General Information:

• Many of the difficult details are already part of the basic hull/cabin casting--toe rails, window/door frames, drilling locations. Also, the dreadful shaping of the hull from a raw block of wood is eliminated and allows a much faster start.
• The small scale of these kits has advantages for both the railroad modeler and the "ship" modeler. For the former, the lack of available, true to scale vessels that will fit into even a minor port area is now available. And, while I have concentrated on Chesapeake Bay vessels, many of these designs are universal, or can be made to fit other uses. For those building these as stand alone models, the smaller sizes require much less expensive show cases that will keep dust and fingers off and allows the inclusion of many fine details.
• The resin castings will require some filling, where minute air bubbles have created small craters in the surfaces. I destroy those that are seriously effected or use them myself to make completed models. It is not feasible to use expensive vacuum chambers for the limited number of kits being produced and the large manufacturers that have such equipment will not find enough of a market for these unique models.
• My many years of living on or near the water, having thousands of detail photos for reference, observing and measuring boats firsthand, and personal communications with watermen enable me to properly include important details and/or simulate them. I don't just add rigging to make the boat look detailed. My Ohio location has only been a recent change. I spent nearly sixty years in the Bay country and continue to visit there regularly. I'm still near the water (Lake Erie), but it's not the same and I plan to return to the Chesapeake.
• For some of you, the instructions may seem a bit too detailed; however I am writing for the least experienced modeler. Advanced modelers can skim over these as they are able. My thirty-five plus years as a H.S. Science teacher has given me much practice in writing directions that most can follow. In all cases, knowing the best sequence of construction will be helpful. Reading ahead will often help you to avoid problems.
• I think you will find that the inclusion of a CD is a real asset in these kits and I suspect that others will copy this idea in the future. For those who are not computer literate, there are printed directions and diagrams as well; so the CD is an extra, not a necessity.