a cottage industry. These often cover more obscure subjects than mainstream manufacturers.

Scales vary as well, with many kits from the early days being “box scale”; that is, scaled to fit into a uniform sized box designed to fit conveniently on hobby shop shelves. Scales have since become more standardized to enable modelers to construct consistent scale collections, but there are still many to choose from. In Europe 1/400 scale remains popular, while in the United States and Japan the most popular scales are 1/700 (making a World War Two aircraft carrier about a foot long) and 1/350 (twice as long as 1/700). Nevertheless, mainstream plastic kit manufacturers continue to produce kits as small as 1/1200 and as large as 1/72, with a few even larger.

The early plastic model kit producers such as Airfix, Revell, Frog and Pyro have since been joined by Tamiya, Hasegawa, Skywave/Pit-Road, Trumpeter, Dragon Model Limited and many others in producing a wide array of model subjects. The plastic model kit market has shifted over the years to a focus on adult hobbyists willing to pay for more elaborate, higher quality kits.

Another recent development has been the advent of aftermarket parts to enhance the basic kits. Decals, specialized paints and turned metal replacement gun barrels are available to make plastic models more accurate. The introduction of flat photoetched metal sets, usually stainless steel or brass, also provide much more realistic lifelines, cranes, and other details than are possible with the injection molded plastic kits. These photoetch sets have transformed the hobby, enabling the finescale modeler to reproduce very delicate details with much less effort.

Wargaming models

Main article: Naval wargaming

1:1250 scale die-cast models of ships

Model ships have been used for war gaming since antiquity, but the introduction of elaborate rules made the practice more popular in the early 20th Century. Small miniature ships, often in 1:1200 scale and 1:1250 scale were maneuvered on large playing surfaces to either recreate a historical battle, or in the case of governments, plan for future encounters. These models were basic representations of ship types, with enough detail to make them recognizable. Bassett-Lowke marketed these to the public in England, along with more detailed versions that appealed to collectors.

Prior to World War II, the German company Wiking became a leader in the field but the war ended its dominance.

Large Scale Models

Large Commercial Model of the IJN Akagi on display at Pearl Harbor

Large scale model warships in San Diego

Larger ship models have been used in museums to document historical ships, in companies for decoration and public relations. These are typically built by commercial firms, or, in the past, model departments of large shipyards. One famous builder of ship models for the United States Navy was the firm of Gibbs and Cox.;a 1/48 scale model of the USS Missouri, which is on display at the Washington Navy Yard museum, required an estimated 77,000 man hours to construct. Commercial ship models are usually built to rigorous standards; for example the US Navy has an exacting set of specifications regarding the use of materials and methods with the aim of ensuring a model “lifespan” of one hundred years.

Radio Control Model Ships

Main article: Radio-controlled boat

Some hobbyists build and operate scale model ships utilizing radio control equipment. These can range from small models that can be operated in aquariums to vessels capable of navigating large bodies of water. Further expanding the concept is model warship combat, in which scale models fire projectiles at each other in combat.

Engineering models

Test model in a towing tank

Model ships are important in the field of engineering, where analytical modeling of a new design needs to be verified. Principals of similitude are used to apply measured data from a scaled model to the full scale design. Models are often tested in special facilities known as model basins.

Manned models

Manned models are model ships that can carry and be handled by at least one person on an open expanse of water. They must behave just like real ships, giving the shiphandler the same sensations. Physical conditions such as wind, currents, waves, water depths, channels and berths must be reproduced realistically.

Manned model of a 250 000 dwt tanker

Manned models are used for research (e.g. ship behaviour), engineering (e.g. port layout) and for training in shiphandling (e.g. maritime pilots, masters and officers). They are usually at 1:25 scale.

The aim of training on manned models is to enable seamen to acquire or to develop manoeuvring skills through a better understanding of a ship behaviour as it sails in restricted water conditions at manoeuvring speed. Manned models are considered by maritime pilots as the next best thing to a full-scale prototype for understanding a ship’s behaviour.. Those who have trained on both claim that scale models are complementary to computer simulators. While manoeuvres with currents, waves, tugs, anchors, bank effects, etc. are reproduced more accurately on scale models, numerical simulators are more realistic when it comes to the bridge environment.

