I love building plank-on-frame wooden ships but have not done one recently because I couldn't find a way of incorporating one into my layout. 
However, I came across these tram kits. They use the same construction technique and materials
(e.g. planks of wood and bits of bent wire) so they are just as much fun to build but will actually look good on a railway (if you suspend belief for a time
).
http://www.cornwallmodelboats.co.uk/acatalog/OC53003.html
I got mine from Cornwall Model Boats but Glendale Junction have them at the same price (but sadly, he wasn't open at the time I wanted to place my order).
I'm doing a bit of a kit bash with this because I want to try and give it a British feel so out goes the pantograph and in comes the 'let's pretend it's a cable type tram like The Great Orme'.
First pic shows the added planking of the platforms and the aisle which I did just to add a bit of texture and interest. (and it also gives you a view of the kit contents and my really tidy workbench)
By the way, that is a thing about these kits - they are very detailed in places but could use some extra detailing in others. e.g. there is no detailed running gear between the sole bars, you just get two basic axle holders. And the front panel detail along with the 'dashboard' are just printed paper. But there are lots of metal castings to detail other areas.
The thing I have problems with is the stated scale. 1:24 looks wrong (here's a 6' tall woman who looks decidedly small)
I think it's more 1:18 (here's 6' tall man) who looks a lot more in scale, which siuts me perfectly. It will happily stand next to my Caradoc and Mortimer.
Anyway, it's a good value kit with lots of bashing potential - and I'm enjoying building it.
However, I came across these tram kits. They use the same construction technique and materials
(e.g. planks of wood and bits of bent wire) so they are just as much fun to build but will actually look good on a railway (if you suspend belief for a time
).http://www.cornwallmodelboats.co.uk/acatalog/OC53003.html
I got mine from Cornwall Model Boats but Glendale Junction have them at the same price (but sadly, he wasn't open at the time I wanted to place my order).
I'm doing a bit of a kit bash with this because I want to try and give it a British feel so out goes the pantograph and in comes the 'let's pretend it's a cable type tram like The Great Orme'.
First pic shows the added planking of the platforms and the aisle which I did just to add a bit of texture and interest. (and it also gives you a view of the kit contents and my really tidy workbench)
By the way, that is a thing about these kits - they are very detailed in places but could use some extra detailing in others. e.g. there is no detailed running gear between the sole bars, you just get two basic axle holders. And the front panel detail along with the 'dashboard' are just printed paper. But there are lots of metal castings to detail other areas.
The thing I have problems with is the stated scale. 1:24 looks wrong (here's a 6' tall woman who looks decidedly small)
I think it's more 1:18 (here's 6' tall man) who looks a lot more in scale, which siuts me perfectly. It will happily stand next to my Caradoc and Mortimer.
Anyway, it's a good value kit with lots of bashing potential - and I'm enjoying building it.
