RE: USS North Hampton Strike models offers a Northampton kit. The scale is slightly wrong as it's intended to be able to be used for either a Northampton class or a Portland class ship. I've seen the old Swampworks version and it's a nice little hull.
RE: USS North Hampton Ok thanks, When i a job, soon, ill see if i can get it. How off scale is it, do you know.
RE: USS North Hampton It's a hair too long. The Northampton class was 600 ft long, the Portland was 614 (numbers off the top of my head). The hull strike models has splits the difference, and is within the limits defined for error in the small gun clubs. I can't speak towards big gun.
RE: USS North Hampton Big gun limits are 5% rather than the fast gun of 2.5%, so it wouldn't be a problem there either.
RE: USS North Hampton All things being equal, it's a great class of ship for a new guy to get started with, at least in small gun. The hull is fairly roomy for a cruiser, has good reserve buoyancy and is can be fully armed for a reasonable price.
RE: USS North Hampton Ok. Now all i need is a job to pay for it all. LOL My current choice is between a Fletcher Class Destroyer or a North Hampton class cruiser.
RE: USS North Hampton A Fletcher is too small for a rookie to build, and you'll find that the micro components needed for such ships tend to raise the price over a larger ship with non-micro systems. Also, just as an FYI, it's Northampton (one word, one H) not North Hampton. Just so you know.
RE: USS North Hampton Hi There I think the cruiser would be a better deal for you. Since Treaty is closer to where you live, it would be easy to set up. I had Portland cruiser when I first got into the hobby and it is still one of my favorite ships. Simple ship to build. I would suggest getting a set of plans as a start. Buddy
RE: USS North Hampton Ok. Ill ask meh parents for the strike model plans since my birthday is next month.
RE: USS North Hampton I have built the Northhampton class crusier and it's a fairly easy buid. Very seaworthy for a narrow ship with a low freeboard midships to stern. However it is fast and maneuverable. Very good cruiser.
RE: USS North Hampton Jimmy I also think the cruiser would be best for your first boat. I have seen several Northampton class ships. They are very nice. I have only seen a couple Indianapolis class ships. I am not sure how much of a difference there would be in the superstructures, but I think it is kinda cool to be able to choose between two different classes. I have spoken with the guy up in Ravenna, but we have not been able to come up with a date for a get-together yet. Sorry for the delay. On the other hand. Perhaps you will have your ship in-hand in time for us to get together. Mikey
RE: USS North Hampton Okay, thanks for letting me know about the delay. For the Northampton should I scratch build one or should I get the Strike Models kit.
RE: USS North Hampton How are your wood working skills? Do you have any wood work tools? If you don't have either, you should probably get the fibreglass hull from Strike. --Chase
RE: USS North Hampton Go fiberglass. It takes about 3 hours to layout and cut the hull. It wil take 3 hour looking at the prints wondering how your going to make it out of wood. You'll spend30+ hours makeing a wood hull.
RE: USS North Hampton Unfortunately I have to agree with Bob and Absolutek. I love wooden hulls, I consider them the peak of the shipbuilder's art, and I believe that every shipbuilder should make at least one wooden hull. BUT! They take more time, a lot more skill, and if it's your first ship, a huge amount of time with a master wooden shipbuilder to produce your own wooden hull. Or plans specifically focused on building a wooden hull for your chosen format of combat. Either one of those would work. Unfortunately both of those last requirements are hard to come by at this time. Wooden shipbuilding - GOOD wooden shipbuilding, as a living and evolving method of producing high-quality combat ships - is a dying art. But you cannot become a master wooden shipbuilder unless you already know about internal layout, combat tactics, and advanced planning. So, here's what I recommend. Look around you. If there is a master wooden shipbuilder near enough to you that you can attend weekly building sessions with him, great! You can build your Northampton out of wood, and you'll have a great start to becoming a master wooden shipbuilder. If, as is more likely, there isn't a master wooden shipbuilder near you, start with a fiberglass hull. You'll face a steeper learning curve with a fiberglass hull and no master shipbuilder than you will with a wooden hull and a master shipbuilder, but it'll be much easier than building your first ship with neither a fiberglass hull nor a master shipbuilder to help. Once you've built your fiberglass Northhampton, and attended a few battles, and learned the basics of internal ship layout, you can start your first wooden hull.