The Port Revel Shiphandling Training Centre is a French maritime pilotage school specializing in training for pilots, masters, and officers on large ships like supertankers, container ships, LNG carriers and cruise ships . The facility uses manned models at a 1:25 scale on a man-made lake designed to simulate natural conditions in harbours, canals, and open seas. It was the first such facility in the world. The Centre was originally created in 1967 near Grenoble by Laboratoire Dauphinois d’Hydraulique.

Model yachts

Main article: model yachting

Model yachts are operating craft, which may be sail, steam, engine or electric motor powered, typically resembling pleasure power craft, although the hobby also includes the construction and operation of models of working ships such as tugboats and other craft shown in this article as static models.

Model shipwright guilds

Model shipwright guilds are social groupings intended to allow more experienced ship modellers the opportunity to pass on their knowledge to new members; to allow members of all levels of expertise to exchange new ideas, as well as serving as social function.

Some model shipwright guilds have been incorporated into government and Naval facilities, achieving a semi-official status as a clearinghouse for information on naval history and ship design. The USS Constitution Museum operates a model shipwright guild from the Charlestown Navy Yard, adjacent to the berth for the vessel itself.

Model ship made with non-traditional materials: rolled-up tubes of paper, Express Mail labels, and duct tape.

Model ships in a model town

Detail of a model that shows men operating a capstan

John F. Kennedy’s PT-109 has been a popular a subject for plastic and radio controlled models since the 1960s. Here is a 1/72 Revell kit positioned against a 1/700 Japanese destroyer.

4-year-old boy painting a Revell plastic model of the South Goodwin Lightship

A Revell “box scale” plastic model kit of the USCG Taney. Originally issued in 1956, it was among the earliest injection molded plastic ship model kits.

Completed Revell Taney model

See also

Model yachting

Model warship combat

Radio-controlled boat

Wooden Ship Models

References

^ “HMS Invincible Model”. The Invergordon Naval Museum and Heritage Centre. December 2007. http://www.invergordonnavalmuseum.co.uk/news.htm. Retrieved 2007-12-05. 

^ Johnston, P.F. 1985. Ship and Boat Models from Ancient Greece. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press P129.

^ Johnston, P.F. 1985. Ship and Boat Models from Ancient Greece. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press P.127.

^ Johnston, P.F. 1985. Ship and Boat Models from Ancient Greece. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press P127.

^ Gottlicher, A. 2004. “A Newly Acquired Ancient Ship-model in Kassel, Germany.” IJNA33.1:154.

^ Gottlicher, A. 2004. “A Newly Acquired Ancient Ship-model in Kassel, Germany.” IJNA33.1:154-5.

^ a b c Tilley, A. 2007. “Rowing Ancient Warships: Evidence from a Newly Published Ship Model. IJNA 4.2:293.

^ a b c Basch, L. 1975. “Another Punic Wreck in Sicily: its ram.” IJNA4.2:201.

^ Johnston, P.F. 1985. Ship and Boat Models in Ancient Greece.Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press P. 12.

^ a b c d e Raban, A. and Y. Kahanow. 2003. “Clay Models of Phoenician Vessels in the Hecht Musesum at the University of Haifa, Israel.” IJNA 32.1:61.

^ Raban, A. and Y. Kahanow. 2003. “Clay Models of Phoenician Vessels in the Hecht Musesum at the University of Haifa, Israel.” IJNA 32.1:62.

^ Raban, A. and Y. Kahanow. 2003. “Clay Models of Phoenician Vessels in the Hecht Musesum at the University of Haifa, Israel.” IJNA 32.1:62.

^ Jones, D. 1995. Boats. Austin: Universtiy of Texas Press P 26.

^ Jones, D. 1990. Model Boats from the Tomb of Tutankamun. Oxford: Griffith Institute P 2.

