This Freshman/Sophomore Course is based on the Model Shipways kit, Fair American (MS2015). This course consists of 12 chapters and covers the complete construction of the model including masting and rigging. 

The course also contains a DVD with video showing the planking of the lower hull in real time. This DVD is 2 hours long. Two additional video clips are included on the course CD that show two methods commonly used to seize lines. 
 
This course is ideal for modelers with some model shipbuilding experience or no experience at all. This course may be built out of the box as the Freshman Course. However, as a Sophomore Course, some easy kitbashing is shown. The great cabin beneath the quarterdeck is opened up and conventional quarterdeck deck framing with some planking left off reveals the details in the great cabin. These include a checkboard floor that was typical for ships of this time period. This is an option of construction that can be omitted by modelers with less experience who might feel intimidated by this change in kit design.
 
In addition, one side of the hull can be modified by removing two bulkheads and replacing the space with real frames. Planking is left off in an area of this framed portion to give the illusion of a true plank on frame model. The two kitbashing procedures can easily be left out of the construction process for modelers who would prefer to build the model out of the box.
 
As a Freshman Course, the kitbashing may be omitted and the course covers construction either way. The hull planking is single layered either way, since the hull is painted and the DVD that comes with the course will prove to be especially useful for new modelers as well as experienced modelers. Either way, you will be able to carry forward what you learn from the DVD alone as far as hull planking is concerned.
 
With this course, the modeler will actually see the hull being planked in high definition video. The course will teach many of the basics of model shipbuiding, making masts and spars, rigging and more complex techniques. This course is a stepping stone to greater kit bashing and even more complex models or most any ship model, simple or complex.
 
The course comes on a CD. The chapters can be printed out by the customer and put in a 3 ring binder, or you can take the CD to an office supply store such as Staples or Office Max and have them print the chatpers for you.