| Scratch build.. in which scale, and how? |
The first step in scratch building is to select a scale. You can of cause choose any scale that you like, but if you choose a scale that is used as a standard in model building, you might help your self. Model railroad uses among other scales 1:87 (H0), 1:160 (N) and 1:220 (Z) while the typical model boat is 1:100, 1:200 or 1:350 etc. Surf the internet, and the hobby stores available to you, and check in what scale you can get containers, people, railing, radars and stuff.. all the stuff that you would prefer not to build from scratch.
Remember to think about storage and transportation. Will you have a spot for the model when you are not using it, and will it fit in the car?
It might be tempting to build Emma in 1:100, but that'll give you a length of 156.30 in / 397.00 cm! One could of cause make the hull so that it splits at the middle, but a model this big requires quite a pond to sail.. On the other hand, building the Emma in 1:500 makes it so small that you will most likely miss all of the details because they are simply too small.
I went with 1:220 so that I could choose items from the model railroad "Z" scale, such as containers and stuff. If I were to start over, I'd go with 1:200 though, because railing, radars and other maritime equipment is widely available in that range too.
It would also be more likely to meet other models in the same scale, if 1:200 was chosen.
Here's a table of the scales that I would consider: (Well... maybe not 1:1..)
| Scale |
Length |
Beam |
Freeboard |
20' teu |
40' teu |
Crew size |
1:1 |
1,302 ft / 397 m |
184 ft / 56 m |
65.6 ft / 20 m |
20.0 x 8.0 x 8.5 ft
6.1 x 2.44 x 2.59 m |
40.0 x 8.0 x 8.5 ft
12.2 x 2.44 x 2.59 m |
5.91 ft / 1.8 m |
1:87 (H0) |
179.65 in / 456.32 cm |
25.34 in / 64.37 cm |
9.05 in / 22.99 cm |
2.76 x 1.10 x 1.17 in
7.01 x 2.80 x 2.98 cm |
5.52 x 1.10 x 1.17 in
14.02 x 2.80 x 2.98 cm |
0.81 in / 2.07 cm |
1:100 |
156.30 in / 397.00 cm |
22.05 in / 56.00 cm |
7.87 in / 20.00 cm |
2.40 x 0.96 x 1.02 in
6.10 x 2.44 x 2.59 cm |
4.80 x 0.96 x 1.02 in
12.20 x 2.44 x 2.59 cm |
0.71 in / 1.80 cm |
1:160 (N) |
97.69 in / 248.13 cm |
13.78 in / 35.00 cm |
4.92 in / 12.50 cm |
1.50 x 0.60 x 0.64 in
3.81 x 1.53 x 1.62 cm |
3.00 x 0.60 x 0.64 in
7.63 x 1.53 x 1.62 cm |
0.44 in / 1.13 cm |
1:200 |
78.15 in / 198.50 cm |
11.02 in / 28.00 cm |
3.94 in / 10.00 cm |
1.20 x 0.48 x 0.51 in
3.05 x 1.22 x 1.30 cm |
2.40 x 0.48 x 0.51 in
6.10 x 1.22 x 1.30 cm |
0.35 in / 0.90 cm |
1:220 (Z) |
71.05 in / 180.45 cm |
10.02 in / 25.45 cm |
3.58 in / 9.09 cm |
1.09 x 0.44 x 0.46 in
2.77 x 1.11 x 1.18 cm |
2.18 x 0.44 x 0.46 in
5.55 x 1.11 x 1.18 cm |
0.32 in / 0.82 cm |
1:350 |
44.66 in / 113.43 cm |
6.30 in / 16.00 cm |
2.25 in / 5.71 cm |
0.69 x 0.27 x 0.29 in
1.74 x 0.70 x 0.74 cm |
1.37 x 0.27 x 0.29 in
3.49 x 0.70 x 0.74 cm |
0.20 in / 0.51 cm |
1:500 |
31.26 in / 79.40 cm |
4.41 in / 11.20 cm |
1.57 in / 4.00 cm |
0.48 x 0.19 x 0.20 in
1.22 x 0.49 x 0.52 cm |
0.96 x 0.19 x 0.20 in
2.44 x 0.49 x 0.52 cm |
0.14 in / 0.36 cm |
The following is designed to help you find a scale that you like. Enter the scale you have in mind, and click submit.
The scaled measurements will then be shown for comparison with the above.
| Scale |
Length |
Beam |
Freeboard |
20' teu |
40' teu |
Crew size |
1:1 |
15,629.92 in / 39,700.00 cm |
2,204.72 in / 5,600.00 cm |
787.40 in / 2,000.00 cm |
240.16 x 96.06 x 101.97 in
610.00 x 244.00 x 259.00 cm |
480.31 x 96.06 x 101.97 in
1,220.00 x 244.00 x 259.00 cm |
70.87 in / 180.00 cm |
Next is to decide how you would like to make your hull. Will it be a "one of", meaning that there will be made one only, or will you be making more hulls? The "one of" if of cause the easiest and cheapest, but making a mold might enable you to sell hulls later on..
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Methods of building the hull: |
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The "mold" method: Here
you first build a master in plaster, wood, clay or any other material
that you like working with. You then make a mold from that, and in that
new mold, you build your finished hull using resin (Epoxy) and all.
The only advantages when doing only one hull, is the fact that
it'll be easier to sand the master hull to a smooth surface, as it is
not made of epoxy. Also, if you save the original mold plug then you can make a new mold IF you fx. need to change the hull to have a different keel or such without having to start all over..
The disadvantages are that unless you plan to build more than one
hull, then it's too much work with too little advantages, provided that the first hull works for you.
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The "one-of" method:
Shape the hull using wood, expanded polystyrene, plaster, clay or any other
material that you like working with, but build it a bit smaller so it'll
have the correct finished measurements when the resin (epoxy) is applied. (E.g.. the
measurements should be app. 2 x 1/4" smaller than what you want
to end up with. Then apply wax, duck tape or something else that the
resin will not glue to, and apply layer after layer, mixed with fiber
cloth, and sand it along the way, until you have the thickness you like.
The core is then destructively removed, and disposed of, thus the "one-of".
The advantage is that you save a step this way, and save on the
materials used for building the hull compared to the mold method.
The only disadvantages are: This approach takes a lot of
sanding before you have a smooth surface, and it's hard to make another
hull if you should loose the first one.
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Common for both:
You sometimes need to mix the resin with silica thickener
in order to prevent it from running, running and running as you apply
it, but don’t do this when wetting the fiber cloth.
You also need to start and finish with one or two layers of resin
with out fiber cloth in order to have a good surface both inside and
outside. Also, the
choice of resin (Epoxy) is important!
Please read
this important information before buying!
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I went with the mold method this time, as opposed to when I made the submarine. I bet there are other builders out there that would like to have an E-class hull.
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