^ a b c Jones, D. 1990. Model Boats from the Tomb of Tutankamun. Oxford: Griffith Institute P 3.

^ Jones, D. 1990. Model Boats from the Tomb of Tutankamun. Oxford: Griffith Institute P 1.

^ a b Jones, D. 1995. Boats. Austin: Universtiy of Texas Press P 30.

^ Hirschfeld, N. 2009. “Egyptian Seafaring.” Class Lecture, 23 January, San Antonio.

^ “Church Ships”. Henning Thalund. http://www.kirkeskibe.dk/en/index.htm. Retrieved 2007-12-05. 

^ a b c Lavery, Brian & Stephens, Simon (1995). Ship Models, Their Purpose and Development from 1650 to the Present. Zwemmer. ISBN 0302006540. http://books.google.com/books?id=oRP5AQAACAAJ&dq;=”Ship+Models,+Their+Purpose+and+Development+From+1650+to+the+Present”. 

^ “The Pilkington Collection of French Prisoner of War Miniature Models”. Merseyside Maritime Museum. December 2007. http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/maritime/collections/artsea/models/pilkington.asp. Retrieved 2007-12-05. 

^ “Ship Models – Prisoner of War Work”. National Maritime Museum (United Kingdom). December 2007. http://www.nmm.ac.uk/collections/search/listResults.cfm?name=Prisoner of war work, Full hull model&category=shipmodels&sortBy=title. Retrieved 2007-12-05. 

^ a b “Club history: The Model Yacht Sailing Association”. The Model Yacht Sailing Association. December 2003. http://www.mysa.org.uk/default.asp?PageNum=2. Retrieved 2007-12-05. 

^ “Brief History: Basset-Lowke and No. 78″. Hunterian Art Gallery, University of Glasgow. 1999. http://www.78derngate.org.uk/old/docs/78lowke.htm. Retrieved 2007-12-05. 

^ Head, Derek (1997). Bassett-Lowke Waterline Ship Models. New Cavendish Books. ISBN 1872727727. http://books.google.com.au/books?id=8QcWAAAACAAJ&dq=bassett-lowke+waterline+ship+models. 

^ Wegner, Dana (March 2007). “Here Today, Maybe Gone Tomorrow?”. Nautical Research Journal 45 (1). http://shipmodeling.net/vb_forum/articles-print3.html. Retrieved 2007-12-05. 

^ a b Macarthur, Antonia (2008-05-01). “Bateaux Jouets – Toy Boats from Paris 1850-1950″. Signals (Sydney, Australia: Australian National Maritime Museum) 82: 1115. 

^ “Toy Model Kits”. Advarneg Incorporated. 2007. http://www.madehow.com/Volume-6/Toy-Model-Kit.html. Retrieved 2007-12-05. 

^ a b Ashey, Mike (2000). Basics of Ship Modeling: The Illustrated Guide. Kalmbach Publishing Company. ISBN 0890243727. http://books.google.com/books?id=2ffCoUTsj4YC&dq=The+Basics+of+Ship+Modeling. 

^ Schnfeldt, Peter; Klaus Hogardt (1998) (in German). Wiking-modelle.: Die Schiffe und Flugzeuge. Koehler Publishing. ISBN 3782207319. http://books.google.com.au/books?id=GbTeAAAACAAJ&dq=Wiking-Modelle+Die+Schiffe+und+Flugzeuge. 

^ “US Navy ship models built by the Gibbs & Cox Company”. Carderock Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center. May 2007. http://www.dt.navy.mil/cnsm/faq_09d.html. Retrieved 2007-12-12. 

^ “Specifications for construction of exhibition models of U.S. Naval vessels”. Carderock Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center. May 2007. http://www.dt.navy.mil/cnsm/const_1.html. Retrieved 2007-12-12. 

^ “Puget Sound Maritime Pilots”. http://www.pspilots.org/pilots_training_scale.html. 

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to category:

     Models of ships

Model Boat Mayhem – Probably the most comprehensive website about Model Boats – VERY active Forum! UK based.

