Rating of Wooden Model Ship Kit Manufacturers

There are about 20 wooden model ship kit				with the idea to make the model as a kit, exactly
manufacturers throughout the world. It can be				the same way you would build a real ship. This
challenging to determine who's kit will suit the				was when the concept "plank-on-frame" was
model ship builder the best because of all the				invented by Mr. Billing, which is now used by all
variables involved. The idea is to match up the kit				model boat manufacturers around the world. Up
manufacturer with the needs and wants of the				until 1958 the kits were produced under the name
builder so at the end of the day, the ship model				"VHT" Vestjydsk Hobby Teknik, but this changed
builder has an enjoyable and fulfilling experience.				as Mr. Billings products became known outside
Cast Your Anchor has been in the model ship				Denmark. During the 60s, 70s and 80s the kits
supply business for 7 years and been ship				were improved, and gradually made easier for
modelers for over 30 years. Over this time we				consumers to build. The frames were precut or
have formed opinions on model ship kit				die cut, and in the 60s ABS-hulls were introduced
manufacturers either through direct experience or				for the people that wanted to go out sail with RC.
from listening to our customers relate their				In 1989/90 the first laser cut machine was
experiences. We have summarized our findings				brought in, and everything became easier to
below for 10 of the ship model manufacturers.				produce, but also to make for the model builder.
We provide the history and background of the				August 2008 was the 50th Anniversary of the
manufacturer, location of their factory, the North				Billing Boats brand name. Retailer is serviced
American distributorship channel, their tendency				through distributors in Canada and the US.
when it comes to the kit skill level requirements				Bluejacket: Overall Score 6.73 out of 10. Skill Level
and of course their rating.				Tendency "E". Strength is instructions and after
The distributorship channel is most important				sales service. Weakness is types of vessels
when considering after sales service. Direct				available and detailing.
contact between the retailer and the				BlueJacket Shipcrafters, Inc., located in the United
manufacturer is usually best but not in all cases.				States, has been in continuous operation since
The tendency for manufacturers to build kits				1905. In 1905, Horace E. Boucher, a French-born
aimed at a certain builder skill level is very				naval architect with the U.S. Navy Department
important when it comes to the instructions that				and head of the Navy's model shop in
are provided in the kit. Entry level kit instructions				Washington, founded the model company that
generally assume that the model builder will				bore his name. Boucher's models were prized by
require guidance with ship model building				museums all over the country-more than 40 are
techniques in addition to specific instructions				in the Smithsonian alone. His innovative idea of
related to the vessel construction.				mass producing cast fittings and selling kits to the
Definitions:				general public started a new industry in the United
Rating 1 -10: 1-3 Poor, 3-7 Good, 8-10 Excellent. All				States and helped turn what had been the art of
categories are considered equally rated because				a few craftsmen into a hobby enjoyed by
there are alternative options the builder can				thousands. The company name was changed to
exercise should there be an issue in any one of				BlueJacket Shipcrafters after Boucher's death.
the categories.				Bluejacket strives to manufacture the finest and
Skill Level Tendency - Some manufacturers tend				most historically accurate wooden model ships in
to lean towards a specific builder's skill level in their				the world. Retailer is serviced direct or through
kits. Other manufacturers have a good variety of				distributors in the US.
kits to suit all levels of skills. Skill Level Tendency:				Constructo: Score 7.64 out of 10. Skill Level
E - Entry Level, I - Intermediate Level, A -				Tendency "I". Strength is price and overall value
Ambitious Level.				for money. Weakness is after sales service and
Availability - Ranges from always in stock to				design.
fulfillment within a few weeks or months.				Founded in 1942, Constructo wooden model ships
Availability can be adversely affected by the				was a pioneer in its field. Constructo, a
distribution network of the manufacturer. If the				well-established Spanish toy and games
manufacturer allows for direct buying the				manufacturer, added wooden ship kits to its line
availability tends to be quite high.				only a few short years ago. The kits are of high
Types of Vessels Available - The two areas				quality, with accurately cut laser parts. Constructo
looked at were era of the vessel and the vessel				produces high quality kits for children.
type. Some manufacturers have a limited range				Corel: Overall score 6.36 out of 10. Skill Level
while others have offerings in almost all				Tendency "A". Strength is historical accuracy,
categories. One manufacturer has vessel types				parts and fittings and completeness of kits.
