Building a wooden ship from model kits is a fantastic hobby and a wonderful way to pass some time, but it could be also quite challenging at first for beginners and inexperienced users. The ship model building hobby is extremely rewarding as the ships are no less than an exquisite piece of art and a collector’s item when completed.
Remember that these are wooden ship model kits and not ready-made or pre built models of ships (though you can actually buy one if you wish) we are talking about. Usually a model means a design or concept of a ship that was never made in reality. However, a model kit is a miniature, scaled-down version of a real ship that existed in naval history.
Though, some people don’t like the idea of purchasing a ready made model. They prefer creating scaled down replicas of famous ships for the sheer satisfaction it provides to model such beautiful pieces of history. And I can relate to that as really love building wooden ship models my self.
Building your own ships and boat models can be very satisfying, even if you are doing it for the first time. So, let’s take a look at few of the best and easy ship models for beginners to try before moving onto more complicated models to put on display.
We will also guide you along the way on how to choose the best beginner wooden ship model kits.
5 of the Best Wooden Ship Model Kits For Beginners You can Buy
1. HMS Bounty First Step – Model Ship Kit by Amati
The HMS Bounty was a merchant vessel built and commissioned in 1787. It belonged to the Royal Navy for historic voyages. Bounty became famous for its mutiny by the crew against the captain, William Bligh.
The scaled-down model kit of this 230-ton ship is the best one, to begin with. Amati is well known for its range of ship model kits for all levels of hobbyists. This is the first kit we picked up for beginners to start their journey.
The HMS Bounty kit contains all the items you need to create a perfect museum piece. It contains tools and well-written instructions with plenty of reference images to follow.
You can further embellish your ship’s deck with accessories from Amati or ones you made on your own.
What We Liked:
- Perfect for kids and beginners.
- Detailed instructions in English.
- Reference images provided.
- Contains all necessary tools.
2. OcCre 12500 Albatros
The OccreAlbatros was a schooner used for coastguard work as well as a warship. They were popular in the 18th and 19th century, and quite advantageous in a chase. Schooners were also cost-effective, requiring fewer sailors.
The Albatros, a typical American schooner, contains double planking on a plywood frame. The combo kit contains all necessary detailing such as doors, cannons, blocks, deck pumps, sails, flags, and rigging lines.
The premium quality model ship kit is made from the finest wooden material and is rare to find in the USA.
What we liked:
- Best quality parts and materials.
- Contains all necessary items in the tool kit.
- Fantastic appearance.
- Good for beginners.
3. Amati Bluenose Wooden Fishing Yacht Ship Model Kit
We would suggest you to try another gem from Amati. The Bluenose Wooden Fishing Yacht Ship Model Kit is a beautiful historic model and is perfect for beginners.
The Bluenose ship was a 285-ton schooner and a winner of the International Fisherman’s Trophy in 1921. The yacht won every race it participated in.
This model kit features a miniature version, scaled to 1:1000. The kit contains all the pre-cut wooden parts you need. You can find double planking on bulkhead construction and all the tools and fittings needed to put everything together. The detailed kit has ropes and sailcloth included to care for the details. It also has a detailed instructional manual in English to help you.
What We Liked:
- Premium quality.
- Detailed toolkit and parts provided.
- Instruction manual in English.
4. Amati Hunter – Model Ship Kit
Try this premium model ship kit known as the Amati Hunter. It is modeled on the schooner, built in the early 20th century to be used as a collier.
The Hunter was a part of the British Merchant Navy, before being taken over by the Royal Navy. It then turned into a Q-ship for its sailing prowess in the North Seas and was used in wars. The deck contained false structures to conceal the weapons and use them when needed against enemies.
The excellent kit by Amati contains all the detailed parts and tools to build this historical Hunter Q-Ship. Invest your time and patience, following the detailed instructions provided to create this wonderful model.
What We Liked:
- Beautiful construction.
- Premium quality.
- Instruction manual provided.
- All parts and tools provided in the kit.
5. Santa Maria First Step – Model Ship Kit by Amati
If you need the best model ship kit for your kids to try and build, the Santa Maria First Step shall be a great choice. It is quite well-suited for beginners and even your kids.
The Santa Maria is the flagship of Christopher Columbus, and is one of the most well-known ships in history. This beautiful ship that originated in Spain was a part of Columbus’ expedition to discover the new world.
The best part of this model kit featuring the scaled-down version of the historical ship is that you do not need any experience. You do not need to invest in added tools as the kit comes with everything you need to build the ship.
The detailed English instructions provided in the manual inside the kit will help you out at each step. Use your imagination to embellish the Santa Maria with accessories from Amati. You can also create your decorations to adorn the decks and bulwarks.
What We Liked:
- No previous model making experience required.
- Easy enough for kids.
- No special tools required.
- The kit contains all tools and parts.
How To Choose Among the Best Beginner Wooden Ship Model Kits?
Beginner’s model ship kits act as a stepping stone to lead you towards complex ship designs. But the problem is that though there are plenty of model kits in the market, most of them belong to the advanced level category.
So, where do beginners start?
Here is what we think that beginner wooden ship model kits must have to help you proceed smoothly. Look for these points when you choose your first model kit:
Ease of technique
A beginner’s kit should be simple enough with the techniques of creating the model ship. The person working on it should not face difficulty as a beginner to complete it. Too many details and fine intricacies will make the job difficult at this level.
Tools
A ship model kit must have all the tools and instruments you need to complete the work. The pack must contain glue, paints, fittings, sails, pedestals, etc. needed to put together the final product.
Instructions
The starter kit should have a well-written instruction manual and a detailed guide to help people. Always see whether the kit contains a proper manual to help you complete the ship step-by-step. Also, do not forget to check the language of the instruction manual.
Reference Photographs
A beginner’s kit must also have a lot of reference photographs to follow. The person working on the kit should have a clear idea of how to proceed at each step, followed by photographs.
Conclusion
Creative hobbies should always push you forward to make you an expert from a beginner. It is important to start well so that the journey becomes interesting.
We tried to give you the right push with your interest in these beginners wooden ship model kits that would help you make a great start.
If you are into warships you may want to also build a ww2 battleship model kit too.
Follow the guide above which would help you find the best wooden model ship kit to boost your interest in hobby craft making. So, start building your first ship and have fun. It won’t take you long to build an exquisite ship from scratch and make yourself proud.
