Ship Modeling Simplified: Kit Construction Guide by Frank Mastini

Construction: Ship Modeling Simplified is Frank Mastini’s practical guide to building ship models from kits, aimed especially at beginners. It covers choosing a kit and setting up a workbench, then moves through instructions, hull planking, rigging, sails, finishing and display.

At a glance

Guidance progresses from selecting a kit and organizing a workshop to interpreting instructions and completing a model.
Described techniques include tight hull planking, mast assembly and rigging, and making realistic-looking sails.
The listing says the book includes an Italian-English nautical dictionary for working with Italian kit instructions.

Price

$25.67Save 20%

Reference price: ~~$31.95~~

Price checked: Nov 13, 2026

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Pros and cons

Pros

The beginner-oriented sequence spans setup, construction and final display, so readers can use it as a project reference.
Customer feedback describes the writing and illustrations as clear and detailed.

Technical specifications

9 specifications

Book details
Publisher	International Marine/Ragged Mountain Press
Publication date	March 22 1990
Edition	1st
Language	English
Print length	180 pages
ISBN-10	9780071558679
ISBN-13	978-0071558679

Dimensions and installation
Weight listed	1.05 kg
Dimensions	18.75 x 1.02 x 23.5 cm

What to know before buying

The Italian-English nautical dictionary is described as included, but the listing does not specify which kits or instruction languages beyond that context it supports.

Who is it for?

A good fit for

Beginners starting a ship model kit who want guidance from workshop setup through finishing.
Hobbyists looking for reference advice on hull planking, rigging, sails and interpreting kit instructions.

Less suited to

Readers seeking a guide to scratch-building rather than construction from kits.

Ship Modeling Simplified: Kit Construction Guide by Frank Mastini · photo 2 — Additional product photo 2

Customer reviews on Amazon

4.5 / 5 · 548 ratings

5 stars68%68%
4 stars20%20%
3 stars9%9%
2 stars2%2%
1 star1%1%

Customer feedback highlights helpful hints, informative and detailed material, readable writing and useful illustrations. These qualities may make a step-by-step reference easier to follow while building a kit. The overall rating distribution is mostly positive, though a smaller share of ratings is lower, and the supplied feedback does not explain the reasons for those ratings.

Positive themes

Readers describe the book as informative and detailed.
Customer feedback praises its readability, writing and illustrations.

Frequently asked questions

Is this guide aimed at beginners?

Yes. Its description presents it as a beginner-friendly introduction, starting with kit selection and workshop setup before discussing construction and finishing.

What construction topics does it cover?

The listing describes advice on reading instructions, hull planking, mast assembly and rigging, sails, painting, decorating and displaying finished models.

Does it include a nautical glossary?

The listing says it includes an Italian-English dictionary of nautical terms, presented as useful when assembling Italian kits.