that are unique to what other manufacturers				Weakness is instructions and after sales service.
have to offer.				Corel, located in Milan Italy has been making model
Historical Accuracy - The accuracy of a model				kits for period and modern ships since 1971, and
ranges from barely recognizable to reasonably				enthusiasts will know about their high quality. The
accurate. Detailed information of many vessels is				company pride themselves in the manufacture of
not available which leaves for a fair bit of				some of the highest quality model boat kits
interpretation. When it comes to paint colours				available to the modeler with the best plans in the
some manufacturers don't even try to recognize				business. Corel are also able to supply very high
the true colours of the vessel.				quality fittings and materials to model boatbuilders.
Detailing - Some kits are highly detailed while				Retailer is serviced through a distributor in the US.
others have minimum deck fittings. The accuracy				Dumas: Overall score 7.36 out of 10. Skill Level
of the detailing in terms of the era of the ship as				Tendency "E". Strength is types of vessels
well as the materials used at the time that the				available and after sales service. Weakness is
ship sailed is also considered.				price and overall value for money.
Instructions - Good accurate instructions that if				Al Dumas started marine model boat kits in
need be have been properly translated from the				Milwaukee, WI in 1946. These kits were made of
host language as well as detailed instructions on				balsa wood with parts printed on the wood for
the techniques of model ship making range not				modelers to cut out. About 1980, Dumas moved
just from one manufacturer to another but				to its present location at 909 E 17th St. Most of
between the skill levels of the kits. Novice kits				the boats are not only beautiful on display, but
tend to be more explicit with regards to modeling				they can also be run with electric or gas power
techniques than advanced kits.				and radio control. Dumas line of model boats is
Design - This refers to part fit. Precut bulkheads				most encompassing. Dumas has an exclusive
and all parts that are laser cut should fit				license to manufacture Chris-Craft mahogany
reasonably accurately without too much				runabouts and pleasure craft. Retailer is serviced
modification. Also there are some kits with				direct or through distributors in the US.
inherent design flaws that result in misshaped lines				Mamoli: Overall score 6.36 out of 10. Skill Level
of the vessel.				Tendency "A". Strength is in detailing, parts and
Parts and Fittings - The fittings should be				fittings and completeness of kits. Weakness is
accurate, to scale and made of high quality				availability, price and after sales service.
materials depending on what the parts is.				Besides its normal commercial activity, the firm
Completeness of the Kit - The builder should not				has established a "Naval Modeling Department" for
have to purchase anything outside of the kit				the production of period ship kits. The models
unless there is a desire to augment the fittings or				presented, which from the structural point of
parts in order to improve on the historical				view are of an extremely advanced conception,
accuracy. There should be enough wood and				are the logical continuation of a line begun more
rigging material so that extra material does not				than 20 years ago by the designer Luigi
need to be purchased.				Volonté, whose long experience allowed him to
Price - The manufacturer should produce a range				personally set up and follow a production, which
of products at different price points.				was regard as one of the best, both for the
Overall Value for Money - This refers to the				facility of construction and the clearness of the
combination of quality, price and product that the				plans, which are full of perspective drawings and
manufacturer has assembled in order to the give				fully described in four languages. Retailer is
the builder a positive overall experience regardless				serviced through one distributor in the US.
of his skill level.				Mantua: Overall score 6.09 out of 10. Skill Level
After Sales Service - This refers to being able to				Tendency "A". Strength is in detailing, parts and
obtain extra parts or responses to customer				fittings and completeness of kits. Weakness is
questions concerning the build. Manufacturer's who				availability, instructions, price and after sales
have set up distribution channels tend to give				service.
fairly poor after sales service.				Mantua Model, located in the ancient town
Manufacturer's Rating				Mantova, Italy, has built its reputation on the
Amati: Overall Score 7.27 out of 10. Skill Level				ultimate in large, elaborately detailed ship model
Tendency "I". Strength is availability of kits and				kits. Mantua Model Group (includes Sergal and
after sales service. Weakness is instructions.				Panart) have been producing period model boat
Established in Italy in 1879, Amati moved quickly				kits since after the war and were the first
from printed fretwork models to the model ship				company to innovate and use the cutting ability of
line. For over 120 years, Amati, thanks to the				laser beams to produce very accurate and high
collaboration with designers and craftsmen, offers				quality products. Designed for the experienced
to the modelers the best products and the				modeler, most use a combination of photo-etched
modern technology. Nowadays customers can				brass and cast or machined bronze fittings.
