π Entering another place...
Roy,
I'll try to log in once more, but as there's no way to contact them I shall just do what I always end up doing with forums, leave! (Expletive deletedπ) I always end up doing it my way anyway, I just like to help people save time and money if I can and help them enjoy the hobby more.
But, in answer to your question, I cannot get interested in warships of any era whatever and tugs, coasters, liners. You could say ships generally. Just too big and Nelson's stick and string collection drives me nuts. Too much to know.
My interests are the inshore sailing craft of Gt. Britain and Ireland and mahogany classic speedboats. I think people are scared of the latter because a superb finish is essential. And if you can't work metal, forget it. That is as essential. I love both and can do both. I just wanted to and practiced. Pretty obvious really! The former? What's not to love? Variety, localness, almost all are beautiful, static or working models, small enough to build biggish and still transport, so nice detail. Yet you rarely see a Thames Bawley, a Galway Hooker or a Northumberland Coble. A Shetland Sixareen Or a Leigh Peter Boat. Even the names are redolent of the sea. I was hooked by reading Edgar March's two volumes on the topic. But I can never find anything. I suppose because in the recent times, where there's a less and less likely chance someone has actually scratchbuilt anything, they select a damned warship, not a far more interesting and developed local craft. It never seems to occur to them that they might actually finish something smaller! And they can do a small collection where every model is very different from the next, whereas Nelson Stick and stringery all looks very similar, ugly even!
Martin