Fleetscale have been producing scale model ship semi-kits for over 15 years. In that time they have established themselves as producing  quality glassfibre hulls for model shipwrights. Regularly featured in Model Boat Magazines, Fleetscale Glassfibre hulls are always described with  superlatives such as "beautifully detailed and accurate", "heart warming", "simply superb", "beautifully manufactured", "the elite of the scale warship world".

Every hull is produced from a superbly detailed mould, itself being made from a pattern that is faithfully reproduced from the plans. Where the subject is a warship from the early to the middle of the 20th century the plating and rivet detail will be faithfully reproduced. Modern warships are of all welded construction and so do not have this detail.

So what is scratch building? In it's literal sense it means building from plans with basic materials - building from scratch - such as wood, plastics etc. With a Fleetscale semi kit you don't have to do all of that and depending which model you choose to build will determine how much scratch building will be involved. For instance: H.M.S.Warspite comes with just a finely detailed hull plus drawing. That would be a project for the more experienced model shipwright as most other parts would have to be scratch built. On the other hand many other semi kits come more complete. H.I.M.J.S. Yamato for instance, apart from a detailed hull, is available with a glassfibre (GRP)deck, 3 piece GRP superstructure, main turrets, fighting tower and funnels. In addition to this there is a full range of fittings - a very essential consideration.

Just about the easiest to build for the beginner would be the Vosper Fast Patrol Boat - hull, deck and simple superstructure to build in styrene board with uncluttered features and a range of fittings. Another one to consider would be the Hunt Class Minesweeper, HMS Cottismore with hull & moulded GRP superstructure plus a range of fittings. R.M.A.S Roysterer would be another good choice for the beginner, again it comes with hull, deck, GRP superstructure and a full range of fittings.

Another advantage of all three above is that the size is manageable, being between 44" to 50" in length. If cost is a consideration then they have that advantage also, being the most economical to build in the range.

So, made your mind up yet? Which to start with. With such a large range of high quality products available it isn't easy, but do bear in mind, if you haven't built a semi kit before our suggestions for new starters. Let's face it, semi kits are not quite like building a Revell or Airfix kit but with a little skill and dedication you could end up with a valuable model ship that you can rightly be proud of and that may even be an investment worth £kk's

A Fleetscale semi kit means that you can rest assured that you are getting top quality and that means that you are starting right. No point in spending lots of time and money building a fine model on anything less than that. Start right, start with Fleetscale.