rely on a large and varied choice of models from				Several feature solid bronze ornamentation cast
the most beautiful and famous America's Cup, to				one piece at a time by the lost wax method.
historical sailing ships, and world-wide known				Retailer is serviced through one distributor in the
motor boats and submarines. Thanks to the high				US.
quality of items, detailed construction plans, the				Midwest Models: Overall score 7.36 out of 10. Skill
product's originality and the constant introduction				Level Tendency "E". Strength is instructions,
of new designs, Amati is a world leader in the				completeness of kits and after sales service.
wooden ship model hobby. Retailer is serviced				Weakness is price, types of vessels available and
direct or through distributors in Canada and the				detailing.
US.				In 1952, friends combined their passions for model
Artesania Latina: Overall Score 7.27 out of 10. Skill				airplanes to develop a thriving business dedicated
Level Tendency "I". Strength is price and overall				to providing high quality products to enthusiasts
value for money. Weakness is after sales service				around the world. More than 50 years later,
and parts and fittings.				Midwest's product line and distribution have grown
Artesania Latina began its journey in 1970 in				and changed, but its passion for quality has
Barcelona Spain. In 1979, 80% of revenues came				remained steadfast. Today, Midwest Products is a
from outside Spain and their products were				leading supplier worldwide of quality raw materials,
known and recognized in 40 countries on five				accessories and kits to distributors and retailers.
continents. A key aspect in the evolution of the				People use our products for leisure, educational
company has always been innovation. In 1994,				and professional pursuits, from model airplanes
Artesania Latina released a second family of				and boats to architectural and educational
products, basically but not exclusively for women				projects. Retailer is serviced direct or through
and in 2001, they opened an office in Hong Kong				distributors in Canada and the US.
focused on strategic positioning in emerging				Model Shipways: Overall score 7.36 out of 10. Skill
markets. In the 34 years of activity, Artesania				Level Tendency "I". Strength is instructions and
Latina has continued to evolve in line with the				after sales service. Weakness is historical
needs of the market every day, year after year,				accuracy and price.
with a passion for the hobby attracting thousands				Model Shipways (A Division of Model Expo), in
of friends around the world. Retailer is serviced				continuous operation since 1946, is the oldest ship
through a distributor in the US.				model factory in America. As a leading
Billings Boats: Overall Score 6.73 out of 10. Skill				manufacturer and provider of historically accurate
Level Tendency "I". Strength is availability of kits,				and authentic model kits and precision tools, Model
types of vessels available and completeness of				Expo serves more than 40,000 customers and
kit. Weakness is after sales service, price and				hobby stores throughout the world. Model Expo
instructions.				was founded in 1976 and partners with over 40
In the early 50s Ed Billing, a former RAF pilot				companies worldwide to include Italy, Spain,
during WWII, was working as an Architect in the				Europe, and China. Retailer is serviced through a
town of Esbjerg in Denmark. His wife was running				distributors in the US.
a Hobby shop called Vestjydsk Hobby and Mr.				Occre: Overall score 5.64 out of 10. Skill Level
Billing was proudly displaying his build up model of a				Tendency "A". Strength is historical accuracy and
Danish Fishing Boat. At that time there were no				completeness of kit. Weakness is availability of
actual model boat kits around, from which you				kits, instructions and after sales service.
could make a boat. One day a Danish magazine				Above all else, OcCre (Ocio Creativo) is a brand
saw this beautiful model in the window of the				whose potential for development is based on its
Hobby Shop and were very interested in buying				highly integrated team of people, capable of
50 "build ups" of this Fishing Boat for a				creating products of excellent design and
competition the upcoming summer. Mr. Billing was				creativity. OcCre is a fairly new company with a
very keen on the idea, but it was a huge				manufacturing facility in Spain. Retailer is serviced
undertaking making 50 models, so he came up				through a distributor in the US.

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Rating of Wooden Model Ship Kit Manufacturers

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