Model Ship Builder – A website dedicated to preserving the art of model ship building.

Model Ship World The online home for the model ship builder

Model Shipwrights Database An information repository for the model shipwright

Model Shipwrights Model Ship Building Community

ModelWarships.com Plastic ship models

Steel Navy Plastic ship models of the modern era

1250 Home Page devoted to 1/1200 and 1/1250 scale models

Ship Modeling FAQ

Model Boat Links

The Maritime History Virtual Archives

The Nautical Research Guild

Models Used to Train Maritime Officers

The Nautical Research Guild – a model shipwright association

Ship Modeler’s Association of California

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Scale modeling

Architectural models  Brass models  Building models  Diecast models  Model aircraft  Model cars  Model commercial vehicles  Model construction vehicles  Model figures  Matchstick models  Model military vehicles  Model robots  Model trains  Model rockets  Model ships  Gundam model  Miniature wargaming  1:6 scale modeling

Categories: Model boats | ShipsHidden categories: All articles with unsourced statements | Articles with unsourced statements from December 2007

Related Die Cast Models Articles

Car Lovers Find Diecast Models of All Your Favorites

Die-cast toys are created using a popular industrial production method. Molten metal is forced into mold cavities, which are then turned into die castings. Most castings use non-ferrous metals like lead, pewter, copper, magnesium, zinc, aluminum, and tin. The method is prized for its accuracy and quality, specifically with regard to small parts. Though it is known for numerous applications, die-casting is famous for its contribution to the collectible model and toy markets.

Because of its incredible accuracy, die-casting is able to produce model toys that maintain dimensional consistency. That is, they are highly-detailed, much smaller scale replicas of the original vehicles, often a car, truck, train, plane, or motor cycle. Models are typically made from one of the aforementioned metals along with rubber, plastic, and sometimes glass.

Die-cast models first became popular in the early 20th century. Companies like Dinky Toys (UK) and Tootsies Toys (US) produced simple miniatures of popular vehicles types like the van and the bus. Many of these toys were made with cheap alloys that would crack after only a few years, which is why die-cast models made before the Second World War are hard to find. The problem was addressed with the introduction of a new, purer alloy called Zamak (mostly Zinc).

When the war ended, a British manufacturing company named Lesney began distributing die-cast toys on a large scale. One of their first lines of miniature vehicles became an instant hit. They called the set Matchbox and sold them in different series. For example, the Matchbox 1-75 line had 75 different vehicles in the series. The point was to try to collect them all.  They were called “matchbox cars” because they were sold in small boxes that resembled matchboxes.

The Matchbox line of cars and vehicles was largely responsible for the popularity of die-cast toys and collectibles during the 1950s. Though they were a worldwide hit, most die-cast companies were located in either the U.K. or the U.S. By the end of the Fifties, die-cast companies were competing in a crowded marketplace.

The popularity of the die-cast miniatures showed no signs of waning through the 1960s. In fact, a new line of model vehicles from toy maker Mattel challenged Matchbox as the world’s top die-cast toys. They were called Hot Wheels and they were a sleeker, more stylish alternative to the twenty-year-old Matchbox line.

At the same time, companies began to produce new die-cast vehicles to give away to clients as promotional items. A major shift in the target audience occurred when industry insiders reported that some adults were purchasing these models as collectibles. Many of them had played with miniature models as children and they were willing to spend considerable sums of money on replicas.  

Scale

Unlike plastic model kits, most die-cast vehicles come preassembled. Their price is often based on their size or scale. For example, the typical Matchbox or Hot Wheels car is 1:64 scale and quite affordable. By comparison, a larger model like the 1:12 scale is not intended for children. Often about 14 or 15 inches long, their level of detail is unparalleled in the die-cast model market. This typically means real glass in the windows, rubber in the tires, and an incredibly realistic interior. Let us take a moment to review our favorite American models.

Since die-cast toys reached the height of their popularity during the 1950s, many of the most famous models are based on classic cars from the Fifties.

