I have been reading though Harold Underhill (Plank On Frame Models), and was wondering if anyone ever build the Leon based on his book?
No need for thisGood idea, please delete my entries above!
Bob
For my next build (after I complete my current build), I was contemplating the Leon while following the techniques in Plank on Frame models; in addition to some more "modern" techniques and advice. I have (found good quality used book on Amazon) both volumes and read both.
Googling there are some plans besides in the book (the books the plans are smaller scale). I am not sure of some companies reputation, but here is one site that has lots of plans for sale: Model-Dockyard and not too expensive (one site the plans were a few hundred bucks!).
At the local ship model society, whenever the subject of CAD comes up, you can almost see most eyes (including mine) glazing over with non-comprehension. Never having been much of a scholar, I gather that CAD is horribly expensive, and takes a great deal of time and concentration to master. But I do know that Harold A Underhill constructed the model Leon shown above, from the plans, and without the use of CAD, that was not even around then. Numerous modellers over the past few decades have built the Leon from those same plans without any undue problems. I have always felt that the biggest obstacle to scratchbuilding is the attitude "I haven't the time, I haven't the tools, I haven't the patience, I don't know where to get plans, the plans are not good enough etc etc)." If anyone wants to build the Leon, I would suggest they just get stuck in. I built mine by just tracing the frame shapes off the plan, sticking them on plywood, and cutting them out with a small saw. I had a pin-vice hand drill, a sharp knife, small vice, steel ruler and pair of dividers, and that was all!
Bob