This page is a laboratory of sailing ship structural models by members of the Yokohama Sailing-ship Modelers Club.
Soon after I joined the association, structural models completely fascinated me when I saw one frame sample which was shown from a member and heard that a dozen of these, with slight differences, would come together to form a structural model of a sailing ship. However, at that time, I was a complete beginner at sailing ships with only one bulkhead model built as an experience. As such, drawing many individual drawings and machining those parts was a major barrier for me.
Instead, I was working on a sailing ship using 3D graphics, which was another hobby of mine, to see if I could at least make a virtual structural model. And, by chance, in the process of drawing, I happened to reproduce the desired frame shape, and I thought that if I could draw all the frame shapes with this, it would be possible to process the parts. After many attempts, I was able to accurately draw all frames by using 2D graphics software. Furthermore, I found that they can be created in much less time than conventional drawing methods.
I received the greatest appreciation from a member who built a structural model using the set of my frame drawings, saying, "The model building could made very easy and quick by using these frame drawings”.
The next image shows the actual model made at that time. Each frame shown here was produced from an accurate individual drawing.
After that, I also found an effective method of parts fabrication, aiming to realize a "structural model that even beginners can do" and established these as a unique modeling method.
In this site, I would like to introduce the details of this method.
Structural modeling is no longer a difficult or advanced model making process. Why don't you try this method that allows you to create a highly accurate model in a brief time, including everything from drawing preparation to parts machining?
Kiyoo (Ken) Iizawa, a member of Yokohama Sailing-ship Modelers Club