Elvis Presley’s 1955 Cadillac Fleetwood Pink

Few vehicles have had as much of an influence on music history as the 1955 Pink Cadillac owned by the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Not only did Elvis sing about the car in his own songs, but legendary vocalists like Aretha Franklin and Bruce Springsteen have taken a turn. The car was famously painted pink (Cadillac did not offer the car in that color) and was given from Elvis to his mother Gladys as a gift shortly before she died.  It is the only one of Elvis’s many cars on permanent display at his former home, Graceland.

When it comes to die-cast models, the Franklin Mint released a gorgeous replica with steerable wheels, rubber tires, and a detailed interior and engine compartment. The model is 1:24 scale and is comes with a miniature guitar. It can be found online for around one hundred dollars.  

1957 Chevy Corvette Convertible

In addition to being one of the most eye-catching automobiles of the decade, the ’57 Chevrolet Corvette was also one of the fastest cars on the road. It was the premier sports car of its day with two-seats, a four-speed transmission, and an enormous 283 cubic inch fuel-injected engine.  The Corvette was available in both hardtop and folding soft top versions. Most surprising of all, perhaps, was the incredible influence the model had considering its scarcity. Fewer than 6400 until were manufactured. The car remains one of the most sought after die-cast models on the market.

1959 Chevy Impala

With its gull-wing rear-fender, tear drop tail lights, white-wall tires, and distinctive tailfins, few cars say 1950s America like the ‘59 Chevy Impala. Not only was it Chevrolet’s most expensive model, but it was also the bestselling automobile in the U.S. It is no wonder then that Impala is one of the most popular die-cast models in history. The 1:18 scale version is easy enough to find online and only costs thirty or forty dollar. The larger and more detailed 1:12 scale model, on the other hand, is much pricier and harder to find.

Hi guys, just showing you part of my die-cast Helicopters.

Autoart a Model Car Company: Brazilian Gp, and Super Gt 1/18 Models

Autoart is a model car company and main manufacturers of die-cast scale model cars and lifestyle items. Autoart make model cars using variety of different makes, scales and models. AUTOart makes diecast model cars, slot racing cars, and in the future radio controlled cars. AUTOart diecast cars, in price and quality, generally fall between Exoto and CMC (at the high end), and Maisto and Bburago (at the low end). They are reputed to have very precise detailing on all features such as: carpeting, wheels & tires, working door handles, seat belts, suspension, engines, sun visor, working door latch, and door/trunk/hood lid dampers.

Fully built scale model cars made of die cast metal are very popular among collectors. These models are manufactured in various scales like 1:18, 1:24, 1:48, and 1:43, among others. Examples die-cast model car brands and manufacturers include Maisto, Hot Wheels, Matchbox, Corgi and Yat Ming.

List of Makes of Cars Produced by AUTOart

* Alfa Romeo

* Aston Martin

* Audi

* Austin Healey

* Bentley

* BMW

* Bugatti

* Cadillac

* Callaway

* Chaparral

* Chevrolet/GM Design

* Chrysler

* Citroen

* Dodge

* Fiat

* Ford

* Holden

* Honda

* HSV

* Jaguar

* Jeep

* Koenigsegg

* Lamborghini

* Lancia

* Land Rover

* Lexus

* Lincoln

* Lotus

* Maybach

* Mazda

* Mercedes-Benz

* MG

* Mini

* Mitsubishi

* Nissan

* Panoz

* Piaggio

* Peugeot

* Porsche

* Saleen

* Saturn

* Subaru

* Toyota

* Volkswagen

AUTOart ALMS, Brazilian GP, and Super GT 1/18 Models

Gateway Global, parent company of AUTOart, has released information on their latest 1:18 scale sealed body shell Motorsports offerings.

Included in the “Coming Soon” list will be the 2007 Corvette C6R ALMS Compuware cars; the #3 Johnny O’Connell / Jan Magnussen (AUTOart No. 80704), and (AUTOart No. 80705) #4 Oliver Gavin / Olivier Beretta (incorrectly listed as Beratty by AUTOart). You might remember these drivers as First in GT1 Class at the 2006 Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.

