Detailed Guide To Scratch Building, Part 2
Not long ago I posted an article about a new series of color printed books I am working on that is called A Detailed Guide to Scratch Building Model Ships. I wanted to give you an update on this new guide.
The first two volumes of what will now be 12 volumes was released in early April. Volume I was titled An Introduction to Plank on Frame Construction and covered such topics as the tools needed to build POF models, information on where to obtain plans and drawings for such models, the different types of framing used to build POF models, information on framing jigs, a discussion on the different types of wood used for scratch building, and how to mill your own wood for making parts. Volume II was titled CAD Work and covered such topics as how to prepare original drawings for CAD work, how to import those drawings into CAD, how to create the Body Lines drawing, how to create the Waterlines drawing, how to create the Profile Frame drawing, how to loft frames, how to create inside edge waterlines, how to create the final frame drawings, and how to loft cant frames.
I'm pleased to announce that Volume III and Volume IV should be available tomorrow, May 2nd. Please be sure to visit my website if you are interested in purchasing these next two volumes.
Volume III is titled Constructing the Keel Assembly. The topics covered in that volume include constructing the keel, constructing the apron, stem and fore deadwood, constructing the stern, constructing the rising wood, constructing the false keel, constructing the stem, and CAD work for the keel assembly. Volume IV is titled Making Frames. The topics covered in that volume include Harold Hahn style frame construction, sistered frame construction my way, making historically correct frames, making single futtock frames, and beveling frames.
Both of these volumes go into a lot of detail on their subject matter and include lots of photos to demonstrate and explain the techniques covered. The remaining 8 volumes will cover the following.
Volume V - The Framing Jig
Volume VI - Framing the Model
Volume VII - Outer Hull Planking
Volume VIII - Lower Deck Details
Volume IX - Framing the Decks
Volume X - Deck Furniture
Volume XI - Outer Hull Details
Volume XII - 3D CAD for 3D Printing of Parts
A lot of work goes into writing these books, so I hope they will be useful to those of you who want to learn how to build true plank on frame models from scratch. I think that this guide as well as my Guide to Building Model Ships will provide just about everything I know about building model ships. It has taken me over 30 years to acquire this knowledge and experience.
On a different topic, I would also like to mention my new book, Blind Terror. Blind Terror is the first fiction novel I have ever written. It has been read by my editor and wife, Peggy three times now and will soon be released for purchase. Peggy wants to read it one more time to make sure that she didn't miss anything. I'm very proud of how this book turned out. I never thought I could write a book about something I know absolutely nothing about. I spent many hours doing research to write this book and learned an awful lot about topics I never gave much thought to.
The book is about a terror attack on the U.S. in which the terrorist plant a genetically engineered virus into new perfume and cologne products. The virus is an altered version of an actual virus that causes blindness, but the actual virus mainly affects the elderly who have weakened immune systems. This genetically engineered version of the virus renders anyone who uses the perfume or cologne completely blind within 3 to 4 weeks. I won't say any more about this because I don't want to give away some of the best parts in the book.
I recently visited my dermatologist whom I have a very nice relationship with. I told him about the book and the virus and he made a rather flattering remark about the book. He thought it was absolutely "brilliant" because some of the things I described to him about the book were actually very accurate from a medical and scientific standpoint. Needless to say, I'm very anxious to release the book and get some feedback from actual readers.
One of the characters in the book is very important to the story because that particular character will be involved in future books I want to write. Although his part in this book is rather low keyed, he will take center stage in the next book which will be called The Gray Cardinal. I would like to make these books a series similar to some of the Tom Clancy novels which used the character, Jack Ryan.
That's all for now. I haven't been doing much model building as I have been spending most of my time writing these books. I hope some of you will be interested enough to purchase some of these new books soon.
Bob Hunt