Additionally, AUTOart No. 80645 is the 2005 BMW M3 GTR3 Interlagos at São Paulo Red Bull #11 and AUTOart No. 80580 is the 2005 Nissan Fairlady Z Super GT Test Car.

These and other AUTOart Motorsport 1:18 diecast cars are scheduled to be released this 2nd half of year.

 

SIKU Toys ? All time favorite die cast toys

Siku Toys are produced by a German company called Sieper Lüdenscheid GmbH & Co. KG. The year 1921 saw the foundation of the company, while it extensively began manufacturing toys in 1950. Gradually SIKU developed a range of car models which gained immense popularity. The word “SIKU” was formed using the first two initials of its founder Richard Sieper and “Kunststoffe” which is the German word for plastic.

SIKU’s Super Series 1:55 die-cast is still one of SIKU’s highly selling products apart from an admirable and enviable range of vehicle range. You can check out the entire range of vehicles offered by SIKU category wise viz. Agriculture, Bus and Rail, Camping and Leisure , Classic Cars , Cranes , Emergency Rescue , Gift Sets , Local Community Service , Military , Police ,Private Cars , Roadworks , Special Purpose Vehicles, Transporters and Loaders and Winter Service. For those of you who love collecting vintage car models, SIKU offers a series of them in the scale 1:50 and the most preferred one of them being the Mercedes Platform Truck with Round Bonnet.

By introducing the V-series in 1955, SIKU toys become very popular. The V series were replicas of licensed vehicles and were in about 1/64th to scale. In 1960′s SIKU models were made out of zinc alloy and spray painted by hand. The 1970′s saw toys being made out of metal models while plastic models were slowly eased out.

The 1980′s witnessed the introduction of the SIKU FARMER series which contained toys at the scale of 1:32 which primarily are required for farming purposes. Till date, the SIKU FARMER series is still one of the most popular offerings from SIKU. Moving over to offer a vintage range of tractor models, SIKU introduced the SIKU FARMERCLASSIC range at the scale of 1:32, in the year 2002. The year 2005, SIKUSUPERCLASSIC series was introduced comprising of highly detailed fire-engines in the vintage variety at the scale of 1:50. The latest introduction is the launch of a new radio-controlled generation of models. Do check out the truck with the MAN lowboy semi-trailer or the John Deere track tractor which are easy to operate and play with.

Make sure you check out the entire range of Siku Farm Toys such as John Deere 7530, Tractor with Hay Loader, Claas Ares with Front Loader, Tractor Deut with Front Loader, Rider Lawn Mover, Lamborghini Tractor and so on. Today, SIKU toys are extremely popular and aspired for. The SIKU Gift Sets which are available in various ranges such as Farmer 1, Farmer 2, Cars, etc prove to pretty affordable and valuable for gifting to loved ones especially if they love collecting vehicle models. With most of them available online along with the related accessories and spares, you could easily buy them and gift them to somebody as well.

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The fill and feed system for this 30 lb. stainless steel casting was simulated at Alloy Casting Industries in New Hamburg, Ontario Canada. The window on the left shows the temperature profile during the pour. Top of the scale is 1600F, bottom of the scale is 1500F. The window on the top right shows the liquid fraction – liquid metal in the mold. The window on the bottom right shows shrinkage porosity.

Bobby Labonte won the 4/28/07 race at Talladega in the Busch series. Could anyone give me some information as to where I can find one or buy one.

• Perfect Hot Wheels Diecast for every collector!
• Great Investment For Any Hot Wheels Collector.
• Fun For All Ages! Serious Collectors And Kids Alike!
• A Perfect Addition To Any Hot Wheels Collection!
• Diecast Metal Hot Wheels Car Perfect For That Hot Wheels Collector!

Product Description
Kar Keeper Exclusive Bone Shaker Copper Whitewhall 5-Spoke Wheels Metal Casting Collectible Collector Car Mattel Hot Wheels 2007

Kar Keeper Exclusive Bone Shaker Copper Whitewhall 5-Spoke Wheels Metal Casting Collectible Collector Car Mattel Hot Wheels 2007 1:64 Scale

Collecting miniatures is a very popular pastime that many people still enjoy. Getting started with miniatures is not all that hard if you are willing and eager to learn about them. Miniature figures are used in role playing games and they also double as collectibles. It is basically just a small scale replica of a real life object or person. People have been playing with miniatures and collecting them for many years. Many of these collectibles are very elaborately designed and painted. Many collectors choose to display their miniatures even when not in use. There are many fabulous resources where one can learn more about miniatures and collecting them.

When you first get involved with the collecting of miniatures, you may be somewhat confused by the scale measurements. Understanding the scales looks more complicated than it really is. Quite often you will find the scale measurements in metric form. There are various scale types and sizes that one can choose from for their miniature games. On average, a miniature representing a 6 foot tall man will be just 30mm in size. Depending on the game and the collectible type, this ratio will not always be the same. You can easily look up certain ratios for specific games or purposes.

The scale size of miniatures tends to vary based on such things as what type of game you will be playing with them. Certain games like war games may require smaller scale sizes. This is the type of thing that you should look into carefully before you go out and start to purchase your miniatures. Getting the right scale size is important, especially if you are spending a substantial amount of money. Always check over all of the details included in the manufacturer information. It will give you a clear indication of the exact scale size of the miniatures.

There can be a few problematic areas that can come into play when choosing miniature scales. For one, certain proportions on different figures might interfere with the listed scale size. Certain deviations such as a wider body could affect this. Miniatures have evolved quite a lot over the years so you may want to do some research before you start making any purchases. If you have a specific type of game in mind, then you may want to use a certain type of miniature. The material that it is made out of may also be important to you.

A lot of miniatures are made out of metal and plastic casting. Molds are used to shape the figures. The cost of miniature figures will be affected by the material they are made out of as some materials cost much more than others to produce. Many collectors and enthusiasts choose to make their own sculpted miniature figures, designing and painting them entirely. Do some online browsing or research in order to learn more about collecting, purchasing or designing miniature scaled figures. It certainly is a vast hobby that continues to grow in popularity even after all this time.

Although Lionel offers several kinds of model trains and track, most of their sales come from O gauge trains. What’s an O gauge train? To better understand that, you first need to know a few things about scale and gauge.

Let’s start with scale. Model trains are scaled down trains–that is, smaller versions of real trains. A model train’s scale tells us its proportion in relation to the real train version. For example, a Lionel train is an O27 train, with a scale of 1:48 . This means that the Lionel train is 48 times smaller than its real train counterpart, with one-quarter inch equal to one scale foot. Due to their larger size, Lionel trains are easy to work with, especially for beginners–but they may not be the best choice as the available product line is smaller than that of standard gauge trains, or HO (half-zero).

Gauge–gauge is the distance between the rails of a railroad track. Standard track gauge is 4’ 8.5”. O gauge tracks are 1.25” apart. Something to be aware of, though, is that gauge and class specifications can vary internationally, so always check the exact measurements before buying internationally.

As O27 trains, Lionel trains are a bit different from standard O gauge trains. They run on O27 track, which is a bit shorter and narrower than standard O track. The difference can be seen when O27 track is laid out in a circle–an 8 piece circle of O27 track will be 27” across (an 8 piece circle of standard O track is 31” across). Love Lionel trains but have a lot of O track from other set-ups? That’s okay because you can use O track and O27 track together without any problem. Raise your track a little by using a shim, widely available at hobby shops.

Some companies, like Conrad, NZG, and Corgi manufacture die-cast, or metal, model trains that are also compatible with O scale track. This can lead to some interesting track set-ups, and die-cast trucks, cars, buses and construction equipment are popular with collectors.

Lionel trains are a good choice for many reasons. Beyond the ease of running an O27 train, they are also great for modelers looking to perfect model and replica trains. Their size is easy to work with (unlike the smaller N and Z gauge trains), and a great choice for children interested in railroading.